Hepatitis: Tornai I

Anonymous00086, Anonymous00087, Gervain J, Horváth G, Hunyady B, Makara M, Pár A, Szalay F, Tornai I, Telegdy L. · No affiliation provided · Orv Hetil. · Pubmed #19087916 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Dalmi L, Gervain J, Horváth G, Hunyady B, Ibrányi E, Makara M, Pár A, Szalay F, Tornai I, Telegdy L, Anonymous00498, Anonymous00499. · No affiliation provided · Orv Hetil. · Pubmed #18194921 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Dalmi L, Gervain J, Hunyady B, Ibrányi E, Makara M, Pár A, Szalay F, Tornai I, Telegdy L. · No affiliation provided · Orv Hetil. · Pubmed #17378168 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.

Tornai I, Mátyus J. · Debreceni Egyetem, Orvos- és Egészségtudományi Centrum, Belgyógyászati Intézet, II. Belgyógyászati Klinika, Gasztroenterológiai Tanszék. · Orv Hetil. · Pubmed #17350920 No free full text.

Abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among patients on hemodialysis is about ten times higher than in the normal population. The infection can induce chronic glomerulonephritis, as an extrahepatic manifestation, which can lead to end stage renal disease. However, in the majority of the patients hepatitis C virus is acquired as a nosocomial infection during the hemodialysis. In most of the infected patients the liver enzymes are usually normal and need regular screening of the hepatitis C antibody to detect the infection. Despite of the normal liver enzymes, the liver disease may progress to cirrhosis. A part of the patients wait for renal transplantation. The immunosuppressive treatment after the renal transplantation results in a significantly increased viral replication which might induce further progression of the liver disease. Interferon treatment given after the transplantation can induce rejection and graft failure. Therefore the antiviral treatment should be administered during the hemodialysis or earlier. Only limited data are available with the treatment of patients with impaired renal function. Mostly alfa-interferon was used in these patients. Due to the impaired renal clearance and higher serum concentration interferon seems to be more effective, but less tolerable in patients with end stage renal disease than in normal patients. Ribavirin is also excreted exclusively by the kidney and the anemia is even more pronounced in these patients, therefore it is contraindicated in patients on hemodialysis. The pharmacokinetics of the pegylated interferon alfa-2a is very advantageous for the patients with end stage renal disease. The safety and efficacy of peginterferon alfa-2a is now being confirmed in many publications.

Fodor M, Nagy V, Berta A, Tornai I, Pfliegler G. · Department of Ophthalmology, Medical and Health Sciences Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary. · Eur J Ophthalmol. · Pubmed #18320531 No free full text.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in a hepatitis C (HCV) infected patient and demonstrate the relationship between HCV and the development of NAION. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 43-year-old woman with chronic HCV infection and long-term euthyroid autoimmune thyroiditis suddenly lost vision in her right eye, and 6 months later in her left eye, due to NAION. Slightly elevated levels of aminotransferases suggested liver infection activity. Anti-HCV antibody was detected; the genotype of the virus was 1b and the viral RNA level was 1.8 x 106 IU/mL. Liver biopsy proved chronic active hepatitis (Ishak score grading: 7, staging: 2). Except for the elevated levels of antithyroid antibodies and a weak antinuclear factor, the detailed laboratory examinations (thrombophilia, cryoglobulin, anticardiolipin antibodies, co-infections) revealed no other abnormalities; a causative relationship between the underlying chronic hepatitis C and bilateral NAION therefore seems probable. The patient was treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 1 year and a sustained viral remission could be achieved. Her vision has neither improved nor deteriorated further. CONCLUSIONS: This appears to be the first reported case of bilateral NAION presumably caused by HCV infection.

Pár A, Tornai I, Szalay F. · Pécsi Tudományegyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar I. Belgyógyászati Klinika, Pécs. · Orv Hetil. · Pubmed #17468063 No free full text.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: In the past decade several multicentre, prospective, randomised trials revealed a significant progress in the therapy for chronic viral hepatitis, but limited and controversial data are available regarding the real value of the antiviral treatment in the everyday routine clinical praxis. AIM: A nation-wide retrospective analysis has been made of the antiviral therapy for patients with hepatitis B and C, who represented the entire patient population necessitating treatment in Hungary during a seven-year period. In addition, results of a prospective study for chronic hepatitis C patients were also presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 220 patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with standard interferon alpha (112), pegylated interferon alpha-2a (23), or lamivudine (85) were investigated and assessed for the HBeAg seroconversion and/or undetectable HBV-DNA. Out of 2442 chronic hepatitis C patients, 333 were treated with standard interferon monotherapy, 1122 with standard interferon + ribavirin and 987 with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination for 6-12 months. In a prospective study, 69 patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled and treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin. The rate of sustained virological response, the predictors of outcome and the adverse effects of treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: For HBV patients standard IFN provided 31%, PEG-IFN 30% and lamivudine 31-33% sustained virological response rate, respectively. In chronic hepatitis C, a continuous improvement was noted in sustained virological response, from 13% by interferon monotherapy, to 31% by pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination, in the nation-wide retrospective study, while even a 48% sustained virological response was achieved in the prospective trial. The most important predictors of outcome were the 4-week "rapid" and the 12-week "early" virological responses, then the female sex, age, BMI and adherence. The most frequent complications of the antiviral treatment were cytopenias, haemolysis and depression, 9% of patients experienced adverse effects. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of antiviral treatment unlike HBV infection, in chronic HCV hepatitis gradually improved in our every-day clinical praxis, but the results are far poorer than those achieved in a prospective study. To manage the growing populations of hard-to-treat patients with chronic viral hepatitis, there is a need for more effective treatment modalities, including optimized, individualized dosing and novel antivirals.

