• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.261-266
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• 2018

To determine the clinical utility of an immunoblot test and RT-PCR-hybridization test, 160 samples from patients with a chronic HCV infection were analyzed by two tests. A total of 133 samples out of 150 positive samples were positive by RT-PCR-hybridization. The true positive rate of the immunoblot tests and the concordance rate of the two tests was 88.6% and 89.3%, respectively. Serotyping and genotyping were performed to evaluate the distribution of the HCV subtype in Korean isolates. HCV serotypes 1 and 2, and genotypes 1b and 2a were the most common sources of HCV infections in this group. In 49 cases studied with the serotypes and genotypes, serotypes 1 and 2 were 57.1% and 42.9%, respectively. Genotypes 1b, 1b/2b, 2a, 2a/2c, and 2b were 51.0%, 2.0%, 34.7%, 8.2%, and 4.1%, respectively. This study shows that immunoblot tests are more useful for screening HCV infections. The RT-PCR-hybridization test confirmed the HCV infection in patients with positive immunoblot test results. The serotype test is preferred over the genotype test for monitoring the progression or response to treatment. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the response to an ${\alpha}$-interferon treatment of HCV infection with serotype type 1 or type 2 in Korea.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2000

Purpose: Previously reported ocular complications of interferon alfa administration are extremely rare. We experienced a 15-year-old boy with chronic hepatitis B who developed glaucoma after interferon alfa therapy. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the possible development of glaucoma after interferon alfa therapy for chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Nine patients with chronic hepatitis B who visited Inha university hospital between February 1998 and July 1999 received interferon alfa therapy. We measured visual acuity, intraocular pressure, C/D ratio, and visual field examination at pre-interferon therapy, three and six months after therapy, respectively. Results: The total number of patients was 9 (4 boys and 5 girls). Mean age was $11.7{\pm}4.1$ years. The duration of therapy was 6 months and mean dosage of interferon was 5 million units. Compared with visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and C/D ratio at pre-therapy, those parameters at 3 months and 6 months after therapy showed no significant differences and none showed visual field defect after therapy. Conclusion: Our prospective study showed no evidence of development of glaucoma after interferon therapy. However, it is necessary to be concerned about the possibility of developing glaucoma or other ophthalmologic diseases after interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis B.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.637-644
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• 1996

Interstitial pneumonitis associated with interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C was first describe6 in 1994 by Kazoo et al In Japan. The mechanism of interstitial pneumonitis developed by interferon alpha was still unknown but immunologic, allergic of direct lung toxicity were suggested. We experienced a case of interstitial pneumonitis developed during interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C in a 52-year-old male patient. He was treated with 6 million units of interferon alpha intramuscularly 3 times per week for 4 weeks and noted progressive dyspnea and cough. These symptoms were subsided after 6 weeks' discontinuation of interferon alpha therapy. And so, he was retreated with 3 million units of interferon alpha 3 times per week for 8 weeks and felt dyspnea again. He was admitted to our hospital for further evaluation of progressive dyspnea. Arterial blood gas(ABG) values were $PaO_2$ 90.7 mmHg and $PaCO_2$ 31.9 mmHg, and antinuclear antibody(ANA) was negative. A chest X-ray film revealed diffuse reticulo-nodular shadows in bilateral lung fields, suggesting a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonitis. A marked increase in lymphocyte count and suppressor T cell were observed in bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) fluid. Lymphocyte stimulation test with interferon alpha was positive. Interstitial pneumonitis was confirmed by transbronchial lung biopsy. After discontinuation of interferon alpha, we gave oral steroid in the condition that clinical symptoms were being improved gradually.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2015

Purposes: The purpose of the study was to evaluate knowledge of hepatitis C and compliance with therapeutic guidelines and their correlation. Methods: Participants included a total of 197 subjects with chronic hepatitis C from 4 general hospitals. Subjects were asked 25 items of knowledge on hepatitis C and 17 items of compliance with therapeutic guidelines. The collected data was analyzed for frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient. with the help of SPSS 21.0 program. Results: The subject's knowledge on chronic hepatitis C expressed as percentage was 67.1%. Compliance of the research participants gained $3.96({\pm}0.76)$ points in general on a 5-point scale. Learned compliance was higher when the patients were 45 years old and over. female and with spouse. There was a statistically significantly positive correlation between knowledge and compliances. Conclusions: Development of educational programs requires consideration of patient characteristics, particularly education on the male patients under 45 years of age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.539-546
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• 2019

