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Biomedical subjects

B G Hansson

Publications and source records attributed to B G Hansson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Natural history of HIV infection in Swedish haemophiliacs.

The longitudinal follow-up is described of 36 anti-HIV positive haemophiliacs who had seroconverted in the period 1980-82, and of 41 seronegative controls. Laboratory variables were followed up for a mean duration of 2.5 years (1985-87). Of the 36 seropositive patients, AIDS developed in 3, and generalised persistent lymphadenopathy in 9. The HIV-seropositive patient group had lower CD4:CD8 ratios and CD4 counts but higher CD8 counts than the seronegative group. However, there was no deterioration in the values for the lymphocyte subsets during follow-up. Titration on paired sera showed an increase in anti-HIV titre with time. Testing for the presence of HIV antigen was positive in 5 patients, including 2 who later developed AIDS. We conclude that anti-HIV positive haemophiliacs, though actively immunised, often show no symptoms even as long as 7 yr after seroconversion and that, in certain patients, the immune system may even show signs of improvement.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Do hospital personnel in hyperendemic areas require immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection? Is vertical transmission of HBV infection common in this group?

Medical personnel working in contact with blood and blood-contaminated body fluids are often considered to be a high-risk group for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and, as a result, it is recommended that they should be vaccinated against this infection. To find out if this is necessary in a country hyperendemic for HBV infection and to see if parents transmit the infection to their offspring, a total of 336 volunteer hospital employees, and 103 children of 47 of them, were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, HBeAg and anti-HBe using the radioimmunoassay technique. Of these, 242 (72%) were found to have evidence of past or present HBV infection and only 94 (28%) had no such evidence. The infection prevalence in the 47 parents was 68% comparable to that of the total sample. Only 9 of their 103 children were positive for HBV markers. All tested parents of these positive children were either negative for all markers or positive for anti-HBs. The HBV infection prevalence among this hospital population is not different from that of the general Ethiopian population, and vertical transmission appears unlikely in this group. Therefore, mass vaccination of hospital staff in hyperendemic areas is unnecessary.

Adult↗

Enhancement of hepatitis A propagation in tissue culture with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole.

The adenosine analog 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) was found to increase the production of hepatitis A (HAV) antigen in two monkey kidney cell lines (Frhk-4 and Vero cells). DRB, a known inhibitor of the synthesis of messenger RNA, caused moderate changes in cell morphology. However, Frhk-4 cells could be maintained for several weeks at 80 microM of DRB, the concentration that caused maximal enhancement on HAV. DRB should be present from about the time of virus inoculation and its strongest effect was seen at low multiplicities of infection. Using radioimmunofocus assay it could be shown that DRB increased the amount of infectious virus. DRB treatment was applied in primary isolation of HAV from feces. In nine of ten strains HAV antigen expression was strongly increased and in six of the ten strains infectivity of harvested material increased by one 10log or more. DRB thus seems to be a useful enhancer of HAV growth in tissue culture.

Animals↗

Transmission of hepatitis B virus infection in Ethiopia with emphasis on the importance of vertical transmission.

This two-year controlled study was conducted to define the mode of transmission of hepatitis B infection in Ethiopia. Twenty-five of 500 (5%) expectant mothers were identified as HbsAg positive (Group A). A control group of 29 mothers negative for HBsAg (Group B) was randomly selected. These 54 mothers and their families (husbands, infants and the infants' older siblings) were followed for two years with determinations of serological markers of ongoing or past hepatitis B virus infection at 6, 12 and 24 months. Social and clinical data as well as possible factors contributing to the spread of HBV (ie tattoos, circumcision, etc.) were compiled from questionnaires. Twenty-one of the 25 (84%) HBsAg positive mothers had anti-HBe and none had HBeAg. One case of vertical hepatitis B virus transmission was seen while horizontal transmission during the study period occurred in two infants and in two older siblings. Potential risk factors for non-perinatal transmission were highly prevalent in both groups and may represent the main route of transmitting the infection, while, as shown in the present study, the vertical transmission of HBV infection only plays a minor role in the maintenance of the high infection rate in Ethiopia. Vaccinating all babies soon after birth would, therefore, be an effective means of eradicating or reducing the hepatitis B virus infection and its sequelae.

Adult↗

Relation between donor transaminase and recipient hepatitis non-A, non-B in Sweden.

