[Longitudinal follow-up study of 64 children chronically infected with hepatitis B virus, treated and not treated with interferon].

With the purpose of knowing the spectrum of the disease we studied the outcome of 64 children chronically infected by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): 38 treated with Interferon (INF) and 26 without treatment. The period of infection was no less than 8 months, the average age was 4.7 years, 39 boys, 25 girls, and the observation period was 5 years, 3 moths (range 6 months-14 years).

[The relationship between intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma: a study of 722 biopsies].

Intestinal metaplasia has been shown by many investigators to be a premalignant state. Considering this fact, 722 gastric biopsies were studied, a 24% of association was found between gastric carcinoma and intestinal metaplasia and 27% of the cases with metaplasia were found in "apparently normal" or with benign stomach lesions. The group most affected was males over 61 years.

[Chronic infection due to hepatitis B virus in patients less than 16 years of age: therapeutic approach by means of interferon alfa-2b].

Twenty children with chronic Hepatitis B virus infection where treated with alfa interferon 2b and compared with a group of 24 non treated patients with similar age and sex distribution. Both treated and untreated patients, all Hepatitis B surface antigen positive for a minimum of 6 months, were divided in 2 groups according to HBeAg status: positive and negative. The treatment was ambulatory at a dose of 5.

[Prevalence of the antibody of hepatitis C virus in HBsAg negative patients with chronic liver diseases: children, prostitutes, and homosexuals].

We present the results of the determination of hepatitis C virus antibody, recently discovered on a group of 34 patients with chronic liver disease, divided in: a) 23 patients with cirrhosis. b) 8 with protracted hepatitis. c) 2 with steatosis of unknown origin++.

[Prevention of hepatitis B].

This article reviews the prevention of hepatitis B virus infection with emphasis on immunoprophylaxis in its 2 forms, passive by the use of immunoglobulins and active by the use of vaccines, plasmatic and recombinant. Both have been shown to be safe, with few secondary effects an highly effective. Response to the vaccine depends on age and immunological status, there are few contraindications.