E. Rosa Rizzotto

Type I autoimmune hepatitis: clinical course and outcome in an Italian multicentre study

Background  Many reports of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) were written in the ‘pre‐Hepatitis C era’ and data on the natural history are still incomplete.

Plasma Adiponectin Levels in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: A Novel Perspective for Link Between Hypercholesterolemia and Protection Against Atherosclerosis

INTRODUCTION:Hypercholesterolemia is a common finding in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), but the risk of cardiovascular events in PBC patients is not increased in respect to the general population. High serum adiponectin levels appear to play a protective role in the development of either metabolic syndrome or cardiovascular disease.AIM:To investigate factors potentially preventing atherosclerosis in PBC patients.METHODS:Circulating levels of adiponectin, resistin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured in 137 consecutive PBC patients (125 women, 12 men; mean age 61.6 ± 12.3 yr), 137 sex- and age-matched healthy controls, and 30 female patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and associated metabolic syndrome.RESULTS:The body mass index (BMI) was comparable in the three groups, whereas total cholesterol was significantly higher in both PBC and NASH cases than in controls (221.6 ± 50.5 mg/dL in PBC vs 221.7 ± 39.7 mg/dL in NASH vs 209.8 ± 39.2 mg/dL in controls, P < 0.05). Serum concentrations of adiponectin, resistin, and leptin were significantly higher in PBC patients than in either NASH cases or controls (P < 0.05). Among the PBC patients, only adiponectin correlated positively with histological progression of the disease (P= 0.001) and negatively with BMI (P= 0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that adiponectin correlated independently with age, BMI, Mayo score, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.CONCLUSIONS:The high adiponectin concentrations observed in PBC patients should be regarded as a possible protective factor against atherogenesis. The search for further protective factors should be encouraged.

An open population screening study for HFE gene major mutations proves the low prevalence of C282Y mutation in Central Italy

Background  The C282Y mutation in the HFE gene is responsible for most cases of hereditary haemochromatosis.

A novel multidrug-resistance protein 2 gene mutation identifies a subgroup of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and pruritus

A single nucleotide polymorphism characterized by the substitution of valine for glutamate (V1188E) in exon 25 of the multidrug resistance protein 2 gene was found in a group of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. This heterozygous mutation was significantly associated with the presence of pruritus.

OC8 SCREENING FOR HBV IN IMMIGRANTS: PILOT PHASE OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY IN HEALTY POPULATION

Results: We evaluated 118 subjects (55 M, 63 F), 71 (60.1%) 25–45 years old, 28 (23.7%) >45 years old, 16 (13.5%) 15–24 years old and 3 (82.5%) 20,000 in 4 (33.3%). Conclusions: The data of this pilot phase suggest a high prevalence of HBV infection in the immigrant population. The prevalence appears similar to that of country of birth. HBV-DNA quantification indicate that 50% of carriers have to be evaluated for treatment. On the basis of these data we confirm the utility of a screening programme for HBV in the immigrants.