NEW FEATURES THIS WEEK

liver411

Gastroenterology MedPulse
www.medscape.com/gastroenterologyhome

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   NEW FEATURES THIS WEEK[/B]
Gastroenterology Journal Scan, December 2003
Highlights include  adefovir dipivoxil therapy for lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B.
Medscape Gastroenterology 5(2) 2003


   NEWS
Lamivudine Safe in Long-Term Hepatitis B Therapy
Lamivudine treatment for up to six years has an excellent safety profile in
patients with chronic hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg)-positive compensated
liver disease, researchers report. However, documented lamivudine resistance
mutations, which can affect up to two-thirds of patients by the fifth year
of treatment, can be a marker for significantly more hepatitis flares.
Reuters Health Information 2003

Intrahepatic CD8 Cells Predict Antiviral Response in Chronic HCV Infection
In a study of 17 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection,
pretreatment intrahepatic CD8+ cell counts correlated with virological
response to interferon-alpha-ribavirin therapy.
Reuters Health Information 2003

Oral Feeding of Hepatitis B Proteins a Promising Treatment for Chronic
Infection

In patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, oral
administration of HBV envelope proteins augments the anti-HBV immune
response and alleviates immune-mediated liver damage, results of a new study
indicate. There was a significant decrease in viral load and an improvement
in the histological necroinflammatory score.
Reuters Health Information 2003


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