Liver biopsy is invasive and it is a risk of complications. Nevertheless, liver biopsy is gold standard for predicting liver fibrosis. To compensate for these shortcomings, in this study, the liver fibrosis stage was divided using Fibroscan(R) in 200 chronic hepatitis C patients. And, the usefulness and cut-off values of fibrosis index based on four factors(FIB-4), AST to platelet ratio index(APRI) and AST/ALT ratio(AAR) calculated as serum tests were investigated by analyzing ROC curve. As a result, using FIB-4 and APRI rather than AAR is appropriate for evaluation of liver fibrosis. And using APRI to predict significant Fibrosis(F2) and FIB-4 is considered useful for predicting cirrhosis(F4). By applying the advantages of the serum based liver fibrosis marker, which are convenient and repeatable, liver fibrosis follow-up term can be reduced, and furthermore, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) can be reduced.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2005

Purpose: Non-A, B, C viral hepatitis is the name given to the disease with clinical viral hepatitis, but in which serologic evidence of A, B, C hepatitis has not been found. Little is known about the etiology and clinical features of non-A, B, C viral hepatitis in children. Methods: A clinical analysis of 45 cases with non-A, B, C viral hepatitis who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, from January 2001 to June 2004 was carried out retrospectively. Patients who were positive for HBsAg, anti-HAV and anti-HCV and had toxic, metabolic, autoimmune, or neonatal hepatitis were excluded in this study. Results: Among 45 cases of non-A, B, C viral hepatitis, the etiology was unknown in 26 (57.8%), CMV (cytomegalovirus) in 14 (31.1%), EBV (Epstein Barr virus) in 2 (4.4%), HSV (herpes simplex virus) in 2 (4.4%) and RV (rubella virus) in 1 (2.2%). Twenty seven out of 45 (60.0%) patients were under 1 year of age. Sixteen (33.3%) patients had no specific clinical symptoms and were diagnosed incidentally. On physical examination, twenty seven out of 45 patients (60.0%) had no abnormal findings. Forty three out of 45 patients (95.6%) showed classic clinical course of acute viral hepatitis, whereas fulminant hepatitis developed in two patients. Mean serum ALT (alanine aminotransferase) level was $448.7{\pm}771.9IU/L$. Serum ALT level was normalized in 31 out of 45 patients (81.6%) within 6 months and all patients within 18 months. Aplastic anemia was complicated in a case. Conclusion: Although most patients with non-A, B, C viral hepatitis showed a good prognosis, a careful follow-up would be necessary because some of them had a clinical course of chronic hepatitis, fulminant hepatitis and severe complication such as aplastic anemia.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 2006

Purpose: Neonatal hepatitis is the major cause of neonatal cholestasis and may be divided into infectious, metabolic, genetic, and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis. Non-familial, non-metabolic, and non-A, B, C viral neonatal hepatitis is known to have made satisfactory progress, but little is known about its chronic clinical features. Methods: Clinical and histological assessments were carried out in 34 cases with chronic neonatal hepatitis [elevated serum alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) level for more than 6 months] except for A, B, C viral hepatitis, metabolic, or genetic neonatal hepatitis, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, from January 1998 to January 2004. Results: Males were more common (70%). Jaundice (100%) and hepatomegaly (44%) were frequent manifestations. Peak serum ALT levels were most commonly below 300 IU/L in 41.2% of patients and peak serum direct bilirubin levels were most commonly between 1.0~5.0 mg/dL in 50% of patients. Ten cases (34%) of 29 patients had positive serum cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM or urine CMV polymerase chain reaction. Serum ALT level was normalized within 1 year in 11 (37.9%) of 29 cases, and within 2 years in 9 (69.2%) of 13 cases. Serum ALT level was elevated persistently over 2 years in four (30.7%) of 13 cases. Histologic findings such as portal or periportal activity, lobular necrosis, portal or periportal fibrosis were more severe in patients with persistent ALT elevation over 2 years than in those showing normalization of ALT within 2 years (p>0.05). Conclusion: When the elevation of ALT level sustains over 1 year in non-familiar, non-metabolic, non-A, B, C viral neonatal hepatitis, an assessment of the severity of liver injury and a careful monitoring about chronic liver disease may be required.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.285-288
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• 2006

