AIM:Steroids can increase hepatitis C virus(HCV) replication.After liver transplantation(LTx),steroids are commonly used for immunosuppression and acute rejection is usually treated by high steroid dosages.Steroids ca...AIM:Steroids can increase hepatitis C virus(HCV) replication.After liver transplantation(LTx),steroids are commonly used for immunosuppression and acute rejection is usually treated by high steroid dosages.Steroids can worsen the outcome of recurrent HCV infection.Therefore, we evaluated the outcome of HCV infected liver recipients receiving initial steroid-free immunosuppression. METHODS:Thirty patients undergoing LTx received initial steroid-free immunosuppression.Indication for LTx included 7 patients with HCV related cirrhosis.Initial immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus 2×0.05mg/kg.d po and mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)2×15mg/kg.d po.The tacrolimus dosage was adjusted to trough levels in the target range of 10-15μg/L during the first 3 mo and 5-10μg/L thereafter.Manifestations of acute rejection were verified histologically. RESULTS:Patient and graft survival of 30 patients receiving initial steroid-free immunosuppression was 86% and 83% at 1 and 2 years.Acute rejection occurred in 8/30 patients, including 1 HCV infected recipient.All HCV-infected patients had HCV genotype Ⅱ(lb).HCV seropositivity occurred within the first 4 mo after LTx.The virus load was not remarkably increased during the first year after LTx.Histologically,grafts had no severe recurrent hepatitis. CONCLUSION:From our experience,initial steroid-free immunosuppression does not increase the risk of acute rejection in HCV infected liver recipients.Furthermore,none of the HCV infected patients developed serious chronic liver diseases.It suggests that it may be beneficial to avoid steroids in this particular group of patients after LTx.展开更多
AIM:To determine the role of interferon(IFN)with or withoutribavirin in preventing or delaying hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)development in patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)related cirrhosis.Data on the preventive e...AIM:To determine the role of interferon(IFN)with or withoutribavirin in preventing or delaying hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)development in patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)related cirrhosis.Data on the preventive effect of IFN plusribavirin treatment are lacking.METHODS:A total of 101 patients(62 males and 39 females,mean age 55.1±1.4 years)with histologically proven HCVrelated liver cirrhosis plus compatible biochemistry andultrasonography were enrolled in the study.Biochemistryand ultrasonography were performed every 6 mo.Ultrasoundguided liver biopsy was performed on all detected focallesions.Follow-up lasted for 5 years.Cellular proliferation,evaluated by measuring Ag-NOR proteins in hepatocytesnuclei,was expressed as AgNOR-Proliferative index(AgNOR-PI)(cut-off=2.5).Forty-one patients(27 males,14 females)were only followed up after the end of anyearly treatment with IFN-alpha2b(old treatment controlgroup=OTCG).Sixty naive patients were stratified accordingto sex and AgNOR-PI and then randomized in two groups:30 were treated with IFN-alpha2b+ribavirin(treatmentgroup=TG),the remaining were not treated(control group=CG).Nonresponders(NR)or relapsers in the TG receivedfurther IFN/ribavirin treatments after a 6 mo of withdrawal.RESULTS:AgNOR-PI was significantly lowered by IFN(P<0.001).HCC incidence was higher in patients withAgNOR-PI>2.5(26% vs3%,P<0.01).Two NR in the OTCG,none in the TG and 9 patients in the CG developed HCCduring follow-up.The Kaplan-Mayer survival curves showedstatistically significant differences both between OTCG andCG(P<0.004)and between TG and CG(P<0.003).CONCLUSION:IFN/ribavirin treatment associated with re-treatment courses of NR seems to produce the best resultsin terms of HCC prevention.AgNOR-PI is a useful markerof possible HCC development.展开更多
In Japan,viral hepatitis is the main cause of chronic liver diseases,including liver cirrhosis.Due to the availability of highly effective antiviral drugs in combination with antihepatitis measures,Japan has become on...In Japan,viral hepatitis is the main cause of chronic liver diseases,including liver cirrhosis.Due to the availability of highly effective antiviral drugs in combination with antihepatitis measures,Japan has become one of the most successful countries in the world with regard to hepatitis virus elimination.In Japan,there are many elderly patients who have been infected with hepatitis C virus for a long time,and antihepatitis measures have been in place since the 2000s.Thus,the medical situation in Japan is expected to reflect the future situation in other countries where hepatitis countermeasures have been recently initiated and the infected population is aging.Our nationwide survey clarified the changes in the etiologies of liver cirrhosis in Japan.Although viral hepatitis remains a major cause of liver cirrhosis in Japan,nonviral cirrhosis is suggested to increasingly contribute to the etiologies of liver cirrhosis,as opposed to viral hepatitis‐related liver cirrhosis.The changing etiology of liver cirrhosis in Japan may help to predict future global trends in chronic liver diseases.展开更多
