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Some theories suggest that the development of the immune response to clear hepatitis B triggers the intestinal tissue damage seen in celiac disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Although the role of hepatitis B virus infection in the development of autoimmune diseases has been widely discussed in the literature, it remains a controversial topic. Our objective is to review whether there is an association between hepatitis B and celiac disease and the particularities of vaccination against hepatitis B in celiac patients.
Algunas teorías sugieren que el desarrollo de la respuesta inmunitaria para la eliminación de la hepatitis B desencadena el daño del tejido intestinal observado en la enfermedad celíaca en individuos genéticamente predispuestos. Aunque el papel de la infección por el virus de la hepatitis B en el desarrollo de enfermedades autoinmunes se ha discutido ampliamente en la literatura, sigue siendo un tema controvertido. Nuestro objetivo es revisar si existe una asociación entre la hepatitis B y la enfermedad celíaca y las particularidades de la vacunación contra la hepatitis B en pacientes celíacos.
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The management of diabetes mellitus (DM) requires maintaining glycemic control, and patients must keep their blood glucose levels close to the normal range to reduce the risk of microvascular complications and cardiovascular events. While glycated hemoglobin (A1C) is currently the primary measure for glucose management and a key marker for long-term complications, it does not provide information on acute glycemic excursions and overall glycemic variability. These limitations may even be higher in some special situations, thereby compromising A1C accuracy, especially when wider glycemic variability is expected and/or when the glycemic goal is more stringent. To attain adequate glycemic control, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is more useful than self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), as it is more convenient and provides a greater amount of data. Flash Glucose Monitoring (isCGM /FGM) is a widely accepted option of CGM for measuring interstitial glucose levels in individuals with DM. However, its application under special conditions, such as pregnancy, patients on hemodialysis, patients with cirrhosis, during hospitalization in the intensive care unit and during physical exercise has not yet been fully validated. This review addresses some of these specific situations in which hypoglycemia should be avoided, or in pregnancy, where strict glycemic control is essential, and the application of isCGM/FGM could alleviate the shortcomings associated with poor glucose control or high glycemic variability, thereby contributing to high-quality care.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 , Diabetes Mellitus , Hipoglicemia , Gravidez , Feminino , Humanos , Automonitorização da Glicemia , Glicemia , Hemoglobinas Glicadas/análise , Glucose , HipoglicemiantesRESUMO
Liver cirrhosis is often complicated by an immunological imbalance known as cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate disturbances in circulating monocytes and dendritic cells in patients with acute decompensation (AD) of cirrhosis. The sample included 39 adult cirrhotic patients hospitalized for AD, 29 patients with stable cirrhosis (SC), and 30 healthy controls (CTR). Flow cytometry was used to analyze monocyte and dendritic cell subsets in whole blood and quantify cytokines in plasma samples. Cirrhotic groups showed higher frequencies of intermediate monocytes (iMo) than CTR. AD patients had lower percentages of nonclassical monocytes than CTR and SC. Cirrhotic patients had a profound reduction in absolute and relative dendritic cell numbers compared with CTR and showed higher plasmacytoid/classical dendritic cell ratios. Increased plasma levels of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A, elevated percentages of CD62L+ monocytes, and reduced HLA-DR expression on classical monocytes (cMo) were also observed in cirrhotic patients. Patients with more advanced liver disease showed increased cMo and reduced tissue macrophages (TiMas) frequencies. It was found that cMo percentages greater than 90.0% within the monocyte compartment and iMo and TiMas percentages lower than 5.7% and 8.6%, respectively, were associated with increased 90-day mortality. Monocytes and dendritic cells are deeply altered in cirrhotic patients, and subset profiles differ between stable and advanced liver disease. High cMo and low TiMas frequencies may be useful biomarkers of disease severity and mortality in liver cirrhosis.