Interferon alpha is an immunomodulator that is used as an antiviral agent to treat chronic active viral hepatitis C. However, interferon can induce or exacerbate sarcoidosis. We report a case of 42-year-old man with an exacerbation of pulmonary sarcoidosis after the cessation of interferon and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C. The patient's sarcoidosis improved spontaneously and he continues to be monitored regularly without steroid therapy.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.342-347
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• 2011

T cells play a key role in viral infection. However, in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, HCV-specific T cells are dysfunctional and impaired in the liver, which is the primary site for HCV replication. There are multiple potential mechanisms for HCV-specific T cell dysfunction including induction of immune inhibitory pathways (program death-1; PD-1, cytotoxic t lymphocyte associated antigen-4; CTLA-4) and immune tolerance induced specific for the liver. However, the interaction between hepatocytes and HCV-specific CD8 T cells has not clearly established. In this study, we confirmed huh (human hepatoma) 7.5 cells expressing HLA (human leukocyte antigen) A2 presented antigen to activate HCV-specific CD8 T cells in HLA A2-restricted manner and expression of PD-L (program death ligand) 1 on huh7.5 cells reduced HCV-specific CD8 T cell activation, suggesting an immune modulatory activity. Loss of HCV-specific tetramer responses following antigenic stimulation correlated with increased caspase-3 activity. In addition, PD-L1 on huh7.5 cells rescued HCV-specific CD8 T cells from apoptosis. Our results suggest that the interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1 can recover the function of HCV-specific CD8 T cells in the liver, which could be applied in therapy of HCV chronic infection.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2012

HIV 치료를 위한 강력한 항바이러스 약물요법이 널리 사용됨에 따라 HIV에 감염된 상태에서 신장질환 발생 위험성을 지닌 채 오랜 기간 생존하는 환자들이 증가하고 있다. 본 연구는 국립중앙의료원 감염병 센터를 내원한 만18세 이상의 HIV 감염 환자를 대상으로 HIV 감염 환자에게 신기능 장애를 유발하는 위험인자를 평가하고자 환자군 대조군 연구를 후향적으로 실시하였다. 2006년 1월부터 2011년 3월까지 5년 3개월 동안 신기능이 저하된 모든 HIV 감염 환자를 환자군으로 하며, 정상 신기능을 가진 HIV 감염 환자들 중 대조군을 무작위로 선정하여 환자군과 대조군을 1:2의 비율로 하였다. 환자군과 대조군을 비교해 만성신질환을 유발하는 위험인자를 평가하기 위한 분석변수로 성별, 연령, CD4+ 세포수, 혈중 바이러스 수, HAART 56일 이상 여부, 당뇨병과 C형 간염을 선정하였다. 또한 추가적으로 개별 antiretroviral 약물들 사용과 신기능이 얼마나 관련되어 있는지 알아보기 위해 각각의 약물과 eGFR의 상관관계를 분석하였다. 환자군은 CD4+ 세포수가 < $200{\times}10^6$ cells/l 인 군이 7.7배(OR: 7.7; 95% CI, 1.8-32.9) 단백뇨가 있는 환자의 경우 7.8배(OR: 7.8; 95% CI, 1.6-37.8) 더 유의하게 만성신질환 발생위험이 높았다. 개별 antiretroviral 약물들과 eGFR의 상관관계를 분석한 결과, lamivudine 이 eGFR 과 약한 음적 상관관계를 보이는 것으로 나타났으며(r = -.211, p < .05), 다른 약물들의 경우 통계적으로 유의한 값을 보이지 않았다. 이번 환자군-대조군 연구는 HIV 감염 환자들이 만성 신질환으로 발전하는데 여러 인자들의 역할에 대해 평가하고자 하였다. 여러 변수들을 평가해 본 결과, 만성 신질환 환자들의 경우 CD4+ 세포수가 < $200{\times}10^6$ cells/l 이거나 단백뇨를 동반한 경우가 통계적으로 유의하게 많았다.