Clinicopathological features and natural history of acute sporadic non-(A-E) hepatitis.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to describe the clinicopathological characteristics and the natural history of acute non-(A-E) hepatitis and to assess the possible role of hepatitis G virus (HGV), TT virus (TTV) and mainly SEN virus (SENV).

Methods: A cohort of 55 patients with sporadic acute non-(A-E) hepatitis with a mean follow up of 31 (6-55) months was studied.

Results: The clinical presentation was fulminant in one (1.

Long-term therapy with adefovir dipivoxil for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B for up to 5 years.

Background & Aims: Treatment with adefovir dipivoxil for 48 weeks resulted in clinical improvement in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B that was lost when treatment was discontinued. We investigated the efficacy, safety, and resistance profile of adefovir dipivoxil treatment for up to 240 weeks.

Methods: HBeAg-negative patients were treated double blind with placebo or adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg once daily for 48 weeks, followed by adefovir dipivoxil from week 49 to 96.

Long-term therapy with adefovir dipivoxil for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Treatment with adefovir dipivoxil for 48 weeks resulted in histologic, virologic, and biochemical improvement in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B. We evaluated the effect of continued therapy as compared with cessation of therapy.

Methods: One hundred eighty-five HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B were assigned to receive 10 mg of adefovir dipivoxil or placebo once daily for 48 weeks (ratio, 2:1).

Growth of hepatocellular carcinoma into the right atrium. A case of antemortem diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging of the heart.

We report the unusual case of a 54-year-old man with a right atrial mass (detected by two-dimensional echocardiography) associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. The cardiac mass, following magnetic resonance imaging of the heart, was proved to be due to a direct extension of the liver tumour, via the inferior vena cava, up to the right atrial cavity. We wish to stress that the availability of magnetic resonance imaging renders possible the antemortem diagnosis of cardiac metastasis due to malignant tumours.

Investigation of SEN virus infection in patients with cryptogenic acute liver failure, hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia, or acute and chronic non-A-E hepatitis.

SEN virus (SENV) has been tentatively linked to transfusion-associated non-A-E hepatitis. We investigated SENV's role in unexplained hepatitis in other settings. Polymerase chain reaction amplification was used to detect 2 SENV variants (SENV-D and SENV-H) in 1706 patients and control subjects.

Adefovir dipivoxil for the treatment of hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Adefovir dipivoxil, a nucleotide analogue, demonstrated clinically significant antiviral activity in patients with chronic hepatitis B in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials.

Methods: We randomly assigned 185 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were negative for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) to receive either 10 mg of adefovir dipivoxil or placebo once daily for 48 weeks in a 2:1 ratio and a double-blind manner. The primary end point was histologic improvement.