Optimizing Surveillance Performance of Alpha-Fetoprotein by Selection of Proper Target Population in Chronic Hepatitis B.

Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the most widely used biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, disease activity may also increase AFP levels in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Since nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy may reduce not only HBV viral loads and transaminase levels but also the falsely elevated AFP levels in CHB, we tried to determine whether exposure to NA therapy influences AFP performance and whether selective application can optimize the performance of AFP testing in CHB during HCC surveillance. A retrospective cohort of 6,453 CHB patients who received HCC surveillance was constructed from the electronic clinical data warehouse.

Prediction of risk for hepatocellular carcinoma by response of serum α-fetoprotein to entecavir therapy.

Background And Aims: Serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) is frequently elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who do not have hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Entecavir (ETV) treatment reduces AFP levels in these patients, but the clinical significance of AFP response to ETV has not been fully studied. The aims of this study were to elucidate the temporal response of AFP to ETV therapy and to determine the relationship between AFP response and the subsequent development of HCC.

Off-treatment virologic relapse and outcomes of re-treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients who achieved complete viral suppression with oral nucleos(t)ide analogs.

Background: The durability of off-treatment virologic responses has not been fully elucidated in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who have previously achieved complete virologic suppression with nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy. This study aimed to assess off-treatment virologic relapse rates and to characterize the outcomes of subsequent re-treatment in CHB patients who have discontinued oral NA following complete virologic suppression.

Methods: Ninety-five CHB patients who showed complete virologic suppression were withdrawn from NAs: entecavir, lamivudine, and clevudine in 67, 15, and 13 patients, respectively.

Clinical features and outcome of cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinoma compared to those of viral and alcoholic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is thought to arise due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study investigated the prevalence, clinical features, and outcomes of cryptogenic HCC and compared them with those of HCC related to hepatitis B virus infection (HBV-HCC), hepatitis C virus infection (HCV-HCC), and alcohol (ALC-HCC) in Korea.

Methods: The clinical features, treatment modalities, and survival data for 480 patients with HCC consecutively enrolled from January 2003 to June 2012 were analyzed.

A Case of Cardiac Amyloidosis Initially Misdiagnosed as Syndrome X.

Cardiac infiltration of amyloid fibril results in progressive cardiomyopathy with a grave prognosis and results in cardiac diseases such as congestive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, and arrhythmias. We present a rare case of cardiac amyloidosis initially misdiagnosed as syndrome X in which recurrent chest pain and progressive heart failure could be managed finally by heart transplantation.

Senile Cardiac Calcification Syndrome: A Rare Case of Extensive Calcification of Left Ventricular Papillary Muscle.

Extensive papillary muscle calcification is uncommon and only scarce literature about causes and the clinical significance is available, whereas small calcific deposits are common findings in elderly people and are located most commonly at the apex. Papillary muscle calcification has been associated with coronary artery disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, mitral valve disease, hypercalcemia, and increased calcium phosphate product in end stage renal disease. We reported a rare case of extensive calcification of anterolateral papillary muscle diagnosed by echocardiography and multidetector computed tomography.