Browsing by Subject "Hepatitis B e Antigens"

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    Thymosin in the treatment of HBeAG-negative chronic hepatitis B
    (2003) Saruc M.; Ozden N.; Yuceyar H.
    Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, is a major health threat worldwide. Classic patients with chronic hepatitis B are positive for hepatitis Be-antigen (HBeAg) and HBV-DNA. In the Mediterranean basin, 30-80% of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are HBeAg-negative, in contrast to Northern European countries and the US, where only 10-40% of CHB patients are lacking HbeAg. HBeAg-negative CHB usually runs a progressive course. The greatest problem with the treatment of HBeAg-negative CHB is the high relapse rate. Their end treatment response rates are similar to those of classic CHB patients, but after discontinuation of treatment most of them relapse. All the data available in the literature show that more than 80% of patients with HBeAg-negative CHB do not respond to the current approved therapies. A literature review and our experience with thymosin indicate that the combination of IFN α2b and T-α1 is better tolerated and more likely to induce a sustained response in HbeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients when compared to other currently available therapies. As thymosin-α1 treatment is relatively free from adverse effects, future controlled trials are needed, with a longer follow-up, in order to fully evaluate the role of the combination therapy of thymosin-α1 with other emerging therapeutic agents.
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    Comparison of two different regimens of combined interferon-α2a and lamivudine therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B infection
    (2006) Kansu A.; Doǧanci T.; Akman S.A.; Artan R.; Kuyucu N.; Kalayci A.G.; Dikici B.; Dalgiç B.; Selimoǧlu A.; Kasirga E.; Özkan T.B.; Kuloǧlu Z.; Aydoǧdu S.; Boşnak M.; Ertekin V.; Tanir G.; Haspolat K.; Girgin N.; Yaǧci R.V.
    Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of two regimens of combined interferon-α2a (IFN-α2a) and lamivudine (3TC) therapy in childhood chronic hepatitis B. Methods: A total of 177 patients received IFN-α2a, 9 million units (MU)/m2 for 6 months. In group I (112 patients, 8.7±3.5 years), 3TC (4 mg/kg/day, max 100 mg) was started simultaneously with IFN-α2a, in group II (65 patients, 9.6±3.8 years) 3TC was started 2 months prior to IFN-α2a. 3TC was continued for 6 months after antiHBe seroconversion or stopped at 24 months in non-responders. Results: Baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 134.2±34.1 and 147.0±45.3; histological activity index (HAI) was 7.4±2.7 and 7.1±2.3; and HBV DNA levels were above 2,000 pg/ml in 76% and 66% of patients in groups I and II, respectively (P>0.005). Complete response was 55.3% and 27.6% in groups I and II, respectively (P<0.01). AntiHBe seroconversion was higher and earlier, and HBV DNA clearance was earlier in group I (P<0.05). HBsAg clearance was 12.5% and 4.6% and antiHBs seroconversion was 9.8% and 6.2% in groups I and II, respectively (P>0.05). Breakthrough occurred in 17.9% and 24.6%; breakthrough times were 15.9±4.6 and 14.1±5.1 months; and relapse rates were 6.8% and none in groups I and II, respectively (P>0.05, P>0.05, P>0.05). Responders had higher HAI (HAI>6) and higher pre-treatment ALT than non-responders. Conclusion: Simultaneous 3TC+IFN-α2a yields a higher response and earlier antiHBe seroconversion and viral clearance than consecutive combined therapy. Relapse rate is low. Predictors of response are high basal ALT and high HAI scores. 3TC can be administered for 24 months without any side effect and breakthrough rate is comparable with previous studies. © 2006 International Medical Press.
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    Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis b virus in northern Cyprus; [Kuzey Kibris'ta Hepatit B Virusunun Moleküler Epidemiyolojisi]
    (Ankara Microbiology Society, 2016) Arikan A.; Şanlidaǧ T.; Süer K.; Sayan M.; Akçali S.; Güler E.
    Identification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains and understanding of molecular epidemiological characteristics are important for the effective surveillance of HBV infections. Genotype D is dominant in studies performed in Turkey but it is known that cases infected with genotypes A, E, C and H also exists. In contrast, there are no data regarding the molecular epidemiologic characteristics of the HBV in Northern Cyprus. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of genotypes and subgenotypes of HBV among the people living, educating and working in Northern Cyprus. A total of 160 cases (1.2%) who were HBsAg seropositive out of 13.892 subjects admitted to Nicosia, Near East University Hospital microbiology laboratory for the routine control and to blood center for donor screening tests between November 2011 to September 2014, were included in the study. HBV-DNA levels in the HBsAg positive cases were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and genotypes/subgenotypes were determined by sequence analysis of the viral pol gene (reverse transcriptase [rt] region, between 80-250. aminoacids). Sixty samples (60/160, 37.5%) were excluded from sequencing analysis due to negative and/or very low (< 30 lU/ml) HBV-DNA levels, so 100 samples were included in sequence analysis. Ninety-six of those cases (13 female, 87 male; mean age: 35.51 ± 12.88 years) were anti-HBc IgG, 95 were anti-HBe and five were HBeAg positive, with a mean HBV-DNA level of 5.36 x 106 ± 3.58 x 107 lU/ml. As 32 (32%) samples yielded HBV- DNA level below the threshold of 1000 lU/ml, sequence analyses were unsuccesful, eventually 68 (68/160, 42.5%) samples could be phylogenetically analyzed. The distribution of HBV genotypes/subgenotypes were found as follows: 48 were (70.6%) D/D1; four were (5.9%) D/D2; one was (1.5%) D/D3, five were (7.4%) A/A1, two were (2.9%) A/A2 and eight were (11.8%) genotype E. Among the most frequent D1 strains, 60.4% (29/48) cases were from Turkish; single D/D3 strain from Benguela (Angola) and all eight genotype E strains were from Nigerian national cases. According to the data of this first study performed in TRNC on this subject, genotype D is dominant (53/68, 78%) in Northern Cyprus and consistent with the subgenotype distribution that is similar to Turkey and mediterranean basin. The prevalences of genotype A (7/68, 10.3%) and E (8/68, 11.8%) were also remarkable. In conclusion, although Northern Cyprus is an island country the heterogeneous distribution of HBV genotype/subgenotype may be contributed to the cosmopolitan characteristics of various populations from different countries who have come here for education, work or touristic purposes.