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Higuera-de-la-Tijera F, Castro-Narro GE, Velarde-Ruiz Velasco JA, Cerda-Reyes E, Moreno-Alcántar R, Aiza-Haddad I, Castillo-Barradas M, Cisneros-Garza LE, Dehesa-Violante M, Flores-Calderón J, González-Huezo MS, Márquez-Guillén E, Muñóz-Espinosa LE, Pérez-Hernández JL, Ramos-Gómez MV, Sierra-Madero J, Sánchez-Ávila JF, Torre-Delgadillo A, Torres R, Marín-López ER, Kershenobich D, Wolpert-Barraza E. Asociación Mexicana de Hepatología A.C. Clinical guideline on hepatitis B. Rev Gastroenterol Mex (Engl Ed) 2021; 86:403-432. [PMID: 34483073 DOI: 10.1016/j.rgmxen.2021.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a worldwide public health problem. In Mexico, at least three million adults are estimated to have acquired hepatitis B (total hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc]-positive), and of those, 300,000 active carriers (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]-positive) could require treatment. Because HBV is preventable through vaccination, its universal application should be emphasized. HBV infection is a major risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Semi-annual liver ultrasound and serum alpha-fetoprotein testing favor early detection of that cancer and should be carried out in all patients with chronic HBV infection, regardless of the presence of advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Currently, nucleoside/nucleotide analogues that have a high barrier to resistance are the first-line therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Higuera-de-la-Tijera
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital General de México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - G E Castro-Narro
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - J A Velarde-Ruiz Velasco
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara "Fray Antonio Alcalde", Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - E Cerda-Reyes
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital Central Militar, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - R Moreno-Alcántar
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - I Aiza-Haddad
- Clínica de Enfermedades Hepáticas, Hospital Ángeles Lomas, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - M Castillo-Barradas
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional "La Raza", IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - L E Cisneros-Garza
- Centro de Enfermedades Hepáticas, Hospital San José, Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - M Dehesa-Violante
- Fundación Mexicana para la Salud Hepática A.C. (FUNDHEPA), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - J Flores-Calderón
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Pediatría del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - M S González-Huezo
- Servicio de Gastroenterología y Endoscopia Gastrointestinal, ISSSEMYM, Metepec, Estado de México, Mexico
| | - E Márquez-Guillén
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - L E Muñóz-Espinosa
- Clínica de Hígado, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario "Dr. José E. González", Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - J L Pérez-Hernández
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital General de México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - M V Ramos-Gómez
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Centro Médico Nacional "20 de Noviembre", ISSSTE, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - J Sierra-Madero
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - J F Sánchez-Ávila
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - A Torre-Delgadillo
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - R Torres
- Hospital de Infectología del Centro Médico Nacional "La Raza", IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - D Kershenobich
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", Mexico City, Mexico
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Higuera-de-la-Tijera F, Castro-Narro GE, Velarde-Ruiz Velasco JA, Cerda-Reyes E, Moreno-Alcántar R, Aiza-Haddad I, Castillo-Barradas M, Cisneros-Garza LE, Dehesa-Violante M, Flores-Calderón J, González-Huezo MS, Márquez-Guillén E, Muñóz-Espinosa LE, Pérez-Hernández JL, Ramos-Gómez MV, Sierra-Madero J, Sánchez-Ávila JF, Torre-Delgadillo A, Torres R, Marín-López ER, Kershenobich D, Wolpert-Barraza E. Asociación Mexicana de Hepatología A.C. Clinical guideline on hepatitis B. Rev Gastroenterol Mex (Engl Ed) 2021; 86:S0375-0906(21)00061-6. [PMID: 34384668 DOI: 10.1016/j.rgmx.2021.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a worldwide public health problem. In Mexico, at least three million adults are estimated to have acquired hepatitis B (total hepatitis B core antibody [anti-HBc]-positive), and of those, 300,000 active carriers (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]-positive) could require treatment. Because HBV is preventable through vaccination, its universal application should be emphasized. HBV infection is a major risk factor for developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Semi-annual liver ultrasound and serum alpha-fetoprotein testing favor early detection of that cancer and should be carried out in all patients with chronic HBV infection, regardless of the presence of advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis. Currently, nucleoside/nucleotide analogues that have a high barrier to resistance are the first-line therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Higuera-de-la-Tijera
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital General de México «Dr. Eduardo Liceaga», Ciudad de México, México
| | - G E Castro-Narro
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición «Salvador Zubirán», Ciudad de México, México.
