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Biomedical subjects

J A Findor

Publications and source records attributed to J A Findor.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Mucosal immunity and primary biliary cirrhosis: presence of antimitochondrial antibodies in urine.

We have shown that IgA-class antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) can be detected in the bile and saliva of patients with PBC, suggesting that AMA are secreted into the luminal fluid across bile ducts and salivary glands. These data prompted us to determine whether AMA of the IgA isotype may be transported across other epithelial mucosa. Therefore, we tested for the presence of AMA in the urine specimens of 83 patients with PBC and 58 non-PBC controls including healthy individuals and patients with other liver diseases. Patients enrolled in this study had no history of renal disease, and we confirmed there was less than 50 microgram/mL of protein in each of the urine specimens. Interestingly, we found that AMA were present in the urine of 71/83 (86%) of all patients with PBC and in 71/78 (91%) of patients with PBC that were serum AMA positive. In contrast, AMA were not detected in any of the 58 control urine specimens. Of particular interest, AMA of the IgA isotype was present in 57/83 (69%) of patients with PBC, and in 52 of these 57, we found secretory-type IgA. In a nested random subgroup of urine samples, the prevalence of the IgA2 AMA was 6/18 (33%), significantly lower than in matched serum samples, 13/16 (81%, P =.007). These data show that AMA of the IgA isotype is secreted into urine from the uroepithelium of patients with PBC, and support the thesis that PBC originated from either a mucosal challenge or a loss of mucosal tolerance.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1999

[Distribution of the genotypes of hepatitis C virus in intravenous drug addicts in Argentina].

Intravenous drug addiction (IVD) is an unfrequent risk factor in Argentina, representing less than 10% of patients (pts) with chronic HCV infection seen in our Unit. In order to study the genotypes (Gt) in IVD and compare them with a non drug addicted control population, 68 pts with a history of IVD were enrolled in this study and compared with 68 non drug addict (NDA) pts with chronic HCV, with similar age and gender distribution. In all pts a liver biopsy was performed. Genotyping was done by INNO LiPA (Innogenetics, Belgium). Mean age in both groups was 35 +/- 7.8 years and 50 were males. No difference was observed between both groups in the prevalence of Gt1a, Gt2a/c and in those with mixed infections. The prevalence of Gt1b in IVD was 19.1% and in NDA 38.2% (p = 0.0228). A highly significant difference was also observed in the prevalence of Gt3a, of 42.6% in IVD and only 11.8% in NDA (p = 0.0001). Gt1a was the second most frequent genotype in IVD pts (26.5%). Simultaneous HIV infection was present in 8 IVD pts (11.8%) and in none of NDA group. Liver biopsies showed a higher prevalence of mild chronic hepatitis in NDA (57.3%) than in IVD (32.4%) (p = 0.0058). Severe chronic hepatitis with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis was more frequent in the Gt3 of the group with IVD when compared with Gt3 of the NDA group. It can be concluded that in accordance with other geographical areas, Gt3a is far more prevalent in intravenous drugs addicts than in the general population in Argentina where Gt1b is more frequent. Mild forms of chronic hepatitis are less frequent in IVD. In spite of the relatively small group with HCV co-infection with HIV, it seems important to note that 2/8 (25%) showed severe hepatitis C or cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Ketoconazole-induced liver damage.

Five cases (four females, one male) of ketoconazole-related liver damage are presented, two of whom died. All patients received ketoconazole (400 mg/day) for various mycoses. In the four women the first signs of hepatotoxicity appeared after four weeks of therapy. One fatal case developed massive necrosis with fulminant liver failure and the other, submassive necrosis. In four cases cholestasis was a prominent finding. Biochemical evidence of biliary stasis may persist for several months, as occurred in the three surviving patients of our series. The two fatal cases continued receiving the drug in spite of its adverse effects. Consequently, repeated evaluation is recommended to detect early signs of liver environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Cholestasis associated with ticlopidine].

The case of a 56-years-old male with cholestasis associated with ticlopidine is presented. Cholestasis is an infrequent adverse effect of this drug. The patient was admitted to hospital because of jaundice, choluria, and itching of one month of evolution. The patient had taken ticlopidine twice a day for 3 months up to one week prior to admission for peripheral arteriopathy. Biopsy was performed showing acinar cholestasis and portal inflammatory infiltrate compatible with cholestasis due to hypersensitivity. Ticlopidine was discontinued by the patient himself one week prior to admission. The drug was not readministered and the evolution of the clinical and biochemical parameters of cholestasis decreased. The patient was asymptomatic and laboratory data were normal 4 months later.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1994

[Non alcoholic steatohepatitis].

A prospective study of 21 patients with the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was carried out. All patients had hepatomegaly and in 10 (48%) image studies were consistent with steatosis and/or fibrosis. Biochemically, there was increase of AST, ALT and cholesterol in 48%, of GGT in 52% and of alkaline phosphatase in 38%. 18 patients were obese, 2 of them diabetic, 2 others had a history of exposure to drugs (amiodarone and isopropilic alcohol) and the last one presented hypothyroidism. Liver biopsies were studied using a semiquantitative scale to evaluate the degree of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis in a scale from 1 to 3. Results showed a medium score of 2.6 for steatosis, 1.5 for inflammation and 1.8 for fibrosis. Four patients had cirrhosis and Mallory bodies were found in 11 cases (52%). NASH is an oligosymptomatic disease that can be found in different clinical conditions, mainly obesity, and is more frequent in women. It is histologically indistinguishable from alcoholic steatohepatitis. It is frequently underdiagnosed clinically and must be taken into account as a possible cause of cryptogenetic cirrhosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Intensive plasmapheresis as an alternative therapy for intractable pruritus of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic disease of presumed autoimmune etiology, generally associated with other systemic abnormalities such as scleroderma, characteristic of Sjogren's syndrome and Raynaud's syndrome, for which pruritus is the most troublesome symptom. Treatment of this disease is a major unsolved problem. Although the use of cholestyramine has been effective, a considerable number of cases are refractory to the drug and to other agents such as corticosteroids, azathioprine and penicillamine. Plasma exchange has proven to be a useful option in four female patients with primary biliary cirrhosis--two with grade III histology and the other two with grade IV disease and intractable pruritus. The procedure was well tolerated and no side effects were observed. There was a temporary but significant attenuation of pruritus and improvement of melanoderma. Intensive plasma exchange is proposed as an alternative therapy in primary biliary cirrhosis with refractory pruritus.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti HCV) in different populations with chronic liver disease using the first generation test].

