[Natural history of chronic hepatitis B]

Hepatitis B and Delta: clinical aspects of patients in the Brazilian Western Amazonia

OBJECTIVE

to analyze clinical, serological, biochemical and hematological aspects in patients infected with the hepatitis B (HBV) and Delta (HDV) viruses.

METHOD

cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective study, performed with patients chronically infected with HBV and superinfected with HDV.

RESULTS

among the 112 patients selected, 74% were monoinfected with HBV (Group HBV) and 26% were superinfected with HDV (Group HBV+HDV). There was no difference in gender distribution. The average age was 36 years with standard deviation of ±12 years. The symptoms and signs presented a higher proportion in Group HBV+HDV (p=0.001). In both groups, most patients had non-reactive AgHBe. The records of biochemical and hematologic changes showed highest proportion in Group VHB+VHD Group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

the study found that patients were in clinical stages of the disease different from those in the initial examination for monitoring their chronic condition. The clinical profile suggests greater severity of liver disease among the patients superinfected with HDV.

Identification of hepatitis B virus A1762T/G1764A double mutant strain in patients in Southern Brazil

Infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a worldwide public health problem. Chronic HBV infection with high viral replication may lead to cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Mutant HBV strains, such as the HBV A1762T/G1764A double mutant, have been associated with poor prognosis and higher risk of the patient for developing cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. This study analyzed the presence of the HBV A1762T/G1764A double mutant in patients with chronic HBV and its association with clinical parameters such as viral load, aminotransferases, and HBV antigens. A total of 49 patients with chronic hepatitis B were included in the study, and the HBV A1762T/G1764A double mutant strain was detected in four samples (8.16%) by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length analysis (PCR-RFLP). The viral load was not significantly different between patients with or without the double mutant strain (p=0.43). On the other hand, carriers of the HBV A1762T/G1764A double mutant had higher levels of ALT (p=0.0028), while AST levels did not differ between groups (p=0.051). In this study, 75% of the samples with the HBV A1762T/G1764A double mutation were HBeAg negative and anti-HBe positive, reflecting seroconversion even though they still displayed high viral loads. Our study has shown that the HBV A1762T/G1764A double mutant strain circulates in Brazilian patients, and is associated with elevated levels of ALT and HBeAg seroconversion.

ADVANCED LIVER INJURY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS B AND VIRAL LOAD BELOW 2,000 IU/mL

Introduction:

According to the guidelines, the viral load of 2,000 IU/mL is considered the level to differentiate between inactive carriers and HBeAg(-) chronic hepatitis B patients. Even so, liver damage may be present in patients with lower viral load levels, mainly related to regional variations. This study aims to verify the presence of liver injury in patients with viral load below 2,000 IU/mL.

Methods:

Patients presenting HBsAg(+) for more than six months, Anti-HBe(+)/HBeAg(-), viral load below 2,000 IU/mL and serum ALT levels less than twice the upper limit of normality underwent liver biopsy. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were evaluated in relation to the degree of histologic alteration. Liver injury was considered advanced when F ≥ 2 and/or A ≥ 2 by the METAVIR classification.

Results:

11/27 (40.7%) patients had advanced liver injury, with a mean viral load of 701.0 (± 653.7) IU/mL versus 482.8 (± 580.0) IU/mL in patients with mild injury. The comparison between the mean values of the two groups did not find a statistical difference (p = 0.37). The average of serum aminotransferases was not able to differentiate light liver injury from advanced injury.

Conclusions:

In this study, one evaluation of viral load did not exclude the presence of advanced liver damage. Pathologic assessment is an important tool to diagnose advanced liver damage and should be performed in patients with a low viral load to indicate early antiviral treatment.

Characteristics of an outpatient chronic hepatitis B virus infection cohort

Objective:

To characterize a chronic hepatitis B cohort based on initial and follow-up clinical evaluations.

Methods:

A retrospective and descriptive analysis of clinical and laboratory data from chronic HBsAg adult carriers, without HIV, unexposed to treatment, with at least two outpatient visits, between February 2006 and November 2012. Fisher´s exact test, χ², Wilcoxon, Spearman, multiple comparisons and Kappa tests were applied, the level of significance adopted was 5%, with a 95% confidence interval.

Results:

175 patients with mean age of 42.95±12.53 years were included: 93 (53.1%) were men, 152 (86.9%) were negative for hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg), 3 (1.7%) had hepatitis C coinfection, 15 (8.6%) had cirrhosis, and 2 (1.1%) had hepatocellular carcinoma. Genotype A predominated. Sixty-six patients (37.7%) had active hepatitis, 6 (3.4%) presented immune tolerance, and 38 (21.7%) were inactive carriers. Exacerbations and/or viral breakthrough were detected in 16 patients (9.1%). In 32 patients (18.3%), hepatitis B virus DNA remained persistently elevated and alanine aminotransferase levels were normal, whereas in 17 (9.7%), there was low hepatitis B virus DNA and alterated alanine aminotransferase. If only initial alanine aminotransferase and hepatitis B virus DNA values were considered, 15 cases of active hepatitis would not have been detected. Advanced fibrosis was more common in HBeAg-positive patients, and it was significantly associated with transaminases, hepatitis B virus DNA, and age.

