Liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients of Pakistani versus Scandinavian origin.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the significance of native country for the stage of liver fibrosis in a population of HCV patients of Pakistani or Scandinavian origin living in Oslo.

Patients And Methods: We included 122 consecutive HCV patients at two hepatitis clinics in Oslo, 73 of Scandinavian and 49 of Pakistani origin. Inclusion criteria were being HCV RNA positive, treatment naïve and having an adequate liver biopsy.

ASAT/ALAT ratio provides prognostic information independently of Child-Pugh class, gender and age in non-alcoholic cirrhosis.

Objective: The aspartate amino transferase/alanine amino transferase (ASAT/ALAT) ratio is increased in cirrhosis. Some studies indicate that the ratio may provide prognostic information as well. The purpose of this study was to further elucidate the role of the ASAT/ALAT ratio as a predictor of survival by assessing it together with classical risk factors such as age, gender and Child-Pugh (CP) class in a mixed cohort of patients with cirrhosis.

Incidence rates and causes of cirrhosis in a Norwegian population.

Objective: To investigate the incidence rate and causes of cirrhosis in a Norwegian population. We also sought to assess the degree of underreporting of cirrhosis to the Norwegian Death Registry.

Material And Methods: All 1264 patients treated at Aker University Hospital in the period January 1999 to March 2004 who were given a diagnosis indicating cirrhosis, chronic liver disease or symptoms possibly attributable to cirrhosis were screened retrospectively.

Treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavarin in HCV infection with genotype 2 or 3 for 14 weeks: a pilot study.

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of 14 weeks of treatment in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 who achieve early virological response (EVR). In a noncontrolled multicenter trial, 122 treatment-naive patients received 1.5 mug/kg pegylated interferon alfa-2b subcutaneously once weekly and 800 to 1,400 mg/d ribavirin based on body weight.

Long-term prognosis of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis: a 15-year follow-up study of 100 Norwegian patients admitted to one unit.

Background: Most follow-up studies in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis have been for a 5-year period or less. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term mortality and causes of death among patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and to identify predictors of mortality.

Methods: One hundred patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, consecutively admitted to one medical department, were included in the study from May 1984 until December 1988.

Hepatitis C in the general adult population of Oslo: prevalence and clinical spectrum.

Background: The prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) in Northern Europe has not been well described. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and spectrum of hepatitis C infection in the general adult population of Oslo, Norway.

Methods: The study was part of the Oslo Health Study 2000-2001 and included a random selection of individuals older than 30 years living in Oslo County.

Raised serum ferritin predicts non-response to interferon and ribavirin treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Background/aim: Previous studies have indicated that response to interferon therapy is inversely proportional to the amount of body iron stores. We have studied the relationship between serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, liver iron, presence of HFE-C282Y gene mutation and response to treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty-six naive, HCV-RNA positive patients (60% males, median age 38 years, range 21-70) were treated with interferon and ribavirin for 6 months.

Effect of interferon-alpha induction therapy on genotype 2b/3a and low viral load hepatitis C virus infection. A randomized multicentre study.

Background: Interferon monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection leads to sustained viral eradication in a minority of patients. However, in selected groups of patients, sustained virological response is observed in as many as 50% of patients. High initial interferon dose (induction therapy) has been reported to increase the initial response rate.

Effect of combined interferon-alpha induction therapy and ribavirin on chronic hepatitis C virus infection: a randomized multicentre study.

Background: The efficacy of interferon-alpha (IFN) induction in combination with ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is not known.

Methods: A total of 256 treatment-naive HCV RNA-positive patients with biopsy-confirmed chronic hepatitis were enrolled in a randomized multicentre study. The patients received either standard combination therapy with 3 MIU interferon-alpha2b thrice weekly for 26 weeks or 6 MIU interferon-alpha2b daily for 4 weeks and 3 MIU 3/7 days for 22 weeks.

[Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis].

Background: There is a growing interest in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a disease entity which is quite similar to alcoholic liver disease.

Material And Methods: We present three patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and review current opinion on this disease entity.

Results: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is very often associated with the insulin resistance syndrome.

The clinical expression of hemochromatosis in Oslo, Norway. Excessive oral iron intake may lead to secondary hemochromatosis even in HFE C282Y mutation negative subjects.

Background: The prevalence of hereditary hemochromatosis in Norway is one of the highest reported in the world. However, the clinical presentation in patients with hemochromatosis in Norway seems to be different compared with recent studies elsewhere. The aim of this study was to investigate patients with hemochromatosis in one community hospital in Norway and to study the prevalence of the C282Y mutation.

[Carbamazepine-induced hepatitis].

Background: Hepatotoxic reactions associated with carbamazepine therapy are well recognised, and it is important that clinicians are aware of this adverse effect.

Material And Methods: We present the clinical course in three patients with carbamazepine-induced hepatitis.

Results: All three patients had clinical and biochemical signs of hepatitis; improvement occurred immediately after carbamazepine therapy was discontinued.

Treatment with interferon-alpha2a alone or interferon-alpha2a plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C previously treated with interferon-alpha2a. CONSTRUCT Group.

