Publications by authors named "Marcia Amendola Pires"
Background: Neurotropism of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can be the source of subtle neuropsychological symptoms in non-cirrhotic patients. Age is a risk factor for cognitive impairment (CI). Thus, asymptomatic elderly people who carry HCV might be at a greater risk of CI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related deaths. It is estimated that 40-74% of patients with hepatitis C will experience at least one extrahepatic manifestation within their lifetime. The finding of HCV-RNA sequences in post-mortem brain tissue raises the possibility that HCV infection may affect the central nervous system and be the source of subtle neuropsychological symptoms, even in non-cirrhotic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBefore Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C Virus: Evaluation of Core Protein R70Q and L/C91M Substitutions in Chronically Infected Brazilian Patients Unresponsive to IFN and/or RBV.
Viruses
January 2023
Although chronic hepatitis C has been effectively treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), the use of conventional therapy with peg-interferon (Peg-IFN) or (predominantly) ribavirin (RBV), remains widespread. R70Q/H and L/C91M amino acid substitutions in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein may modulate responses to IFN and/or RBV, and are associated with cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), insulin resistance, and liver steatosis. We evaluated the R70Q/H and L/C91M substitutions, clinical and epidemiological profiles, and risk factors of Brazilian patients chronically infected with HCV subgenotypes 1a and 1b (HCV-GT1a and HCV-GT1b) unresponsive to IFN and/or RBV therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a significant public health issue, known to cause various forms of hepatitis and persistent infections due to inadequate immune responses.
- This study examined the levels of specific cytokines (immune system chemicals) in patients with occult hepatitis B (OBI) who were also co-infected with hepatitis C, finding varied levels compared to healthy controls and HBV-monoinfected patients.
- The results suggest that increased cytokine levels, particularly in OBI patients, could contribute to ongoing HBV presence in the liver, leading to chronic inflammation and potential liver damage.
Article Synopsis
- Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is linked to liver damage due to the immune response to HCV antigens, with high levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 found in patients.
- A notable increase in core-specific IL-6 and IL-17 T cells occurs in patients with more severe liver lesions, as shown by the Metavir scale.
- CHC patients have an elevated percentage of Treg cells, particularly those with advanced fibrosis, but a low proportion of CD39 Treg subsets, indicating an imbalance in T cell populations associated with liver fibrosis severity.
There is little information describing the influence of HIV infection upon the performance of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for hepatitis B and C virus diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the performance of RDTs for HBsAg and anti-HCV detection among HIV-infected individuals. A total of 362 HIV infected individuals were recruited from clinics between January 2013 to November 2014 in the southeast and northeast of Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudies have suggested the pivotal role of T helper type 1 (Th1) -related cytokines on the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Nevertheless, the role of different interleukin-17 (IL-17) -secreting T cells on chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is less clear. Here, the in vivo IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 levels were positively correlated with both alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and hepatic lesions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance were identified near the IL28B gene. Coinfection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) influences the course of HCV contributing to liver damage. Nevertheless, little is known about the relationship between these SNPs and HCV/HIV coinfection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLow rates of sustained virologic response with peginterferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus infection in HIV infected patients in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
PLoS One
February 2014
Background: The standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-infected subjects is the combination of alfapeginterferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin. We designed this study to evaluate the rate of SVR and predictors of SVR in a public health setting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Methods: Retrospective cohort study of HCV/HIV co-infected patients treated with PEG-IFN plus ribavirin from 2004 to 2011 in 3 outpatient units in Rio de Janeiro.