| | - J A Velarde-Ruiz Velasco
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara «Fray Antonio Alcalde», Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
| | - E Cerda-Reyes
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital Central Militar, Ciudad de México, México
| | - R Moreno-Alcántar
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Ciudad de México, México
| | - I Aiza-Haddad
- Clínica de Enfermedades Hepáticas, Hospital Ángeles Lomas, Ciudad de México, México
| | - M Castillo-Barradas
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional «La Raza», IMSS, Ciudad de México, México
| | - L E Cisneros-Garza
- Centro de Enfermedades Hepáticas, Hospital San José, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
| | - M Dehesa-Violante
- Fundación Mexicana para la Salud Hepática A.C. (FUNDHEPA), Ciudad de México, México
| | - J Flores-Calderón
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Pediatría del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Ciudad de México, México
| | - M S González-Huezo
- Servicio de Gastroenterología y Endoscopia Gastrointestinal, ISSSEMYM, Metepec, Estado de México, México
| | - E Márquez-Guillén
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición «Salvador Zubirán», Ciudad de México, México
| | - L E Muñóz-Espinosa
- Clínica de Hígado, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario «Dr. José E. González», Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
| | - J L Pérez-Hernández
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Hospital General de México «Dr. Eduardo Liceaga», Ciudad de México, México
| | - M V Ramos-Gómez
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Centro Médico Nacional «20 de Noviembre», ISSSTE, Ciudad de México, México
| | - J Sierra-Madero
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición «Salvador Zubirán», Ciudad de México, México
| | - J F Sánchez-Ávila
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Ciudad de México, México
| | - A Torre-Delgadillo
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición «Salvador Zubirán», Ciudad de México, México
| | - R Torres
- Hospital de Infectología del Centro Médico Nacional «La Raza», IMSS, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - D Kershenobich
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición «Salvador Zubirán», Ciudad de México, México
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Vieira J, Amorim J, Martí-Bonmatí L, Alberich-Bayarri Á, França M. Quantifying steatosis in the liver and pancreas with MRI in patient with chronic liver disease. Radiologia (Engl Ed) 2020; 62:222-228. [PMID: 31932016 DOI: 10.1016/j.rx.2019.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIM To compare pancreatic and hepatic steatosis quantified by proton density fat fraction (PDFF) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with chronic liver disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cross-sectional study included 46 adult patients who underwent liver biopsy for chronic viral hepatitis (n=19) or other chronic non-alcoholic liver diseases (NALD) (n=27). Liver biopsy was used as the gold standard for diagnosing and grading hepatic steatosis. All patients underwent clinical evaluation and MRI with a multi-echo chemical shift-encoded (MECSE) gradient-echo sequence for liver and pancreas PDFF quantification. We used Spearman's correlation coefficient to determine the degree of association between hepatic PDFF and steatosis grade, and between pancreatic PDFF and steatosis grade and hepatic PDFF. To compare the chronic viral hepatitis group and the NALD group, we used t-tests for continuous or ordinal variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables. RESULTS Hepatic PDFF measurements correlated with steatosis grades (RS=0.875, p<0.001). Pancreatic PDFF correlated with hepatic steatosis grades (RS=0.573, p<0.001) and hepatic PDFF measurements (RS=0.536, p<0.001). In the subgroup of patients with chronic NALD, the correlations remained significant between pancreatic PDFF and hepatic PDFF (RS=0.632, p<0.001) and between pancreatic PDFF and liver steatosis (RS=0.608, p<0.001); however, in the subgroup of patients with viral hepatitis these correlations were no longer significant. CONCLUSION Pancreatic fat deposition correlates with hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic NALD, but not in those with chronic viral hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Vieira
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidad de Oporto, Oporto, Portugal.
