Antipyrine clearance in chronic and neoplastic liver diseases: A study of 518 patients

Antipyrine metabolism is widely used as an index of the drug-metabolizing reserve of the liver. It is well known that metabolism of this drug is impaired in subjects with acute hepatitis or cirrhosis, but conflicting data have been reported regarding patients with chronic postinfectious hepatitis or liver cancer. We studied conventional liver-function parameters and antipyrine metabolism (antipyrine per o.s. 18mg/kg) in 518 subjects. One hundred and one patients had liver metastases (various primaries). Based on the number and size of lesions, the hepatic involvement was considered minimal in 47 and massive in 54 (groups B1 and B2, respectively). One hundred and two had chronic active hepatitis (CAH); 51 patients with histological evidence of fibrosis/early cirrhosis and 51 patients were without histological evidence of fibrosis/early cirrhosis. Ninety-two had histologically confirmed cirrhosis (group D), and the remaining 120 had cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (group E). The control group was composed of 103 subjects with healthy livers (group A). Antipyrine clearance (AP Cl) in CAH patients with fibrosis (0.246 ± 0.98 mL/min per kg) was similar to that observed in patients with cirrhosis (0.223 ± 0.148 mL/min per kg), and both values were significantly lower than that found in CAH patients without fibrosis (0.406 ± 0.159 mL/min per kg, P < 0.01). Antipyrine clearance in patients with liver metastases (0.426 ± 0.174 mL/min per kg) was similar to that of the healthy group (0.489 ± 0.210 mL/min per kg). Cirrhotics and cirrhotics with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presented similar degrees of impairment. Antipyrine clearance was positively correlated with serum albumin (r²= 0.10, P= 0.01) and prothrombin time (r²= 0.129, P < 0.01) in all groups, except those with liver metastases. In patients with CAH, the presence of fibrosis/cirrhosis is associated with impaired antipyrine metabolism. The lack of impairment in groups with liver metastases suggests that the functional hepatic reserve is maintained even in the presence of massive neoplastic invasion.     

Biologic and prognostic significance of hepatocyte hepatitis B core antigen expressions in the natural course of chronic hepatitis B virus infection

To elucidate the biologic significance of hepatocyte hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) expression and its relation to the natural course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the patterns of HBcAg were correlated with HBV virus replication state and the disease activity in 598 needle liver biopsies performed on 569 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers aged 1-81 years. A good correlation of liver HBcAg with serum HBeAg and HBV DNA status was demonstrated. HBcAg was present in the hepatocyte nuclei (nHBcAg) or cytoplasm (cHBcAg), or in both (mixed). Pure nHBcAg was seen mainly in children and young adults; 86% of the patients had non-aggressive disease, but rare cases of chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and HBeAg seroconversion were observed. In contrast, cHBcAg was predominantly associated with CAH (52%) and accompanied by a significantly higher HBeAg seroconversion rate (27%). The HBeAg-negative group, particularly the liver HBcAg-negative subgroup, had a lower frequency of CAH, but an increased incidence of non-aggressive disease as well as cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma, indicating that HBeAg seroconversion to anti-HBe does not necessarily mean a favorable prognosis. The results suggest that expression of HBcAg correlates with the liver pathology and the three phases of chronic HBV infection: (1) the early immune tolerance phase is characterized by nHBcAg, mild disease and low HBeAg seroconversion rate; (2) the virus replication/elimination phase by cHBcAg or negative HBcAg, frequent CAH, and high HBeAg seroconversion rate; and (3) the inactive virus replication phase by negative HBcAg and a bipolar disease spectrum.     

