Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C in subjects admitted to a cardiology clinics in Turkey

Hepatitis C and metabolic syndrome

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, are the two major causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Liver histology of both diseases can be associated with steatosis, oxidative stress and fibrogenesis. Although better defined for HCV, approximately 20% of patients with these diseases can also develop cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, it has become clear that the presence of metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease negatively impacts HCV-related outcomes, while simultaneously, the progression of HCV may have metabolic consequences in that it encourages or exacerbates insulin resistance. A growing body of evidence suggests that successful treatment of HCV may rely on understanding and addressing the complex and often mutually confounding relationship between HCV and the individual elements that comprise metabolic syndrome.

N-acetyl cysteine therapy in acute viral hepatitis

AIM: To investigate the effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on acute viral hepatitis (AVH).

METHODS: We administered 200 mg oral NAC three times daily (600 mg/day) to the study group and placebo capsules to the control group. All patients were hospitalized and diagnosed as AVH. Blood total and direct bilirubin, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatese, albumin and globulin levels of each patient were measured twice weekly until total bilirubin level dropped under 2 mg/dl, ALT level under 100 U/L, follow up was continued and then the patients were discharged.

RESULTS: A total of 41(13 female and 28 male) AVH patients were included in our study. The period for normalization of ALT and total bilirubin in the study group was 19.7 ± 6.9 days and 13.7 ± 8.5 days respectively. In the control group it was 20.4 ± 6.5 days and 16.9 ± 7.8 days respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: NAC administration effected neither the time necessary for normalization of ALT and total bilirubin values nor duration of hospitalization, so we could not suggest NAC for the treatment of icteric AVH cases. However, our results have shown that this drug is not harmful to patients with AVH.