The relation between donor alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and recipient post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) non-A, non-B was studied in patients tested before and 6 and 12 weeks after transfusion. The minimum ALT criterion for PTH was 105 IU/l (greater than 2.5 times the upper normal of 42 IU/l). In 8.8% of donors, ALT was greater than 42 IU/l, and in 2.3% ALT was greater than 63 IU/l, i.e., 1.5 times elevated. PTH non-A, non-B occurred in 14 of 742 recipients. The PTH incidence increased when donor ALT was above 63 IU/l (1.5 vs. 5.6%; p less than 0.05). However, if the confounding factor of volume variations was compensated for, elevated donor ALT and PTH were only statistically linked among recipients less than 70 years (p less than 0.02; Mantel-Haenszel test).

Alanine Transaminase↗

Delta infection and hepatitis B virus replication in Danish patients with fulminant hepatitis B.

The presence of hepatitis B virus and delta agent markers was investigated in 41 patients referred during the years 1970-1985 with fulminant hepatitis classified as type B or non-A non-B and compared to findings in patients with uncomplicated hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis B infection. 13 patients had no markers of hepatitis B and delta infection and were classified as non-A non-B hepatitis. The remaining 28 patients were all HBsAg and IgM anti-HBc positive and 14 (50%) had evidence of delta infection. In contrast, only 13/71 patients (18%) with acute benign hepatitis B had evidence of delta coinfection (p less than 0.005). This corresponds to an odds ratio of 4.5 for development of fulminant hepatitis among patients with hepatitis B and delta coinfection. In 100 chronic HBsAg carriers 29% were positive for delta markers. 12 of the delta infected patients with fulminant hepatitis were positive for total antibody to the delta antigen, and 2 were delta antigen positive. Three were HBeAg positive/anti-HBe negative. None had hepatitis B virus DNA. Among the 14 patients without delta infection, hepatitis B virus DNA was found in 2/4 HBeAg positive/anti-HBe negative patients and in 1/8 patients negative for both markers. The present data indicate that a high proportion of Danish patients with fulminant hepatitis B have hepatitis B and delta agent coinfection. Further, the findings suggest that hepatitis B and delta coinfection may be associated with an increased risk of development of fulminant hepatitis as compared to that of hepatitis B alone.

Adolescent↗

Hepatitis delta virus infection in acute hepatitis in Kuwait.

Over a period of 1 year, 254 patients presenting with acute hepatitis at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Kuwait were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Of these, 23 (9%) patients were found to have antibodies to hepatitis D virus (HDV) (anti-HDV). Eight of these anti-HDV positive patients were shown to have a coinfection with acute hepatitis B and 8 had a superinfection of HDV on a chronic HBsAg infection. The remaining 7 had had a previous HDV infection and were also chronic carriers of HBsAg. The cause of the acute hepatitis in this group was probably non-A, non-B virus(es). The prevalence of anti-HDV was 4% among patients with acute hepatitis B and 31% among carriers of HBsAg. In the coinfection group, 5/8 patients recovered completely, 1 developed chronic active hepatitis and 1 died due to fulminant hepatitis, while 1 patient was lost to follow up. 5/8 patients with superinfection developed chronic hepatitis on follow-up, 2 died while only 1 patient recovered completely. In the group of patients with previous delta infection, 5/7 recovered from the acute bout of hepatitis while 1 patient developed chronic active hepatitis and 1 was lost to follow-up.

Acute Disease↗

An aberrant subclass pattern of HIV-specific immunoglobulin G in sera from haemophiliacs.

The immunoglobulin (lg) G subclass response against HIV was investigated in sera from 13 haemophiliacs and 21 non-haemophiliacs. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the human lgG subclasses were used in an enzyme immunoblot assay, which was evaluated densitometrically. Seven of the haemophiliacs had detectable lgG4 antibodies to p24, a pattern which was found in only one of the sera from the non-haemophiliacs (P = 0.0022). This observation could partly be explained by a longer duration of the HIV infection in the subjects with lgG4 antibodies to HIV. No connection was found between frequency of administration of blood products and presence of HIV-specific lgG4.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Serological and demographic survey of Epstein-Barr virus infection in Ethiopia.

