Characteristics of patients dying from acute viral hepatitis in Serbia.

Background/aims: Acute viral hepatitis is complicated rarely with severe liver failure due to many factors associated with the etiology, patient age, and time of development of hepatic encephalopathy, etc. The aim of this study was to identify some of the clinical and laboratory features associated with a fatal outcome in patients dying from acute viral hepatitis in Serbia.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory data from 47 patients hospitalized from January 1989 December 2006 were reviewed retrospectively.

Systemic manifestations in the course of meningococcal disease.

Background/aim: Meningococcal disease most often manifests itself as meningitis or sepsis. During the course of these diseases, other clinical events sometimes develop such as pneumonia, pericarditis, arthritis, and they are referred to as extrameningeal or systemic manifestations of the meningococcal disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the type and the incidence of particular extrameningeal/systemic manifestations among patients with meningococcal meningitis and sepsis, including time of their onset and the influence on the disease outcome.

Older age at the time of liver biopsy is the important risk factor for advanced fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: Progression of chronic hepatitis C depends on the host and viral characteristics, duration of infection, co-infection with other viruses, etc. In this study, some of demographic, epidemiological and viral data as risk factors for a degree of liver fibrosis were evaluated.

Methodology: A total of 144 patients was investigated (89 males, ages from 16-65 years) classified into two groups, with fibrosis scores 0-3 and 4-6, using the Ishak scoring system.

[The frequency of pathological ultrasonographic findings of the gallbladder in patients with infectious diseases].

Introduction: The objective of our study was to establish, through retrospective analysis of sonographic findings obtained by portable ultrasound devices, the frequency of pathological findings of the gallbladder and common bile duct in a randomized group of patients with infectious diseases.

Material And Methods: During five years (January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2004), gallbladder and common bile duct were examined by ultrasonography in 2691 adult patients (1440 males and 1251 females), mean age 48 +/- 17 years, ranging from 17 to 92 years at the Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Belgrade. The examination included the measurement of size and shape of the gallbladder, its wall and lumen, as well as measurement of caliber and content of the common bile duct.

[Treatment options for chronic hepatitis C virus infection].

Introduction: The incidence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is rather high. Its most frequent consequences are chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Treatment Of Chronic Hcv Infection: In treatment of chronic HCV infection, interferons have antiviral, anriproliferative, and immunoregulatory action.

[Effects of interferons on hepatitis C virus infection].

Introduction: The consequences of hepatitis C virus infections (chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) are one of the major problems in clinical medicine. The persistence of infection in spite of high specific antibody titre suggests that the virus has the abillity to "escape" the immunological response.

Interferon Therapy: Interferons are important components of the early host response to infection.

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Serbia and Montenegro: the prevalence and clinical significance.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Serbia and Montenegro and their influence on some clinical characteristics in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Methods: A total of 164 patients was investigated. Complete history, route of infection, assessment of alcohol consumption, an abdominal ultrasound, standard biochemical tests and liver biopsy were done.

[Chronic hepatitis C virus infection: is there a correlation between HCV genotypes and the level of viremia?].

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA status and HCV genotypes have become extremely important for exact diagnosis, prognosis, duration of treatment and monitoring of antiviral therapy of chronic HCV infection.

Material And Methods: For the purpose of precise and objective assessment of virologic analyses, such as the determination of the number of virus copies and virus genotypes, 110 patients with chronic HCV infection were tested Genotyping of HCV isolates and HCV RNA quantification were performed by using the PCR method. Genotype 1b infection was verified in 49.

Histopathology of chronic hepatitis C in relation to virus genotype.

Background/aim: The natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is variable and the factors determining the course of the illness are unclear. There are geographical variations in the distribution of different HCV genotypes, and some of them are related to the specific infection routes. Regarding our country, the dominant genotype is genotype 1b.

[Abnormal ultrasonographic findings of the kidneys obtained with a portable echosonographic device in the patients with infectious diseases--a five-year study].

Background/aim: Ultrasonographic kidney changes might be a part of the clinical picture, or consequence of the various infections diseases. The aim of this study was to establish ultrasonographic findings obtained by portable devices, the frequency of abnormal findings of the kidneys in the non-selected group of the patients with infections diseases.

Methods: Over a five-year period (January 1, 2000-December 31, 2004), the kidneys were examined by ultrasonography in 2,718 patients, 1,452 males and 1,266 females, mean age 47.