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Células Dendríticas/imunologia , Células Dendríticas/metabolismo , Cirrose Hepática/etiologia , Cirrose Hepática/metabolismo , Monócitos/imunologia , Monócitos/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Biomarcadores , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Contagem de Células , Plasticidade Celular , Citocinas/metabolismo , Suscetibilidade a Doenças , Feminino , Humanos , Imunofenotipagem , Mediadores da Inflamação/metabolismo , Cirrose Hepática/diagnóstico , Cirrose Hepática/mortalidade , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prognóstico , Índice de Gravidade de DoençaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leakage is the deadliest complication of colonic procedures. Ghrelin is an orexigenic hormone with potent actions on growth hormone release and functions in the processes of growth, tissue inflammation, repair, and oxidative stress. We evaluated the hypothesis that the exogenous administration of ghrelin causes beneficial effects on the healing of colonic anastomosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to eight subgroups receiving postoperative intraperitoneal administration of ghrelin (23 µg/kg/d) or saline after a colonic anastomosis. The anastomotic tissue was evaluated on the third, seventh, and 14th postoperative days. Anastomotic bursting pressure, histological parameters, hydroxyproline content, and tissue oxidative stress markers were compared. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mean anastomotic bursting pressure in the ghrelin subgroup on the seventh postoperative day (P = 0.035). Histological evaluation demonstrated a significant difference in the neutrophilic infiltrate (P = 0.035) on the third and 14th d and in apoptosis (P = 0.004), granulation tissue (P = 0.011) and peritoneal inflammation (P = 0.014) on the 14th postoperative day. There was a statistically significant increase in the hydroxyproline content in the ghrelin subgroup on the 14th postoperative day (P = 0.043). There were significant differences in the nitrite tissue levels (P = 0.021) on day 3 and in reactive oxygen species (P = 0.012) on day 14. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of ghrelin had beneficial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, increasing the resistance of the anastomosis and the hydroxyproline tissue content in the postoperative period.
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Fístula Anastomótica/prevenção & controle , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Colo/cirurgia , Grelina/farmacologia , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Cuidados Pós-Operatórios/métodos , Cicatrização/efeitos dos fármacos , Anastomose Cirúrgica , Animais , Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Colo/efeitos dos fármacos , Esquema de Medicação , Grelina/uso terapêutico , Injeções Intraperitoneais , Masculino , Distribuição Aleatória , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Resumen El albendazol es un medicamento usado para tratar infecciones por helmintos y usualmente presenta pocos o ningún efecto secundario. A pesar de que hay un incremento transitorio de enzimas hepáticas luego de su uso, existe poca evidencia en la literatura en la que se reporte lesión hepática luego de automedicación con albendazol. En este informe, el paciente se presentó con hepatitis aguda luego de automedicarse con albendazol. El paciente cuenta además con una historia de episodios similares después de haber usado el fármaco. Se evaluada la causalidad con el método de evaluación de causalidad de Roussel Uclaf del Concejo para Organizaciones Internacionales de Ciencias Médicas, cuyo resultado fue un puntaje de 10, lo que indicó una alta probabilidad de lesión hepática inducida por albendazol al cabo de realizarse una investigación rigurosa y de excluir otras posibles causas de la condición física del paciente. En conclusión, aunque es ideal agilizar el proceso para combatir a los helmintos, es necesario intensificar la necesidad de monitorizaciones de calidad para evitar reacciones adversas como la hepatitis inducida por medicamentos. Asimismo, la automedicación de cualquier medicamento debe ser siempre evitada.
Abstract Albendazole is used to treat helminth infections and usually has minimal or no side effects. A transient increase in liver enzymes is common following its use, but little evidence of albendazole-induced liver damage has been reported in the literature. This study presents a patient who developed acute hepatitis following self-medication with albendazole. The patient also had a history of similar episodes in the past after using the drug. After a thorough investigation and exclusion of all other causes of the patient's clinical condition, the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method of the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences scale yielded a score of 10 points, indicating a high probability of albendazole-induced liver damage. In conclusion, expediting the process of combating helminths is ideal, but quality monitoring is required to avoid adverse reactions such as drug-induced hepatitis. Moreover, self-medication with any drug should always be discouraged.
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Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Albendazol , Doença Hepática Induzida por Substâncias e Drogas , Hepatite , Automedicação , Efeito Rebote , Helmintos , FígadoRESUMO
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in finding new biomarkers for diagnosis and prognostication of liver diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules involved in the regulation of gene expression and have been studied in relation to several conditions, including liver disease. Mature miRNAs can reach the bloodstream by passive release or by incorporation into lipoprotein complexes or microvesicles, and have stable and reproducible concentrations among individuals. In this review, we summarize studies involving circulating miRNAs sourced from the serum or plasma of patients with nontumoral liver diseases in attempt to bring insights in the use of miRNAs as biomarkers for diagnosis, as well as for prognosis of such diseases. In addition, we present pre-analytical aspects involving miRNA analysis and strategies for normalization of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) data related to the studies evaluated.
