The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Core Amino Acid 70 Substitution and Genotypes of Polymorphisms Near the IFNL3 Gene in Iranian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C.

Background: Molecular studies have demonstrated that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype and host genetics play predictive roles in the management of patients infected with HCV.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the HCV genotype, core amino acid (aa) 70 substitution, and polymorphisms near the IFNL3 gene (including rs12979860 and rs8099917) among Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Patients And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the molecular profiles of the HCV genotype, core aa 70 substitution, and rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms and plasma HCV RNA levels were determined in 429 CHC patients including 141 hemophilic, 84 thalassemic, and 204 non-hemophilic, non-thalassemic patients.

The Role of Polymorphisms Near the IL28B Gene on Response to Peg-Interferon and Ribavirin in Thalassemic Patients With Hepatitis C.

Background: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is the major cause of liver failure in thalassemic patients. In these patients, iron overload and their comorbidities make difficulties during Pegylated-Interferon (PEG-IFN) and Ribavirin (RBV) therapy.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the impact of polymorphisms near the IL28B gene on virological response in HCV - infected thalassemic patients, who were treated with PEG-IFN and RBV.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Peginterferon alpha-2a and Peginterferon alpha-2b in Iranian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C.

Background: Nearly 0.5% of Iranians are infected with HCV. Peginterferon-alpha-2a and Peginterferon-alpha-2b are the two available types of interferon for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Impact of the IL-10 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms in the Severity of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection.

Background: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an important anti-inflammatory cytokine. The polymorphisms of its promoter gene have been considered to be related with the chronicity of hepatitis B infection.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the polymorphisms at different positions in the IL-10 promoter gene in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

High Response Rate to Pegylated Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin Combination Therapy in Hemophilic Children with Chronic Hepatitis C; A Case-Control Study.

Scarce data is available on the efficacy of Pegylated Interferon (Peg-IFN) and Ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy in hemophilic children with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Peg-IFN and RBV combination therapy for hemophilic children infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in comparison with adult hemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C. A case-control study comprised 31 pediatric hemophilic patients ages under 16 years with previously untreated HCV genotype-1 or -3 infection as the case group and 62 treatment naive adult hemophilic patients with chronic HCV infection as the control group.

Efficacy of Prolonged Treatment With Pegylated Interferon (Peg-IFN) and Ribavirin in Thalassemic Patients With Hepatitis C Who Relapsed After Previous Peg-IFN-Based Therapy.

Background: Most thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection do not respond to therapy with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) due to hepatic siderosis and RBV dose reduction caused by RBV-induced anemia.

Objectives: In the present study, we recruited HCV genotype 1-infected thalassemic patients who had relapsed after a 48-week treatment with Peg-IFN plus RBV in order to evaluate the efficacy of a 72-week regimen of Peg-IFN plus RBV.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective study, 23 thalassemic patients with HCV genotype 1 infection who had prior relapse after treatment with Peg-IFN and RBV for 48 weeks were consecutively enrolled in this study for evaluation of the efficacy of a 72-week treatment regimen.

Mutations in the NS5A gene of hepatitis C virus subtype 1b and response to peg-IFNα-2a/RBV combination therapy in Azerbaijani patients.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causes of chronic liver disease throughout the world. The presence of mutations in different regions of the HCV subtype 1b (HCV-1b) nonstructural 5A (NS5A) gene may be associated with response to interferon therapy. This study evaluated whether amino acid substitutions in the NS5A protein of HCV-1b correlated with response to pegylated interferon alfa-2a (peg-IFNα-2a) and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy in Azerbaijani patients.

Prognostic values of fluctuations in serum levels of alanine transaminase in inactive carrier state of HBV infection.

Background: Current guidelines introduce periodic monitoring of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) as the first-line modality in follow-up patients, with a hepatitis B virus (HBV) inactive carrier state.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the incidence rate and patterns of ALT fluctuations and prognostic values for the development of chronic HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis B (CHB), HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance, and liver-related complications.

Patients And Methods: Treatment-naïve patients with a chronic HBV infection, HBeAg(-)/HBeAb(+), normal ALT levels, and HBV DNA < 2000 IU/mL, were followed-up every 6-12 months by assessing serum ALT levels.

Inter-observer and Intra-observer Agreement in Pathological Evaluation of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Suspected Liver Biopsies.

Background: Histopathologic assessment of liver tissue is an essential step in management and follow-up of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) while inter- and intra-observer variations limit the accuracy of these assessments.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of histopathologic assessment of liver biopsies based on NAFLD activity score (NAS) scoring system.

Materials And Methods: The anonymous liver biopsy samples of 100 consecutive NAFLD suspected adults were randomly assigned to four pathologists.

Plasma zinc level in hepatitis C patients with or without Beta thalassemia major; is there any difference?

Background: Zinc deficiency has been reported frequently in hepatitis C patients in the literature. Furthermore, a decrease in zinc level has been shown in beta thalassemia major as well. Iranians consume a large amount of phytate in their regimens which can bind with zinc and decrease its gastrointestinal absorption.

Liver Hemangioma Might Lead to overestimation of Liver Fibrosis by Fibroscan; A Missed Issue in Two Cases.

Background: The assessment of liver fibrosis is an important way for prediction of liver disease progression and patient's prognosis. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is strongly associated with stage of liver diseases. overestimation of liver fibrosis in heart failure has been reported.

Development and Validation of a Simple, Rapid and Inexpensive PCR-RFLP Method for Genotyping of Common IL28B Polymorphisms: A Useful Pharmacogenetic Tool for Prediction of Hepatitis C Treatment Response.

Background: In 2009, 3 genome-wide association studies implicated IL28B single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as the strongest genetic pretreatment predictor of sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C infection. Recently, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) included IL28B testing in their guidelines.

Objectives: The main aim of this study was to develop and validate a simple, rapid, and inexpensive polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method for genotyping of common IL28B polymorphisms (rs12979860 and rs8099917).