Background: Preliminary results from combination therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin (IFN/Rib) in patients with chronic hepatitis C have been promising, with up to 50% sustained hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA response. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a sustained HCV RNA response could be obtained with combination therapy in patients who were non-responders or relapsers after IFN treatment.

Methods: In a multicenter study we randomized 53 HCV RNA-positive patients into 2 treatment groups.

The effect of treatment with alpha-interferon on hepatitis G/GBV-C viraemia. The CONSTRUCT Group.

Background: Hepatitis G virus (HGV) or GBV-C is frequently detected in patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study investigated host and virologic factors influencing the response to HGV/GBV-C to alpha-interferon treatment.

Methods: HGV/GBV-C was detected and quantified by nested polymerase chain reaction.

Fecal calprotectin concentration in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Purpose: The study contained herein was undertaken to investigate fecal calprotectin excretion in a series of patients with colorectal carcinoma and to determine whether the excretion was influenced by localization or stage of the tumor. Furthermore, the effect of surgical treatment on the concentrations was studied. Fecal calprotectin was also compared with plasma concentrations of calprotectin, carcinoembryonic antigen, and C-reactive protein.

Incidence and prevalence of primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis in a Norwegian population.

Background: The relative frequencies of the autoimmune liver diseases primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) have not been studied. We therefore performed an epidemiologic investigation to describe the incidence and prevalence of the three diseases in a defined population.

Methods: Patients with PBC, PSC, or AIH admitted to Aker University Hospital in Oslo were prospectively registered during the 10-year period 1986-95.

[Ulcerative colitis. Complications and sequelae in relation to the extent of the disease. A 10-year material].

Patients with ulcerative colitis in our catchment area were followed over a ten-years period with the focus on the relation between the extent of inflammation and complications. Total colitis was found in 180 out of 334 patients with known extension, while in 154 of the patients the inflammation was classified as left-sided colitis. The frequency of severe colitis, colectomy and cancer was more or less the same as stated in earlier reports.

Prevalence of hemochromatosis among first-time and repeat blood donors in Norway.

Background/aims: The observed prevalence of hemochromatosis has ranged considerably from 0.05 to 0.37% in studies requiring liver biopsy.

Assessment of disease activity in ulcerative colitis by faecal calprotectin, a novel granulocyte marker protein.

This study comprised 62 outpatients with ulcerative colitis who underwent 64 colonoscopies. The disease activity was evaluated according to endoscopic and histological criteria. The results revealed a significant correlation between both the endoscopic as well as the histological gradings of disease activity and faecal calprotectin.

Genotype, viral load and age as independent predictors of treatment outcome of interferon-alpha 2a treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Construct group.

Patients with chronic hepatitis C respond differently when treated with interferon. We randomized 116 patients with chronic hepatitis C in order to compare two dosage regimens of recombinant interferon alpha 2a:3 MIU x 3 per week for 6 months (arm A) or 6 MIU x 3 per week for 3 months and then 3 MIU x 3 per week for 3 months (arm B). There were no significant differences concerning outcome between the two dose regimens: sustained clearance of HCV viremia 6 months after the end of treatment was obtained in 12/59 (20%) in group A compared with 18/57 (32%) in group B (p = 0.

Prevalence of hepatitis C genotypes among patients with chronic hepatitis C in Norway. Construct Group.

Among 116 patients with biopsy-confirmed chronic hepatitis C (Riba 2 or Riba 3 positive) in a multicenter study in southern Norway on interferon, we determined hepatitis C virus genotype by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the 5' NCR. The RFLP method was supplemented by and compared with a serological typing method based on the detection of type-specific antibody to peptide from the NS-4 region. A total of 102/106 (96%) patient sera showed detectable type-specific antibody to NS-4 peptides and corresponded in all cases, except two, to the genotype detected by polymerase chain reaction.

Inappropriately low levels of gonadotrophins in amenorrhoeic women with alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis.

We investigated a group of 111 amenorrhoeic females with associated liver disease. These comprised alcoholic cirrhotics (N = 38), non-alcoholic cirrhotics (N = 12), non-cirrhotic alcoholics (N = 21) and those suffering from other chronic liver diseases (N = 40) admitted to our medical department from 1986 to 1991. The serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and prolactin were measured.

Mesalazine suppositories versus hydrocortisone foam in patients with distal ulcerative colitis. A comparison of the efficacy and practicality of two topical treatment regimens.

Background: Topical treatment is effective in patients with distal ulcerative colitis. This trial compares the efficacy, safety, and practicality of 4 weeks' treatment with 500 mg mesalazine suppositories with those of 178 mg hydrocortisone foam, both given twice daily.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients with distal ulcerative colitis were stratified on the basis of the extent of the disease (proctitis and proctosigmoiditis) and randomized to one of the treatment groups.

Serum ferritin and transferrin saturation in patients with chronic alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases.

Objectives: To compare serum ferritin concentration and transferrin saturation in patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic chronic liver diseases.

Design: Consecutive patients with liver diseases.

Setting: The department of internal medicine in a teaching hospital.

[Clinical experience with early hemochromatosis].

During the period 1986-93 22 patients were diagnosed as having primary hemochromatosis. Only 11 of them had elevated aminotransferases. Transferrin saturation was higher > 63% in 17 (77%) and serum-ferritin was higher in all the patients.