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MicroRNA Circulante/sangue , Hepatopatias/sangue , Hepatopatias/genética , Biomarcadores/sangue , HumanosAssuntos
Glicemia , Hemoglobinas Glicadas , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Humanos , Hipoglicemiantes , HepatopatiasRESUMO
Infection by multidrug resistant bacteria is arousing as a relevant issue among hospitalized subjects and is of particular interest in patients with cirrhosis given the frequent use of broad spectrum antibiotics and their altered immune response. We report the first case report of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) caused by Enterococcus casseliflavus and the sixth case of SBP caused by Enterococcus gallinarum.
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Enterococcus/patogenicidade , Infecções por Bactérias Gram-Positivas/microbiologia , Peritonite/microbiologia , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Enterococcus/classificação , Enterococcus/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Gentamicinas/uso terapêutico , Infecções por Bactérias Gram-Positivas/diagnóstico , Infecções por Bactérias Gram-Positivas/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Cirrose Hepática Alcoólica/complicações , Transplante de Fígado , Masculino , Meropeném , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica/complicações , Peritonite/diagnóstico , Peritonite/tratamento farmacológico , Tienamicinas/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a musculoskeletal inflammatory disease linked with immune responses to intestinal microbiota, and subclinical intestinal ulcerations that are closely related to inflammatory bowel diseases. Helicobacter pylori is a common cause of gastroduodenal ulceration, and anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) are associated with intestinal inflammation in both Crohn disease (CD) and SpA. We investigated the relationship between H. pylori and ASCA. Ninety-one patients with axial SpA and forty with CD were included. ASCA IgG/IgA and anti-H. pylori IgG titers were assessed by ELISA. The proportion of ASCA+ patients in the positive and negative anti-H. pylori IgG groups with SpA and CD were compared using Chi-square tests, and correlations were evaluated using the Spearman's coefficient. Anti-H. pylori IgG titers were significantly negatively correlated with the ASCA IgG (r = -0.563, p < 0.001) and IgA (r = -0.342, p = 0.019) titers in the axial SpA patients. The same pattern of negative correlation was also observed in the CD patients. Anti-H. pylori+ serology was significantly more frequent in axial SpA patients than in those with CD (52.4 vs. 18.4 %, p < 0.001), while ASCA+ serology was significantly more frequent in CD patients than in SpA patients. A negative correlation between the anti-H. pylori titers and ASCA was found for axial SpA and CD. Anti-H. pylori+ serology was more frequent in SpA than in CD, while ASCA positivity was more frequent in CD patients than in those with SpA. A possible influence of H. pylori on the development of ASCA needs further investigation.
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Anticorpos Antibacterianos/imunologia , Anticorpos Antifúngicos/imunologia , Doença de Crohn/imunologia , Helicobacter pylori/imunologia , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/imunologia , Espondilite Anquilosante/imunologia , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Humanos , Imunoglobulina A/imunologia , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Espondiloartropatias/imunologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Introducción: La peritonitis bacteriana espontánea (PBE) es una de las complicaciones infecciosas másfrecuentes que afectan a los pacientes con cirrosis y ascitis descompensadas, la cual presenta un alto índicede mortalidad. Objetivo: Identifi car los principales agentes causantes de la PBE en un Hospital Universitarioentre los años 2008 y 2011. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal de resultados positivos decultivos de líquido ascítico. Se obtuvieron variables clínicas y de laboratorio de los registros médicos.Resultados: Se incluyeron 47 pacientes de 55,7 ± 15,5 años de edad con cultivos positivos de líquidoascítico, de los cuales 70,2% eran hombres y 53,6% presentaba cirrosis. Todos los pacientes cirróticos presentaronGASA ≥ 1,1 y conteo promedio de neutrófi los en el líquido ascítico de 3.260,8 ± 5.122,9 células. Elmicrobio encontrado más frecuentemente fue el Escherichia coli (25,5%), seguido por el Klebsiella (14,9%), elEnterococcus (8,5%) y el Streptococcus (8,5%). No se observaron diferencias signifi cativas cuando se compararonlos pacientes cirróticos con los no cirróticos respecto a la prevalencia del E. coli (19,2% vs. 33,3%;p= 0,270), Klebsiella (19,2% vs. 9,5%; p= 0,436), Enterococcus (7,7% vs. 9,5%; p= 1,000) y Streptococcus(15,4% vs. 0,0%; p= 0,117). La presencia de infección causada por dos o más microbios es más común entrelas personas sin cirrosis (11,5% vs. 38,1%; p= 0,047).Conclusión: El perfi l microbiológico de los cultivos de líquido ascítico de este hospital es similar al de otrosestudios relacionados con el PBE, con prevalencia de bacterias Gram negativas
