Biomedical subjects

Károly Dávid

Publications and source records attributed to Károly Dávid.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

[Iron storage disease].

Iron overload causes impaired function of tissues and organs due to the increased iron storage in them. Hereditary hemochromatosis is the most frequent hereditary metabolic disorder, with lethal outcome without treatment. The genetic disorder is a mutation on the short arm of the 6. chromosome, which resulted a cysteine-tyrosine substitution on the 282. amino acid position (C282Y). This mutation is less frequent in the non-Caucasian population, in opposition to the other reported mutation (H63D). The risk of the development of the disease is the highest in people who are C282Y homozygotes or C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes. The prevalence of hemochromatosis is 1.5-5.9 per thousand. Liver disease/cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus and hyperpigmentation are the classic signs of the disease. Primer hepatocellular cancer occurs in 30% of patients with liver cirrhosis, that it is the most common cause of death among them. The diagnosis is based on the detection of iron overload (transferrin saturation, serum ferritin level, iron concentration of the liver tissue) and on the genetic examinations. Early diagnosis makes the causal therapy possible, which is the removal of the iron excess by phlebotomy. Furthermore, the early detection of iron overload allows of prevention of the development of the disease. Based in these facts population screening seems to be necessary and cost-effective, but further studies are required to determine the exact screening strategy.

Aspartic Acid↗

PubMed2004

[Thyroid dysfunctions in patients with viral hepatitis treated with interferon-alpha].

INTRODUCTION: Many studies have explored that thyroid dysfunctions can be induced by cytokine therapy. Most observations were collected in connection with the treatment of viral hepatitis with interferon-alpha. AIM AND METHODS: Frequency and types of thyroid dysfunction developed during and after recombinant interferon-alpha treatment were studied in 138 patients with viral hepatitis C or B. Therapy lasted 12 months or more, subjects having thyroid dysfunction at the start of therapy were excluded from the study. Thyroid parameters (TSH, FT4, FT3 and anti-TPO) were controlled every third month. In patients in whom thyroid dysfunction occurred the measurements were repeated monthly and other tests were also performed (anti-Tg, IL-6, TSH receptor antibody, thyroid scan and 99mTc-pertechnetate uptake). RESULTS: Thyroid function disturbances were found in 30 (21.7%) patients, 12 of them (8.7%) showed persistent hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism was transitory in all cases. The clinical course of thyroid dysfunction might be monophasic (hyper- or hypothyroidism), biphasic (hyperthyroidism followed by hypofunction) or triphasic. Immune and non-immune forms can be clearly distinguished. CONCLUSIONS: Every fifth patient with chronic hepatitis showed thyroid dysfunction during interferon-alpha therapy, it is necessary therefore to control the hormonal status and the thyroid antibody titer. Treated patients have to be informed in advance that as a "side effect" persistent hypothyroidism may develop.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Examination of hepatitis c virus antibody seropositive blood donors and their relatives].

INTRODUCTION: 239 anti-HCV seropositive blood donors (132 male, 107 female, age: 19-61, mean: 40.59 y.) and 174 family members of them (74 male, 100 female, age: 4-65, mean: 23.67 y.) were studied for chronic hepatitis C virus infection and chronic liver disease. Detailed virus serology, ultrasonography, and 6 months follow-up and--in patients with HCV RNA--liver biopsy were made. RESULTS: HCV RNA was determined in 165 patients. 70% of them were HCV RNA positive. The ALT level was normal in 95 cases (57%), and lower, than twice of the normal was in 34 cases (20%) among them. Liver biopsy was made in 79 patients; chronic C hepatitis was proven in 75 cases (steatosis in 3 cases, alcoholic liver disease in 1 case was observed). Inflammatory activity was minimal (HAI < 3) in 17, mild (HAI: 3-6) in 41, moderate (HAI: 7-9) in 7, and severe (HAI > 9) in 10 cases. There was no correlation between the serum ALT levels and the severity of the histological activity of chronic C hepatitis. Authors stress the importance of the fact, that 2 patients had normal ALT and 5 patients ALT levels were lower, than the twice of the normal of the 17 patients with significant inflammatory activity (HAI < 6). Chronic C hepatitis need for antiviral therapy was occurred in 45% of patients who known themselves previously healthy. CONCLUSIONS: The necessity of the systematic examination of anti-HCV seropositive patients and of the importance of the liver biopsy in patients with HCV RNA positivity is stressed. 3 anti-HCV seropositive cases of 174 family members of the blood donors were observed, but none of them was HCV RNA positive. It seems to be, family members of the HCV infected patients have no increased risk for HCV infection.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Paradoxical alteration of acute-phase protein levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with IFN-alpha2b.