Conclusion:

Many patients had active hepatitis, but almost 25%, who were HBeAg non-reactive, were only identified because of combined analyses of the hepatitis B virus DNA and transaminases levels, sometimes associated with histological data, after clinical follow-up.

HIV/AIDS coinfection with the hepatitis B and C viruses in Brazil

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV coinfections among AIDS cases reported in Brazil, and to describe the epidemiological profile of these cases. Coinfection was identified through probabilistic record linkage of the data of all patients carrying the HIV virus recorded as AIDS patients and of those patients reported as carriers of hepatitis B or C virus in various databases from the Brazilian Ministry of Health from 1999 to 2010. In this period 370,672 AIDS cases were reported, of which 3,724 were HIV/HBV coinfections. Women are less likely to become coinfected than men and the chance of coinfection increases with age. This study allowed an important evaluation of HBV/HIV and HCV/HIV coinfections in Brazil using information obtained via merging secondary databases from the Ministry of Health, without conducting seroprevalence research. The findings of this study might be important for planning activities of the Brazilian epidemiologic surveillance agencies.

Das hepatopatias e icterícias às hepatites virais: configuração de um caleidoscópio

As hepatites virais A, B, C, D e E - viroses sistêmicas hepatotrópicas - produzem quadros de hepatite aguda. Dependendo do agente etiológico, da carga viral e de condições do hospedeiro, podem evoluir para hepatite crônica, cirrose, câncer de fígado e formas agudas fulminantes. A versatilidade ecológica desses vírus configura uma natureza espectral e cambiante de transmissão no tempo e no espaço; potencializada pelo curso subclínico por vezes prolongado de grande parte das infecções, constitui-se em desafio epidemiológico. Com base no curso histórico dessas infecções foram descritos cenários e tendências relativas ao seu comportamento socioepidemiológico, apontando para a necessidade de superar modelos, padrões, protocolos e retornar à investigação de cada situação de saúde/doença. Ou seja, assinala para a imprescindível exploração das singularidades no sentido de desenvolver ações gerais modeladas pelas especificidades locais.

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus among the indigenous population of the Curuçá and Itaquaí Rivers, Javari Valley, State of Amazonas, Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most serious public health problems in the world. In Brazil, HBV endemicity is heterogeneous, with the highest disease prevalence in the North region.

METHODS

A total of 180 samples were analyzed and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and semi-nested PCR of the HBV S-gene, with the aim of determining the prevalence of HBV-DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in indigenous groups inhabiting the areas near the Curuçá and Itaquaí Rivers in the Javari Valley, State of Amazonas, Brazil.

RESULTS

The prevalence of the HBV-DNA S-gene was 51.1% (92/180). The analysis found 18 of 49 (36.7%) samples from the Marubo tribe, 68 of 125 (54.4%) from the Kanamary, and 6 of 6 (100%) from other ethnic groups to be PCR positive. There was no statistically significant difference in gender at 5% (p=0.889). Indigenous people with positive PCR for HBV-DNA had a lower median age (p<0.001) of 23 years. There was no statistical difference found in relation to sources of contamination or clinical aspects with the PCR results, except for fever (p<0.001). The high prevalence of HBV-DNA of 75% (15/20) in pregnant women (p=0.009) demonstrates an association with vertical transmission.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirm the high prevalence of HBV-DNA in the Javari Valley, making it important to devise strategies for control and more effective prevention in combating the spread of HBV.

[Hepatitis B mortality in Brazil, 2000-2009]

This descriptive study focused on the mortality profile associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Brazil as a whole and by region, based on data from the Mortality Information System (MIS). The study sample consisted of deaths from HBV recorded in the MIS from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2009. The crude mortality rate remained constant in the country; the proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma with HBV as the associated cause was no greater than 7%. The standardized mortality rate was highest in the North of Brazil, and the proportional mortality rate was higher in males. In 2009, the potential years of life lost (PYLL) were highest in males in the 50-59-year age bracket and in females in the 40-49-year bracket. The largest increase in PYLL occurred in males 60 to 69 years of age. The study emphasizes the importance of scaling up preventive measures against HBV, in addition to expanding access to early diagnosis in order to reduce HBV mortality in the coming decades.