| | - J Amorim
- Departamento de Diagnóstico por la Imagen, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Oporto, Portugal; Escola de Medicina, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's, Instituto de Investigación de Ciencias de la Vida y la Salud, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - L Martí-Bonmatí
- Departamento de Radiología y Grupo de Investigación Biomédica en Imagen GIBI2(30). Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe e Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, España
| | - Á Alberich-Bayarri
- Departamento de Radiología y Grupo de Investigación Biomédica en Imagen GIBI2(30). Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe e Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, España; Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers in Medicine (QUIBIM), Valencia, España
| | - M França
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidad de Oporto, Oporto, Portugal; Departamento de Diagnóstico por la Imagen, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Oporto, Portugal; i3S, Instituto de Investigacão e Inovação em Saúde, IBMC, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular, Oporto, Portugal
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Quer JC, Diago M, Crespo J, García-Samaniego J, Morillas R, Andrade R, Ángel Simón M. [Chronic hepatitis C: patients with mild disease]. Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016; 37 Suppl 1:3-12. [PMID: 25907433 DOI: 10.1016/s0210-5705(15)30002-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is usually asymptomatic. The severity of the hepatic lesion in these patients at diagnosis varies and, from the histopathologic point of view, most have mild disease. A series of factors have been described that correlate with the progression of fibrosis in patients with mild fibrosis: age at diagnosis, the duration of the infection, male sex, HIV coinfection, transaminase levels during follow-up, alcohol consumption, metabolic factors such as diabetes and overweight, necroinflammatory activity in the initial biopsy, and the degree of steatosis. In patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C infection, the standard treatment has been pegylated interferon and ribavirin. However, response rates are markedly increased by concomitant use of first-generation protease inhibitors, boceprevir or telaprevir. In patients with moderate fibrosis, these drugs are well tolerated, in addition to being effective. Currently, dual therapy should be reserved for patients with good baseline predictive factors of response and/or contraindications for treatment with telaprevir or boceprevir. In patients with genotypes other than genotype 1, the standard treatment continues to be the combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin, although the development of new direct-acting antiviral agents such as sofosbuvir and simeprevir will change the strategies used in these patients. The decision to wait for the new treatments is complex because their release date is unknown; likewise, their high cost will limit the possibilities for their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Quer
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Joan XXIII, Tarragona, España
| | - Moisés Diago
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General, Valencia, España
| | - Javier Crespo
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, España
| | | | - Rosa Morillas
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona (Barcelona), España
| | - Raúl Andrade
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, España
| | - Miguel Ángel Simón
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Zaragoza, España.
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Abstract
The treatment plan for chronic hepatitis C in special populations varies according to comorbidity and the current evidence on treatment. In patients with hepatitis C virus and HIV coinfection, the results of dual therapy (pegylated interferon plus ribavirin) are poor. In patients with genotype 1 infection, triple therapy (dual therapy plus boceprevir or telaprevir) has doubled the response rate, but protease inhibitors can interact with some antiretroviral drugs and provoke more adverse effects. These disadvantages are avoided by the new, second-generation, direct-acting antiviral agents. In patients who are candidates for liver transplantation or are already liver transplant recipients, the optimal therapeutic option at present is to combine the new antiviral agents, with or without ribavirin and without interferon. The treatment of patients under hemodialysis due to chronic renal disease continues to be dual therapy (often with reduced doses of pegylated interferon and ribavirin), since there is still insufficient information on triple therapy and the new antiviral agents. In mixed cryoglobulinemia, despite the scarcity of experience, triple therapy seems to be superior to dual therapy and may be used as rescue therapy in non-responders to dual therapy. However, a decision must always be made on whether antiviral treatment should be used concomitantly or after immunosuppressive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Berenguer
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, España
| | - Francisco Jorquera
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, León, España
| | - Miguel Ángel Serra
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España
| | - Ricard Sola
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Hospital del Mar, IMIM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España
| | - Gregorio Castellano
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España.
