B. Bastens

Hepatitis C virus genotype 5 in southern Belgium: Epidemiological characteristics and response to therapy

Data are scarce on patients infected with hepatitis C virus of genotype 5, due to the low prevalence of this genotype around the world. To better define the characteristics of these patients, we reviewed the files of 16 genotype 5 patients. Mean age was 38 ± 14. All patients were of European origin. Most of them (75%) had been contaminated by transfusion within a short time period (between 1980 and 1991). There were no intravenous drug addicts. Seven patients received treatment. One patient did not respond to interferon (IFN) monotherapy. Of four patients treated with IFN and ribavirin, three became sustained viral responders. Two patients treated with pegylated IFN and ribavirin became sustained viral responders. In our region, genotype 5 patients seem to have been contaminated within a relatively short time period. Treatment with IFN or pegylated IFN and ribavirin gave a high rate (83%) of sustained viral responses.

Le syndrome des ectasies vasculaires antrales : présentation clinique, endoscopique et traitement endoscopique

RésuméNous rapportons une série de dix patients chez lesquels un « syndrome d’Ectasies Vasculaires Antrales » a été découvert lors d’un bilan endoscopique. Sept patients présentaient une anémie ferriprive chronique et ont bénéficié d’un traitement endoscopique. Les aspects clinique, physiopathologique, histologique et endoscopique sont discutés à la lumière de la littérature.SummaryWe report ten cases of « Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia ». Seven patients presented a chronic iron deficiency anemia and an endoscopic treatment was succesfully performed. The clinical pathogenic, histologic and endoscopic aspects are discussed with review of the literature.