Understanding the clinical spectrum of complicated Plasmodium vivax malaria: a systematic review on the contributions of the Brazilian literature

The resurgence of the malaria eradication agenda and the increasing number of severe manifestation reports has contributed to a renewed interested in the Plasmodium vivax infection. It is the most geographically widespread parasite causing human malaria, with around 2.85 billion people living under risk of infection. The Brazilian Amazon region reports more than 50% of the malaria cases in Latin America and since 1990 there is a marked predominance of this species, responsible for 85% of cases in 2009. However, only a few complicated cases of P. vivax have been reported from this region. A systematic review of the Brazilian indexed and non-indexed literature on complicated cases of vivax malaria was performed including published articles, masters' dissertations, doctoral theses and national congresses' abstracts. The following information was retrieved: patient characteristics (demographic, presence of co-morbidities and, whenever possible, associated genetic disorders); description of each major clinical manifestation. As a result, 27 articles, 28 abstracts from scientific events' annals and 13 theses/dissertations were found, only after 1987. Most of the reported information was described in small case series and case reports of patients from all the Amazonian states, and also in travellers from Brazilian non-endemic areas. The more relevant clinical complications were anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, jaundice and acute respiratory distress syndrome, present in all age groups, in addition to other more rare clinical pictures. Complications in pregnant women were also reported. Acute and chronic co-morbidities were frequent, however death was occasional. Clinical atypical cases of malaria are more frequent than published in the indexed literature, probably due to a publication bias. In the Brazilian Amazon (considered to be a low to moderate intensity area of transmission), clinical data are in accordance with the recent findings of severity described in diverse P. vivax endemic areas (especially anaemia in Southeast Asia), however in this region both children and adults are affected. Finally, gaps of knowledge and areas for future research are opportunely pointed out.

Laparoscopic splenectomy in portal hypertension: a single-surgeon 13-year experience

BACKGROUND

Although laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has become the standard approach for most splenectomy cases, some areas still remain controversial. To date, the indications that preclude LS are not clearly defined. Portal hypertension from liver cirrhosis still is a contraindication to LS in the clinical practice guidelines of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery published in 2008. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of LS for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

METHODS

The study retrospectively analyzed 206 laparoscopic splenectomies performed for a variety of indications over 13 years. According to diagnosis, the patients were divided into group A (hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, n = 96) and group B (hematologic and other disorders, n = 110). A detailed review of medical records was conducted. The perioperative data for the two groups were compared including patient characteristics, diagnosis, operative details, complication rates, and postoperative hospital stay.

RESULTS

Laparoscopic splenectomy was completed for 201 patients. Conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery was necessary for 5 patients (2.4%) because of hemorrhage, and 26 patients (12.6%) had complications. There were significant differences between groups A and B in terms of mean operation time (2.8 vs. 2.1 h), complication rates (17.7% vs. 8.2%), and postoperative stay (7.1 vs. 4.7 days). However, the two groups showed no significant differences with respect to intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion, and conversion rate.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic splenectomy is a feasible, effective, and safe surgical procedure for patients who require splenectomy. Hypersplenism secondary to cirrhosis and portal hypertension should not be considered contraindications for LS.

Laparoscopic versus open splenectomy for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Since the first laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) in 1991, LS has become the gold standard for the removal of normal-to-moderately enlarged spleens in benign conditions. Compared with open splenectomy (OS), fewer postsurgical complications and better postoperative recovery were observed, but it is contraindicated for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis owing to technical difficulties associated with splenomegaly, well-developed collateral circulation, and increased risk of bleeding. With the improvements of laparoscopic technique, the concept is changing.

METHODS

OS and LS performed for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis at our institution were analyzed. Relationships between postoperative increases in platelet counts, white blood cell counts, hemoglobin, and liver function were examined. Perioperative data of LSs were compared with those of OSs, including operative time, blood loss, excised spleen weight, complications, and hospital stays.

RESULTS

A total of 216 splenectomies (135 OS and 81 LS) were performed from April 1999 to March 2007. Five laparoscopic cases were converted to open surgery owing to operative bleeding or bleeding of splenic fossa. The other 76 patients were performed LSs successfully. No major operative complications occurred. There was no operative death. Excised spleen weight >400 g was present in 56% of cases in this series. At 7 days postoperatively, the platelet counts, white blood cell counts, and hemoglobin significantly increased after open and laparoscopic surgeries, and increase of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and directed bilirubin of LS were significantly different with open cases. Operation times of LS and OS were 2.9+/-0.7 hours and 2.6+/-0.6 hours, respectively. Blood losses were 150.6+/-135.4 mL and 633.8+/-340.3 mL (P<0.01), excised spleen weights were 585.7+/-184.6 g and 591.1+/-153.4 g (P>0.05), and hospital stay were 8.2+/-2.0 days and 11.9+/-3.8 days (P<0.01). Operative associated complications were noted in both LS and OS. Less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and less impairment of liver function were observed in LS than OS.

