Lamivudine monotherapy for spontaneous severe acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND: Severe acute exacerbations of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can spontaneously occur and rapidly progress to fatal hepatic failure. The purpose of the present paper was to identify factors that could influence the rapid progression of liver disease to hepatic failure, and assess the effects of lamivudine on serious disease. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with spontaneous severe acute exacerbation (accompanied by jaundice and coagulopathy) were consecutively treated with lamivudine. Their clinical outcomes were compared with those of 25 lamivudine-untreated patients, as historical controls. RESULTS: Six lamivudine-treated patients (24%)and seven controls (28%) rapidly developed hepatic failure. Lamivudine monotherapy did not significantly prevent progression to hepatic failure. Multivariate analysis identified baseline serum bilirubin >/=6 mg/dL (odds ratio [OR]: 5.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.66-21.61; P = 0.018), pre-existing cirrhosis (OR: 4.52; 95%CI: 1.26-30.42; P = 0.034), and baseline prothrombin time <40% (OR: 3.75; 95%CI: 1.03-43.86; P = 0.045) as independent determinants of the event. Of the aforementioned patients with hepatic failure, three lamivudine-treated patients (50%) and two controls (29%) survived (P > 0.15). However, lamivudine induced a sustained normalization of liver function and inhibited the development of cirrhosis in survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine monotherapy conferred no significant protection against rapid progression of the disease to hepatic failure, but it resulted in long-term benefits. Lamivudine combined with other drugs could be more beneficial for patients with the aforementioned risk factors.     

急性乙型肝炎与慢性乙型肝炎急性发作的临床特征比较

目的探讨鉴别急性乙型肝炎(AHB)和慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)急性发作的临床特征。方法回顾性分析2014年6月~(-1)2月在复旦大学附属公共卫生临床中心就诊的96例AHB和124例CHB急性发作患者的临床资料。计量资料组间比较采用MannWhitney U检验,计数资料组间比较采用χ~2检验。结果 AHB和CHB急性发作在发病年龄和性别方面差异无统计学意义,男性发病率高于女性。AHB以性接触和医源性传播为主,而CHB急性发作以母婴垂直传播为主。基线ALT水平≥1072 U/L诊断AHB的敏感性和特异性分别为78.6%和79.2%;抗-HBc-Ig M滴度≥13.6 S/CO诊断AHB的敏感性和特异性分别为94.5%和89.3%。入院2周时AHB组HBs Ag、HBe Ag和HBV DNA较基线的下降值均显著高于CHB急性发作组且差异有统计学意义(P值均0.05)。入院第8周时AHB患者HBs Ag阴转率、抗-HBs阳转率、HBe Ag阴转率、抗-HBe阳转率和HBV DNA阴转率均显著高于CHB急性发作患者(P值均0.05)。结论明确传播途径、基线高ALT水平和抗-HBc-Ig M水平、快速HBV DNA阴转和HBV血清学标志物转换均有助于AHB和CHB急性发作的鉴别诊断。     

慢性乙型肝炎急性发作期患者肠道菌群的变化

目的 应用 16s rDNA 扩增子测序技术对慢性乙型肝炎急性期患者和健康人群肠道菌群进行分析,探讨肠道菌群对慢性乙型肝炎急性发作的影响及可能的作用机制。方法 收集20名慢性乙型肝炎急性期患者和23名健康对照者的粪便样本和临床资料,并对16s rRNA V3-V4区基因扩增产物进行测序。应用16s rDNA扩增子测序技术,进行菌群鉴定及差异性分析。结果 α多样性分析显示,与健康对照组相比,慢性乙型肝炎急性期患者的粪便微生物多样性降低(p <0.001)。β多样性分析显示,两组的菌群群落各自聚类,组间差异明显(p =0.001)。在门水平上,慢性乙型肝炎急性发作期患者菌群中厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)的相对丰度较健康对照组显著降低(p< 0. 01), 而放线菌门(Actinobacteria)的相对丰度却显著增加(p< 0. 001)。在科水平上,慢性乙型肝炎急性发作期患者菌群中紫单胞菌科(Porphyromonadaceae), 理研菌科(Rikenellaceae), 月形单细胞菌科(Selenomonadaceae)和瘤胃球菌科(Ruminococcaceaede) 的相对丰度较健康对照组显著降低(p< 0.001),而链球菌科(Streptococcaceae)的相对丰度显著增加(p< 0. 05)。在属水平上,另枝菌属(Alistipes), 类杆菌属(Bacteroides), 布劳特氏菌属(Blautia), 梭状芽胞杆菌属(Clostridium), 小杆菌属(Dialister), 普氏栖粪杆菌属(Faecalibacterium), 芽殖菌属(Gemmiger), 丝状菌属(Kineothrix), 巨单胞菌属(Megamonas), 副杆菌属(Parabacteroides), 瘤胃球菌属(Ruminococcus)等11个菌属的相对丰度在慢性乙型肝炎急性发作期患者中显著低于健康对照组(p< 0. 05),而普雷沃菌属(Prevotella)和韦荣氏球菌属(Veillonella)菌属的相对丰度则高于健康对照组(p< 0. 05)。结论 慢性乙型肝炎急性期患者肠道菌群的多样性和丰富度均较健康人群显著降低,其菌落结构也发生了明显改变,肠道菌群失调可能是导致慢性乙型肝炎急性发病的重要原因之一。     