Influence of hepatitis delta virus infection on morbidity and mortality in compensated cirrhosis type B. The European Concerted Action on Viral Hepatitis (Eurohep)

BACKGROUND: The effect of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection on the clinical course of cirrhosis type B is poorly defined. AIMS: To investigate the impact of HDV status on morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis type B. PATIENTS/METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of 200 Western European patients with compensated cirrhosis type B followed for a median period of 6.6 years. RESULTS: At diagnosis, 20% of patients had antibodies to HDV (anti-HDV); median age was lower in anti-HDV positive cirrhotics (34 v 48 years respectively). Kaplan-Meier five year probability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was 6, 10, and 9% in anti-HDV positive/HBeAg negative, anti-HDV negative/HBeAg negative, and anti-HDV negative/HBeAg positive cirrhotics respectively; the corresponding figures for decompensation were 22, 16, and 19% and for survival they were 92, 89, and 83% respectively. Cox regression analysis identified age, albumin concentration, gamma-globulin concentration, and HDV status as significant independent prognostic variables. After adjustment for clinical and serological differences at baseline, the risk (95% confidence interval) for HCC, decompensation, and mortality was increased by a factor of 3.2 (1.0 to 10), 2.2 (0.8 to 5.7), and 2.0 (0.7 to 5.7) respectively in anti-HDV positive relative to HDV negative cirrhotic patients. The adjusted estimated five year risk for HCC was 13, 4, and 2% for anti-HDV positive/HBeAg negative, anti-HDV negative/HBeAg negative, and anti-HDV negative/HBeAg positive cirrhotics respectively; the corresponding figures for decompensation were 18, 8, and 14% and for survival 90, 95, and 93% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HDV infection increases the risk for HCC threefold and for mortality twofold in patients with cirrhosis type B.     

原发性肝癌合并与不合并肝硬化患者年龄及乙型肝炎病毒血清学特点比较

目的探讨原发性肝癌（PHC）合并肝硬化与无肝硬化患者年龄及HBV血清学特点。方法回顾性分析经影像学检查及甲胎蛋白（AFP）测定诊断为PHC的患者547例,分为有肝硬化和无肝硬化两组,统计分析并比较其年龄分布及HBV血清学标记的特点。结果合并肝硬化与无肝硬化患者分别为265例及282例,两组伴HBV感染者分别为221例、256例。合并肝硬化的肝癌患者男女比例为7.83∶1;60岁以下的男性肝癌患者年龄分布无明显差异,无肝硬化的男性肝癌患者60岁以上比例明显高于有肝硬化者（P〈0.005）。合并肝硬化的男性肝癌患者HBV感染率40岁以下年龄组最高（96.67%）,而HBeAg血清学转换率以40～60岁年龄段最高（89.47%）;无肝硬化者HBV感染率40～60岁年龄段最高（90.43%）,但HBeAg血清学转换率最低（80%）。结论合并肝硬化的PHC患者中,男性占大多数,而且早年HBV感染率高;无肝硬化的PHC患者中,老年人占多数;HBeAg血清学转换率高的人群肝癌发病率相对较高。     

Evaluation of the albumin-gamma-glutamyltransferase isoenzyme as a diagnostic marker of hepatocellular carcinoma-complicating liver cirrhosis

AIM: The present study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of albumin-gamma-glutamyltransferase isoenzyme in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Electrophoretic assays of gamma-glutamyltransferase isoenzymes were performed on sera from 190 cirrhotics with (n = 131) or without (n = 59) hepatocellular carcinoma, 36 patients with chronic active hepatitis, 17 patients with liver metastases, and 16 control subjects. In the group of cirrhotic patients, the serum level of alpha-fetoprotein was also assessed. RESULTS: Albumin-gamma-glutamyltransferase was found in 88 of 131 cirrhotics with hepatocellular carcinoma, 14 of 59 cirrhotics without hepatocellular carcinoma, nine of 17 patients with liver metastases, and in none of the chronic active hepatitis or control patients. Within the cirrhotic subgroup, albumin-gamma-glutamyltransferase was effective in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in general (sensitivity: 67%; specificity: 76%; diagnostic accuracy: 70%), and small hepatocellular carcinoma (< 3 cm; corresponding figures: 58, 76, and 69%). The best alpha-fetoprotein value discriminating between hepatocellular carcinoma and non-hepatocellular carcinoma cirrhotics was 20 ng/mL (sensitivity: 54%; specificity 85%; accuracy: 64%). The combined use of albumin-gamma-glutamyltransferase and alpha-fetoprotein, > 20 ng/mL, was associated with greater sensitivity and accuracy (84 and 74%, respectively) than those observed with either of the two markers considered alone. CONCLUSIONS: Albumin-gamma-glutamyltransferase appears to be a sensitive diagnostic marker of both advanced and small hepatocellular carcinoma-complicating liver cirrhosis.     

