1年以上血透患者HCV感染状况的调查

目的 研究1年以上的长期血液透析患者丙型肝炎（HCV）感染状况。方法 用ELISA法和RT－PCR法检测137例长期血透患者血清中的抗－HCV和HCVRNA,并且同时检测谷丙转氨酶（ALT）和谷草转氨酶（AST）,计算其变动率。结果 透析时间超过1年以上的137例患者中仅抗－HCV阳性8例,仅HCV－RNA阳性13例,抗－HCV与HCVRNA同时阳性者24例,感染率34．3％。且透析时间小于2年的,HCV感染率为15％,透析时间大于2年以上的其感染率增至37．6％。结论 血透患者中HCV的感染应引起重视,透析的年限越长,被HCV感染的机率就越大。酶学指证的变动率不能作为长期透析患者HCV感染的敏感指标。     

283例慢性丙型肝炎患者感染12至25年后肝脏超声检查变化的特点

目的　了解我国人群HCV感染的慢性化经过和临床转归。方法　 2 83例因单采血浆而感染丙型肝炎者 ,男性 137例 ,女性 14 6例。超声检查 ,ALT、AST、GGT采用速率法 ,抗 HCV采用ELISA方法。统计学方法采用 χ2 检验、u检验、秩和检验。结果　 (1)超声诊断为重度慢性肝炎 15例 ,占5 3% ;肝硬化 4例 ,占 1 4 % ;共计 6 7%。 (2 )重度慢性肝炎和肝硬化组感染年龄 <4 0岁的发生率为6 72 % ,感染年龄 >4 0岁的发生率为 6 6 6 % ,两组发病率差异无显著意义。 (3)重度慢性肝炎和肝硬化的发生率在男性为 12 4 % ,女性为 1 3% ,男性的发生率明显高于女性 ,差异有显著意义。 (4) 2 83例感染者中 2 6 6例测定了抗 HCV ,阳性率 84 5 8% ,抗 HCV阳性组的慢性肝炎重度、肝硬化的发生率分别为 6 6 %、1 7% ,共计 8 3%。 (5 )重度慢性肝炎和肝硬化组的ALT、AST、GGT均值明显高于其他组。结论　HCV感染极易慢性化 ,但肝硬化的发生率没有国外文献报道的那么高。未发现失代偿性肝硬化、肝癌的病例。HCV感染者中男性的病情重于女性。感染时的年龄对HCV感染的预后影响不大。HCV感染者较易发生脂肪肝 ,HCV感染导致的肝硬化多为活动性肝硬化。在缺乏肝活检的情况下 ,超声检查有助于病情的判断。     

抗丙型肝炎药物研究进展——药物、靶点和耐药性

<正>丙型肝炎为丙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis C virus,HCV)引起的全球性传染病。目前全球感染率约为3%,感染者约2亿人[1]。我国在2010年公布了一般人群的血清抗HCV阳性率为0.43%。丙型肝炎以输血为主要传播途径。15%~40%的感染者6个月内感染症状可自行消失[2-3],剩余60%~85%发展为慢性丙型肝炎[4],其中约20%的慢性丙型肝炎患者在慢性感染HCV后20年左右的时间内发展为肝硬化甚至肝脏衰竭或HCV相关的肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)[5]。目前丙型肝炎的预防     

血清HCV RNA检测在预防输血后丙型肝炎中的意义

目的 探讨血清HCV RNA检测在预防输血后丙型肝炎中的意义。方法 用ELISA法检测2000年1月至2003年12月末抗．HCV阴性的全血标本56400份次，再进行RT-PCR（荧光适时技术）检测HCV RNA，并对输过HCV RNA筛查阴性血液的患者进行追查。结果 HCVRNA阳性率为2．5‰（146／56400）。对输过HCVRNA筛查阴性血液的患者追查结果，无一例发生输血后丙型肝炎。结论 对抗-HCV阴性的血液标本用敏感的试剂进行HCV RNA检测在预防输血后丙型肝炎中不但有效，而且可行。     

