TT virus infection and pancreatic cancer: relationship or accidental coexistence.

TT virus (TTV) was first isolated in 1997 from the patient with acute post-transfusion hepatitis. This fact led to the conclusion that the virus was hepatotropic and could be one of the causative agents of acute hepatitis. Afterwards, however, the virus was found in other human tissues and serological studies revealed that it was widespread. Multiple tropisms of TTV and the fact of its high incidence in general population are considered to indicate no medical significance of TTV in human pathology. Here we present a report of two cases of TTV infection in patients who developed pancreas cancer. The patients were hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases due to hepatitis of unknown origin. Since serological and virological markers of common primary and secondary hepatotropic viruses were negative, TTV-DNA was found in serum and was believed to be the only causative agent with probable hepatotropic action. The patients later developed pancreas cancer and they underwent operation. The relationship is difficult to confirm, however the cases we present should be treated as a preliminary report and a comment on the real role of TTV in human pathology.

[Pegylated interferon-alfa 2a with ribavirin in chronic viral hepatitis C (final report)]. / Pegylowany interferon alpha-2a z rybawiryna w leczeniu przewleklego wirusowego zapalenia watroby typu C (raport koncowy z badan).

UNLABELLED: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2a [40KD] (Peg-IFNalpha-2a) plus ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C in an open-label programme in a routine clinical setting in Poland. Patients received Peg-IFNalpha-2a 180mg/week plus ribavirin 800-1200 mg/d for 48 weeks. Sustained virological response (SVR) was defined as undetectable HCV RNA (<50IU/mL) at the end of follow-up (week 72). 466 adults were enrolled. Most patients (87.3%) had genotype 1 infection. 440 subjects (94,4%) completed treatment. The overall SVR rate was 55.7%. A higher SVR rate was obtained in treatment-naïve patients (58.7%) than in relapsers (47.8%; p=0,048). SVR rates in genotype 1 and non-1 patients were 51.1% and 88.5%, respectively (p<0.001). There were significant higher SVR rates in patients with lower baseline fibrosis (p=0,01). There were no differences in SVRs by gender or viral load. Hemoglobin, leukocyte and neutrophil levels decreased significantly during treatment, but returned to baseline after the end of treatment. ALT levels decreased significantly during treatment in patients with and without an SVR. 38.4% of patients experienced adverse events like neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and other. There was one death (severe thrombocytopenia). CONCLUSIONS: The overall SVR achieved in this predominantly genotype 1 population was 55.7%. SVR rates were significantly higher in treatment-naïve patients, those with non-1 genotypes, and in patients with lower baseline fibrosis scores.

[Peginterferon alpha-2b in patients with chronic hepatitis C]. / Pegylowany intefeon alpha-62b i rybawiyna w leczen przewlekllego wirusoweg zapalenia watroby typu C.

150 adult patients were assigned pegylated interferon alpha-2b (once weekly 1.5 microg/kg) plus ribavirin (800-1200 mg depending on bodyweight). The treatment lasted 52 weeks and was completed by 139 persons (92.7%). Because of adverse events the treatment was interrupted in 7 persons, 4 other persons resigned. Periodical reduction of pegylated interferon doses was necessary in 19% and the reduction of ribavirin in 21% of patients. Six months after the completion of treatment HCV-RNA was negative in 82 (59%) patients. Neither hepatitis C virus genotype, nor viremia was marked in the study. The negative correlation between the degree of fibrosis in the liver tissue and the results of sustained virological response was stated. Degree of inflammation at liver tissue, sex, age over and less than 40 years did not correlate with the final virological results. The recurrence of infection happened at 7% of the treated persons (negative HCV-RNA directly after the treatment--positive 6 months after the completion). During the treatment period, and comparison with the results obtained before its implementation, statistically significantly decreased: hemoglobin concentration, the number of leukocytes, granulocytes and thrombocytes. They returned to the referential values half a year after the completion of treatment. The activity of enzymes (AIAT, AspAT, GGTP) was decreasing statistically significantly since the first weeks of the treatment till the end and remained significantly lower after 6 months. In both sexes statistically significant reduction of bodyweight was stated, while it increased during the six months after the completion of treatment. Adverse events, which mostly were mild and were not the cause of interruption of treatment, were numerous and occurred at different frequency, in the range from over 50% (flu-like) to 0.7%.

TT virus (TTV)--etiologic agent of acute hepatitis?

TT virus (TTV) was first isolated in 1997 from the patient with acute posttransfusion hepatitis. This fact led to the conclusion the virus was hepatotropic and could be considered as one of causative agents of acute hepatitis. However, later it was found in other human tissues and serological studies have revealed it is widespread. Multiple tropisms of TTV and the fact the virus is found in high rate of general population, are considered arguments for lack of medical significance of TTV in human pathology. Here we present a report of two cases of acute viral hepatitis in patients hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, in whom TTV-DNA was found in serum and serological and virological markers of common primary and secondary hepatotropic viruses were negative. The cases of acute hepatitis we present here should be treated as a preliminary report and the comment in the discussion about the real role of TTV in human pathology.