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77 more hepatitis cases may trace to clinic, officials say
LAS VEGAS Seventy-seven more people who were treated at a Las Vegas outpatient clinic have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, health officials said. Authorities can't say for sure how the 77 people were infected, said Brian Labus, senior epidemiologist

77 more hepatitis cases may trace to clinic
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Health officials in Las Vegas say 77 more people who were treated at an outpatient clinic have been diagnosed with hepatitis C. Authorities can't say for sure how the 77 people were infected. Officials say they know each was treated from


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Highly Effective Against HCV Genotype 1
When tested on people with Hepatitis C genotype 1, R7128 proved to be an effective addition to combination therapy after just four weeks' time. In addition to its anti-viral effect, polymerase inhibitor R7128 received good marks for safety and minimal...

Investigational Drug Beats Standard Therapy in Hepatitis C Study
A Phase IIa trial investigating triple combination therapy with PEGASYS, COPEGUS and Roche's investigational drug R1626, demonstrated a higher response rate than traditional combination therapy alone. While R1626's effectiveness and high barrier to resistance makes it a top Hepatitis C...

Hepatitis C Complications Helped by Maintenance Interferon
A four-year study confirms that low-dosage maintenance interferon therapy prevents disease progression in those with portal hypertension or cirrhosis from Hepatitis C....

Latent autoimmune hepatitis triggered during interferon therapy in patients with chronic Hepatitis C

L Garcia-Buey, C Garcia-Monzon, S Rodriguez, MJ Borque, A Garcia-Sanchez, R Iglesias, M DeCastro, FG Mateos, JL Vicario and A Balas

Liver Unit, Hospital de la Princesa, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain.

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Interferon can induce autoantibodies and autoimmune reactions. This study reviewed the clinical, serological, and HLA phenotypical features of patients who developed autoimmune hepatitis during interferon therapy for chronic Hepatitis C, analyzing their response to immunosuppressive treatment.

METHODS:

The diagnosis of chronic Hepatitis C was based on positivity for viral RNA and a liver biopsy specimen obtained before interferon treatment. Sera were tested for autoantibodies by indirect immunofluorescence assay. HLA typing was performed by applying a standard microlymphocytotoxicity method.

RESULTS:

Of 144 patients with chronic Hepatitis C treated with interferon, 7 women deteriorated during treatment; serum transaminase, gamma-globulin, and immunoglobulin G levels increased; and serum autoantibodies became positive. Interferon was interrupted, a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis was established, and immunosuppressive therapy was initiated. All patients responded to this treatment. The 7 patients had similar HLA typing to those with autoimmune hepatitis, with DR4 in 2 patients (67%) with type 2 autoimmune hepatitis, and with DR3 and DR52 in 2 (50%) and 4 (100%) patients, respectively, with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis; additionally, 5 patients (71%) had DQ2, and 4 (57%) had both DR52 and DQ2.

CONCLUSIONS:

In female patients with chronic Hepatitis C, a genetic susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis may exist, possibly triggered by immunostimulating effects during interferon therapy. Immunosuppressive treatment has been well tolerated and seems to be effective.

Gastroenterology, Vol 108, 1770-1777,
Copyright © 1995 by American Gastroenterological Association

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