山西省不同人群丙型肝炎病毒的基因分型研究

目的探索丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)基因型在山西省不同人群中的分布规律及流行的优势型。方法用RT-PCR和型特异性引物逆转录巢式PCR法,对山西省271例抗HCV阳性的丙型肝炎病人、原发性肝细胞癌患者、非肝癌癌症患者、性关系混乱者和性病患者、职业献血员、吸毒者及公共场所从业人员进行了HCVRNA的检测和基因分型。结果271份抗HCV阳性标本中,HCVRNA检出率为45.45%～89.66%,平均67.52%。以丙型肝炎病人、献血员和吸毒者的HCVRNA检出率较高(76.9%～89.7%),χ2=30.44,P<0.01。在133份HCVRNA阳性血清中,仅检出了108例1b型、2a型和此两种基因型的混合感染者。未检出1a型、2b型和3a型。其中1b型占80.00%(88例),2a型占11.81%(13例),混合型占6.36%(7例)。在肝癌患者和献血员中,仅检出1b型的感染;非肝癌的其他癌症患者中,未发现混合感染。各基因型在各人群中的分布比例也有差别,丙型肝炎患者、非肝癌的其他癌症患者、吸毒者和从业人员的各基因型构成比较接近,均以1b型为主。而性病患者和性关系混乱者中1b型和2a型感染者比例相等。结论山西省HCV的基因以1b型占优势。     

不同感染途径慢性丙型肝炎患者HCV基因型分布的差异

目的 探讨丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)基因型在中国部分城市输血与非输血途径感染者之间的分布。方法 对来自中国南北地区9个城市的慢性HCV肝炎患者的血清，用5′非编码区酶切分型方法进行HCV基因分型，分析HCV基因型在不同地区和感染途径之间的分布差异。结果 在219例慢性HCV肝炎血清中，有214例(97．7％)检测出HCV基因型，其中197例为单基因型HCV感染，主要的HCV流行株为1b(76．64％)和2a(18．22％)，并有5．14％的患者感染基因3b型，且首次在中国检测出4a型。HCV在中国南北地区城市的分布差异无显著意义，但输血感染者和非输血感染者之间的HCV基因型分布差异有显著意义，输血感染者中，93．88％为单基因型HCV感染，1b占76．87％，高于非输血途径感染患者中单基因型HCV感染百分率(86．57％)和1b的感染百分率(58．21％)，非输血感染者中的混合HCV基因型比例(13．43％)高于输血感染者(6．12％)。结论 中国南北部分地区的HCV基因型分布差异无显著意义，但经输血感染和非输血感染的慢性丙型肝炎患者之间的HCV基因型分布差异有显著意义。     

无症状供血者HCV感染与HCV携带者的治疗

丙型肝炎是世界范围的一种常见感染，随着检查技术的发展，大量无症状HCV携带者被发现，据初步统计，全世界供血者有抗一HCV阳性者就占0．3～1．5％。有学者对248例抗一HCV阳性的无症状供血者做前瞻性研究，通过检测血清ALT水平及PCR方法检测HCVRNA，其中86％为慢性HCV感染；14％为HCV感染痊愈。关于感染途径，调查显示75％的人员有肠道外感染因素。经逻辑回归模式分析，其中具有显著性危险因素为：输血史、鼻吸人可卡因史、注射药物史。性混乱史（包括有性传播疾病史，卖淫或性伴侣超过5个／年）和妇女耳垂钻孔行为。家庭内传播…     

慢性丙型肝炎患者血清TNF-α水平与干扰素-α治疗的关系及影响因素

目的 探讨慢性丙型肝炎(慢丙肝)患者血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平与病变程度、病毒学指标、抗病毒治疗应答效果之间的相关性.方法 102例慢丙肝和30例健康对照检测血清TNF-α水平,慢丙肝按肝功实验室检查异常程度分为轻度44例、中度34例、重度24例,慢丙肝进行血肝功能检测、HCV RNA载量、HCV基因型的检测.结果 血清TNF-α水平慢丙肝患者高于健康对照;肝功能异常轻度者低于中度和重度;与CHE呈正相关;与DBIL呈负相关;与HCV RNA载量无相关性;在不同HCV基因型感染者间差异无统计学意义;与干扰素-α治疗疗效无关.结论 慢丙肝患者血清TNF-α水平高于健康对照组,并与病变程度相关,与干扰素-α治疗疗效无关.     