experienced by patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites, has a high mortality rate. Objective:Our objective was to identify the main agents causing SBP at a University Hospital between 2008 and 2011.Methods: A cross-sectional study of positive results from ascitic fl uid cultures was carried out. Clinical andlaboratory variables were extracted from the medical records.Results: 47 patients with positive ascitic fl uid cultures were included. Average age was 55.7 years ± 15.5years, 70.2% were men, and 53.6% of patients presented cirrhosis. All cirrhotic patients presented GASA≥ 1.1 and mean neutrophil count in the ascitic fl uid of 3,260.8 ± 5,122.9 cells. The most frequent germsfound were Escherichia coli (25.5%), Klebsiella (14.9%), Enterococcus (8.5%) and Streptococcus (8.5%). Nosignifi cant differences were observed between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients regarding the prevalenceof E.coli (19.2% vs. 33.3%; P=0.270), Klebsiella (19.2% vs. 9.5%; P=0,436), Enterococcus (7.7% vs. 9.5%;P=1.000) or Streptococcus (15.4% vs. 0.0%; P=0.117). The presence of infection by two or more germs wasmore common among individuals without cirrhosis (11.5% vs. 38.1%; P=0.047).Conclusion: The microbiological profi le of ascitic fl uid cultures showed a prevalence of gram-negativebacteria similar to other studies related to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
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Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Feminino , Líquido Ascítico , Cirrose Hepática , PeritoniteRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Despite the great advances in serological testing for transfusion-transmitted infections, the selection of blood donors by blood bank operators remains the only way to avoid transmission within the testing window period. Part of this selection is the self-exclusion form, on which the donors can exclude their blood from donation without any explanation. This study assessed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics related to positivity for viral hepatitis and to the use of the confidential self-exclusion (CSE) form. METHODS: This transversal study analyzed the data collected from blood donors' files in a hospital in Southern Brazil. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the clinical and epidemiological variables related to positive serologies of viral hepatitis and to whether the donor was self-excluded. RESULTS: Of the 3,180 donors included in this study, 0.1% tested positive for HBsAg, 2.1% for anti-HBc, and 0.9% for anti-HCV. When the 93 donors with positive serologies for viral hepatitis were compared with those who were negative, a greater proportion of the positive serology group was found to have had a history of blood transfusions (OR=4.908; 95%CI=1.628 - 14.799; p<0.01), had repeatedly donated (OR=2.147; 95%CI=1.236 - 3.729; p<0.01), and used the CSE form for self-exclusion (OR=7.139; 95%CI=2.045 - 24.923; p<0.01). No variables were independently associated with self-exclusion. CONCLUSIONS: A history of blood transfusion, repeated donations, and self-exclusion are factors that should be considered during viral hepatitis screenings in blood banks.
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Doadores de Sangue/estatística & dados numéricos , Seleção do Doador/métodos , Hepatite B/diagnóstico , Hepatite C/diagnóstico , Adulto , Brasil , Confidencialidade , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Autorrevelação , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Reação TransfusionalRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Bacterial infection is a frequent complication in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and is related to high mortality rates during follow-up of these individuals. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosing infection and to investigate the relationship between these biomarkers and mortality after hospital admission. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study that included cirrhotic patients admitted to the hospital due to complications of the disease. The diagnostic accuracy of CRP and PCT for the diagnosis of infection was evaluated by estimating the sensitivity and specificity and by measuring the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC). RESULTS: A total of 64 patients and 81 hospitalizations were analyzed during the study. The mean age was 54.31 ± 11.87 years with male predominance (68.8%). Significantly higher median CRP and PCT levels were observed among infected patients (P < 0.001). The AUROC of CRP and PCT for the diagnosis of infection were 0.835 ± 0.052 and 0.860 ± 0.047, respectively (P = 0.273). CRP levels > 29.5 exhibited sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 81% for the diagnosis of bacterial infection. Similarly, PCT levels > 1.10 showed sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 90%. Significantly higher levels of CRP (P = 0.026) and PCT (P = 0.001) were observed among those who died within three months after admission. CONCLUSION: CRP and PCT were reliable markers of bacterial infection in subjects admitted due to complications of liver cirrhosis and higher levels of these tests are related to short-term mortality in those patients.