Virological efficacy of combination therapy with corticosteroid and nucleoside analogue for severe acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B

The short‐term prognosis of patients with severe acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) leading to acute liver failure is extremely poor. We have reported the efficacy of corticosteroid in combination with nucleoside analogue in the early stages, but virological efficacy has not been documented. Our aim was to elucidate the virological efficacy of this approach. Thirteen patients defined as severe acute exacerbation of CHB by our uniform criteria were prospectively examined for virological responses to treatment. Nucleoside analogue and sufficient dose of corticosteroids were introduced as soon as possible after the diagnosis of severe disease. Of the 13 patients, 7 (54%) survived, 5 (38%) died and 1 (8%) received liver transplantation. The decline of HBV DNA was significant between the first 2 weeks (P = 0.02) and 4 weeks (P < 0.01). Mean reduction in HBV DNA during the first 2 weeks was 1.7 ± 0.9 log copies per mL in overall patients, 2.1 ± 0.8 in survived patients and 1.2 ± 0.9 in dead/transplanted patients. The decline of HBV DNA was significant between the first 2 weeks (P = 0.03) and 4 weeks (P = 0.02) in survived patients, but not in dead/transplanted patients. Our study shows that corticosteroid treatment in combination with nucleotide analogue has sufficient virological effect against severe acute exacerbation of CHB, and a rapid decline of HBV DNA is conspicuous in survived patients.     

Post-partum acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis in a hepatitis C-carrier mother

Hepatitis C virus infection is a global health problem; however, the interaction between pregnancy and chronic hepatitis C remains controversial. A Taiwanese woman with chronic hepatitis C had an uncomplicated pregnancy and gave birth to a female baby through spontaneous vaginal delivery. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA were measured before pregnancy, in the first and third trimesters, 1 and 3 months after delivery, respectively. During her pregnancy, the serum aminotransferase levels became normalized, while the serum HCV-RNA levels declined significantly and consecutively with the lowest viral load in the third trimester. One month after delivery, she had an abrupt elevation of serum HCV-RNA level, paralleling a hepatitis flare with serum aminotransferase level more than 20-fold the upper normal limit. The serum HCV-RNA levels declined thereafter, and serum aminotransferase levels became normalized 3 months postdelivery. She was infected with HCV genotype 1a throughout the entire follow-up period, and other causes of hepatitis flare were excluded. In conclusion, post-partum acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis may occur in HCV-carrier mothers, and an abrupt elevation of serum HCV-RNA level may be associated with the acute exacerbation.     

Acute hepatitis A and acquired immunity to hepatitis A virus in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers and in HBV- or hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver diseases in Thailand

A number of studies have suggested that the clinical course of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is more severe in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). A study was undertaken to determine the impact of acute HAV in asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers (n = 20) and patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-(n = 8) or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related (n = 4) CLD. Disease progression was compared with that in 100 patients with isolated HAV infection. No patient with HAV infection alone developed complications, and all recovered fully. Fulminant or submassive hepatitis occurred in 55% of HBsAg carriers and 33% of patients with HBV- or HCV-related CLD. The mortality rate in HBsAg carriers (25%) was not significantly different from that in the patients with CLD (33%). The seroprevalence of anti-HAV immunoglobulin G in 820 individuals was also determined. Approximately 50% of the individuals had acquired HAV infection between the ages of 21 and 30 years. It was demonstrated that HAV infection may have a more severe clinical course in patients with underlying CLD, particularly among older individuals. Vaccination for such patients should be considered.     

