Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection affects about 3% of the world's population and often leads to chronic liver disease.In some industrialized countries,HCV prevalence increases with age,but the optimal management of...Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection affects about 3% of the world's population and often leads to chronic liver disease.In some industrialized countries,HCV prevalence increases with age,but the optimal management of older patients has not been accurately defined.HCV infection can also lead to lymphoproliferative disorders,the most common being mixed cryoglobulinemia(MC),and also for this condition that frequently affects elderly patients,the optimal therapeutic strategy is still debated.We report the case of a 77-year-old Caucasian woman with HCV-related chronic hepatitis and cutaneous manifestations consisting of urticaria and pruritus related to MC resistant to antihistamines.The patient underwent a treatment with interferon and ribavirin.Such a treatment led to early biochemical and virological response associated with the resolution of cryoglobulinemia and cutaneous symptoms.After the end of treatment,HCV replication relapsed,but cryoglobulinemia and cutaneous symptoms did not recur.In the absence of definite treatment guidelines in this particular context,our experience suggests that the presence of symptoms related to HCV-infection that deeply affect patient quality of life warrants antiviral therapy even beyond the age limits that currently exclude patients from treatment.展开更多
目前主要依赖检测丙型肝炎抗体来确定对丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)感染的诊断,但它不能反应机体是否有活动的病毒血症。分支DNA探针法应用合成的DNA分子与靶HCV—RNA特异性的杂交,形成RNA—DNA杂交体,用dioxetane作为底物与...目前主要依赖检测丙型肝炎抗体来确定对丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)感染的诊断,但它不能反应机体是否有活动的病毒血症。分支DNA探针法应用合成的DNA分子与靶HCV—RNA特异性的杂交,形成RNA—DNA杂交体,用dioxetane作为底物与化学发光物结合,通过测定其发光强度可直接检测血清HCV—RNA的含量。本文测定21例慢性活动性丙型肝炎血清。HCV—RNA最低值为0.66Meg/ml;最高值为58Meg/ml,21例中86％的数值分布在0.66Meg/m-12Meg/ml的范围内。此方法cutoff值为0.5Meg//ml。我们所测定的21例均高于cutoff值。此方法操作简便,特异性强。为临床丙型肝炎治疗的监测及疗效的判断提供了重要的依据。展开更多
Background: Post hepatitis C virus chronic liver disease (CLD) is prevalent among the Egyptian population with a bad impact upon their quality of life (QOL). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the long term and ...Background: Post hepatitis C virus chronic liver disease (CLD) is prevalent among the Egyptian population with a bad impact upon their quality of life (QOL). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the long term and fatal complications of CLD and it also has its negative impact on patient’s quality of life. Aim: To assess impact of CLD and HCC on the quality of life of group of hospitalized elderly patients. Methodology: Ninety elderly patients were divided into three groups: 30 elderly with post hepatitis C virus CLD, 30 elderly with HCC and 30 others free of liver disease as control group (Cn), all were recruited from the in-patient ward and the outpatient clinic of the Geriatric Department, Ain-Shams University Hospital. After giving consent, comprehensive geriatric assessment was done with assessment of their quality of life by using the Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36). Investigations including liver enzymes, serum albumin, serum bilirubin and abdominal ultrasound were done. Results: All QOL domains were the highest among control group, followed by HCC group and the least among CLD group. The differences were statistically significant in most subscales and total score [Mean of Cn = 81.9 ± 12.4, Mean of CLD = 47.5 ± 21.9, Mean of HCC = 62.3 ± 16.1;P Cn/CLD ≤ 0.001, P Cn/HCC ≤ 0.001, P CLD/HCC = 0.004]. Albumin was the only biochemical marker correlated positively with total SF score and two subscales (PF and EF) [r = 0.408;P = 0.025]. Conclusion & Recommendation: Our study showed a decrease in the QOL of Egyptian post hepatitis C virus CLD and HCC patients compared with Egyptian population norms. The results showed that CLD were more affected than HCC patients. This had a particularly serious negative impact on their life. The findings indicate a need for updated counseling and educational materials designed to provide adequate information and consistent healthcare service to this patient setting.展开更多