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Infecções Bacterianas/etiologia , Infecções Bacterianas/mortalidade , Proteína C-Reativa/análise , Calcitonina/sangue , Cirrose Hepática/complicações , Cirrose Hepática/mortalidade , Precursores de Proteínas/sangue , Adulto , Idoso , Área Sob a Curva , Infecções Bacterianas/sangue , Infecções Bacterianas/diagnóstico , Infecções Bacterianas/imunologia , Biomarcadores/sangue , Peptídeo Relacionado com Gene de Calcitonina , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Feminino , Humanos , Cirrose Hepática/sangue , Cirrose Hepática/imunologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Admissão do Paciente , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Prognóstico , Estudos Prospectivos , Curva ROC , Fatores de Risco , Fatores de Tempo , Regulação para CimaRESUMO
Introduction Despite the great advances in serological testing for transfusion-transmitted infections, the selection of blood donors by blood bank operators remains the only way to avoid transmission within the testing window period. Part of this selection is the self-exclusion form, on which the donors can exclude their blood from donation without any explanation. This study assessed the clinical and epidemiological characteristics related to positivity for viral hepatitis and to the use of the confidential self-exclusion (CSE) form. Methods This transversal study analyzed the data collected from blood donors' files in a hospital in Southern Brazil. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified the clinical and epidemiological variables related to positive serologies of viral hepatitis and to whether the donor was self-excluded. Results Of the 3,180 donors included in this study, 0.1% tested positive for HBsAg, 2.1% for anti-HBc, and 0.9% for anti-HCV. When the 93 donors with positive serologies for viral hepatitis were compared with those who were negative, a greater proportion of the positive serology group was found to have had a history of blood transfusions (OR=4.908; 95%CI=1.628 - 14.799; p<0.01), had repeatedly donated (OR=2.147; 95%CI=1.236 - 3.729; p<0.01), and used the CSE form for self-exclusion (OR=7.139; 95%CI=2.045 - 24.923; p<0.01). No variables were independently associated with self-exclusion. Conclusions A history of blood transfusion, repeated donations, and self-exclusion are factors that should be considered during viral hepatitis screenings in blood banks. .
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Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Doadores de Sangue/estatística & dados numéricos , Seleção do Doador/métodos , Hepatite B/diagnóstico , Hepatite C/diagnóstico , Brasil , Transfusão de Sangue/efeitos adversos , Confidencialidade , Estudos Transversais , Autorrevelação , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Autoantibodies are often produced during infection with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), but it remains controversial whether they influence the biochemical profile and histological features of this disease. Therefore, this current study sought to describe these autoantibodies and evaluate their impact on the clinical and histological presentation of hepatitis C. METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical study assessed patients with HCV (RNA+) from October 2011 to July 2012. RESULTS: This study included 66 patients, with a mean age of 53.2±10.5 years. Of these patients, 60.6% were male, and 54.3% presented with genotype 1. Non-organ-specific autoantibodies (NOSA) were detected in 24% of the patients; of these, 7.6% were anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA+), 26.7% were anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA+) and 6.8% were liver kidney microsomal type 1 antibodies (LKM1+). With respect to the thyroid autoantibodies, 7.4% were anti-peroxidase (ATPO+) antibodies, and none were anti-thyroglobulin (ATG+) antibodies. Regarding celiac disease autoantibodies, 5.8% were endomysial antibodies (EMA+), and no transglutaminase (TTG+) antibodies were detected. Cryoglobulins were found in 2.1% of patients. When NOSA+ individuals were compared to patients without the presence of NOSAs, they exhibited higher median alkaline phosphatase (0.7 vs. 0.6 xULN; p=0.041), lower median platelet counts (141,500.0 vs. 180,500.0/mm 3 ; p=0.036), lower mean prothrombin activity (72.6±11.5% vs. 82.2±16.0%; p=0.012) and an increased prevalence of significant fibrosis (E≥2) (45.5% vs. 18.2%; p=0.012). There was also a tendency for a greater proportion of NOSA+ cases to have marked periportal activity (APP≥3) (44.5% vs. 15.6%; p=0.087). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the high prevalence of autoantibodies associated with HCV infection, it was observed that NOSA positivity was associated with a more severe histological and biochemical profile of hepatitis C infection.