Long-term follow-up of 60 patients with chronic hepatitis B. I. Seroconversion in the hepatitis B e-system, frequency of delta infection and histological outcome

Sixty patients with liver biopsy documented chronic hepatitis B attending Roslagstull Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Stockholm, Sweden, were followed during a mean period of 53 months (range 7-133 months) in order to evaluate the frequency of delta infection and HBeAg seroconversion as well as the histological outcome as assessed by liver biopsy. Spontaneous HBeAg clearance and development of anti-HBe occurred among 17 of 36 initially HBeAg positive patients (47%), corresponding to an annual seroconversion rate of 11%. Biochemical improvement was noted in 7/17 patients (41%) after seroconversion as against in 2/19 patients (10.5%) with HBeAg persistence. Superinfection with the delta agent was seen to be associated with severe liver injury among drug addicts and immigrants with chronic hepatitis B. In the absence of a delta infection, progressive liver disease seemed to be associated with persistence of HBeAg. Although none of the homosexual men studied were delta superinfected, 71% developed chronic active hepatitis (CAH) with or without cirrhosis (CI).     

Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in benign liver diseases

Expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in various liver diseases were investigated with an immunohistochemical method, using liver biopsy specimens. The disease category and the number of cases were as follows: nonspecific change 10, acute hepatitis 11, chronic inactive hepatitis 13, chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis (CAH) 30, liver cirrhosis 10, and hepatocellular carcinoma 10. Significantly higher expression of PCNA was seen in chronic active hepatitis (CAH), compared to other disease groups. The PCNA expression in CAH was not correlated with the conventional histological evaluation of hepatitis activity or Knodell's hepatitis activity index. Among laboratory data, indocyanine green retention rate was negatively correlated with the PCNA expression (r = −0.467,P < 0.01). Significantly higher expression was also noted in acute hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma, compared with nonspecific change or liver cirrhosis. Although clinical significance of PCNA in chronic active hepatitis remains to be elucidated, PCNA might be a new histological marker of regeneration in benign liver disease.     

Colchicine reduces procollagen Ⅲ and increases pseudocholinesterase in chronic liver disease

AIM:To test whether colchicine would be an effective antif ibrotic agent for treatment of chronic liver diseases in patients who could not be treated with α-interferon.METHODS:Seventy-four patients(46 males,28 females) aged 40-66 years(mean 53±13 years) participated in the study.The patients were affected by chronic liver diseases with cirrhosis which was proven histologically(n=58);by chronic active hepatitis C(n=4),chronic active hepatitis B(n=2),and chronic persistent hepatitis C(n=6).In the four patient...     

Basal core-promoter mutant of hepatitis B virus and progression of liver disease in hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The long-term outcomes in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B are distinct from those in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis. However, the molecular virological factors that contribute to the progression of liver disease in this special clinical setting remain largely unknown. We thus investigated the association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes as well as precore/basal core-promoter mutations with the clinical and virological characteristics of patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B in Taiwan. METHODS: HBV genotypes and sequences of precore and basal core-promoter regions of the HBV genome were determined in 174 HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection patients including 62 inactive carriers and 112 with different stages of liver disease. RESULTS: HBV carriers with older age (> 50 years) (odds ratio, 9.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.22-25, P < 0.001) and basal core-promoter mutant of HBV (odds ratio, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.41-12.03, P = 0.01) were associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The gender-related risk factors associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and HCC were further analyzed, and basal core-promoter mutant was only associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and HCC in male carriers (odds ratio, 4.35; 95% CI, 1.30-14.52, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of development of liver cirrhosis and HCC is significantly increased in patients with advanced age as well as with basal core-promoter mutant of HBV. In addition, basal core-promoter mutant might contribute to the gender difference of the progression of liver disease in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B in Taiwan.     

