A comparison of four fibrosis indexes in chronic HCV: Development of new fibrosis-cirrhosis index (FCI)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis C can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. We compared readily available non-invasive fibrosis indexes for the fibrosis progression discrimination to find a better combination of existing non-invasive markers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied 157 HCV infected patients who underwent liver biopsy. In order to differentiate HCV fibrosis progression, readily available AAR, APRI, FI and FIB-4 serum indexes were tested in the patients. We derived a new fibrosis-cirrhosis index (FCI) comprised of ALP, bilirubin, serum albumin and platelet count. FCI = [(ALP × Bilirubin) / (Albumin × Platelet count)].</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Already established serum indexes AAR, APRI, FI and FIB-4 were able to stage liver fibrosis with correlation coefficient indexes 0.130, 0.444, 0.578 and 0.494, respectively. Our new fibrosis cirrhosis index FCI significantly correlated with the histological fibrosis stages F0-F1, F2-F3 and F4 (r = 0.818, p < 0.05) with AUROCs 0.932 and 0.996, respectively. The sensitivity and PPV of FCI at a cutoff value < 0.130 for predicting fibrosis stage F0-F1 was 81% and 82%, respectively with AUROC 0.932. Corresponding value of FCI at a cutoff value ≥1.25 for the prediction of cirrhosis was 86% and 100%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The fibrosis-cirrhosis index (FCI) accurately predicted fibrosis stages in HCV infected patients and seems more efficient than frequently used serum indexes.</p

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients: The value of MELD score and ChildPugh classification in predicting outcome

Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a challenging procedure in Patients with cirrhosis. This study aims to evaluate the safety and outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhosis and examines the value of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and ChildPugh classification in predicting morbidity. Materials and methods From January 1995 to July 2008, 220 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed in cirrhotic, ChildPugh class A and B patients. Indications included symptomatic gallbladder disease and cholecystitis. MELD score ranged between 8 and 27. ChildPugh class and MELD score were preoperatively calculated and associated with postoperative results. Data regarding patients and surgical outcome were retrospectively analyzed. Results No deaths occurred. Postoperative morbidity occurred in 19% of the patients and included hemorrhage, wound complications, and intra-abdominal collections controlled conservatively. Intraoperative difficulty due to liver bed bleeding was experienced in 19 patients. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was necessary in 12 cases. Median operative time was 95 min. Median hospital stay was 4 days. Patients with preoperative MELD score above 13 showed a tendency for higher complication rate postoperatively. ChildPugh classification did not seem to predict morbidity effectively. Conclusion Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely in selected patients with cirrhosis ChildPugh A and B and symptomatic cholelithiasis with acceptable morbidity. Some of its advantages are shorter operative time and reduced hospital stay. MELD score seems to predict morbidity more accurately than ChildPugh classification system. Copyright © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Impact of parietal cell autoantibodies and non-organ-specific autoantibodies on the treatment outcome of patients with hepatitis C virus infection: A pilot study

AIM: Various side effects have been reported in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who were treated with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), including the appearance or exacerbation of underlying autoimmune diseases and the development of a variety of organ and non-organ specific autoantibodies (NOSA). However, very few studies in adults have been strictly designed to address: whether the prevalence and the titre of organ and NOSA in serial samples of HCV-treated patients were affected by IFN-alpha, and the impact of these autoantibodies on the treatment outcome of HCV patients. METHODS: We investigated whether parietal cell autoantibodies (PCA) and/or NOSA were related with treatment-outcome in 57 HCV-treated patients (19 sustained-responders, 16 relapsers, 22 non-responders). Serum samples from patients were studied blindly at three time-points (entry, end of treatment and end of followup). For the detection of autoantibodies we used indirect immunofluorescence, commercial and in-house ELISAs. RESULTS: Sustained biochemical response was associated with ANA-negativity at the entry or end of follow up. Sustained virological response was associated with the absence of PCA at the entry. Combined virological and biochemical sustained response (CVBSR) was associated with the absence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) at the end of follow up and PCA-negativity at the entry. Sustained virological and CVBSR were associated with a reduction of ANA and SMA titers during therapy. CONCLUSION: Although PCA and/or NOSA seropositivity should not affect the decision to treat HCV patients, the presence of some of them such as ANA, PCA and SMA before treatment or their increase during therapy with IFN-alpha may predict a worse response, indicating the need for a closer monitoring during treatment of HCV patients positive for these autoantibodies. (C) 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Clinical significance of organ- and non-organ-specific autoantibodies on the response to anti-viral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C