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Autoanticorpos/sangue , Hepatite C Crônica/imunologia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Genótipo , Hepatite C Crônica/sangue , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , RNA Viral/sangueRESUMO
Introduction Autoantibodies are often produced during infection with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), but it remains controversial whether they influence the biochemical profile and histological features of this disease. Therefore, this current study sought to describe these autoantibodies and evaluate their impact on the clinical and histological presentation of hepatitis C. Methods This cross-sectional analytical study assessed patients with HCV (RNA+) from October 2011 to July 2012. Results This study included 66 patients, with a mean age of 53.2±10.5 years. Of these patients, 60.6% were male, and 54.3% presented with genotype 1. Non-organ-specific autoantibodies (NOSA) were detected in 24% of the patients; of these, 7.6% were anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA+), 26.7% were anti-smooth muscle antibodies (SMA+) and 6.8% were liver kidney microsomal type 1 antibodies (LKM1+). With respect to the thyroid autoantibodies, 7.4% were anti-peroxidase (ATPO+) antibodies, and none were anti-thyroglobulin (ATG+) antibodies. Regarding celiac disease autoantibodies, 5.8% were endomysial antibodies (EMA+), and no transglutaminase (TTG+) antibodies were detected. Cryoglobulins were found in 2.1% of patients. When NOSA+ individuals were compared to patients without the presence of NOSAs, they exhibited higher median alkaline phosphatase (0.7 vs. 0.6 xULN; p=0.041), lower median platelet counts (141,500.0 vs. 180,500.0/mm 3 ; p=0.036), lower mean prothrombin activity (72.6±11.5% vs. 82.2±16.0%; p=0.012) and an increased prevalence of significant fibrosis (E≥2) (45.5% vs. 18.2%; p=0.012). There was also a tendency for a greater proportion of NOSA+ cases to have marked periportal activity (APP≥3) (44.5% vs. 15.6%; p=0.087). Conclusions In addition to the high prevalence of autoantibodies associated with HCV infection, it was observed that NOSA ...
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Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Autoanticorpos/sangue , Hepatite C Crônica/imunologia , Estudos Transversais , Genótipo , Hepatite C Crônica/sangue , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , RNA Viral/sangueRESUMO
Relapsing polychondritis is an immune-mediated disease associated with inflammation in cartilaginous structures and other tissues throughout the body, particularly the ears, nose, eyes, joints, and respiratory tract. Although association with other conditions is seen in about one-third of the cases, liver involvement is not usually observed in those patients. We described a case of liver involvement in relapsing polychondritis, presenting with a predominantly cholestatic pattern. Other conditions associated with abnormal liver tests were excluded and the patient showed a prompt response to steroid therapy. We discuss the spectrum of the liver involvement in relapsing and review the literature.
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Colestase/etiologia , Policondrite Recidivante/diagnóstico , Biópsia , Colestase/tratamento farmacológico , Colestase/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Policondrite Recidivante/complicações , Policondrite Recidivante/tratamento farmacológico , Esteroides/uso terapêutico , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Recent reports suggest that hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers with serological markers of prior hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have more advanced liver fibrosis, irrespective of HBV-DNA detection. AIMS: We sought to assess the prevalence and impact of previous HBV infection in patients with HCV chronic infection. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included hepatitis B surface antigen- and human immunodeficiency virus-negative subjects with positive HCV-RNA. All patients had prior parenteral exposure as the probable source of HCV infection. Serum samples were tested for HBV-DNA using a commercial assay. The METAVIR system was used for histological analysis. RESULTS: One-hundred and eleven patients were evaluated. Thirty-one out of 111 patients (28%) tested positive for antihepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). HBV-DNA was not detected in any sample. Anti-HBc-positive patients showed higher histological grading, staging and a higher fibrosis progression rate. By multivariate analysis, anti-HBc-positivity was predictive of moderate to severe activity [odds ratio (OR)=3.532; P=0.032] and significant hepatic fibrosis (OR=3.364; P=0.017). After approximately 20 years of infection, advanced liver fibrosis (F3/F4) can be expected in 13% of anti-HBc-negative subjects who acquired HCV before the age of 30 and in 57% of those anti-HBc-positive patients who were infected by HCV after 30 years of age (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Previous HBV infection is common among HCV carriers and may exert a negative impact on the natural history of HCV infection, independently of the presence of significant HBV replication.