Prolonged Hypercupremia after Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Successfully Treated with Oral Zinc.

A 30-year-old female underwent vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Postoperatively, hypercupremia and elevated ceruloplasmin were identified. Further testing revealed normal blood levels of transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin.

Potential Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon-α and a Nucleos(t)ide Analogue as Combination Therapy for HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background/aims: Despite the potent suppression of the hepatitis B virus with modern antiviral agents, only a minority of HBeAg-positive patients achieve hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion. We aimed to explore the potential efficacy of combination therapy consisting of pegylated interferon (p-IFN) and an oral antiviral agent in patients with HBeAgpositive chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: The treatment protocol consisted of p-IFN-α-2a at 180 μg/wk for 48 weeks, with either entecavir or tenofovir added 8 weeks after the initiation of p-IFN and continued for at least 6 months after HBe seroconversion was achieved.

Comparative effectiveness of telaprevir-based triple therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness and tolerability of triple therapy with pegylated interferon (p-IFN), ribavirin (RBV), and telaprevir in patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving treatment in an academic practice setting and in a more clinically diverse population compared with patients receiving treatment in phase 3 trials.

Patients And Methods: A prospective database of all patients with viral hepatitis undergoing antiviral therapy from January 1, 2006, to July 1, 2012, was queried to identify treatment-naive and -experienced patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving dual and triple therapies. On-treatment response categories included rapid virologic response, extended rapid virologic response, early virologic response, and sustained virologic response.

Role of magnetic resonance elastography in compensated and decompensated liver disease.

Background & Aims: Non-invasive predictors identifying subjects with compensated liver disease at highest risk for transitioning to a decompensated state are lacking. We hypothesized that liver shear stiffness as measured by magnetic resonance elastography is an important non-invasive predictor of hepatic decompensation.

Methods: Among patients with advanced fibrosis undergoing magnetic resonance elastography (2007-2011), a baseline cohort and follow up cohort (compensated liver disease) were established.

Hereditary hemochromatosis: laboratory evaluation.

The condition of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is caused by gene-dependent protein abnormalities involved in iron absorption, storage, or modulation of iron; these abnormalities result in iron overload. The clinical laboratory plays a significant role in case finding, diagnostic validation, and monitoring HH therapy. Elevated serum iron, transferrin saturation, and ferritin suggest HH, but results can also indicate other forms of hepatocyte injury such as alcoholic or viral hepatitis, or other inflammatory disorders involving the liver.

Impact of depressive symptoms and their treatment on completing antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background/goals: Interferon-induced depression affects 20% to 40% of patients treated for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of our study was to examine the influence of antidepressant treatment and whether this improves the likelihood of completing therapy.

Methods: One hundred randomly selected patients with chronic HCV undergoing antiviral therapy at a single center were identified.

Treatment of benign orbital pseudolymphomas with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab.

Objective: To report the results of treating patients with orbital pseudolymphomas with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab.

Patients And Methods: Patients were included in the study if they had an orbital mass and biopsy-proven orbital pseudolymphomas between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2005. The study focused on patients treated with rituximab.

Acquired hypocupremia after gastric surgery.

Background & Aims: Copper absorption in humans probably occurs in the stomach and duodenum. Copper is essential for the structure and function of the nervous system and acquired copper deficiency in humans has been recognized to cause a myelopathy that resembles vitamin B12 deficiency. Acquired copper deficiency is not a well-recognized complication of gastric surgery.

Nonresponders to Previous Chronic Hepatitis C Treatment.

The main strategy governing treatment of chronic hepatitis C is the prevention of future liver complications. There is good evidence that curing hepatitis C infection prevents progression of liver disease and allows histologic regression to occur. Therefore, the primary goal of medical treatment is to cure the viral infection.

Copper deficiency myelopathy produces a clinical picture like subacute combined degeneration.

Background: Copper deficiency in ruminants is known to cause an ataxic myelopathy. Copper deficiency as a cause of progressive myelopathy in adults is underrecognized.

Objective: To describe the clinical, biochemical, electrophysiologic, and imaging characteristics in 13 patients with myelopathy associated with copper deficiency.

Efficacy of daily induction dosing vs standard thrice weekly dosing of interferon-alpha2B for initial treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect on HCV RNA levels of using induction dosing with 5 MU interferon-alpha2b (IFN) given daily for four weeks followed by 5 MU IFN given three times a week (TIW) for 44 weeks vs standard noninduction TIW dosing of 5 MU IFN for 48 weeks. We randomly assigned 135 patients with chronic hepatitis C to induction therapy or noninduction therapy. After four weeks of therapy 17/65 (26.