Previously we observed elevation of the serum concentration of two acute-phase protein (AFP) complement components (C9 and C1-inhibitor) in patients with chronic hepatitis C who responded (R) to IFN-alpha therapy, but not in non-responders (NR). In the present study we investigated the effect of high-dose IFN-alpha therapy on serum concentrations of two positive [orosomucoid (OROSO) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and two negative [transferrin (TF) and fetuin/alpha2HS-glycoprotein (AHSG)] AFP in an outpatient setting. We investigated blood samples of 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C at the onset and at the end of a 3-month treatment with high-dose IFN-alpha2b (5 MIU/day for 6 weeks, followed by 5 MIU t.i.w.) and of 52 healthy individuals. Serum concentrations of OROSO, TF and AHSG were measured by radial immunodiffusion; CRP levels were determined by immunotubridimetry. Compared to controls, patients with chronic hepatitis C had significantly lower OROSO and CRP, and higher AHSG levels. By the end of treatment, OROSO concentration increased in R (P = 0.0054), but not in NR patients. In contrast, TF levels decreased in R (P = 0.0040), but did not change in NR patients. Similarly, in R patients, AHSG levels tended to decrease (P = 0.0942) following IFN-alpha treatment. We conclude that the acute-phase reaction is suppressed in patients with chronic hepatitis C that may be potentially related to the responsiveness to IFN-alpha therapy.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed2003

Serum anti-cholesterol antibodies in chronic hepatitis-C patients during IFN-alpha-2b treatment.

Previously we detected more than 3 times higher anti-cholesterol antibody (ACHA) levels in HIV positive patients compared to healthy individuals, however, this level significantly decreased during highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). In our present study we examined whether these findings could also be detected in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We calculated the correlation between the ACHA levels and the C5b-9 complement activation product. 39 patients with CHC were treated with IFN-alpha-2b (Schering-Plough) 5 MU daily for 6 weeks, followed by 5 MU TIW. Serum levels of ACHA and complement activation products were measured with ELISA. Serum HCV RNA was measured by a highly sensitive branched DNA technique before and 3, 6 and 12 months after the beginning of IFN-alpha-2b therapy. 52 healthy persons served as controls. At the onset of treatment ACHA level was significantly (p = 0.0062) higher in patients (40 (24-69) AU/ml) (median (interquartile range)) than in control sera (26 (20-35) AU/ml). In the 26 responder patients ACHA levels decreased to the normal level during the therapy, but no change was observed in the 13 non-responders. In patients with a sustained response ACHA levels remained low till the end of the 12 months IFN treatment. ACHA levels were significantly (p = 0.0422) higher in the patients with low (< 4.0 mmol/l) than in those with normal (> or = 4.0 mmol/l) cholesterol concentrations. The ACHA level before the therapy strongly correlated (r = 0.5499, p = 0.0014) with C5b-9 serum levels. ACHA levels are elevated in CHC, but this elevation is not as high as in HIV. Decrease of viral load by IFN-alpha-2b treatment in the responders results in normalization of ACHA concentration. High ACHA levels in patients with low serum cholesterol concentration suggest that high ACHA levels may contribute to the decrease in cholesterol levels. The correlation between the ACHA and C5b-9 levels indicate, that the ACHA may play a role in the complement activation in CHC.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

The Effect Of Long Term and High Dose Interferon Treatment In Chronic Hepatitis C.

The results of 43 interferon treatments of 35 patients (23 male, 12 female) are reported. The duration of the treatment was 6-18 months, the dose of interferon was 3x3-5 MU weekly. Complete response (HCV RNA became negative) was found in 11, relapse was observed in 3 patients. Partial response (transaminase levels became normal, or less than twice normal value, but patients remained HCV RNA positive) occurred in 23 cases, relapse was obeserved in 16. The therapy had no effect in 9 cases. The higher dose and longer term interferon therapy resulted in a higher rate of response to the treatment and a reduction in the number of relapses.

Journal Article↗