Browsing by Author "Pete, Maria (57191373359)"

Background/Aim. Quantitative hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (qHBsAg) has become increasingly widespread in the last few years in both diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for HBV infection. Numerous studies have proposed it as a surrogate marker for covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between qHBsAg and HBV DNA viremia in untreated patients. Methods. The study included 112 untreated patients diagnosed with chronic HBV infection. Demographic and other data from medical records and laboratory analyses, taken as part of routine chronic HBV infection diagnosis with the determination of qHBsAg and HBV DNA viremia, were recorded for all patients. Results. The average age of the patients included in the study was 48.27 ± 15.14 years; males (58%) were more represented. qHBsAg levels had a high-intensity positive correlation with HBV DNA viremia. The concentration of qHBsAg, HBV DNA viremia, and the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase showed statistically significantly higher values in HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-positive than in HBeAg-negative patients. Conclusion. Our study showed that qHBsAg has a high-intensity positive correlation with HBV DNA viremia. The use of qHBsAg is essential for determining the phase of chronic HBV infection, assessment of the success and length of treatment, as well as for safe discontinuation of antiviral therapy with a lower risk of relapse. © 2023 Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved.

This study, conducted at two university-based infectious disease clinics, included 216 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The primary objective was to assess the positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) at 4 weeks compared to 12 weeks post-therapy. The results demonstrated a maximum sensitivity of 100% for achieving SVR at 12 weeks after reaching SVR at 4 weeks for all analyzed genotypes, except for genotype 1b treated with EBR/GZR therapy, where the specificity was 75%. Additionally, younger age and less advanced liver fibrosis were identified as independent predictors of achieving a sustained virological response at both 4 and 12 weeks. The significant normalization of various biochemical parameters was observed after treatment, indicating an overall improvement in liver function. This study suggests that shortening the monitoring period to 4 weeks might be effective for younger patients without significant fibrosis, potentially reducing loss to follow-up, which is a critical issue in HCV treatment. These findings align with the “test and treat” approach. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and incorporate them into official guidelines, which could simplify and enhance the effectiveness of HCV treatment protocols, aiding global efforts to eliminate HCV as a public health issue by 2030. © 2024 by the authors.

This study, conducted at two university-based infectious disease clinics, included 216 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The primary objective was to assess the positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) at 4 weeks compared to 12 weeks post-therapy. The results demonstrated a maximum sensitivity of 100% for achieving SVR at 12 weeks after reaching SVR at 4 weeks for all analyzed genotypes, except for genotype 1b treated with EBR/GZR therapy, where the specificity was 75%. Additionally, younger age and less advanced liver fibrosis were identified as independent predictors of achieving a sustained virological response at both 4 and 12 weeks. The significant normalization of various biochemical parameters was observed after treatment, indicating an overall improvement in liver function. This study suggests that shortening the monitoring period to 4 weeks might be effective for younger patients without significant fibrosis, potentially reducing loss to follow-up, which is a critical issue in HCV treatment. These findings align with the “test and treat” approach. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and incorporate them into official guidelines, which could simplify and enhance the effectiveness of HCV treatment protocols, aiding global efforts to eliminate HCV as a public health issue by 2030. © 2024 by the authors.