CONCLUSIONS

LS is feasible, effective, and safe procedures for hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis and contributes to less impairment of liver function, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stay.

Revisão sistemática da eficácia do interferon alfa (convencional, peguilado) e lamivudina para o tratamento da hepatite crônica B

A hepatite crônica B constitui um grave problema de saúde pública e vem demonstrando crescentes gastos com financiamento de medicamentos de dispensação em caráter excepcional e de alto custo no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). O objetivo do estudo foi comparar a eficácia do interferon (convencional; peguilado - PEG2a) e lamivudina (LAM) para o tratamento da hepatite crônica B, pelo método de revisão sistemática selecionando ensaios clínicos randomizados e controlados identificados nas bases PubMed e LILACS. As medidas de resultado consideradas foram resposta virológica, soroconversão, resposta bioquímica, resposta histológica e efeitos adversos. Foram selecionados 35 artigos. A presença ou ausência do HBeAg e os níveis de alanina amino transferase (ALT) no pré-tratamento demonstraram papel fundamental na indicação terapêutica inicial. O tratamento com interferons convencionais permite a inativação da doença por longos períodos de tempo, podendo resultar em soroconversão HBsAg. O PEG 2a demonstrou eficácia superior ao interferon e LAM e efeitos colaterais semelhantes ao interferon. A LAM apresenta vantagem de ser sensível para os pacientes HBeAg negativo e apresenta como maior desvantagem o desenvolvimento de resistência.

Increased expression of Collagen I and Collagen III induced by HBV in hepatic stellate cells

AIM: To investigate whether HepG2.2.15 could induce expression of fibrosis-related factors in hepatic stellate cells in vitro and further to explore the mechanism of HBV inducing fibrogenesis.

METHODS: The hepatic stellate cells were co-cultured with HepG2 or HepG2.2.15 in vitro and the hepatic stellate cells cultured alone were used as control. For differentiation mRNA expression of Collagen I and III in hepatic stellate cells, real-time PCR was performed; for differentiation protein expression of Collagen I and III in hepatic stellate cells, Western blot analysis was performed.

RESULTS: Compared with the control and the hepatic stellate cells co-cultured with HepG2, mRNA expression of Collagen I and III were significantly higher in the hepatic stellate cells co-cultured with HepG2.2.15 and the most prominent effect was found at 72 h (P < 0.01); the protein expression of Collagen I and III were higher significantly in the hepatic stellate cells co-cultured with HepG2.2.15 and the most prominent effect was found at 48 h compared with control and the hepatic stellate cells co-cultured with HepG2 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The expression of fibrosis-related factors in hepatic stellate cells are increased greatly after being co-cultured with HepG2.2.15. HBV is capable of inducing fibrogenesis in vitro.

Hepatitis B virus induces expression of connective tissue growth factor and transforming growth factor-β1 in hepatic stellate cells

AIM: To investigate whether HepG2.2.15 cell line induces the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in hepatic stellate cells and the mechanism of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in inducing fibrogenesis.

METHODS: The hepatic stellate cells (LX-2) were co-cultured with HepG2 or HepG2.2.15 in vitro and the LX-2 cells cultured alone were used as controls. After culturing for 24, 48 and 72 h, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the expression of CTGF and TGF-β1 mRNA in LX-2 cells. Western-blot analysis was used to measure the expression of CTGF and TGF-β1 proteins in LX-2 cells.

RESULTS: After 24, 48, and 72 h, the expression of CTGF and TGF-β1 mRNA in LX-2 cells co-cultured with HepG2.2.15 were higher than those in the controls (CTGF: 1.7, 4.2, 9.6 times higher, P < 0.05; TGF-β1: 2.2, 6.1, 8.1 times higher, P < 0.01), and the most eminent effect was found at 72 h; however, CTGF and TGF-β1 mRNA expression in LX-2 cells co-cultured with HepG2 were 1.7, 1.2, 1.3 and 2.7, 1.9, 2.1 times higher than those in the controls (all P < 0.05). At the same time point, the protein expression of CTGF and TGF-β1 in LX-2 cells co-cultured with HepG2.2.15 (CTGF: 2.1, 2.6, 2.5 times higher, P < 0.05; TGF-β1: 1.7, 3.3, 3.1 times higher, P < 0.01) or HepG2 (CTGF: 1.6, 1.1, 0.9 times higher, P < 0.05; TGF-β1: 1.1, 1.4, 2.5 times higher, P < 0.05) were also higher than those in the control cells.

CONCLUSION: The expression of fibrosis-related factors in hepatic stellate cells are increased significantly after co-culturing with HepG2.2.15, which proves that HBV can induce fibrogenesis in vitro.