UNLABELLED: In order to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies IgG against the virus of hepatitis C (anti HCV) in different forms of chronic liver disease negative for virus B markers of alcoholism, we studied 148 patients (pts) divided into several groups. Group I: Composed of 35 pts. with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) with definite evidence of parenteral exposure to blood. Group II: included 39 pts. with CAH without immune markers or evidence of possible parenteral transmission. Group III: Included 37 pts. with the diagnosis of CAH of autoimmune type with positivity of antinuclear, anti smooth muscle or both antibodies with range of positivity of 1:80 or higher. Group IV: was composed of 31 pts. with the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Finally group V included 6 pts. with an overlap syndrome between CAH and PBC. The prevalence of anti HCV in the different groups was as follows: [table: see text] Two of the pts. positive for anti HCV in group III and 1 in group IV revealed parenteral exposure to blood or blood product. CONCLUSIONS: The determinations of anti HCV in order to characterize the posttransfusional NANB chronic hepatitis is of value. Positivity of anti HCV is high in cryptogenic chronic hepatitis and rare in PBC. In CAH of autoimmune type and in the overlap syndrome the prevalence was higher than expected. The question if we are dealing with false positivity or an uncertain diagnosis of autoimmunity is raised.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1980

[Acute non-A non-B viral hepatitis].

Thirty-one patients HBs Ag negative seen between january 1978 and june 1980 were studied. Twenty-four of them were males and seven females. Their age ranged between 13 and 58 years. All of them were anti-HAV IgM negative. Six patients presented simultaneously Anti HBc and Anti HBs in the two first weeks of the illness. This fact could be imputed to an acquired immunity due to a previous infection with virus B. None of the patients studied had evidence of infectious mononucleosis or cytomegalovirus. In view of the absence of the markers of recent infection due to virus A and B these patients were considered to have a non A non B hepatitis. Twelve patients had evidence of previous hepatitis, thirteen had acquired the infection by parenteral route; four were post-transfusional and in six cases there was an epidemic medium. Forty-five percent of the patients studied had a biphasic elevation of the aminotransferases, and twenty percent had a cholestatic form. Two of the patients turned into a chronic active hepatitis and another one died of submasive necrosis; in both cases the via of infection was parenteral.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

[Hodgkin's disease developing in the course of a chronic liver disease with ulcerative colitis immunosuppressed with azathioprine].

A case of a 49 year old patient suffering from ulcerative colitis and chronic hepatitis with cirrothic transformation is presented who under prolonged immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine 50 mg daily and 10 mg daily of prednisone developed Hodgkins disease whose diagnosis was at the autopsy. The association between hepatic cirrhosis and lymphoproliferative disorders such as lymphosarcoma and lymphatic leukemia were already described (19,20). Recently, an article was published on a similar case to ours (23) in which the patient, suffering from chronic hepatopathy submitted to azathioprine and corticoids, developed Hodgkin's disease. The link between ulcerative colitis, the chronic hepatopathy and the development of Hodgkin's disease that could have arisen as a consequence of the prolonged immunosuppressive treatment are discussed. The apparition of malignancies in patients submitted to immunosuppression owing to renal transplantation are compared with the apparition of malignancies in patients submitted to immunosuppression because of a number of other diseases.

Azathioprine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HBC) virus infections in Down's syndrome and in neuropsychiatric patients without Down's syndrome].

UNLABELLED: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers are found with high frequency in immunocompromised individuals. In order to find out if this is also true for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), we have analyzed a group (G.1) of 46 patients (pts.) with Down syndrome, situation known to be associated with immunodepression G. 1. We compared them with a G. of 310 mentally retarded pts. without Down syndrome G. 2 and without evidence of immunological disfunction. All of them were studied for infection with HBV. All pts. in G. 1 and G. 2 were also tested for HCV. The pts. have been hospitalized in a specialized medical institution for mentally retarded on a long term basis and were followed during 1 year. Finally G 3 was composed of 5454 voluntary blood donors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In all pts. search for HBV infection markers (anti-HBc, HBsAg, HBeAg by EIA test and HBV-DNA by nucleic acids hybridization) were performed. Search for HCV markers was done by a second generation EIA kit (Abbott Hepatitis C (rDNA) (Antigen). RESULTS: HBsAg was found to be positive in 12/46 (26%) of G. I and 25/310 (8%) of G. II (p < 0.001). HBeAg was positive in 8/12 (67%) of G. I and in 2/25 (8%) of G. II (p < 0.001). All HBeAg positive pts. had elevated values of DNA-HBV. In G. I, 4/12 (33%) pts. lost HBeAg during the observation period, one of them remained HBV-DNA positive and none become HBsAg negative.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