Area Editoriale

Experts' opinions on the role of liver biopsy in HCV infection: A Delphi survey by the Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists (A.I.G.O.) . Almasio PL, Niero M, Angioli D, Ascione A, Gullini S, Minoli G, Oprandi NC, Pinzello GB, Verme G, Andriulli A. J Hepatol. 2005 Sep;43(3):381-7.

Primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in cirrhotics unable to take beta-blockers: a randomized trial of ligation. Triantos C, Vlachogiannakos J, Armonis A, Saveriadis A, Kougioumtzian A, Leandro G, Manolakopoulos S, Tzourmakliotis D, Raptis SA, Burroughs AK, Avgerinos A. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Jun 15;21(12):1435-43.

m.koch Scrive" Pegylated interferon alfa-2b alone or in combination with lamivudine for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a randomised trial CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)Harry L A Janssen, Monika van Zonneveld, Hakan Senturk, Stefan Zeuzem, Ulus S Akarca, Yilmaz Cakaloglu, Christopher Simon, Thomas M K So, Guido Gerken, Robert A de Man, Hubert G M Niesters, Pieter Zondervan, Bettina Hansen, Solko W Schalm, for the HBV 99-01 Study Group*CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)Lancet 2005; 365: 123-29CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)

m.koch Scrive"Identification of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients without Significant Liver Fibrosis by a Simple Noninvasive Predictive Model Alex Yui Hui,Henry Lik-Yuen Chan, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong, Choong-Tsek Liew, Angel Mei-Ling Chim , Francis Ka-Leung Chan and Joseph Jao-Yiu Sung. Am J Gastroenterol 2005;100:616–623CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)

m.koch Scrive"Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Hepatocellular Steatosis Laurent Castera, Philippe Chouteau, Christophe Hezode, Elie-Serge Zafrani, Daniel Dhumeaux, and Jean-Michel Pawlotsky. Am J Gastroenterol 2005;100:1–5CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)

m.koch Scrive"Randomized study comparing banding and propranolol to prevent initial variceal hemorrhage in cirrhotics with high-risk esophageal varicesCHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)Rome Jutabha Dennis M. Jensen Paul Martin Thomas Savides Steven-Huy Han Jeffrey Gornbein Gastroenterology 2005; 170: 870-881 Background & Aims: Standard care for prevention of first esophageal variceal hemorrhage is β-blockade, but this may be ineffective or unsafe. Our purpose was to compare endoscopic banding with propranolol for prevention of first variceal hemorrhage. Methods: In a multicenter, prospective trial, 62 patients with cirrhosis with high-risk esophageal varices were randomized to propranolol (titrated to reducing resting pulse by ≥25%) or banding (performed monthly until varices were eradicated) and were followed up on the same schedule for a mean duration of 15 months. The primary end point was treatment failure, defined as the development of endoscopically documented variceal hemorrhage or a severe medical complication requiring discontinuation of therapy. Direct costs were estimated from Medicare reimbursements and fixed or variable charges for services up to treatment failure. Results: Background variables of the treatment groups were similar. The trial was stopped early after an interim analysis showed that the failure rate of propranolol was significantly higher than that of banding (6/31 vs. 0/31; difference, 19.4%; P = .0098; 95% confidence interval for true difference, 6.4%–37.2%). Significantly more propranolol than banding patients had esophageal variceal hemorrhage (4/31 vs. 0/31; difference, 12.9%; P = .0443; 95% confidence interval for true difference, 0.8%–29%), and the cumulative mortality rate was significantly higher in the propranolol than in the banding group (4/31 vs. 0/31; difference, 12.9%; P = .0443; 95% confidence interval for true difference, 0.8%–29%). Direct costs of care were not significantly different. Conclusions: For patients with cirrhosis with high-risk esophageal varices and no history of variceal hemorrhage, propranolol-treated patients had significantly higher failure rates of failure, first esophageal varix hemorrhage, and cumulative mortality than banding patients. Direct costs of medical care were not significantly different.CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)Leggi l’articolo

m.koch Scrive"Primary prophylaxis for variceal bleeding: Are we there yet?CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)Thomas D. BoyerCHAR(13) + CHAR(10)Gastroenterology 2005; 128: 1120-2CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)

Dynamic decision analysis to determine optimal treatment duration in chronic hepatitis C. Veldt BJ, Hansen BE, Eijkemans MJ, Knegt RJ, Stijnen T, Habbema JD, Schalm SW. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Mar 1;21(5):539-47.

Pegylated interferon alfa-2b alone or in combination with lamivudine for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a randomised trial. Janssen HL, van Zonneveld M, Senturk H, Zeuzem S, Akarca US, Cakaloglu Y, Simon C, So TM, Gerken G, de Man RA, Niesters HG, Zondervan P, Hansen B, Schalm SW; HBV 99-01 Study Group; Rotterdam Foundation for Liver Research. Lancet. 2005 Jan 8;365(9454):123-9.

Platelets mediate cytotoxic T lymphocyte-induced liver damage. Iannacone M, Sitia G, Isogawa M, Marchese P, Castro MG, Lowenstein PR, Chisari FV, Ruggeri ZM, Guidotti LG. Nat Med. 2005 Oct 30; [Epub ahead of print]

A dose-ranging study of the efficacy and tolerability of entecavir in Lamivudine-refractory chronic hepatitis B patients. Chang TT, Gish RG, Hadziyannis SJ, Cianciara J, Rizzetto M, Schiff ER, Pastore G, Bacon BR, Poynard T, Joshi S, Klesczewski KS, Thiry A, Rose RE, Colonno RJ, Hindes RG; BEHoLD Study Group. Gastroenterology. 2005 Oct;129(4):1198-209.

G.Forte Scrive"Coffee and caffeine consumption reduce the risk of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase activity in the United States.CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)Ruhl CE, Everhart JE.CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)Gastroenterology. 2005 Jan;128(1):24-32.CHAR(13) + CHAR(10)

Systematic review: treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection by pegylated interferon. Hui AY, Chan HL, Cheung AY, Cooksley G, Sung JJ. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005 Sep 15;22(6):519-28.

131I-Labelled-iodized oil for palliative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Borbath I, Lhommel R, Bittich L, Goffette P, Annet L, Van Beers BE, Bonny MA, Pauwels S, Horsmans Y. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2005 Sep;17(9):905-10.

Peginterferon-alpha-2a (40KD) and ribavirin for 16 or 24 weeks in patients with genotype 2 or 3 chronic hepatitis C. von Wagner M, Huber M, Berg T, Hinrichsen H, Rasenack J, Heintges T, Bergk A, Bernsmeier C, Haussinger D, Herrmann E, Zeuzem S. Gastroenterology. 2005 Aug;129(2):522-7.