文摘AIM:Steroids can increase hepatitis C virus(HCV) replication.After liver transplantation(LTx),steroids are commonly used for immunosuppression and acute rejection is usually treated by high steroid dosages.Steroids can worsen the outcome of recurrent HCV infection.Therefore, we evaluated the outcome of HCV infected liver recipients receiving initial steroid-free immunosuppression. METHODS:Thirty patients undergoing LTx received initial steroid-free immunosuppression.Indication for LTx included 7 patients with HCV related cirrhosis.Initial immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus 2×0.05mg/kg.d po and mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)2×15mg/kg.d po.The tacrolimus dosage was adjusted to trough levels in the target range of 10-15μg/L during the first 3 mo and 5-10μg/L thereafter.Manifestations of acute rejection were verified histologically. RESULTS:Patient and graft survival of 30 patients receiving initial steroid-free immunosuppression was 86% and 83% at 1 and 2 years.Acute rejection occurred in 8/30 patients, including 1 HCV infected recipient.All HCV-infected patients had HCV genotype Ⅱ(lb).HCV seropositivity occurred within the first 4 mo after LTx.The virus load was not remarkably increased during the first year after LTx.Histologically,grafts had no severe recurrent hepatitis. CONCLUSION:From our experience,initial steroid-free immunosuppression does not increase the risk of acute rejection in HCV infected liver recipients.Furthermore,none of the HCV infected patients developed serious chronic liver diseases.It suggests that it may be beneficial to avoid steroids in this particular group of patients after LTx.
文摘AIM:To determine the role of interferon(IFN)with or withoutribavirin in preventing or delaying hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)development in patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)related cirrhosis.Data on the preventive effect of IFN plusribavirin treatment are lacking.METHODS:A total of 101 patients(62 males and 39 females,mean age 55.1±1.4 years)with histologically proven HCVrelated liver cirrhosis plus compatible biochemistry andultrasonography were enrolled in the study.Biochemistryand ultrasonography were performed every 6 mo.Ultrasoundguided liver biopsy was performed on all detected focallesions.Follow-up lasted for 5 years.Cellular proliferation,evaluated by measuring Ag-NOR proteins in hepatocytesnuclei,was expressed as AgNOR-Proliferative index(AgNOR-PI)(cut-off=2.5).Forty-one patients(27 males,14 females)were only followed up after the end of anyearly treatment with IFN-alpha2b(old treatment controlgroup=OTCG).Sixty naive patients were stratified accordingto sex and AgNOR-PI and then randomized in two groups:30 were treated with IFN-alpha2b+ribavirin(treatmentgroup=TG),the remaining were not treated(control group=CG).Nonresponders(NR)or relapsers in the TG receivedfurther IFN/ribavirin treatments after a 6 mo of withdrawal.RESULTS:AgNOR-PI was significantly lowered by IFN(P<0.001).HCC incidence was higher in patients withAgNOR-PI>2.5(26% vs3%,P<0.01).Two NR in the OTCG,none in the TG and 9 patients in the CG developed HCCduring follow-up.The Kaplan-Mayer survival curves showedstatistically significant differences both between OTCG andCG(P<0.004)and between TG and CG(P<0.003).CONCLUSION:IFN/ribavirin treatment associated with re-treatment courses of NR seems to produce the best resultsin terms of HCC prevention.AgNOR-PI is a useful markerof possible HCC development.
文摘In Japan,viral hepatitis is the main cause of chronic liver diseases,including liver cirrhosis.Due to the availability of highly effective antiviral drugs in combination with antihepatitis measures,Japan has become one of the most successful countries in the world with regard to hepatitis virus elimination.In Japan,there are many elderly patients who have been infected with hepatitis C virus for a long time,and antihepatitis measures have been in place since the 2000s.Thus,the medical situation in Japan is expected to reflect the future situation in other countries where hepatitis countermeasures have been recently initiated and the infected population is aging.Our nationwide survey clarified the changes in the etiologies of liver cirrhosis in Japan.Although viral hepatitis remains a major cause of liver cirrhosis in Japan,nonviral cirrhosis is suggested to increasingly contribute to the etiologies of liver cirrhosis,as opposed to viral hepatitis‐related liver cirrhosis.The changing etiology of liver cirrhosis in Japan may help to predict future global trends in chronic liver diseases.