Prednisone treatment of chronic liver disease. I. Chronic aggressive hepatitis as a therapeutic marker

ABSTRACT— A liver biopsy material comprising 477 biopsies from 477 patients included in a prospective, unblinded, randomized trial of treatment of cirrhosis with prednisone has been re-evaluated using new and more restrictive histological criteria for the diagnosis of cirrhosis and chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH). The material was divided according to the likelihood of cirrhosis being present: (A) cirrhosis (287 patients), (B) probably cirrhosis (101 patients) and (C) compatible with but not diagnostic for cirrhosis (89 patients). Each group was further divided according to the presence (I) or absence (II) of CAH. A total of 98 patients fulfilled the histological criteria for CAH. The effect of prednisone concerning survival was evaluated in each group. In the total group of patients with CAH a significant beneficial effect of prednisone was found (p=0.04). Among these patients the subgroup with cirrhosis in addition (group I A) also showed a significant effect of prednisone, while groups I B and I C only had a trend towards a beneficial effect (p=0.44 and p=0.36, respectively). In patients without CAH in the biopsy (Group II, A+B+C), no effect of prednisone was seen although a trend towards a harmful effect was found in patients with cirrhosis (Group II A). Control patients with CAH in all three subgroups had an insignificantly shorter survival than patients without CAH. All the CAH groups significantly more often included female patients with no history of alcoholism and a lower frequency of spider naevi. In addition, the CAH groups were more active as judged by biochemical and histological variables. It was further disclosed that the presence of large piecemeal necroses indicated a favourable effect of prednisone treatment, while alcoholism, ascites and male sex acted as indicators for an unfavourable treatment effect.     

乙型肝炎病毒e抗原阳性慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染者5年随访结果

目的 了解HBeAg阳性慢性HBV感染者的转归情况.方法 对168例HBeAg阳性慢性HBV感染者进行为期5年的临床症状、肝组织活检及血清学检查的动态观察研究,率的比较采用χ~2检验.结果 在5年随访期间.168例HBeAg阳性慢性HBV感染者中有23例出现乙型肝炎活动,占13.7%,其中肝脏病理有明显炎性反应(≥G2)者乙型肝炎活动率为24.1%(21/87例),而原肝组织炎症活动度分级为G0～G1者活动率为2.5%(2/81例),两者比较差异有统计学意义(X~2=14.88,P<0.01).43例感染者行2次肝组织活检,原肝组织正常者几年内相对稳定,病理很少变化,原病理炎性反应较重者不易恢复,但可在小范围内波动.45例发生HBeAg血清转换,HBeAg年转阴率为5.4%.14例HBsAg转阴,年转阴率为1.67%.结论 HBeAg阳性慢性HBV感染者乙型肝炎活动与肝脏炎症活动度分级密切相关.     