174例病毒性肝炎肝阻抗血流图分析

目的 :了解各型病毒性肝炎的肝血液循环变化。方法 :将 174例病毒性肝炎患者分为 :急性 ( 73例 )、慢性轻度 ( 39例 )、慢性中度 ( 2 7例 )、慢性重度 ( 34例 )病毒性肝炎 4组。对照组 6 0例为本院健康职工。空腹、平卧、平静呼气末屏气检测 ,存盘分析。结果 :与对照组比较 ,①各组肝炎形态异常率为 :急性组 ,4 5 .2 1% ( 33/ 73) ;慢性轻度组 5 3.85 % ( 2 1/39) ;慢性中度组 ,77.78% ( 2 1/ 2 7) ;慢性重度组 ,82 .35 % ( 2 8/ 34) ;②各定量指标由急性、慢性轻度、慢性中度到慢性重度 ,差异逐渐明显 (P <0 .0 5～ 0 .0 1)。结论 :由急性病毒性肝炎到慢性重度病毒性肝炎 ,随着病情进展 ,肝阻抗血流图异常渐明显 ,表明肝脏血液循环障碍渐加重 ,与门静脉高压的发生机理的肝内血液循环障碍相一致     

血透患者乙、丙、庚型肝炎病毒感染检测的临床意义

目的:研究血透患者(HDP)乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)、丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)、庚型肝炎病毒(HGV)的感染状况、相关因素及防治措施。方法:对68例血透患者用ELISA法检测HBsAg、抗HBs、HBeAg、抗HBe、抗HBc、抗HCV、抗HGV;用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测HBVDNA、HCVRNA。结果:输血组肝炎病毒感染率明显高于单纯血透组(P<0.01)。血透患者的HCV、HGV感染率明显高于对照组(P<0.01),HBV感染率高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:血透患者HCV、HGV、HBV感染率高,输血和血制品是主要因素,其次与透析器及管路的交叉使用有关。应尽量减少输血,加强透析过程中的消毒隔离措施。     

Long-term clinical and virological outcomes of chronic hepatitis C after successful interferon therapy

Clinical relevance of occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection(s) remains uncertain years after interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C. By 1993, 38 sustained virological responders (SVRs) showing HCV RNA clearance at 6 months post-treatment and 37 biochemical responders (BRs) with end-of-treatment alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and subsequent 6-month stabilization within 2 x the upper limit of normal (ULN) were enrolled. They were monitored for 4.4-12 years (median 6.8), then 15 SVRs and 15 BRs underwent paired liver biopsies. Biopsy samples were tested for positive and negative HCV RNA strands, and HBV DNA surface and X sequences. All SVRs showed sustained serum HCV RNA clearance during follow-up, but hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in 4 (11%) SVRs. On paired liver biopsies, histological improvement was significant, but mild inflammation persisted in 87% of SVRs. Nonetheless, no HCV RNA sequence was amplified from liver tissues, and HBV DNA sequences were found in only one SVR. As for BRs, biochemical flare-up of >2 x ULN occurred at a 5-year risk of 41% (95% CI 24.7-56.4). The event was unpredictable but controllable by retreatment in 70%. Liver tissues after follow-up contained positive and negative HCV RNA strands, but no HBV DNA sequence was amplified. These results suggest that SVRs, albeit free of occult HCV and/or HBV infection(s) over a decade, retain mild liver inflammation and the risk of HCC. Occult HBV was also shown uninvolved in flare-up during follow-up of BRs.     

Long-term patterns of hepatitis C virus RNA concentrations in a cohort of HIV seronegative men with bleeding disorders

Little is known about the natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA concentrations over the course of infection. The aim of this study was to describe the natural history of HCV RNA concentrations in 85 HIV negative men with bleeding disorders infected with HCV for up to 30 years. HCV RNA concentrations were measured in yearly serum samples using a branched DNA assay. HCV RNA concentrations increased over time in this cohort. Two years after exposure to HCV, 53% of patients had undetectable concentrations and no patients had levels >7 log(10)(genome Eq/ml); by 20 years, these proportions had changed to 23% and 32% respectively. The RNA concentration correlated strongly with alanine aminotransferase (ALT; correlations of 0.41-0.71 depending on stage of infection) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 0.20-0.51) levels. Patients with haemophilia A had significantly higher HCV concentrations than those with other disorders. An effect of HCV genotype on HCV RNA concentrations became nonsignificant after excluding patients who were persistently HCV PCR negative and who could not be genotyped. The correlation of HCV RNA concentrations with other markers of liver function, such as ALT, means that studies with clinical outcomes are required to assess whether HCV RNA concentrations provide additional prognostic information to that provided by these other markers.     

