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Biomedical subjects

Massimo Franchini

Publications and source records attributed to Massimo Franchini.

115 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Update on chronic hepatitis C in hemophiliacs.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients affected by hereditary bleeding disorders and treated with non-virus inactivated clotting factor concentrates during the 1970s. INFORMATION SOURCES: In this review, we briefly report the present knowledge about HCV infection in hemophilic patients. The natural course of hepatitis C virus infection in hemophiliacs is described, by analyzing the prevalence of HCV infection, the genotype distribution and the risk factors involved in the progression of chronic hepatitis into severe liver disease such as cirrhosis, liver decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma. STATE OF THE ART AND PERSPECTIVES: We focus on the most important advances in the treatment of hepatitis C in hemophiliacs.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2002

Efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication in raising platelet count in adult patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are data consistent with an association between idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. In addition, a significant increase of platelet count following HP eradication has been reported in a proportion of ITP patients. We describe here our experience on the efficacy of anti-HP treatment in ITP patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Between December 1998 and May 2001 sixteen adult patients with ITP and documented HP infection were treated with standard antibiotic therapy for HP eradication (amoxicillin and clarithromycin plus pantoprazole combination). Of these patients, 7 had untreated ITP with mild/moderate thrombocytopenia (median platelet count 70x10(9)/L, range 41-91), 5 had relapsed following a previous steroid treatment (median platelet count 39x10(9)/L, range 30-90) and 4 were refractory to steroids (median platelet count 18.5x10(9)/L, range 9-30). RESULTS: An improvement of platelet count was observed in 11/15 patients (73.3%) who achieved HP eradication. The difference between the mean platelet count SD before and after HP eradication was statistically significant (51.6 28.2x10(9)/L vs. 143.3 131.1x10(9)/L; p=0.01). Complete or partial responses were obtained in 11/16 treated patients (68.7%). This result still persisted after a median follow-up of 11.7 months. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication in increasing platelet count in adult ITP patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of hemochromatosis gene mutations in 52 consecutive patients with polycythemia vera.

A literature review reports increased erythrocyte indices [hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), MCH concentration] in subjects with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). We, therefore, screened 52 consecutive patients with polycythemia vera for 12 HH gene mutations, comparing iron status and red cell parameters between patients positive or negative for HH gene mutations. Our results support the evidence that there is no association between these two conditions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acquired von Willebrand syndrome].

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (aVWS) is a rare, but probably underestimated, bleeding disorder that mimics the congenital form of von Willebrand disease (VWD) in terms of laboratory findings and clinical presentation. However, unlike congenital VWD, it arises in individuals with no personal or family history of bleeding. AVWS occurs in association with a variety of underlying disorders, including lymphoproliferative disorders, myeloproliferative disorders and cardiovascular diseases. The main pathogenic, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic aspects of this syndrome are concisely reported in this review.

Humans↗