A simple rule to personalize standard dual therapy across all genotypes in naive chronic hepatitis C patients: the TT4 randomized trial.

Background: Rapid and early virological responses to peginterferon-alpha and ribavirin are predictive of sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We aimed at finding a simple rule to determine the shortest duration of dual therapy for all HCV genotypes, obtained by multiplying time to Initial Viral Response, IVR (first undetectable HCV-RNA) by 4 (Tailored Therapy-4, or TT4).

Method: 267 naïve HCV-infected patients with compensated liver disease were randomized (2:1) to the TT4 (n=180) or current standard-of-care (SoC, n=87) and received peginterferon-alpha plus ribavirin.

Hepatitis C virus production requires apolipoprotein A-I and affects its association with nascent low-density lipoproteins.

Background/aims: The life cycle of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is intimately linked to the lipid metabolism of the host. In particular, HCV exploits the metabolic machinery of the lipoproteins in several steps of its life cycle such as circulation in the bloodstream, cell attachment and entry, assembly and release of viral particles. However, the details of how HCV interacts with and influences the metabolism of the host lipoproteins are not well understood.

Patterns of chronic hepatitis B in Central Italy: a cross-sectional study.

We investigated the patterns of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related disease in a large cohort of HBsAg-positive patients, in Central Italy, by collecting a screening form with demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Overall, 737 HBsAg-positive cases were included (70% male; median age 52 years): 30% were inactive HBsAg carriers, 51% had chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 19% had HBV-related cirrhosis. Patients from non-European Union (EU) countries (n = 65) were significantly younger, had a higher prevalence of HBeAg-positive infection and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infection than patients of Italian origin.

Impact of hepatitis C virus infection on lifestyle.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of the diagnosis of hepatitis C infection on lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, sports activity and diet.

Methods: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was offered to out-patients with HCV infection consecutively attending three clinical centres in Italy.

Results: Of the 275 respondents, 62.

The effect of age on response to therapy with peginterferon alpha plus ribavirin in a cohort of patients with chronic HCV hepatitis including subjects older than 65 yr.

Objectives: In many industrialized countries HCV infection is characterized by an increasing prevalence during ageing; however, data on the efficacy of treatment among older patients are scarce. This study was set up to evaluate the effect of age on the treatment of chronic HCV hepatitis with peginterferon alpha plus ribavirin.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 153 adult patients with chronic HCV hepatitis treated with combination therapy; 30 of them (19.

Accumulation of dysfunctional effector CD8+ T cells in the liver of patients with chronic HCV infection.

Background/aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes a chronic infection that can lead to fibrosis and carcinoma. Immune responses mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) could be involved in viral clearance or persistence, and therefore in determining the course of the disease.

Methods: Intrahepatic and peripheral blood CD8+T cells were obtained from 32 HCV-chronically infected patients and analysed by flow-cytometry for surface markers of differentiation, IFNgamma and TNFalpha production, degranulation capacity and perforin content, after CD3 triggering.