[Hepatitis E virus infection in Albania]

Acute HEV in Albania make up 35.7% of acute non A-non B hepatitis and 2.4% of all acute viral hepatitis cases, affecting women more with a 2:1 ratio, and are described more frequently in adults (73.3%) older than 35 years. In the general population (control group), the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies increases progressively with age, from 1.2% in the younger than 9 years, to 17.7% among the over 60, in general the average is of 9.7%. A statistical comparison of anti-HEV antibodies in healthy persons younger than 20, and those 20 years old and over is significant (p < 0.0001). HEV transmission by blood transfusion, mentioned by some authors, could be related to the infection of blood donors. We have not found any positive cases in thalassemic children who received between 24 and 169 transfusions. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in pregnant women is lower than in the general population (p < 0.0001). In patients with chronic liver disease, in comparison with the general population (control group), there is no statistical significant difference (p = NS).

Treatment with colchicine and survival of patients with ascitic cirrhosis: a double-blind randomized trial

BACKGROUND

In order to assess the role of colchicine in the survival of cirrhotic patients, 52 patients were studied.

METHODS

The patients were divided into two groups, randomized according to age. There were no significant differences in age, sex, etiologic factors, or biological data. In addition to conventional therapy with diuretics, the first group was treated with colchicine of 1 milligram daily for 5 days a week, and the second group with a placebo.

RESULTS

Under the action of colchicine, the diuretics were discontinued because the ascites disappeared in 37.93% of the colchicine group, vs 4.35% of the placebo group (p < 0.01). At time of discharge from the clinic, ascitic fluid disappeared respectively in 72.41% and 26.09% of cases (p < 0.001), whereas the recurrence in the follow-up period was 47.62% vs 83.33% (p < 0.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Using Kaplan Meier survival curves, and comparing both groups with Logrank test during a period of 11 years it was found that survival of the colchicine group was 3 times greater than that of the placebo group (p < 0.001).