Measuring HBsAg and HBV DNA Levels in Cilegon

Background: Implication of measuring HBsAg level is still not recognized well. The aim of this study to recognize the correlation of serum HBsAg level and serum HBV DNA level between in HBeAg positive patients and HBeAg negative patients. Method: Quantitative serum HBV DNA were collected retrospectively between January 2006 and May 2009. We stratified the patients into four groups, that were; HBeAg positive and (a) ALT > 2 x upper limited normal (UNL) (group A),( b) ALT < 2 x UNL (group B), HBeAg negative and:( a) ALT > 2 x UNL (group C) (b) ALT < 2 x UNL (group D). We studied the correlation of serum HBsAg and HBV DNA level in each group. In addition, we also studied the accuracy of HBsAg titers to predict serum HBV DNA levels in each group by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Eighty nine patients were recruited in this study. Most of them 63 (70%) were male; the mean age of the patients was 38.49 ± 11.21 years. The number of patients with HBeAg positive and negative were 28 and 61 respectively. Based on the group stratification, the A, B, C and D groups we found 16, 12, 11, 50 respectively. There was a positive correlation between HBsAg titers and HBV DNA level in HBeAg positive patients but it was statistically not significant. Similar result was also found in HBeAg negative patients. There were positive correlation in group A, C, and D but they were not statistically significant. In group B the correlation was negative (r = -0.40). We found 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity of predicting serum HBV DNA levels in group A with HBsAg cut-off level of 7.91 IU/mL and baseline serum HBV DNA cut-off level > 20,000 IU/mL. In group B, C and D the accuracy to predict serum HBV DNA level were not so good . Conclusion: There were positive correlation between HBsAg titers and HBV DNA levels in HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative patients as demonstrated in the three group stratification; however, the correlation was negative in group HBeAg positive and ALT < 2 x UNL. We found excellent (100%) specificity and sensitivity for predicting serum HBV DNA level in group HBeAg positive and ALT > 2 x UNL with HBsAg cut-off level 7.91 IU/mL and baseline serum HBV DNA cut-off level > 20,000 IU/mL; while in other groups, the correlation were not so good

The Role of Specific Cellular Immune System in Chronic Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus is a RNA virus with very high speed replication. The clinical course of chronic hepatitis C is frequently asymptomatic like other hepatitis viruses. Infection of hepatitis virus will activate the immune system specifically as well as non-specifically. Mechanism of the immune system regulation is controlled by tissues consisting of antibodies cells and cytokines. In the process, all of the immune systems integrate and coordinate with the main agent-lymphocytes. Lymphocytes recognize antigens through the specific-surface antigen receptors. Following exposure to viral chronic hepatitis virus, viremia takes place within 1-2 weeks. In immuno-competent hosts, viremia will be preceded with the increase in transaminase enzyme and delayed seroconversion of antibodies will occur. Unlike other immunologic processes, these established antibodies are not protective in nature but serve only as the sign that someone has been infected by hepatitis C. In most cases of hepatitis C virus infection, this virus cannot be eradicated in the acute phase. Approximately 80-90% of acute infection progresses to be chronic infection and in 50% of the cases, there is an increase in transaminase enzyme that reveals that there is still liver cell damage. The degree of liver tissue damage in hepatitis depends on the number of virus infecting and the activity of cytotoxic T cells

Acalculous Cholecystitis Prevalence on Abdominal Ultrasonography Examination of HIV/HCV Co-infection Patients in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital

Background: Acalculous cholecystitis is commonly found in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to general population. Surprisingly, the signs and symptoms are unremarkable. On the other hand, HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is a common finding. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether HCV infection has any influence to HIV patients concerning acalculous cholecystitis prevalence. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed in HIV/HCV patients who visited AIDS study group clinic at Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital during September 2008 to February 2009. The patients who met the criteria were examined physically and underwent abdominal ultrasonography. Routine blood count, alanine aminotranferase, aspartate aminotransferase, cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) and serum albumin were recorded. Results: Of 63 patients underwent ultrasonography examination, we found acalculous cholecystitis in 33 patients (52.3%), cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in 2 patients, and 28 patients were considered normal. Patients with CD4 less than 200 cells, tend to have acalculous cholecystitis more than those who had CD4 more than 200 cells. Conclusion: The prevalence of acalculous cholecystitis among HIV/HCV co-infection is higher compared to those with HIV infection alone

Benign Recurrent Intrahepatic Cholestases

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis (BRIC) or idiopathic recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis is a rare case. It is a familial and autosomal recessive. The etiology of BRIC is still unknown. We report the case of a patient with BRIC who suffered from recurrent jaundice 7 times in 7 years that occurred for 1-3 months with spontaneous resolutieon. This patient received ursodeoxycholic acid, cholestiramine and prednisone. And within 2 months, the jaundice resolved together with other complaints

Study of Transaminases in Heroin Addicts

A recent increase in the number of drug users particularly of heroin has been noted in the community. A cross-sectional study on the level of transaminases as a representation of liver damage in drug users was done in privated hospital in Jakarta. Exclusion criteria were fever, serious illness or the multiple use of addictive drugs based on a urinary test. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was examined using reverse passive hemaglutination assay (RPHA) and the antibody of hepatitis C virus core-protein (anti- HCV) with dipstick anti-HCV. AST and ALT levels were determined using an automatic chemical analyzer. Of 132 patients who fulfill the criteria, 83.5 % were injection drug users (IDU). Means AST and ALT were significantly higher in IDU. Anti-HCV positive patients with increased AST and ALT were significantly higher compared to anti-HCV negative. The increase of transaminase was also consistent in injection drug users although no viral marker could be detected. In conclusion, the examination of transaminases in drug users especially IDU is important besides tests for hepatitis viral markers because there is often an increase with or without viral infection and this can be associated with hepatocellular damage

Effects of BCAA Enteral Nutrition to the Change of Nutritional Status and Hepatic Encephalopathy Parameters in Liver Cirrhosis Patient with Hepatic Encephalopathy

Background: This study was also conducted to determine the effects of high-branched chain amino acid (BCAA) enteral supplementation on altered nutritional status parameters (including plasma prealbumin) and hepatic encephalopathy parameters in liver cirrhosis patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Method: Our study was a randomized, single-blinded experimental study comparing between control group of liver cirrhosis patients with standard hospital liver diet (40 kcal/kgBW/day for male and 35 kcal/kgBW/day for female; protein 1.25 g/kgBW/day) and experimental group of liver cirrhosis patients with liver diet modification high in BCAA supplementation, which had similar protein and calorie calculation as the control group. Results: Subclinical hepatic encephalopathy prevalence was 32%. In the experimental group, prealbumin plasma, arm circumference, body weight and body mass index (BMI) increased; whereas in the control group, prealbumin plasma, arm circumference, body weight and BMI decreased (p < 0.05). In experimental group, the ammonia level significantly decreased (p < 0.01). Clinical hepatic encephalopathy, flapping tremor, the number connection test (NCT) did not show significant changes between the two groups. However, there was worsening trend in the control group. Level of albumin, bilirubin, AST, ALT did not show any significant difference between both groups. Conclusion: High-BCAA enteral supplementation which is administered to liver cirrhosis patients with hepatic encephalopathy for 14 days could improve plasma prealbumin level, arm circumference, body weight, BMI and could decrease the plasma ammonia level. However, it does not improve Fischer ratio, psychometric test and electroencephalograph