A demographic and serological survey of Epstein-Barr virus infection was carried out in 5 geographically representative regions of Ethiopia. 80% of the 500 people studied were under 15 years of age. 82% of children under 5 years of age and 94% under 10 years of age were positive for IgG anti-viral capsid antigen (VCA) antibody. 51 of 100 children under 12 months of age and from 5 different provinces were positive for anti-VCA antibody. Of these, 23 were under 6 months. The distribution of anti-VCA antibody positivity was comparable in both sexes, in each age group and in the different provinces at different altitudes. Economic status, expressed in terms of estimated income, type of water supply, mode of excreta disposal and family size, did not significantly influence the distribution of anti-VCA antibody. Thus, early exposure to Epstein-Barr virus, with asymptomatic or subclinical presentation, probably accounts for the rarity of typical infectious mononucleosis in young adult Ethiopians. The lack of a relationship between Epstein-Barr virus infection and Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, malaria as well as liver diseases is briefly discussed.

Adolescent↗

Water intoxication associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy.

Two cases of rheumatoid arthritis, who developed severe hyponatremia after treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are presented. Early diagnosis was followed by rapid correction with hypertonic saline. It is suggested that NSAIDs, like piroxicam, diclofenac and indomethacin, may be added to the list of drugs which can induce syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH).

Aged↗

HIV seroconversion in Swedish haemophiliacs: relation to type and dosage of factor concentrate.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion among 40 Swedish haemophilia A patients has been investigated by retrospective sera testing. 22/40 patients had developed HIV antibodies before 1983, i.e., when heat-treatment of American factor concentrates was introduced. All patients had received American and Swedish factor concentrates, thus no case of seroconversion was seen among patients treated exclusively with non-heat-treated Swedish concentrates. Of 79 patients with severe or moderate haemophilia, all of whom had received both American and Swedish concentrates, the 36 seropositives were compared with the 43 seronegatives. The total number of units received did not differ between the two groups, though the seropositive group had received significantly more American concentrate. Two batches of concentrate were proved to have been infected. 29 seropositive and 13 seronegative patients had been treated with at least one of these batches. As expected, and unlike most of the seronegative patients, patients in the seropositive group generally had abnormal lymphocyte subsets.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Post-transfusion hepatitis type non-A, non-B in southern Sweden: occurrence and clinical significance.

Two prospective studies of the occurrence and clinical significance of post-transfusion hepatitis non-A, non-B were performed in Malmö, Sweden. In both studies, patients of a broad clinical spectrum were followed up 6 and 12 weeks after transfusion. In a 7 week study from 1983, hepatitis non-A, non-B occurred in 9/173 transfused patients (5.2%) versus 1/203 untransfused controls (0.5%) (p less than 0.01). In a 6 month study from 1984-85, the incidence of hepatitis non-A, non-B had declined to 2.4% (18/739 transfused patients). The mean number of transfused units was about 5 in both studies and most patients had subclinical disease. Despite similar transfusion volumes to patients above or below 70 years of age, hepatitis non-A, non-B was predominantly seen among patients less than 70 years. In the 1984-85 study, hepatitis non-A, non-B incidence was 1.2% in recipients greater than or equal to 70 years, 3.4% in recipients less than 70 years and 4.5% in recipients less than 40 years. One year after the initial hepatitis non-A, non-B episode, 4/18 patients (22%) had biochemical signs of chronic hepatitis.

Age Factors↗

[Low occurrence of delta agent infections in Morocco].

The incidence of delta infections in Morocco has been investigated to explain the high rate of severe hepatitis B (HB) observed in this country. The presence of delta antigen (D Ag) and antibodies to delta agent (D Ab) was tested by radio-immuno-assay in the sera from 85 HBs Ag positive patients, hospitalized in Casablanca: among them 57 suffered from acute or fulminant HB (12 deceased), 10 from chronic hepatitis and 18 from cirrhosis. Neither D Ag nor D Ab were found, excepted once in a patient with cirrhosis having shown the presence of D Ab. In contrast with the high endemicity of delta agent reported in other countries of North Africa, the incidence of delta infections seems to be very low in Morocco.

Hepatitis B↗

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers among Ethiopian blood donors: is HBsAg screening necessary?

Four hundred and fifty-nine Ethiopian volunteer blood donors were prospectively studied for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Delta agent infections. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was 11%, anti-HBs and only anti-HBc 66% and 2%, respectively. Thus, the total HBV infection rate was 79%. There was a single donor with antibody against Delta antigen. The rarity of HBeAg among HBsAg carriers, the lack of occurrence of factors favouring transmission and risk calculations using the available data indicate that post-transfusion hepatitis due to HBV is unlikely to be common in this highly endemic country with very limited financial resources allocated for health services. Thus, we question the validity of indiscriminate screening of all donated blood and we suggest that health policies should emphasize the need for preventive measures.

Adult↗