Demographic and anthropometrical analysis and genotype distribution of chronic hepatitis C patients treated in public and private reference centers in Brazil.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious public health problem, since 80% to 85% of HCV carriers develop a persistent infection that can progress into liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Considering that the response of hepatitis C patients to combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin depends on HCV characteristics as well as on host features, we made a retrospective analysis of demographic and anthropometrical data and HCV genotype distribution of chronic hepatitis C patients treated in public and private reference centers in Brazil. The medical records of 4,996 patients were reviewed, 81% from public and 19% from private institutions. Patients' median age was 46 years, and there was a higher prevalence of male (62%) and white patients (80%). The analysis of HCV-infecting strains showed a predominance of genotype 1 (64%) over genotypes 2 and 3. The patients' mean weight was 70.6 kg, and 65% of the patients weighed less than 77 kg. Overweight and obesity were observed in 37.8% and 13.6% of the patients, respectively. Since a body weight of 75 kg or less has been considered an independent factor that significantly increases the odds of achieving a sustained virological response, the Brazilian population seems to have a more favorable body weight profile to achieve a sustained response than the American and European populations. The finding that 65% of chronic hepatitis C patients have a body weight of 77 kg or less may have a positive pharmacoeconomic impact on the treatment of genotype 1 HCV patients with weight-based doses of peginterferon.

Endoscopic dilation of benign esophageal strictures: report on 1043 procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic dilation is considered the best treatment for most cases of benign esophageal stricture, although the best dilation technique and the kind of stricture is the most amenable to treatment is still controversial. We report on our experience on a large series of patients treated by dilation without the aid of fluoroscopy and compare the results of this therapy among patients with strictures from different causes. METHODS: Between 1992 and 1997, we performed 1043 dilation sessions on 153 patients. Treatment was considered adequate if the esophageal lumen could be dilated up to the size of a 42F catheter. If the stricture recurred after initial successful treatment, the stricture was dilated again up to a 42F catheter. RESULTS: One hundred forty patients (96 men, 44 women; mean age, 54.1 yr) were followed-up for a mean of 20.5 months (4 to 62 months). Stricture's etiology was postsurgical in 80 patients, peptic in 37, caustic in 12, and from other causes in 11 patients. Adequate dilation was achieved in 93.5% of the patients (131 of 140). Patients with peptic strictures needed a median of three sessions to be adequately dilated during follow-up in comparison to five sessions among patients with postsurgical or caustic strictures (p = 0.07). There were four perforations, with one death (2.8% and 0.7% per patient and 0.4% and 0.1% per session, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic dilation without the aid of fluoroscopy is safe and effective in relieving dysphagia caused by benign strictures of different causes, although repeated sessions are necessary because of stricture recurrence.