Biomedical subjects

Ivica Grgurević

Publications and source records attributed to Ivica Grgurević.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Efficacy of interferon-alpha in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in dialysis patients: two therapeutic protocols compared.

BACKGROUND: Data on the efficacy of particular therapeutic protocols of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment for chronic hepatitis C in patients on hemodialysis (HD) vary. AIM: To compare the efficacy of two different therapeutic protocols for HD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 15 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive patients on chronic HD at two dialysis centers: 8 patients treated with IFN-alpha 3 x 3 MU/week s.c. for 6 months (group A), and 7 patients treated with IFN-alpha 3 x 5 MU/week for 3 months, then 1 x 5 MU/week for another 3 months (group B). End of treatment response (ETR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) were evaluated by HCV-RNA determination. There was no statistically significant difference between the two patient groups according to age, sex, duration of HD and HCV infection. RESULTS: ETR was 87.5% (7/8) in group A and 28.5% (2/7) in group B, being statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although better SVR [50% (4/8) vs. 28.5% (2/7)] and lower drop-out rate [0% (0/8) vs. 28.5% (2/7)] were achieved in group A compared to group B, these differences did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Therapy with IFN-alpha 3 x 3 MU/week s.c. for 6 months seems to be more appropriate for treatment of hepatitis C in HD patients, mostly due to better tolerability, i.e. lower drop-out rate. These differences could be attributed to different pharmacokinetic properties of the particular therapy protocol.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

No adverse effect of ABVD chemotherapy in a patient with chronic hepatitis C and Hodgkin's disease.

There is insufficient information on the effects of chemotherapy protocols for Hodgkin's disease (HD) and the course of coexisting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A single literature case reported a patient with HD who developed fulminant hepatitis and hepatic coma after receiving chemotherapy. The case described here is of a female patient previously exposed to prolonged war stress, complicated by intravenous drug abuse and chronic hepatitis C. One year after diagnosis of HCV infection she was diagnosed with HD (nodular sclerosis type II, clinical stage IIIB). The patient received six cycles of ABVD chemotherapy (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) resulting in complete remission of HD. There was no hepatitis flare either during or after chemotherapy. In conclusion, there were no adverse effects of the ABVD regimen on the course of HCV infection in this patient who was successfully treated for HD. Because concurrent HCV infection and HD is extremely rare, we discuss here the possibility of the synergistic contribution of chronic war stress and hepatitis C infection in the pathogenesis of HD.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Rapid decrease in high titer of factor VIII inhibitors upon immunosuppressive treatment in severe postpartum acquired hemophilia A.

A 25-year-old woman was diagnosed with acquired hemophilia caused by factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors two months after normal delivery of her first child. She presented with severe spontaneous bleeding in the right forearm and distal part of the right leg. After venipuncture for diagnostic purposes, severe hematoma developed, affecting the whole left arm and shoulder. The diagnosis of acquired hemophilia was confirmed by the presence of FVIII inhibitors (Bethesda units=76), low activity of factor VIII (5%), and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT=89 s). The treatment with fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, red blood cells concentrate, methylprednisolone (3 mg/kg/day for 8 days, then 1 mg/kg/day), and cyclophosphamide (150 mg/day for 5 days, then 100 mg/day) was followed by the regression of hematomas and normalization of APTT and FVIII activity. The titer of FVIII inhibitors rapidly decreased and total disappearance of antibodies was achieved after 15 days. To the best of our knowledge, this is the shortest time to the disappearance of inhibitors to FVIII in postpartum acquired hemophilia ever reported. Transient reappearance of inhibitors occurred 10 months later and also promptly reacted to the same therapy. In the follow-up period of 4 years, the patient had two more pregnancies with no clinical and laboratory signs of illness recurrence. This case indicates important role of immunosuppressive therapy, which can rapidly induce a remission of this rare condition and be life-saving if introduced early in the course of illness and in doses higher than usually recommended.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Doxycycline induced esophageal ulcers: report of two cases and review of the literature].

Doxycycline-induced esophageal ulcers (DIEU) are rarely observed in endoscopy units. On the other hand doxycycline itself has been claimed as an offending drug in 1/4 out of about 1000 cases of drug induced esophageal ulcers reported in the literature so far. In this article we present two patients with typical history and endoscopic features of esophageal ulcers as an consequence of doxycycline therapy. The therapy consisted of doxycycline withdrawal along with treatment with proton pump inhibitors and sucralfate which had led to disappearance of chest discomfort within one week period. Fourteen days of the tratment beginning complete recovery of the mucosal defects has occurred in both patients. In conclusion, in case of chest pain and painful swallowing occurring in a person who takes doxycycline, DIEU has to be considered followed by the esophagoscopy which would confirm clinical suspicious with high specificity leading to correct diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The role of endoscopic ultrasound in digestive tract diseases in era of advanced techniques of computed tomography].

During the last 20 years endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been established as a highly accurate method in the diagnosis of digestive tract diseases. This method enables analysis of the lesions within the bowel wall, pancreas, and biliary system with utmost precision. Good results have also been achieved in evaluation of regional lymphadenopathy in staging of malignant diseases. Principal limitations of this method originate from its low accesibility and technical complexity which requires well trained sinologist and scientific evaluation of results in order to achieve adequate level of skill. Complications occur rarely with numbers comparable to other endoscopic procedures. With new software and hardware device introduced, computerized tomography (CT) (this refers in the first place to multidetector row CT) has been tremendously upgraded approaching the EUS in diagnostic accuracy in mentioned indications, and overcoming it in detection of distant metastases. Implementation of 3D reconstruction techniques allowed CT to enter the area of classic endoscopy, as in the case of virtual gastroscopy and/or colonoscopy. CT is a noninvasive method, very acceptable to majority of patients, and therefore popular and more prevalent compared to EUS. Although comparable in diagnostic accuracy in majority of indications, endosonography retains advance in evaluation of lesions within GI tract wall (including the early stages of carcinoma), detection of small biliary stones and small pancreatic tumors. Moreover, EUS is indespensable in therapeutic indications. Experiences with fine needle aspiration, punctions and drainage of cysts and abscesses, celiac plexus neurolysis and creation of digestive anastomosis confirm its place and value among the minimally invasive procedures which minimize the need for surgical intervention, patients' trauma and treatment costs.

Digestive System Diseases↗