文摘Hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection affects about 3% of the world's population and often leads to chronic liver disease.In some industrialized countries,HCV prevalence increases with age,but the optimal management of older patients has not been accurately defined.HCV infection can also lead to lymphoproliferative disorders,the most common being mixed cryoglobulinemia(MC),and also for this condition that frequently affects elderly patients,the optimal therapeutic strategy is still debated.We report the case of a 77-year-old Caucasian woman with HCV-related chronic hepatitis and cutaneous manifestations consisting of urticaria and pruritus related to MC resistant to antihistamines.The patient underwent a treatment with interferon and ribavirin.Such a treatment led to early biochemical and virological response associated with the resolution of cryoglobulinemia and cutaneous symptoms.After the end of treatment,HCV replication relapsed,but cryoglobulinemia and cutaneous symptoms did not recur.In the absence of definite treatment guidelines in this particular context,our experience suggests that the presence of symptoms related to HCV-infection that deeply affect patient quality of life warrants antiviral therapy even beyond the age limits that currently exclude patients from treatment.
文摘目前主要依赖检测丙型肝炎抗体来确定对丙型肝炎病毒(Hepatitis C virus,HCV)感染的诊断,但它不能反应机体是否有活动的病毒血症。分支DNA探针法应用合成的DNA分子与靶HCV—RNA特异性的杂交,形成RNA—DNA杂交体,用dioxetane作为底物与化学发光物结合,通过测定其发光强度可直接检测血清HCV—RNA的含量。本文测定21例慢性活动性丙型肝炎血清。HCV—RNA最低值为0.66Meg/ml;最高值为58Meg/ml,21例中86％的数值分布在0.66Meg/m-12Meg/ml的范围内。此方法cutoff值为0.5Meg//ml。我们所测定的21例均高于cutoff值。此方法操作简便,特异性强。为临床丙型肝炎治疗的监测及疗效的判断提供了重要的依据。
文摘Background: Post hepatitis C virus chronic liver disease (CLD) is prevalent among the Egyptian population with a bad impact upon their quality of life (QOL). Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the long term and fatal complications of CLD and it also has its negative impact on patient’s quality of life. Aim: To assess impact of CLD and HCC on the quality of life of group of hospitalized elderly patients. Methodology: Ninety elderly patients were divided into three groups: 30 elderly with post hepatitis C virus CLD, 30 elderly with HCC and 30 others free of liver disease as control group (Cn), all were recruited from the in-patient ward and the outpatient clinic of the Geriatric Department, Ain-Shams University Hospital. After giving consent, comprehensive geriatric assessment was done with assessment of their quality of life by using the Short Form-36 health survey (SF-36). Investigations including liver enzymes, serum albumin, serum bilirubin and abdominal ultrasound were done. Results: All QOL domains were the highest among control group, followed by HCC group and the least among CLD group. The differences were statistically significant in most subscales and total score [Mean of Cn = 81.9 ± 12.4, Mean of CLD = 47.5 ± 21.9, Mean of HCC = 62.3 ± 16.1;P Cn/CLD ≤ 0.001, P Cn/HCC ≤ 0.001, P CLD/HCC = 0.004]. Albumin was the only biochemical marker correlated positively with total SF score and two subscales (PF and EF) [r = 0.408;P = 0.025]. Conclusion & Recommendation: Our study showed a decrease in the QOL of Egyptian post hepatitis C virus CLD and HCC patients compared with Egyptian population norms. The results showed that CLD were more affected than HCC patients. This had a particularly serious negative impact on their life. The findings indicate a need for updated counseling and educational materials designed to provide adequate information and consistent healthcare service to this patient setting.
