[Electronic data processing of liver scintigrams in chronic hepatitis (author's transl)]. / Elektronische Datenverarbeitung von Leberszintigrammen bei der chronischen Hepatitis.

Following administration of 150 muCi of colloidal 198Au numerical scintigrams of the liver and the spleen were obtained in about 200 patients with various forms of chronic hepatitis or with liver cirrhosis as well as in 24 control persons. The data so obtained were electronically processed and the relative activities of the liver, the spleen and both liver lobes compared. Differences of diagnostic value were observed between the various stages of chronic hepatitis.

[The rotor syndrome]. / Das Rotor-Syndrom.

Case reports of 4 patients with Rotor syndrome are given, including clinical chemistry values for liver function, BSP-test, histology, as well as sequential scintigraphy results with 131I-BSP. All results were normal, except serum bilirubin, which was increased, conjugated bilirubin making up for the largest part of the increase. The BSP-curve showed elevated 45-minute-values and liver scintigraphy disturbed hepatic uptake and storage of BSP. Therapy with phenobarbital led to a decrease of serum levels of bilirubin and BSP-retention.

Improvement of perfusion-flow in the isolated rat liver, under the influence of streptase.

Accumulation of radioactive material in the isolated rat liver was noted when 125I-fibrinogen was added to the perfusing medium. Owing to an enhanced production of fibrinogen and to a diminished fibrinolysis, fibrin deposits were found to occur in the capillaries of fhe isolated liver. This would cause a decrease of hepatic flow and an impairment of the nutrition of this organ which leads to subsequent necrosis. Administration of streptase removed the fibrin deposits and restored the perfusive flow in the isolated liver.

[Post-transfusion hepatitis]. / Aspecte ale hepatitei posttransfuzionale (HPT).

The incidence, aetiology, evolution, prognosis and treatment of PTH was studied in 253 cases selected from among 7224 patients with acute viral hepatitis, admitted to hospital during the 1973-1979 period. Following the rational application of transfusion and elimination of hepatitis virus B carriers, there was a three-fold decrease in the frequency of PTH. Control of the donors by contra-immunoelectrophoresis showed that PTH type B represents at least 26.8% of the total number of PTH. In order to eliminate PTH type B a more sensitive technique should be used in order to detect HBs Ag in the donors. The treatment being complex and hospitalization prolonged, the cost of PTH patients is greater than that of acute viral hepatitis patients, in general, justifying the additional expenses required for the prevention of PTH.

[Incidence of antibodies against hepatitis virus A (anti-HA) in a non-selected urban population]. / Frecventa anticorpilor fata de virusul hepatitei A (anti-HA) într-o populatie urbana neselectata.

Anti-HA antibodies were determined by radioimmunoassay according to the HAVAB-ABBOTT technique in 244 subjects, of whom 194 without hepatic involvement, 25 with non B hva and 25 former non B hva patients. Anti-HA anti-bodies were found in 67% of the healthy subjects and 100% of the patients and former hva cases. The incidence of anti-HA antibodies increases with age being in 30% of children and 83.5% of adults. A peak incidence was found between the ages 21 and 30 years. In the district investigated subclinical infection with HVA was frequent, beginning in childhood and up to the age of 30 years. The qualitative HAVAB test is adequate for epidemiological investigations; a quantitative variant is necessary for the diagnosis.

Late hypothyroidism following subacute thyroiditis.

The authors followed up the incidence of permanent hypothyroidism in 35 patients with subacute thyroiditis (SAT) in their past history. The investigations were made one to four years after the acute episode. Ten of these presented repeated recurrences despite the therapy with glucocorticoids. The investigations included serum determination by RIA of T4, T3, TSH and thyroglobulin as well as of circulating thyroid antibodies. Permanent hypothyroidism subsequent to SAT occurred in two patients. In one of them it occurred following thyroid surgery performed for repeated recurrences. Both patients presented high levels of circulating thyroglobulin antibodies suggesting a possible transition to autoimmune thyroiditis. In the authors' opinion permanent hypothyroidism is likely to develop after SAT only in association with an autoimmune process or after thyroid surgery.