Hepatitis B virus precore mutations and HBeAg negative reactivation of chronic hepatitis B after interferon therapy

The objective of this study was to look for HBV precore mutations in three patients with chronic active hepatitis B who developed HBV-DNA-positive/HBeAg-negative reactivation after HBe seroconversion induced by interferon therapy. Direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products was performed on serum collected before and after HBe seroconversion. In two patients precore sequence showed only wild-type HBV before and after interferon therapy. In one patient, precore sequence showed only wild-type HBV before interferon therapy and a mixed infection by wild-type HBV and precore mutant viruses (1858 and 1896 nucleotide mutations) after treatment. The presence of HBeAg/anti-HBe immune complexes was found after HBe seroconversion in all cases. Our results suggest that: 1) precore mutations are not always found in patients with chronic hepatitis B who develop HBV DNA-positive/HBeAg-negative reactivation; and 2) HBeAg negativity, despite the presence of wild-type HBV, might be due to HBeAg/anti-HBe immune complexes. We speculate that the production of these immune complexes may be favored by interferon therapy.     

74例慢性乙型肝炎患者急性发作临床特征分析

目的探讨慢性乙型肝炎急性发作临床特点,为诊断、治疗慢性乙型肝炎急性发作提供循证医学证据。方法回顾性分析海口市人民医院2011年1月-2015年10月确诊的74例慢性乙型肝炎急性发作患者的临床资料。将纳入患者分为HBe Ag阳性组(n=51)和阴性组(n=23)。计量资料两组间比较采用t检验,计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验。结果慢性乙型肝炎急性起病,ALT水平为523~2940 U/L,表现为黄疸型肝炎64例(86.49%),4周内临床治愈65例(87.84%)。HBe Ag阳性组与HBe Ag阴性组基线ALT、AST、HBV DNA水平差异均无统计学意义(P值均0.05),但HBe Ag阴性组患者的TBil水平[(141.1±132.9)μmol/L]较阳性组[(80.1±68.8)μmol/L]高,差异有统计学意义(t=2.745,P=0.007)。结论慢性乙型肝炎急性发作发病过程类似于急性乙型肝炎,HBe Ag阴性患者的TBil水平较高,肝细胞损伤较重。     

Risk factors for progression to acute-on-chronic liver failure during severe acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND Acute exacerbation in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection results in different severities of liver injury. The risk factors related to progression to hepatic decompensation(HD) and acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF) in patients with severe acute exacerbation(SAE) of chronic HBV infection remain unknown.AIM To identify risk factors related to progression to HD and ACLF in compensated patients with SAE of chronic HBV infection.METHODS The baseline characteristics of 164 patients with SAE of chronic HBV infection were retrospectively reviewed. Independent risk factors associated with progression to HD and ACLF were identified. The predictive values of our previously established prediction model in patients with acute exacerbation(AE model) and the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) score in predicting the development of ACLF were evaluated.RESULTS Among 164 patients with SAE, 83(50.6%) had compensated liver cirrhosis(LC),43 had progression to HD without ACLF, and 29 had progression to ACLF within 28 d after admission. Independent risk factors associated with progression to HD were LC and low alanine aminotransferase. Independent risk factors for progression to ACLF were LC, high MELD score, high aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels, and low prothrombin activity(PTA). The area under the receiver operating characteristic of the AE model [0.844, 95%confidence interval(CI): 0.779-0.896] was significantly higher than that of MELD score(0.690, 95%CI: 0.613-0.760, P < 0.05) in predicting the development of ACLF.CONCLUSION In patients with SAE of chronic HBV infection, LC is an independent risk factor for progression to both HD and ACLF. High MELD score, high AST, and low PTA are associated with progression to ACLF. The AE model is a better predictor of ACLF development in patients with SAE than MELD score.     

慢性乙型肝炎外周血sCD62E水平与肝功能的关系

采用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测54例慢性乙型肝炎患者外周血可溶性选择素E（sCD62E)浓度变化并分析其与肝功能的关系。结果显示：慢性乙肝患者外周血sCD62E水平明显高于对照组（P＜0．001）。慢乙肝轻度、中度、重度三组sCD62E均显著高于对照组（P＜0．01）。轻为、中度、重度慢乙肝患者sCD62E逐渐升高且差异明显。sCD62E与ALT、AST、TBIL呈正相关，与ALB负相关。提示：sCD62E水平越高，肝功能损害越明显。sCD62E水平对衡量肝脏炎症程度和判断预后有重要临床价值。CD62E在HBV感染后引起的淋巴细胞浸润及肝细胞损伤机理中可能有重要作用。     

Hepatitis E infection is an under recognized cause of acute decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease

Background/aims

We aimed to assess characteristics of patients with a positive hepatitis E virus serology with emphasis on acute on chronic liver disease.

Methods

This was a retrospective audit performed at a large teaching hospital.