Gervain J, Papp I, Csöndes M, Nemesánszky E, Rácz I, Ribiczey P, Telegdy L, Tornai I, Weisz G. · Fejér Megyei Szent György Kórház, I. Belgyógyászat, Hepato-Pancreatologiai Részleg és Vírusszerológiai Laboratórium, Székesfehérvár. · Orv Hetil. · Pubmed #12901182 No free full text.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: In addition to interferon, lamivudine is the other widely used antiviral agent in the therapy of chronic hepatitis B. This nucleoside analogue inhibits the RNA-dependent DNA polimerase and the reverse transcription by integrating in the viral DNA, which results in the secondary suppression of viral protein synthesis and replication of HBV. It has numerous advantages such as effective viral inhibition, mild side effects and the possibility of oral administration; on the other hand it poses the problem of time-correlated appearance of lamivudine resistant mutants during therapy. AIMS: In the Virusserology Laboratory of the Department I. Internal Medicine, Szent György Hospital, Székesfehérvár, detection and type determination of the therapy resistant mutants in the C and B domains of HBV DNA polimerase gene has been carried out the for one year. In this paper, the authors review the molecular biological background of lamivudine resistance and summarise the applied test methodologies and the early results. PATIENTS: Six-month and/or 12-, 18-month samples of 18 chronic hepatitis B patients (4 women/14 men) treated in seven Hepatology Centres in Hungary were analysed. METHODOLOGY: Mutants of codons 528, 552, and 555 in the HBV polimerase gene were determined by nested polimerase chain reaction and reverse hybridisation. RESULTS: M528, V552, I552 and I555 mutants in different variations could be detected in ten out of 18 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Nowadays, drug therapy is the only treatment option used for the therapy of early and progressed chronic hepatitis B in Hungary. This new diagnostic technique was introduced to clarify the background of ineffective lamivudine therapy. Therapy resistance can occur due to the lack of reaction or the appearance of the special, therapy resistant mutants of the virus. Detection of these YMDD mutants together with the clinical picture and the biochemical and virological parameters can help in forming a decision about cessation of lamivudine therapy or application of a new drug.

Szalay F, Hegedus D, Lakatos PL, Tornai I, Bajnok E, Dunkel K, Lakatos P. · 1st Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Korányi St. 2/A, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary. · J Hepatol. · Pubmed #12663228 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIMS: Osteoprotegerin is decoy receptor for osteoclast activating factor, RANKL, and impairs osteoclast funtion. Since osteoporosis is common in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), we investigated osteoprotegerin, RANKL and markers of bone turnover in PBC. METHODS: Serum osteoprotegerin, RANKL, osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) were measured by ELISA in 41 patients with PBC, 16 women with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), and as controls in 44 age-matched healthy and 74 post-menopausal osteopenic otherwise healthy women. RESULTS: Serum osteoprotegerin levels were higher in PBC patients (7.8+/-3.0 pmol/l) than in healthy controls (4.4+/-2.3 pmol/l) and osteopenic women (4.0+/-1.0 pmol/l, P<0.0001 for both). RANKL levels were lower in PBC (0.9+/-1.8 pmol/l, P<0.0001) than in healthy controls (1.3+/-0.5 pmol/l). In CHC both osteoprotegerin (9.7+/-4.2 pmol/l) and RANKL (3.2+/-4.7 pmol/l) were elevated compared to the control groups (P<0.0001, for both). There was a positive correlation between serum osteoprotegerin and OC, CTX-I and AST but not with bone mineral density in PBC. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanisms and role of elevated osteoprotegerin and low RANKL in PBC are unclear, but it might partly represent a compensatory mechanism to negative balance of bone remodeling. High OPG and RANKL levels found in CHC might suggest that inflammatory process in the liver could also contribute to the elevation of osteoprotegerin.

Emri G, Tornai I, Pósán E, Seszták T, Varga V, Horkay I. · Debreceni Egyetem, Orvos- és Egészségtudományi Centrum, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Bórgyógyászati Klinika. · Orv Hetil. · Pubmed #11778362 No free full text.

Abstract: The development of clinically overt porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) can be attributed to joint effects of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Regarding exogen factors, studies from several countries published in the last years gave an account of significantly higher frequency of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in PCT patients compared to the normal population. At the Department of Dermatology of University of Debrecen the prevalence of positive anti-HCV antibodies has been found in approximately 55% of PCT patients diagnosed from 1990 to 1999, which is comparable to the average prevalence rate seen in Southern-European countries. The majority of male patients were anti-HCV positive and consumed regularly alcohol, whereas every female patient had taken contraceptives. Liver enzymes were only slightly elevated in the majority of the patients and liver biopsy had to be performed only in three patients duo to chronic hepatitis. Our findings emphasise how important the screening of PCT patients for anti-HCV antibody considering that it might be important quo ad vitam for young men.