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody among Korean adults.

To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Korean adults and to present the putative route of HCV transmission among them, serum samples from 4917 adults older than 20 years of age were tested for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV), and histories of blood transfusion and other pertinent information were obtained by self-administered questionnaires. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 1.7%; prevalence was 1.4% in subjects with normal levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 3.3% in those with slightly elevated and 5.9% in those with markedly elevated levels of the enzymes. The prevalence of anti-HCV increased with increasing age (P < 0.01), but was not associated with blood transfusion. The present study suggests that the prevalence of HCV infection was 1.4% and that the major routes of HCV transmission may be other than blood transfusion in healthy Korean adults.     

Human chronic fascioliasis: a possible cause of unexplained abnormal liver tests

Fascioliasis is a cause of hepatic disease. Hepatitis B and C viruses are important causative factors in chronic liver disease. In this study, the frequency of hepatitis B (HBV) and/or hepatitis C (HCV) in cases of chronic human fascioliasis is studied. Egg count, indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT), haemoglobin level, total leucocyte and eosinophil counts, serum bilirubin, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) are performed. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), arylsulphatase (ASA) and lipid peroxide levels are determined. Results showed that levels of the latter group of enzymes were increased significantly in cases of chronic fascioliasis. Therefore, determination of GGT, ASA and lipid peroxide should be added to the list of liver function test used to diagnose this disease. Hepatitis B was not detected in any of the 27 chronic fascioliasis patients studied, while HCV was found in only two (7%) cases. However, greater disturbance of biochemical parameters was seen in patients with combined fascioliasis and HCV infection.     

Minimal change disease in a patient receiving IFN-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with several extrahepatic syndromes. The principal types of renal disorders associated with chronic HCV infection are cryoglobulinemia or noncryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) may precipitate or exacerbate the occurrence of MPGN. Our patient was a 32-year-old man who tested positive for HCV in July 1997. The patient was treated with IFN-alpha in another medical center for 6 months because his liver biopsy showed chronic active hepatitis. In December 1998, he applied to our clinic for a follow-up examination. The level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was 44 U/L, and that of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 69 U/L. HCV RNA was positive in serum, and chronic HCV infection was detected by liver biopsy. IFN-alpha therapy (5 million U/day) was administered for 6 months longer. In May 1999, the patient came to our polyclinic with edema of the feet and legs. We detected proteinuria, serum cholesterol of 269 mg/dl, AST of 50 U/L, ALT of 41 U/L, serum total protein of 3.4 g/dl, serum albumin of 1.2 g/dl, positive cryoglobulin, and urine protein of 9.84 g/day. Cryoglobulinemic MPGN was suspected and kidney biopsy was performed, resulting in a diagnosis of minimal change disease (MCD).     

Clinical implications of coinfection with a novel DNA virus (TTV) in hepatitis C virus carriers on maintenance hemodialysis.

A novel hepatitis-associated DNA virus, designated as transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV), was identified recently. We investigated the frequency of TTV viremia in hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers on maintenance hemodialysis to determine whether TTV coinfection has any clinical relevance. The subjects were 50 hemodialysis patients who had been followed over 4 years after diagnosis of HCV infection. Stored serum samples derived from each patient every 12th month after enrollment were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to amplify TTV DNA and HCV RNA. At enrollment, TTV viremia was detected in 24 (48%) HCV-positive patients irrespective of the number of previous blood transfusions and the duration of hemodialysis. The presence of TTV viremia had no relation to serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, HCV viremic levels or HCV genotypes. After enrollment, HCV infection persisted in all patients over the 4-year follow-up period, whereas spontaneous resolution of TTV infection was observed in 7 (29%) of the 24 TTV viremic cases (annual rate 7.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8-25.5%). Evidence for TTV infection was found in 4 (15%) of the 26 TTV nonviremic patients (annual incidence 3.9%, 95% CI 0.1-19. 6%). The relationship between the ALT profile and TTV infection during follow up was not evident. Active TTV coinfection occurs frequently in HCV carriers undergoing hemodialysis but exerts no biochemical or virological influence on the underlying hepatitis C. Lack of disease association and the frequent spontaneous resolution of infection suggest that the clinical significance of TTV infection remains unclear.     