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Jiménez Macías FM, Barrero Alor F, Casado Monge PG, Ramos Lora M, Pujol de la Llave E, Ruíz-Frutos C. [Lipid kinetics during dual antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C]. Med Clin (Barc) 2015; 144:536-43. [PMID: 24726260 DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2013.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2013] [Revised: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE We analyzed baseline and kinetic characteristics of lipid metabolism during the first month of bitherapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 (CHC-1). PATIENTS AND METHODS A longitudinal, prospective study including 99 naïve CHC-1 patients with liver biopsy who were treated with bitherapy. Our patients were assigned to one of 5 different "degrees of lipid requirement" that we established depending on the degree of liver fibrosis, baseline viral load and infectivity ratio (ratio between the median level of triglycerides and high densitity lipoproteins-cholesterol during the first month). The goal was to achieve "a favorable lipid metabolism" (FLM) by establishing a necessary minimum level of low density lipoproteins (LDL)-cholesterol during this period for each one of them. We also analyzed the relationship with the rate of sustained virological response. RESULTS Patients with liver fibrosis F3-F4 who had higher baseline levels of LDL-cholesterol achieved higher rates of sustained virological response. Those patients who had a lower value of infectivity ratio and median levels of LDL-cholesterol during the first month of bitherapy also achieved higher rates of sustained virological response: SVR group 100 (23) mg/dl against non-SVR group: 89 (28) mg/dl; odds ratio 1.1; 95% confidence interval (1.0-1.2); P<.05, these differences being more significant for genotype IL-28B-CC (P=.013). Patients with sustained virological response had higher rates of FLM. CONCLUSIONS Not every patient with CHC-1 has the same lipid kinetics during the first month of bitherapy, and it is necessary to achieve a sustained virological response and/or a FLM to keep higher plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol during this period. Those subjects without FLM could benefit from statins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fátima Barrero Alor
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Hospital Juan Ramón Jiménez, Huelva, España
| | | | | | | | - Carlos Ruíz-Frutos
- Departamento de Biología Ambiental y Salud Pública, Universidad de Huelva, Huelva, España
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Ramos JM, Pinargote H, Torrús D, Sánchez-Martínez R, Merino E, Portilla J. [Infectious diseases in the adult population admitted to a general hospital]. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2014; 33:539-42. [PMID: 25541012 DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2014.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To determine the infectious diseases (ID) that led to hospital admission of the foreign population>14 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective study of foreign patients admitted to hospital (2000-2012). RESULTS A total of 3,087 foreigners were admitted with infectious diseases. Of these, 73.6% were from low income countries, and 26.4% from high income countries. Most of them (86.9%) were admitted with common ID, 11.8% with transmissible ID, and 1.6% with tropical ID. Tropical ID and transmissible ID were higher in patients from low income countries (14.7%) than from high income countries (9.7%, p<0.001). The main tropical ID was malaria (74%). The main transmissible ID were tuberculosis (40.3%), hepatitis (27.8%), and HIV/AIDS (27.5%). CONCLUSION Common ID were the main reason for admission in foreign population.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Ramos
- Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España; Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Campus de San Juan Alicante, España.
| | - Héctor Pinargote
- Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España
| | - Diego Torrús
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España
| | | | - Esperanza Merino
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España
| | - Joaquín Portilla
- Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España; Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, España; Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Campus de San Juan Alicante, España
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Carnero E, Díez J, Fortes P, Gastaminza P, Majano P, Martínez MA, Pérez-del-Pulgar S, Quer J, López-Labrador FX. [Meeting Report: 20 years after the First International Symposium on hepatitis C virus and related viruses]. Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013; 36:641-6. [PMID: 24011709 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2013.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) was discovered by the team of Michael Houghton at Chiron Corporation in 1989 and the first symposium on HCV and related viruses was held in Venice, Italy, shortly after, in 1992. This conference was organized to advance knowledge on what then was a mysterious virus responsible for most cases of «non-A, non-B» hepatitis. During the 20 years since the first conference, the scientific quality of presentations has steadily increased, together with the tremendous advances in basic and clinical research and epidemiology. What started as a small conference on a new virus, about which there were very few data, has today become a first-in-class congress: a meeting place for basic researchers, clinicians, epidemiologists, public health experts, and industry members to present the most important advances and their application to HCV treatment and control. The nineteenth HCV symposium was held in September 2012, once again in Venice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Carnero
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, España
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