Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Dorau.
Two cases of concurrence of HBs antigen and antibodies in boys, who acquired HBV infection within the first two years of life are described. Authors discuss possible explanation of that fact.
Circumstances of acquiring an infection, spontaneous evolution of markers during 6 years of follow-up, laboratory findings and results of liver biopsies were analysed in 51 children infected with HBV during the first two years of life; 76.5% of them developed chronic carrier state. ALAT values were periodically increased in 34 children (66.6%) and elimination of HBeAg i HBsAg occurred in 17 (33.3%) and 12 children (23.5%), respectively, during the first year of follow-up. Seroconversion was observed only in a few cases in the subsequent years. Anti-HBc IgM antibodies were detectable for a mean period of less than 7 months (p < 0.02) after diagnosis of infection.
The efficacy of 3 schemes of passive and active prevention of HBV infection was evaluated in 47 children with haematologic proliferative diseases. Twenty-six children suffering from leukemia (group I) received passive immunisation (hepatitis B immunoglobulin) in six week intervals during intensive chemotherapy and were vaccinated on maintenance therapy. Thirteen children with Hodgkin or B-non-Hodgkin lymphoma (group II) received active immunisation from the beginning of intensive chemotherapy with two doses of immunoglobulin. Eight children who had completed their therapy (group III) were vaccinated only. Among children who completed vaccinations, 5/8 in group I, 4/7 in group II and 5/5 in group III produced protective anti-HBs levels. Passive/active prophylaxis was successful in most patients suffering from neoplastic diseases and reduced the endemy of HBV infection in our department from 43.3% to 2.56% infected subjects. Among 7 patients vaccinated from the beginning of treatment (group II), 4 of them produced protective levels of anti,-HBs, despite intensive chemotherapy.
Investigations included a group 80 asymptomatic drug addicts. They were examined immunoenzyme method aiming at detection infection by HIV, HBV, HCV and HDV. Cases of seropositive HIV results were confirmed by means WB. In 68 examined patients serological evidence of virus HBV was discovered. In 60 of them one also found out coexisting HIV serological markers, in 51 of HCV markers. HDV antibodies were disclosed in 7 cases. Infection with hepatotropic viruses were more frequent in group of HIV(+) drug addicts.
In 222 patients treated in the Department of Infectious Diseases Medical School of Bydgoszcz, one carried out immunoenzymatic examinations to find out presence of HCV antibodies. Among them, there were 33NANBH patients as well as 32 diagnosed as CAH NANB origin, 55 chronic hemodialysis patients and finally 102 IVDU. It was pointed out that the patients suffering from acute and chronic hepatitis type NANB were often HCV infected. Drug addicts (IVDU) and chronic hemodialysis patients constitute high risk groups of these infections. It should be stressed that these infections are asymptomatic in just these groups of patients. One discussed some epidemiological and clinical aspects of 19 hepatitis C cases.