Hepatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hepatitis, including details on hepatitis a, b, c, causes, symptoms.

Liver dysfunction after chemotherapy in lymphoma patients infected with hepatitis C.

Dizdar O, Tapan U, Aksoy S, Harputluoglu H, Kilickap S, Barista I

Division of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. omerdiz@yahoo.com

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers undergoing chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy is a well-documented complication. However, data on the consequence of chemotherapy on the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HCV+ patients have been controversial. Here, we review the current knowledge about the complications related to HCV in lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy/immunosuppressive therapy. Although less frequent than HBV, these complications occur in a subset of patients with mortality rates up to 45%. Therefore, baseline screening for HBV and HCV before initiation of chemotherapy is crucial. High-risk patients having chronic active hepatitis, high baseline HCV viral load, HBV co-infection and receiving cytotoxic drugs, corticosteroids and rituximab (particularly if combined) should be closely monitored for serum transaminase, bilirubin and HCV RNA levels.

Published 10 April 2008 in Eur J Haematol, 80(5): 381-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

Articles on Hepatitis published 4 April 2008:

Comparison of reverse hybridization, microarray, and sequence analysis for genotyping hepatitis B virus.   J Clin Microbiol, 46(4): 1268-73.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotyping has become important in epidemiological and clinical diagnoses, given the relationship between the viral genotype and the progression of disease or the appearance of antiviral resistance. Since genotyping by sequence and phylogenetic analyses is not convenient in the clinical setting, we evaluated InnoLipa HBV genotyping (Innogenetics, Belgium) and an HBV DNA-Chip (bioMerieux, France) prototype assay and compared their sequencing of the gold standard S gene, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Evaluation of the Abbott RealTime HBV DNA assay and comparison to the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan 48 assay in monitoring patients with chronic cases of hepatitis B.   J Clin Microbiol, 46(4): 1517-9.

The new Abbott RealTime hepatitis B virus (HBV) assay was compared to the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan assay with 128 serum samples from patients with chronic hepatitis B. There was an excellent correlation (r = 0.961) between the two assays, with the Abbott RealTime test showing at least equivalent sensitivity and a slightly wider dynamic range than the Cobas TaqMan assay. By coupling high sensitivity with a large dynamic range, the Abbott RealTime HBV assay is useful in monitoring the ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Hepatitis published 2 April 2008:

Steatohepatitis: Risk factors and impact on disease severity in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfection.   Hepatology, 47(4): 1118-27.

Hepatic steatosis has been reported in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection. However, the features of steatohepatitis, including cytologic ballooning and pericellular fibrosis, its risk factors, and the impact on disease severity in such patients are unknown. To assess this, we prospectively reviewed liver histology in consecutive coinfected patients to define the prevalence and severity of the features of steatohepatitis, its risk factors, and its impact on ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Hepatitis B virus DNA in liver tissue and risk for hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease. A prospective study.   Intervirology, 51(1): 59-68.

AIMS: To prospectively study whether occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can promote the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease. In addition, to evaluate the difference among HBV DNA-negative patients and patients with high and low HBV copy numbers. METHODS: A total of 167 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease without HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) were studied. HBV DNA in liver tissue was determined using ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Changing trends in hepatitis C-related mortality in the United States, 1995-2004.   Hepatology, 47(4): 1128-35.

The disease burden and mortality from hepatitis C are predicted to increase in the United States as the number of persons with long-standing chronic infection grows. We analyzed hepatitis C mortality rates derived from US Census and multiple-cause-of-death data for 1995-2004. Deaths were considered hepatitis C-related if: (1) hepatitis C was the underlying cause of death, (2) chronic liver disease was the underlying cause and hepatitis C was a contributing cause, or (3) human immunodeficiency ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Health-related quality of life in chronic hepatitis B patients.   Hepatology, 47(4): 1108-17.

The relationship between stages of chronic hepatitis B liver disease and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important aspect of the overall management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, yet is not well characterized. Consequently we sought to examine HRQoL in HBV patients, stratified by disease severity, compared with normal controls and hypertensive patients, using the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and the EQ-5D self-report questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analyses ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

MicroRNA gene expression profile of hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.   Hepatology, 47(4): 1223-32.

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs) through translational repression or RNA degradation. Many fundamental biological processes are modulated by microRNAs, and an important role for microRNAs in carcinogenesis is emerging. Because understanding the pathogenesis of viral-associated hepatocellular carcinomas is important in developing effective means of classification, prognosis, and therapy, we examined the microRNA expression ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Hepatitis C genotype 4: What we know and what we don't yet know.   Hepatology, 47(4): 1371-83.

Hepatitis C virus genotype 4 (HCV-4) is the most common variant of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Middle East and Africa, particularly Egypt. This region has the highest prevelance of HCV worldwide, with more than 90% of infections due to genotype 4. HCV-4 has recently spread in several Western countries, particularly in Europe, due to variations in population structure, immigration, and routes of transmission. The features of HCV-4 infection and the appropriate therapeutic regimen have not ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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