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Biomedical subjects

E Lissen

Publications and source records attributed to E Lissen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Self-limited steatorrhea and chronic autoimmune hepatitis type I. The Group for the Study of Viral Hepatitis and AIDS].

Active chronic hepatitis is very infrequent in Spain. Its autoimmune pathogenesis is supported by the coexistence of autoimmune features, its usually good response to immunosuppressive treatment and the frequent coexistence of other processes of autoimmune etiology. The infrequent cases of steatorrhea observed may usually be found in the presence of severe colostasis or in association with other diseases such as celiac disease. The presence of sever anemia is also infrequent being observed on hemolysis of digestive bleeding. A case of autoimmune type I chronic hepatitis observed in a 14-year old woman presenting as acute hepatitis associated to severe anemia (Hb, 6,3 g/dl) and self-limited steatorrhea independent of the clinical course of the hepatic picture (stool fats of up to 100 g/24 h) with no evidence of hemolysis, digestive bleeding, obvious colostasis, drug ingestion or demonstrable intestinal or pancreatic disease. The coexistence of these unusual findings led the authors to report this case.

Adolescent↗

High rate of nonspecific anti-hepatitis C reactivity amongst homosexual men in comparison with that found in other sexually active groups and blood donors. Viral Hepatitis and AIDS Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the concordance of anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) reactivity by a second-generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA-2) and by a four-antigen recombinant immunoblot assay (4-RIBA) in homosexual men, in comparison with that found in other sexually active groups and blood donors. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre, Seville, Spain. SUBJECTS: A total of 1203 subjects were studied. Eight hundred and three were sexually active individuals: 547 female prostitutes, 88 heterosexual men who had frequent sexual intercourse with prostitutes, and 168 homosexual men. All of them denied blood transfusion and parenteral drug use. In addition, 400 voluntary blood donors were selected at random. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All serum samples were screened for anti-HCV by EIA-2 and repeatedly reactive sera were tested by 4-RIBA. Homosexual men were also screened for anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and gammaglobulin concentration. Finally, serum samples from homosexual men reactive for anti-HCV by EIA-2 were analyzed for HCV-RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Concordance between EIA-2 and 4-RIBA in female prostitutes (71.4%), clients of prostitutes (75.0%), and blood donors (83.3%) was significantly higher than in homosexual men (38.8%) (P < 0.04). In this collective the concordance between 4-RIBA and PCR was 85.7% for positive cases and 88.8% for negative ones, and EIA-2 ratios in reactive sera were significantly higher in 4-RIBA confirmed cases (P < 0.0001). No correlation between false positive EIA-2 results and presence of HIV infection, HBV markers or hypergammaglobulinaemia was found in homosexual men by univariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high level of non-specific anti-HCV reactivity by EIA-2 amongst homosexual men in comparison with that found in other sexually active groups and blood donors. The true prevalence of HCV infection amongst homosexual men could be even lower than previously described.

Adult↗

Predictive value of IgM antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing interferon-alpha therapy. Analysis by two different methods.

To determine the predictive value of IgM anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing in patients with chronic hepatitis C infections undergoing interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy, IgM anti-HCV reactivity was analysed by two different methods (non-commercial and commercial) in 19 patients and monitored at times 0 (pretreatment), 3, 6, 12, and 24 months during follow-up. Eight patients were non-responders, five remained in sustained response 1 year after stopping treatment, and six had a relapse. No correlation between alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and IgM anti-HCV reactivity was found by either method in baseline samples. In addition, neither the presence nor absence of IgM anti-HCV in baseline samples, nor the loss of specific IgM reactivity during treatment, had any predictive value. Finally, no other parameters analysed (age, sex, risk group and histological diagnosis), were significantly associated with IgM anti-HCV reactivity in our study. In summary, these results suggest that baseline detection and monitoring of IgM anti-HCV reactivity are not useful in predicting the sustained response to IFN-alpha therapy in chronic hepatitis C infection.

Adult↗

[Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus in a sample of homosexual males].