Background: Development of organ- and non-organ-specific autoantibodies has been reported in hepatitis C virus patients treated with interferon-α plus/minus ribavirin. Aims: To address whether prevalence and the titre of gastric parietal autoantibodies and non-organ-specific autoantibody in hepatitis C virus-treated patients were affected by therapy, and if the development of these antibodies carries any clinical significance on the response to treatment, as few studies in adults have been strictly designed to address the above hypothesis. Methods: Samples at three time-points (baseline, end of treatment, end of follow-up) from 102 hepatitis C virus patients (39 sustained responders, 26 relapsers, 33 non-responders; four lost in follow-up) were studied for gastric parietal autoantibodies and/or non-organ-specific autoantibody by indirect immunofluorescence, commercial and in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Sustained virological and biochemical response was associated with antinuclear antibody absence (end of treatment or end of follow-up), decrease of smooth-muscle antibody titres during therapy and gastric parietal autoantibodies negativity at baseline. However, after multivariate analysis only antinuclear antibody positivity at the end of treatment and increase of smooth-muscle antibody titres were associated with worst treatment response, independently of known factors of worst treatment outcome. Conclusions: We were able to demonstrate a negative correlation between the efficacy of anti-viral treatment for hepatitis C virus and the presence of antinuclear antibody and smooth-muscle antibody before treatment, or their increase during therapy. © 2006 The Authors

Clinical significance of organ- and non-organ-specific autoantibodies on the response to anti-viral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C

Background Development of organ- and non-organ-specific autoantibodies has been reported in hepatitis C virus patients treated with interferon-alpha plus/minus ribavirin. Aims To address whether prevalence and the titre of gastric parietal autoantibodies and non-organ-specific autoantibody in hepatitis C virus-treated patients were affected by therapy, and if the development of these antibodies carries any clinical significance on the response to treatment, as few studies in adults have been strictly designed to address the above hypothesis. Methods Samples at three time-points (baseline, end of treatment, end of followup) from 102 hepatitis C virus patients (39 sustained responders, 26 relapsers, 33 non-responders; four lost in follow-up) were studied for gastric parietal autoantibodies and/or non-organ-specific autoantibody by indirect immunofluorescence, commercial and in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results Sustained virological and biochemical response was associated with antinuclear antibody absence (end of treatment or end of follow-up), decrease of smooth-muscle antibody titres during therapy and gastric parietal autoantibodies negativity at baseline. However, after multivariate analysis only antinuclear antibody positivity at the end of treatment and increase of smooth-muscle antibody titres were associated with worst treatment response, independently of known factors of worst treatment outcome. Conclusions We were able to demonstrate a negative correlation between the efficacy of anti-viral treatment for hepatitis C virus and the presence of antinuclear antibody and smooth-muscle antibody before treatment, or their increase during therapy

A survey of bloodborne viruses and associated risk behaviours in Greek prisons

Aims. To determine HIV and hepatitis infection prevalence and correlates with risk behaviour. Design. Gross-sectional study: voluntary. anonymous HIV, hepatitis (HCV, HBV and HDV) surveillance and questionnaire on risk factors. Setting. Korydallos Prison, Athens and rig Stefanos Prison, Patra, Greece. Participants. Of 544 drug users imprisoned for drug related offences, all completed the questionnaire and 533 blood samples were collected. Measurements. HIV Coy anti-HIV-1), HCV (by anti-HCV), HBV (by anti-HBc, HBsAg) and HDV (by anti-HDV) prevalence. Data on demography, legal status, drug use, sharing of injecting equipment. Findings. Of the 544 drug users, 375 (68.9%) had injected drugs (IDUs) at some time, 35% of whom had injected whilst in that prison. Of the 533 blood samples tested, one was positive for anti-HIV-l (0.19%), 310 for anti-HCV (58.2%), 306/531 (57.6%) for anti-HBc, 34/527 (6.5%) for HBsAg and 12/527 (2.3%) for anti-HDV. Prevalence rates for IDUs only were 0.27% for HIV-I, 80.6% for hepatitis C, 62.7% for hepatitis B and 3.3% for hepatitis D. Ninety-two per cent of IDUs injecting in prison shared needles, indicating that IDUs inject less but share more during incarceration. Multiple logistic regression revealed needle-sharing as the most important risk factor for HCV infection in IDUs. Prior knowledge of a positive hepatitis result did not appear to inhibit IDUs from practising risky behaviours in prison. Conclusions. The epidemic of hepatitis B and C among imprisoned IDUs identified by this study constitutes a major public health problem. Prevention programmes, such as counselling, HBV vaccination, community-based methadone maintenance treatment and syringe exchange schemes, are necessary in order to prevent a further spread