HIV/HCV Coinfection and Normal ALT Levels
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Normal ALT levels in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients are not a reliable indicator that liver disease is mild.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
June 22, 2006
Covering:
Gonzalez SA et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2006 Apr 15; 41:582-9
Evolution of Perinatal HCV
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Infants infected with hepatitis C virus can develop HCV genetic variants if their inflammatory response is weak.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
June 9, 2006
Covering:
Farci P et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006 May 30; 103:8475-80
Prevalence of HCV Infection in the U.S.
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Although new hepatitis C cases have decreased in recent years, prevalence has remained the same, and peak prevalence has shifted to an older age group.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
June 9, 2006
Covering:
Armstrong GL et al., Ann Intern Med 2006 May 16; 144:705-14
Dienstag JL., Ann Intern Med 2006 May 16; 144:770-1
HCV Infection in the U.S.
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Approximately 1.3% of the U.S. population has chronic HCV infection.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
June 16, 2006
Covering:
Armstrong GL et al., Ann Intern Med 2006 May 16; 144:705-14
Hepatitis B Viral Load Predicts Cirrhosis Risk
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Patients with higher viral loads are at higher risk for cirrhosis, independent of ALT level and HBeAg status.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
June 13, 2006
Covering:
Iloeje UH et al., Gastroenterology 2006 Mar; 130:678-86
HCV Prevalence in the U.S.
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
The overall prevalence of HCV infection is no longer rising, but the peak in age-specific prevalence has shifted by 10 years.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
June 13, 2006
Covering:
Armstrong GL et al., Ann Intern Med 2006 May 16; 144:705-14
Think "Acute HCV" — Early Treatment May Be Better
A small study adds support for the treatment of acute HCV infection in HIV-coinfected patients.
By Camilla S. Graham, MD, MPH
June 28, 2006
Covering:
Dominguez S et al., AIDS 2006 May 12; 20:1157-61
Entecavir vs. Lamivudine for Chronic HBV Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
In a 1-year study, entecavir was superior to lamivudine in the treatment of both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infections.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
July 10, 2006
Covering:
Chang T-T et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 9; 354:1001-10
Lai C-L et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 9; 354:1011-20
Falling AIDS Mortality and Rising Rates of Liver Failure in Hemophilia Patients
As patients live longer, hepatitis C virus begins to take a toll on this heavily coinfected population.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
May 31, 2006
Covering:
del Amo J et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2006 Apr 15; 41:624-31
Ophthalmologic Side Effects During Interferon Therapy
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Ophthalmologic abnormalities are quite common during interferon therapy but tend to be asymptomatic.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
May 30, 2006
Covering:
d’Alteroche L et al., J Hepatol 2006 Jan; 44:56-61
More on HCV Coinfection and Immune Response to Antiretroviral Therapy
In a cohort study of HIV-infected women, HCV coinfection did not diminish immune response to potent combination antiretroviral therapy.
By Camilla S. Graham, MD, MPH
May 10, 2006
Covering:
Al-Harthi L et al., J Infect Dis 2006 May 1; 193:1202-10
Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HBV
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Administering hepatitis B vaccine, HBIG, or both to newborn infants significantly reduces HBV transmission from HBsAg-positive mothers.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
May 9, 2006
Covering:
Lee C et al., BMJ 2006 Feb 11; 332:328-36
Hepatitis B Virus Strains with Natural Adefovir Resistance
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Three patients were infected with an HBV variant that showed resistance to adefovir without previous exposure to this drug.
By Neil R. Blacklow, MD
May 5, 2006
Covering:
Schildgen O et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Apr 27; 354:1807-12
High Costs of HCV Infection in Children
General Medicine Summary and Comment
These authors estimate that treating children with chronic HCV infection will cost between US$168 million and $404 million during the next decade.
By Robert A. Dershewitz, MD, MSc
April 21, 2006
Covering:
Jhaveri R et al., J Pediatr 2006 Mar; 148:353-8
Can We Assess Hepatic Fibrosis Without a Liver Biopsy?
Liver stiffness on transient elastography may be an accurate predictor of cirrhosis in HIV-infected patients.
By Carlos del Rio, MD
April 12, 2006
Covering:
de Lédinghen V et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2006 Feb 1; 41:175-9
Lamivudine Before Chemotherapy in Chronic HBV Carriers
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Patients with chronic HBV infection should begin lamivudine treatment prior to chemoembolization for HCC.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
April 11, 2006
Covering:
Jang JW et al., Hepatology 2006 Feb; 43:233-40
Consensus Interferon plus Ribavirin for Previous Nonresponders to HCV Therapy
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Daily consensus interferon plus ribavirin was associated with an SVR rate of 22% in HCV-positive patients with previous nonresponse to interferon plus ribavirin.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
April 11, 2006
Covering:
Cornberg M et al., J Hepatol 2006 Feb; 44:291-301
Entecavir Highly Efficacious for Chronic Hepatitis B
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Compared with lamivudine, entecavir was associated with significantly greater improvement in both HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative disease.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
April 7, 2006
Covering:
Chang TT et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 9; 354:1001-10
Lai CL et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 9; 354:1011-20
HCV Coinfection and Immunologic Response to Antiretroviral Therapy
HCV coinfection may be associated with blunted CD4-cell reconstitution after initiation of potent combination antiretroviral therapy.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
March 29, 2006
Covering:
Braitstein P et al., J Infect Dis 2006 Jan 15; 193:259-68
Entecavir for Chronic Hepatitis B
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Entecavir is a promising treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
March 17, 2006
Covering:
Chang T-T et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 9; 354:1001-10
Lai C-L et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 9; 354:1011-20
Hoofnagle JH., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 9; 354:1074-6
Hepatic Decompensation Can Develop in HBV Patients with Adefovir Resistance
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
HBV-positive patients who develop adefovir-resistance mutations are at risk.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
March 14, 2006
Covering:
Fung SK et al., J Hepatol 2005 Dec; 43:937-43
High HBV DNA Level Is a Risk Factor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
HBV DNA levels
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
March 14, 2006
Covering:
Chen CJ et al., JAMA 2006 Jan 4; 295:65-73
Mother-to-Child Transmission of HCV Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Pregnant women with HCV should not be counseled to undergo elective cesarean deliveries to reduce risk for HCV transmission.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
March 14, 2006
Covering:
European Paediatric Hepatitis C Virus Network., J Infect Dis 2005 Dec 1; 192:1872-9
Hepatitis C in HIV Infection
New studies advance our knowledge of the natural history of HCV infection — and the reliability of noninvasive tests for liver fibrosis — in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.
By Helmut Albrecht, MD
March 1, 2006
Covering:
Luetkemeyer A et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2006 Jan 1; 41:31-6
Nunes D et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2005 Dec 15; 40:538-44
Delay in HIV Treatment Bodes Ill in HCV-Coinfected Patients
A long interval between HIV diagnosis and initiation of potent combination antiretroviral therapy is associated with accelerated liver damage from HCV.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
February 15, 2006
Covering:
Verma S et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Jan 15; 42:262-70