BACKGROUND: The finding of an important proportion of cases of hepatitis C without previous contact with blood or hemoderivates has led to suspect that there may be other routes of transmission among which sexual transmission may be found. METHODS: The presence of antibodies against the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and the association of this infection with certain epidemiologic parameters and sexual practice was determined in 184 homosexual males with no other risk factors for virasis of intravenous transmission. Moreover, the prevalence of anti-HCV was evaluated in 210 voluntary blood donors. Every homosexual was surveyed on sexual practice and the first serum sample available of each of these patients was analyzed for anti-HVC and anti-HIV-1. RESULTS: Twenty-two homosexual (12%) were anti-HCV positive while only one (0.5%) of the control was positive for this marker (p < 0.0001). Thirty-six cases (19%) were anti-HIV positive (none of the controls). No statistical association was found between both serologic markers or between the presence of anti-HCV and the epidemiologic parameters evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Homosexuals constitute a risk group for hepatitis C virus infection although the sexual route is probably not effective for transmission of this entity.

Adult↗

Hepatitis C virus infection among sexually promiscuous groups and the heterosexual partners of hepatitis C virus infected index cases.

To define the role of sexual transmission in the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a seroprevalence study of antibodies against HCV was performed in populations at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Subjects included 310 female prostitutes, 88 clients of prostitutes, 168 homosexual men and 147 stable heterosexual partners of index cases reactive for anti-HCV (98 of whom were partners of drug addicts coinfected with HCV and human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]). All subjects denied prior transfusion or intravenous drug use. Controls were 400 voluntary blood donors selected randomly from first-time donors. The prevalence of anti-HCV by enzyme immunoassay, confirmed by a second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay, was 6.4% in prostitutes, 6.8% in clients of prostitutes, 4.2% in homosexual men, 7.4% in heterosexual partners of index cases and 1.2% in random donors. However, the anti-HCV prevalence in stable heterosexual partners of HCV-positive/HIV-positive index cases was 2.2 times higher than in stable heterosexual partners of index cases reactive for anti-HCV only (9.2% vs. 4.1%), and sexual partners of index cases coinfected with HCV and HIV were almost three times more likely to be infected with HIV than with HCV (25.5% vs. 9.2%). These data suggest that HCV infection may be sexually transmitted but with low efficiency and that this efficiency could be increased in the presence of coexistent HIV infection in the index case.

Adolescent↗

Failure to detect silent HIV infection by polymerase chain reaction in subjects at risk for heterosexually transmitted HIV type 1 infection.

The prevalence of silent HIV-1 infections in subjects at risk of acquiring HIV infection by heterosexual transmission was assessed using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The two groups of risk subjects consisted of 92 female prostitutes and 43 heterosexual partners of infected individuals. Appropriate positive and negative control persons were included in the study. Serum samples were also tested for antibody to HIV-1 by an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and positive results confirmed by Western blot. PCR results in the two risk groups and the positive and negative controls were in full agreement with serological results. It is concluded that silent infection with HIV-1 is infrequent in persons at risk for heterosexual transmission.

Adolescent↗

Hepatitis B virus occult infection in subjects with persistent isolated anti-HBc reactivity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of hepatitis B virus occult infection in asymptomatic subjects with persistent anti-HBc reactivity but no other hepatitis B virus serological markers, including HBsAg, anti-HBs, IgM anti-HBc and HBV-DNA. For this purpose we used both polymerase chain reaction assays in sera and immunohistochemistry for HBsAg and HBcAg in liver biopsy specimens. Twenty-four cases were studied: 15 were drug abusers or homosexuals (eight with normal alanine aminotransferase levels) and nine were heterosexuals with raised alanine aminotransferase levels (> 45 U/l) but with no history of blood transfusion or ethanol intake (< 80 g daily). In all but five cases, liver biopsy was performed in subjects with persistent elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. In 10 out of 24 cases (41.66%) hepatitis B virus infection was demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction or immunohistochemistry, and when results from both procedures were available (n = 11) hepatitis B virus infection was detected in 63.63% of the subjects. The only clinical feature associated with HBV infection was the presence of persistent elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (p < 0.05). In conclusion, persistent isolated anti-HBc reactivity may be a relatively common serologic pattern for hepatitis B virus occult infection, at least in patients with chronic liver disease.