Role of interleukin 28-B in the spontaneous and treatment-related clearance of HCV infection in patients with chronic HBV/HCV dual infection

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the role of IL28-B polymorphism in the clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)/HCV coinfection during a long-term follow-up. Thirty-four consecutive patients with HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive/anti-HCV-positive chronic hepatitis were retrospectively enrolled at their first liver biopsy (LB). For all patients, a documented clinical, serological and virological follow-up of at least 3 years (range 3–16 years) after LB and a sample of whole blood for genetic evaluation were available. Of the 24 patients with detectable serum HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA at their first observation, three cleared both HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA, 12 HCV-RNA and five HBV-DNA. Of the seven HBV DNA-positive/HCV RNA-negative patients at enrolment, three cleared HBV-DNA and one remained HBV DNA-positive and became HCV RNA-positive. All three HBV DNA-negative/HCV RNA-positive patients remained unchanged. Compared with the 12 patients with HCV persistence, the 15 patients who cleared HCV were younger, had lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HCV load, and histological activity index (HAI) and fibrosis score, more frequently had IL28-B CC variant, had been receiving an interferon-based treatment and less frequently cleared serum HBV-DNA. To investigate the relationship between the IL28-B variants and clearance of HCV, excluding the confounding effect of interferon-based treatment, the Mantel–Haenszel test was used, which indicated an association between HCV clearance and IL28-B variants (p?=?0.009). In chronic HBV/HCV coinfection, a long-term follow-up showed a frequent spontaneous or treatment-related clearance of active replication of one or both viruses and identified the IL28-B CC genotype as an independent predictor of HCV clearance.     

Regional adipose tissue and elevations in serum aminotransferases in HIV-infected individuals

BACKGROUND: The association of fat distribution with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevations is not well-defined in HIV-infected individuals. Obesity is associated with hepatic steatosis, and ALT is a marker of steatosis in the general population. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of 1119 HIV-infected and 284 control subjects. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA testing determined HCV infection. Magnetic resonance imaging measured regional adipose tissue volume. RESULTS: After adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was positively associated with ALT in HIV/HCV-coinfected subjects (+9.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8 to 17.6), HIV-monoinfected subjects (+8.0%, 95% CI: 4.2 to 12.1), and controls (+5.9%, 95% CI: 2.0 to 10.1). In contrast, lower trunk subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was negatively associated with ALT in HIV/HCV-coinfected subjects (-14.3%, 95% CI: -24.7 to -4.2) and HIV-monoinfected subjects (-11.9%, 95% CI: -18.4 to -5.3); there was a trend toward an association in controls (-7.1%, 95% CI: -22.7 to 5.9). Estimated associations between regional adipose tissue and AST were small and did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: More VAT and less lower trunk SAT are associated with elevated ALT, which likely reflects the presence of steatosis. There was little association with AST. HCV infection and having more VAT or less lower trunk SAT are independently associated with elevated ALT in HIV infection. Study regarding the association between VAT, trunk SAT, HCV, and progression of steatosis and fibrosis is needed in HIV-infected individuals.     

Influence of hepatitis G virus infection on liver disease

The influence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection on disease activity in hepatitis C related and unrelated liver disease was investigated in 254 individuals using an EIA polymerase chain reaction assay for HGV. One hundred patients had chronic hepatitis C, 26 primary biliary cirrhosis, and 30 alcoholic liver cirrhosis. In addition, 51 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and 47 anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive blood donors were screened. Hepatitis G virus was detected in 18% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, 13% of patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, 11 % of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 10% of anti-HCV-positive blood donors, and 2% of HBsAg-positive blood donors. Virus load and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not differ significantly in patients with HCV alone versus patients coinfected with HCV and HGV. However, mild liver fibrosis correlated with HGV coinfection. Hepatitis G virus did not influence ALT levels or liver damage in liver disease unrelated to viral infection.