Results

Of the 164 patients tested, 15(9.1%) had a positive serology (hepatitis E virus IgG and or IgM) of whom two also had a positive hepatitis E virus RNA. Six (42.8%) had underlying chronic liver disease and presented with deteriorating liver tests ± decompensation. In one patient (16%) acute hepatitis E virus infection was the aetiology for the decompensation and in three the positive hepatitis E virus IgG was a reflection of prior subclinical infection. However, in two of the six patients with unexplained decompensation there was delay (150–270 days) in obtaining a hepatitis E virus serology, which may have resulted in a negative hepatitis E virus IgM at time of testing.

Conclusions

9.1% of patients presenting with abnormal liver tests at a large teaching hospital in south east England have a positive hepatitis E virus serology of whom 42.8% have acute on chronic liver disease. In 16% hepatitis E virus infection is the aetiology for the acute decompensation. This may be an under representation as in >30% of patients with unexplained decompensation there is considerable delay in requesting a hepatitis E virus serology.     

Spontaneous hepatitis B surface antigen clearance in a long-term follow-up study of patients with chronic type B hepatitis. Lack of correlation with hepatitis C and D virus superinfection

We investigated the frequency of HBsAg clearance and the possible role of viral superinfection in a long-term follow-up of 184 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Our subjects were 184 patients with chronic hepatitis B and the follow-up was 12–216 months (mean 66.2±53.7 months). The investigative methods used were: immunoenzymatic assays for HBV, HCV, HDV, and HIV markers; polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HBV DNA; and liver biopsy and immunoperoxidase. During the follow-up, 20 of the 184 patients cleared serum HBsAg. A comparison of patients with persistent HBsAg (group I) and of those who cleared this marker (group II) showed a significant difference in mortality (P=0.002) between the two groups and a tendency to a more severe exacerbation (flare) in group II (P=0.07). Antibodies to hepatitis C and D virus as well as antibodies to HIV were equally distributed in both groups. Thirteen patients (7.9%) from group I, but none from group II, subsequently developed hepatocellular carcinoma. These results suggest that the frequency of spontaneous clearance of HBsAg during chronic HBV infection is low. No determinant factor for the clearance was found, including the presence of liver cirrhosis. Serum HBV DNA was undetectable by PCR after clearance in 16 out of 17 patients. Some of these findings were presented at the Biennial Scientific Meeting of the International Association for the Study of the Liver, held in Brighton, UK, in June 1992.     

AECOPD合并2型糖尿病患者控制血糖的临床意义

目的观察血糖控制对AECOPD合并2型糖尿病的影响。方法82例AECOPD合并2型糖尿病患者随机分为治疗组（42例）和对照组（40例）。治疗组使用胰岛素严格控制血糖在正常范围,对照组使用口服降糖药血糖控制可高于正常范围,分析治疗前后血清CRP、WBC总数、ESR变化,肺功能变化和病程。结果两组治疗后均能降低血清CRP、WBC总数、ESR,改善肺功能,并且治疗组优于对照组,P〈0．05。在减少住院天数方面治疗组优于对照组,P〈0．05。结论严格的血糖控制对AECOPD合并糖尿病患者感染控制,肺功能改善,缩短病程十分重要。     

病毒相关的慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重的研究进展

随着高敏感性检测手段应用的发展和普及,病毒在慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重(AECOPD)期间的检出率大大提高,这引起人们对病毒感染与AECOPD关系的重视.现就病毒与AECOPD的关系、病毒特异性生物标志物以及病毒相关AECOPD的临床预后三个方面进行综述.     

慢性乙型肝炎重叠HAV与HEV感染的临床分析

目的研究慢性乙型肝炎患者重叠甲型肝炎与重叠戊型肝炎病毒的临床特点及其对病情转归的影响。方法采用ELISA法检测甲、乙、丙、戊型肝炎病毒血清标记物,选择慢性乙型肝炎重叠甲型肝炎52例与慢性乙型肝炎重叠戊型肝炎267例进行对比分析。结果慢性乙型肝炎重叠戊型肝炎患者较慢性乙型肝炎重叠甲型肝炎患者总胆红素水平高、重型肝炎发生率高、病死率高,两组白蛋白水平和平均住院日无明显差异。结论慢性乙型肝炎患者重叠戊型肝炎病毒感染较重叠甲型肝炎病毒感染病情更重、预后差。     

Hepatitis E virus: an underdiagnosed cause of chronic hepatitis in renal transplant recipients

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can evolve to chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients leading to rapidly progressive cirrhosis. Proper diagnosis is therefore important, as reducing immunosuppressive therapy can allow clearance of the virus. We report a case of chronic HEV infection in a renal transplant recipient that went undiagnosed for many years, discuss the therapeutic options, and review the current available literature.