Base Sequence↗

[An evaluation of the efficacy of different commercial kits in the serological diagnosis of the early phase of human immunodeficiency virus infection].

The aim of the present study was to identify the most useful serum markers for the early identification of the infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To this end, sequential serum samples of 19 individuals who later had seroconversion to anti-HIV were evaluated. The p24 antigen (Ag-HIV) was the earliest marker of the infection, although it could only be detected in five of the 19 individuals: in two as an isolated marker and in the remaining four associated to anti-HIV (first generation Western blot: WB-1, and recombinant enzyme immunoanalysis: EIA-2G). In 12 of the 19 individuals, WB-1G (Pasteur) was the technique which permitted the earliest detection of anti-HIV: in five cases with bands which made the unequivocal diagnosis of the infection, and in seven with indeterminate results (anti-HIV against core or envelope antigens). The second earliest test was the detection of anti-HIV against envelope antigens with a competitive EIA-2G (Abbott). WB-1G (Sorin) detected anti-HIV in a late phase, as it was the case for EIA-1G or EIA-2G for anti-HIV against antigens encoded by the GAG gene. These results indicate that there may be remarkable differences in sensitivity among the different commercial kits. The use of EIA for Ag-HIV together with WB-1G shortens the gap period of HIV infection, even if seroconversion is identified with EIA-2G for global anti-HIV.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Hepatitis C virus infection in sexually promiscuous groups.

As there is insufficient data available on the spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by sexual transmission, the prevalence of anti-HCV was determined in several sexually promiscuous groups (78 female prostitutes, 55 clients of prostitutes and 146 homosexual men) who denied intravenous drug abuse. The overall HCV infection rate was much higher in the sexually promiscuous groups (8.97%, 16.36% and 5.48% respectively) than in voluntary blood donors (0.48%), suggesting that HCV infection can be transmitted by sexual intercourse. Consequently, promiscuity may be a risk factor for this infection.

Blood Donors↗

[Serum and immunological markers of progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in hemophiliacs].

In a cohort of 30 randomly selected hemophiliacs who were prospectively controlled for four years the predictive value of AIDS development was evaluated for serum markers of HIV infection and for lymphocytic subpopulations in peripheral blood. The patients were evaluated with a mean of 15.79 +/- 5.74 months, and overall antibodies, specific antibodies (anti-ENV and anti-p24), HIV antigen (Ag HIV) and lymphocyte subpopulations were determined. 50% of the hemophiliacs with positive serum Ag HIV (2/4) developed AIDS during the study, whereas this progression was not recorded in any anti-HIV positive, nonantigenic patient. The presence of Ag-HIV was detected at least two years before the diagnosis in these patients, and it was associated with the absence of anti-p24 in one or more determinations. The immune regulation parameters were not significantly different, at the beginning of the study, in the hemophiliacs who developed AIDS and in those who did not. However, the progression to AIDS was associated with a significantly smaller T4/T8 ratio at least one year before the diagnosis. Our results show that the development of AIDS in hemophiliacs is associated both with the presence of Ag-HIV in the serum and a reduction in the T4/T8 ratio, although the detection of the former appears to be earlier than that of the latter in this risk group.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Predictive value of the presence of P24 antigen in persons with antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in Spain.

In a prospective study of 37 individuals in Spain who did not have AIDS or AIDS-related complex but were positive for antibody to HIV, 164 sequentially taken serum samples were tested for the presence of the p24 antigen of HIV. Six of the subjects were antigenemic at entry to the study and five of the remaining 31 subjects seroconverted for HIV antigen during follow-up. Six (55%) of the 11 antigenemic patients but none of those without antigenemia developed AIDS. The interval from the time of first detection of HIV antigen to the diagnosis of AIDS varied greatly. The results confirm that individuals with HIV antigenemia run a significantly higher risk of developing AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