Le deficit en alpha-1 antitrypsine. Une indication de transplantation hepatique pediatrique

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2001), 56(11), 753-8

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is the most common inborn error of metabolism leading to liver transplantation, and the second cause of liver transplantation in children after biliary atresia. The authors ... [more ▼]

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is the most common inborn error of metabolism leading to liver transplantation, and the second cause of liver transplantation in children after biliary atresia. The authors report the case of a 6-year-old girl, who was suffering from end-stage liver disease secondary to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. She was successfully treated by whole liver transplantation, the hepatic graft coming from a 3-year-old donor. Three months later she went back to school. The authors discuss the pathogenesis and the natural history of this frequent cause of liver transplantation in children. [less ▲]

Liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus infection: improving long-term outcomes

in Medscape Transplantation (2001)

Factors inftuencing ribavirin-induced hemolysis

in Journal of Hepatology (2001), 34

BackgroundlAims: One of the major side eft'ects of the combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C is ribavirininduced hemolytic anemia. Little is known about variables inftuencing tbis anemia. Our study ... [more ▼]

BackgroundlAims: One of the major side eft'ects of the combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C is ribavirininduced hemolytic anemia. Little is known about variables inftuencing tbis anemia. Our study tried to search for these variables in a large group of patients with hepatitis C treated with the combination therapy. Methods: Two hundred and forty-four patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus were treated either with induction treatment (daily dose ofinterferon) or with a standard treatment (interferon thrice weekly). Both groups received 1000-1200 mg of ribavirin from week 4 until the end of the treatment. The drop in hemoglobin level was defined as the dift'erence between the pretreatment hemoglobin level and the hemoglobin level at week 8. Seventeen variables which could possibly influencê'this drop in hemoglobin level were examined. Results: After multivariate analysis, the drop in hemoglobin level was only significant influenced by pretreatment platelet level, treatment and haptoglobin phenotype. The ribavirin dose did not influence the drop in hemoglobin level or the early virological response. Conclusions: Ribavirin-induced hemolysis is inftuenced by the pretreatment platelet level, the administered amount of a-interferon and the haptoglobin phenotype. A careful search for the minimal dose of ribavirin needed in combination treatment is necessary. [less ▲]

L'image du mois. Thrombose de la veine porte

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2000), 55(8), 761-762

Chronic hepatitis B therapy with lamivudine in clinical practice - Summary of the discussion

in Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica (2000), 63(4), 357-358

Acute pancreatitis attributed to the use of interferon alfa-2b

in Gastroenterology (2000), 119(1), 230-233

Two patients experienced episodes of acute pancreatitis shortly after starting treatment with interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha) for a chronic hepatitis C infection. The first patient was a 40-year-old man ... [more ▼]

Two patients experienced episodes of acute pancreatitis shortly after starting treatment with interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha) for a chronic hepatitis C infection. The first patient was a 40-year-old man who developed acute pancreatitis after 15 weeks of treatment with 3 MU IFN-alpha subcutaneously (SC) 3 times weekly and 1200 mg ribavirin. After disappearance of symptoms and normalization of laboratory values, oral intake of solid foods and IFN-alpha therapy were restarted. Within hours, a relapse of acute pancreatitis occurred. A rechallenge with IFN-alpha 4 days later was followed by a prompt increase in serum lipase level, and IFN-alpha therapy was discontinued. The second patient was a 38-year-old man who developed acute pancreatitis 2 hours after SC administration of 5 MU IFN-alpha. Ultrasound endoscopy showed sludge in the gallbladder. The patient was rechallenged 5 weeks later with 3 MU IFN-alpha SC. Although serum amylase and lipase levels increased after readministration of IFN-alpha, treatment was continued. The patient was readmitted 2 weeks later with severe abdominal pain, and IFN-alpha administration was discontinued. Considering the temporal relationship between the start of IFN-alpha treatment and development of acute pancreatitis, the absence of other clear etiologic factors for acute pancreatitis, disappearance of symptoms after discontinuation of IFN-alpha, and positive reactions to rechallenge, IFN-alpha is the most probable cause for development of acute pancreatitis in these patients. [less ▲]

Périartérite noueuse en relation avec une hépatite B

in Revue Médicale de Liège (1999), 54(1), 921-924

A 66-year-old man was hospitalized for asthenia, weight loss, fever and chills. A polyarteritis nodosa associated with hepatitis B virus infection in a replicative phase was diagnosed. Etiology ... [more ▼]

A 66-year-old man was hospitalized for asthenia, weight loss, fever and chills. A polyarteritis nodosa associated with hepatitis B virus infection in a replicative phase was diagnosed. Etiology, physiopathology, and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus-related polyarteritis nodosa will be reviewed, as well as the effectiveness of therapy combining corticosteroids, interferon alpha and plasma exchanges. [less ▲]

Liver transplantation in a Jehovah's witness

in Lancet (1999), 353

Hepatitis C virus transmission following invasive medical procedures

in Journal of Internal Medicine (1999), 245(1), 107-108

Prevalence of hepatitis G virus in a haemodialysis unit

in Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica (1999), 62(1), 13-15

Background : Recently, a novel blood-borne virus has been identified and named hepatitis G virus. Transfusion is the main route of transmission. It is known that patients on maintenance dialysis are more ... [more ▼]

Background : Recently, a novel blood-borne virus has been identified and named hepatitis G virus. Transfusion is the main route of transmission. It is known that patients on maintenance dialysis are more susceptible to infections with parenterally-transmitted viruses than the general population. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis G infection in a Belgian dialysis unit. Methods: The entire population of our dialysis unit (82 patients) was tested for the presence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. History of transfusion or renal transplantation coinfections with hepatitis B and C viruses, and serum aminotransferase levels were also tested. Results: Thirteen patients (16%) were found positive for HGV-RNA. Among these patients, 69.2% were infected by the G virus alone, 15.4% were coinfected with B virus, and 15.4% with C virus. All but one patient had a history of transfusion. Ten of the thirteen infected patients (77%) had normal aminotransferase (< 30 UI/l). Three patients had elevated aminotransferase levels (23%); one was coinfected with B virus, one with C virus, and the last one had a diabetes-induced fatty liver infiltration. No liver biopsies were performed. Conclusions :It is concluded that infection with C virus is common among dialyzed patients. This high rate of infection could be related to previous transfusions, but may as well be due to nosocomial transmission. In our series, at least one patient has been contaminated by another road than transplantation or transfusion. Finally, it does not appear clearly that chronic infection with hepatitis G virus induces Liver disease, as defined by elevated aminotransferase level. [less ▲]