Naïve/Effector CD4 T cell ratio as a useful predictive marker of immune reconstitution in late presenter HIV patients: A multicenter study.

A significant proportion of HIV-infected patients experiencing a late diagnosis highlights the need to define immunological protocols able to help the clinicians in identifying patients at higher risk for immunological failure. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of easy cytometric tests in defining the effect of antiretroviral treatment (cART) on immunological homeostasis and in identifying predictive markers of early immune recovery. Chronic HIV infected patients (n = 202) were enrolled in a prospective multicentric study, and their immunological profile was studied before (w0) and after 24 weeks (w24) of antiretroviral treatment (cART) using a standardized flow cytometric panel.

Poor efficacy of nucleic acid testing in identifying occult HBV infection and consequences for safety of blood supply in Italy.

Background & Aims: In Italy, DNA screening of blood donations for hepatitis B virus (HBV) was introduced to prevent the transmission of window period and occult HBV infection. Anti-HBc screening is not recommended in order to avoid shortage of the blood supply. To contain costs, donor samples are generally pooled before testing.

A cluster of patients with recombinant B/F HIV-1 infection: epidemiological, clinical, and virological aspects.

Migratory processes have caused changes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemiology and non-B subtypes are now playing an increasing role. In a cohort of 553 HIV-infected outpatients tested to identify non-B isolates, the largest group consisted of 13 subjects with a recombinant B/F form (prevalence 2.4%).

A cluster of human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 recombinant form escaping detection by commercial genomic amplification assays.

Background: Nucleic acid testing (NAT)-based methods for the detection and quantification of human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) RNA are used to increase transfusion safety and to diagnose and manage HIV-1-infected patients. We describe a novel HIV-1 recombinant form associated with lack of reactivity or substantial underestimation of viral load by commercial NAT assays.

Study Design And Methods: We observed a repeat blood donor seroconverting to anti-HIV in whom HIV RNA was initially undetectable with routine NAT was observed.

Hepatitis G virus infection in chronic dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients.

Background: The cloning of the hepatitis G virus (HGV), a novel RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, has been very recently developed. HGV is known to be parenterally transmitted and has been detected in several patients with cryptogenic hepatitis. However, little information exists about the epidemiology of HGV infection in renal patients.

Serologic survey for control of hepatitis C in haemodialysis patients: third-generation assays and analysis of costs.

There is little information about the serologic survey for control of hepatitis C by using third-generation assays among chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients, and no analysis of costs has been made to this end. A serologic survey for control of hepatitis C was performed in 190 HD patients attending a single dialysis unit, using second- and third-generation assays. Costs of both serologic surveys were calculated.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in chronic dialysis patients.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent in dialysis patients. To further characterize HCV infection in this patient population, we studied the distribution of viral genotypes in 55 patients undergoing chronic dialysis treatment with seropositivity for HCV markers.

Methods: Thirty-two of 55 (58%) patients showed HCV RNA in the serum using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of the viral genome.

IgM antibody response to hepatitis C virus in end-stage renal disease.

Background: In HBV infection, as in other viral diseases, antibodies of the IgM class are associated with acute or ongoing infection. In contrast, the significance of this antibody in HCV infection is unclear and data regarding end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are lacking.

Methods: We tested sera from 78 ESRD patients (66 chronic dialysis patients, 12 renal allograft recipients) showing anti-HCV IgG antibody, for serum anti-HCV IgM core antibody.

Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine use in chronic hemodialysis patients. Long-term evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis.

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in our unit was 45% (86/190); there were 77 (40.5%) and 9 (4.7%) patients with previous and persistent HBV infection, respectively.

Virological and histological features of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Although there are some reports regarding prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in kidney transplant patients, there are scarce data about viraemia, genotyping and liver histology of HCV infection in kidney transplant recipients.

Methods: We studied the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies by second-generation screening and confirmatory assays in a cohort of 73 renal allograft recipients. All patients were tested for serum HCV RNA using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of the viral genome.

Virological characteristics of hepatitis C virus infection in chronic hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study.

Detection of hepatitis C virus viremia (HCV RNA) in serum of hemodialysis (HD) patients is crucial for documenting ongoing infection because the clinical and epidemiological importance of anti-HCV positivity is not clear. HCV viremia was studied in 104 HD patients by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) using primers localized in the 5' non-coding region of the viral genome. We used two different methods to detect HCV RNA: a direct PCR amplification of HCV RNA from human serum, and a standard RT PCR procedure (requiring the RNA extraction step).

Comparison of second-generation screening and confirmatory assays with recombinant antigens and synthetic peptides against antibodies to hepatitis C virus: a study in renal patients.

The aim of this study was to compare some common tests which are nowadays routinely used to screen and to confirm anti-HCV antibodies in renal patients. There was agreement between Ortho 2 and Abbott 2 in 94% of samples; structural and nonstructural beads of the Abbott supplementary assay were in agreement with 4-RIBA in 98 and in 85% of samples, respectively; 61% of Ortho 2 samples and 65% of Abbott 2 samples were confirmed by 4-RIBA; there was a correlation between semiquantitative analysis of screening tests (Ortho 2 and Abbott 2) and positive results by 4-RIBA; 36 and 33% of Ortho-2- and Abbott-2-positive samples were 4-RIBA indeterminate: in these instances more sophisticated techniques (polymerase chain reaction) (PCR) could be useful as a third-level assay. The comparison between Ortho 2, based on recombinant antigens, and Innotest, based on synthetic peptides, showed agreement only in 44% of samples, but this preliminary comparison cannot afford definitive conclusions.

Incidence of seroconversion for hepatitis C virus in chronic haemodialysis patients: a prospective study.

We conducted a prospective study in HD patients of our unit to evaluate the incidence of seroconversion for HCV in this high-risk group. Two hundred and thirty-five patients were observed during the average follow-up of 29.4 months: 183 were seronegative and 52 seropositive for anti-HCV antibodies at the start of the study.

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on conservative therapy: prevalence, risk factors and relationship to liver disease.

There are no data regarding HCV prevalence in CRF patients not requiring dialysis. In order to assess prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection in CRF patients on conservative therapy we tested, by second-generation assays such as Ortho 2 and 4-RIBA, 221 predialysis CRF patients attending our Department. Forty-four (20%) patients were anti-HCV positive.

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and transaminase concentration in chronic haemodialysis patients: a study with second-generation assays.

We used first- and second-generation assays such as Ortho 1, Ortho 2 and 4-RIBA to define prevalence and risk factors for anti-HCV antibodies in haemodialysed patients. Forty-nine (24%) subjects were found to be anti-HCV positive. Anti-HCV positivity was related to duration of dialysis and past or current elevations of GOT and GPT; the frequency of transfused patients was greater in HCV-positive than in HCV-negative subjects; there were 31 patients (prevalence of 20%) with anti-HCV antibodies among non-transfused patients.