European journal of internal medicine
-
Eur. J. Intern. Med. · May 2020
ReviewNAFLD and autoimmune hepatitis: Do not judge a book by its cover.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease (almost 25% of the general population). Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a relatively rare liver disease of unknown aetiology characterized by female predominance and large heterogeneity regarding epidemiology, clinical manifestations, genetics, serology and liver pathology. ⋯ Patients with NAFLD/AIH coincidence have significantly more frequently hypertension, diabetes, obesity, older age, lower transaminases, bilirubin and simplified score for AIH diagnosis but no female predominance compared to AIH patients only. The true outcome of NAFLD/AIH patients is practically unknown while their management is quite problematic because official clinical practice guidelines for this condition are missing.
-
Eur. J. Intern. Med. · May 2020
Impact of HCV eradication with direct-acting antiviral agents on serum gamma globulin levels in HCV and HCV/HIV coinfected patients.
chronic viral infections by both HCV and HIV may lead to polyclonal activation of B cells resulting in hypergammaglobulinemia. This study retrospectively analyzed the effect of HCV eradication with interferon-free direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) on the gamma globulin levels in HCV-infected patients with or without HIV coinfection to identify factors potentially associated with gamma globulins decrease. ⋯ Our study confirms previous preliminary observation of the decrease of serum gamma globulins after HCV eradication either achieved with interferon-based therapy or with DAAs, suggesting a leading role of the virus on the activation of B cell compartment and gamma globulins production.
-
Eur. J. Intern. Med. · May 2020
The association between education level and chronic liver disease of any etiology.
The potential link between educational level and chronic liver diseases (CLD) were explored using the mortality records of liver cirrhosis, which lack accuracy and are unable to identify the different etiological factors of liver cirrhosis. Information on the association of low educational level with the severity of CLD is lacking. ⋯ These findings show an independent association linking education level with viruses and alcohol-related CLD. Low educational level is associated with the severity of CLD.