Liver iron is predictive of death in alcoholic cirrhosis: a multivariate study of 229 consecutive patients with alcoholic and/or hepatitis C virus cirrhosis: a prospective follow up study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A study was undertaken of liver biopsy samples from 229 consecutive patients with alcoholic or hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis who were prospectively followed until January 1996 to evaluate the influence of liver iron content on survival and the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Hepatic iron content was measured with a validated semiquantitative score, and its predictive value for survival and the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma was assessed. RESULTS: 130 patients had detectable iron at enrollment. During follow up (57 (28) months), 95 patients died and 39 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma. No significant relation was found between hepatic iron and the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Conversely, the presence of iron was predictive of death in alcoholic patients (p = 0.007) by the log rank test but not in patients with hepatitis C virus related (p = 0.71) or mixed (p = 0.98) cirrhosis. The predictive value of hepatic iron content in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis was confirmed by the Cox model using either a binary coding (p = 0.009; relative risk = 2.27; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 4.19) or the continuous values (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that hepatic iron enhances liver lesions caused by alcohol but not those caused by hepatitis C virus.     

肝活组织检查确诊乙型肝炎肝硬化的临床高危因素分析

目的分析由肝活组织检查确诊乙型肝炎肝硬化的临床高危因素。方法采用1∶2配比的病例对照研究设计。收集2009年4月-2012年10月住院并行肝活组织检查的慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者的临床资料,将其中乙型肝炎肝硬化患者79例设为病例组(肝硬化组);同期住院的CHB非肝硬化患者158例设为对照组(非肝硬化组)。对2组的临床相关因素进行单因素分析及Logistic多因素回归分析。单因素分析中,计数资料比较采用卡方检验,计量资料采用t检验。然后选择有统计学意义的指标进行Logistic多因素回归分析。结果单因素分析显示肝硬化组的男性例数、HBeAg阴性例数、年龄、AST、GGT、IgG、透明质酸(HA)水平明显高于非肝硬化组,而Alb、PLT、HBV DNA、层粘连蛋白(LN)水平肝硬化组明显低于非肝硬化组,2组差异均有统计学意义(P均0.05)。以是否肝硬化为因变量,以其他因素为自变量,进行非条件的Logistic多因素回归分析,结果显示年龄增大(β=0.046,OR=0.955)、GGT升高(β=0.040,OR=0.960)、IgG升高(β=0.179,OR=0.836)是发生肝硬化的高危因素,而Alb升高(β=-0.114,OR=1.120)、PLT升高(β=-0.024,OR=1.024)是肝硬化的保护因素。结论年龄增大、Alb减低、GGT升高、PLT减低、IgG升高是ALT波动在0~80 U/L之间的CHB患者发生肝硬化的高危因素,临床中对于此类患者应注意监测上述指标,特别是对PLT、IgG、GGT指标的检测,有针对性地进行肝活组织病理检查,避免漏诊、误诊。     

Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis: A preliminary report

Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been reported to increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinogenesis in chronic liver diseases. This study aims to elucidate whether DM is an independent risk factor for the appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Methods: Forty-seven patients with alcoholic cirrhosis were retrospectively observed for a median of 6.8 years. The patients showed a history of heavy alcohol intake of 500 kg or more until the diagnosis of cirrhosis, and no patients had hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B virus DNA measured by nested polymerase chain reaction, or antihepatitis C virus. Results: During the observation period, HCC developed in nine patients (19.1%). Cumulative appearance rates of HCC were 10.5%, 23.8% and 33.3% at the end of the fifth, 10th and 15th years, respectively. When they were divided into two groups according to the association of diabetes, carcinogenesis rates in patients with (n = 11) and without (n = 36) DM, cumulative carcinogenesis rates were 32.7% and 3.2% at the end of fifth year, 32.7% and 20.2% at the tenth year, and 66.3% and 20.2% at the 15th year, respectively. Crude carcinogenesis rate in the patient with DM was significantly higher than that of patients without DM (P = 0.0034). Multivariate analysis disclosed a higher age (hazard ratio 28.1, P = 0.007), and association of DM (hazard ratio 21.7, P = 0.006) significantly affected future carcinogenesis rate. Conclusion: DM seemed to be an independent risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis in the cohort study of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.     

慢性乙型肝炎和肝硬化中乙型肝炎病毒X抗原表达的分析

用基因工程技术由大肠杆菌合成重组乙型肝炎病毒（ＨＢＶ）Ｘ抗原（ＨＢｘＡｇ）并制备兔抗－ＨＢｘＩｇＧ以检测ＨＢｘＡｇ，合成一对以ＨＢＶＸ基因序列为模板的引物，用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）技术扩增ＨＢＶＤＮＡ。免疫组织化学和血清学方法分别用以分析肝病患者肝组织中的ＨＢｘＡｇ和血清标本中的ＨＢｘＡｇ、抗－ＨＢｘ。发现ＨＢｘＡｇ在慢性活动性肝炎（ＣＡＨ）患者肝组织中检出率为７２．７％，在肝炎后肝硬化（ＬＣ）中为９２．６％，而乙型肝炎核心抗原（ＨＢｃＡｇ）在ＬＣ中检出率为４７．８％。在ＣＡＨ、慢性迁延性肝炎和ＬＣ的血清中ＨＢｘＡｇ的阳性率分别为４４．４％、６６．６％和３３．３％，与ＨＢｅＡｇ的阳性率相似，而且在这些ＨＢｘＡｇ阳性的血清中可检出ＨＢＶＤＮＡ的存在，ＨＢｘＡｇ的表达与ＨＢＶ复制紧密相关，ＨＢｘＡｇ可能是一慢性ＨＢＶ感染的重要标志物。     

Colchicine reduces procollagen III and increases pseudocholinesterase in chronic liver disease

AIM: To test whether colchicine would be an effective antifibrotic agent for treatment of chronic liver diseases in patients who could not be treated with α-interferon.METHODS: Seventy-four patients (46 males, 28 females) aged 40-66 years (mean 53 ± 13 years) participated in the study. The patients were affected by chronic liver diseases with cirrhosis which was proven histologically (n = 58); by chronic active hepatitis C (n = 4), chronic active hepatitis B (n = 2), and chronic persistent hepatitis C (n = 6). In the four patients lacking histology, cirrhosis was diagnosed from anamnesis, serum laboratory tests, esophageal varices and ascites. Patients were assigned to colchicine (1 mg/d) or standard treatment as control in a randomized, double-blind trial, and followed for 4.4 years with clinical and laboratory evaluation.RESULTS: Survival at the end of the study was 94.6% in the colchicine group and 78.4% in the control group (P = 0.001). Serum N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen levels fell from 34.0 to 18.3 ng/mL (P = 0.0001), and pseudocholinesterase levels rose from 4.900 to 5.610 mU/mL (P = 0.0001) in the colchicine group, while no significant change was seen in controls. Best results were obtained in patients with chronic hepatitis C and in alcoholic cirrhotics.CONCLUSION: Colchicine is an effective and safe antifibrotic drug for long-term treatment of chronic liver disease in which fibrosis progresses towards cirrhosis.     

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma patients in India

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was investigated in 129 patients with chronic liver disease (85 with chronic active hepatitis and 44 with cirrhosis) and 53 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The commercially available second generation anti-HCV enzyme immunoassay kit was used. Antibodies to hepatitis C virus were detected in 16.2% of the patients with chronic liver disease and in 15.1% with hepatocellular carcinoma. Of the HCV positive patients in all groups 51.7% were positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers indicating present or past infection. Prevalence of HBV markers in all the three groups (CAH, cirrhosis and HCC) was higher as compared with anti-HCV prevalence. These results suggest that HCV infection may not be a major cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in India and indicate the presence of other aetiological agents.     

合并MAFLD的乙型肝炎肝硬化患者血清瘦素水平变化特点分析*

目的 探讨合并代谢相关脂肪性肝病(MAFLD)的乙型肝炎肝硬化患者血清瘦素(LP)水平变化特点。方法 在我院中法肝癌项目收集的标本库中,选择186例乙型肝炎肝硬化患者(Child-Pugh A级95例,B级51例和C级40例),在Child-Pugh A级患者中,合并MAFLD患者49例,未合并46例。采用ELISA法检测血清LP水平,采用多因素Logistic回归分析。结果 合并MAFLD的乙型肝炎肝硬化组血清甲胎蛋白(AFP)和LP水平分别为(2.1±1.3)ln ng/ml和(0.9±1.2)ng/ml,显著高于乙型肝炎肝硬化组[分别为(1.5±1.1)ln ng/ml和(0.5±1.1)ng/ml,P＜0.05];以是否合并MAFLD为因变量,进行多因素Logistic回归分析,结果最终进入模型的因素有血清LP和AFP,发现LP每增加1个单位,发生MAFLD乙型肝炎LC的风险增加2.3倍(P＜0.05,OR=2.3),而血清AFP每增加1个单位,合并MAFLD的风险增加1.8倍(P＜0.05,OR=1.8);Child-Pugh A级、B级和C级乙型肝炎肝硬化患者血清LP水平无显著性差异(P＞0.05),而三组间血清AFP水平差异显著(P＜0.05)。结论 合并MAFLD的乙型肝炎肝硬化患者血清LP水平升高,未发现血清LP水平与乙型肝炎肝硬化严重程度相关,提示乙型肝炎肝硬化患者血清LP水平升高可能与合并代谢性因素相关。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者ALT、HBV DNA及血清肝纤维化标志物与肝纤维化程度的关系

目的探讨ALT、HBV DNA以及血清纤维化标志物透明质酸(HA)、层粘连蛋白(LN)、Ⅲ型前胶原肽(PⅢP)、Ⅳ型胶原(CⅣ)与慢性乙型肝炎肝纤维化程度的关系。方法检测281例慢性乙型肝炎患者血清中ALT、HBV DNA和纤维化标志物(HA、LN、PⅢP及CⅣ)的水平,并行肝活检检测肝组织病理纤维化分期。结果 HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者HBV DNA水平较低、纤维化程度较高。HBeAg阳性患者纤维化程度与HBV DNA呈负相关(r=-0.251,P<0.001),S≥3组水平最低。慢性乙型肝炎患者纤维化程度与PⅢP水平呈正相关,其水平随着纤维化程度的加重而明显升高。结论 PⅢP水平可能作为评估慢性乙型肝炎患者肝纤维化程度的血清学指标,血清HBV DNA与肝脏纤维化严重程度的关系仍需进一步深入探讨。     

Liver cirrhosis in Malaysia: peculiar epidemiology in a multiracial Asian country

Background and Aim: To determine the etiology of liver cirrhosis and risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a multiracial Asian population. Methods: Consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis presenting to outpatient clinics and inpatient service at the University of Malaya Medical Centre from 1 April 2006 to 31 May 2009 were included. Results: A total of 460 patients were included in the study: 317 male patients (68.9%) and 143 female patients (31.1%), with a mean age of 58.8 years (range: 15–87 years). The major causes of cirrhosis were: chronic hepatitis B, n = 212, 46.1%; chronic hepatitis C, n = 85, 18.5%; cryptogenic, n = 71, 15.4%; alcohol, n = 58, 12.6% and autoimmune, n = 9, 2.0%. Alcohol was the main etiology in Indians (51.1%) compared to Malay (0%) and Chinese (4.4%) (both P < 0.001). Hepatitis B was the predominant etiology in Malay (47.9%) and Chinese (58.8%) compared to Indians (5.6%) (both P < 0.001). Hepatitis C cirrhosis was highest in Malays (25.0%). 136 patients (29.6%) had concurrent HCC. Male sex (P < 0.001), age > 60 years (P = 0.014), hepatitis B (P < 0.001), hepatitis C (P = 0.006) and cryptogenic cause (P = 0.002) were found to be independent risk factors for HCC. Conclusions: The etiology of cirrhosis has a peculiar pattern based on racial differences in alcohol intake and in the prevalence of hepatitis B.