G. De Stefano

Metabolic syndrome in patients with coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet.

Several studies have shown that weight changes are common in patients with coeliac disease after starting a gluten‐free diet (GFD), but data on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this population are still scarce.

The presence of anti-endomysial antibodies and the level of anti-tissue transglutaminases can be used to diagnose adult coeliac disease without duodenal biopsy.

The new ESPGHAN guidelines for diagnosis of paediatric coeliac disease suggest to avoid biopsy in genetically pre‐disposed and symptomatic individuals with positive anti‐endomysial antibodies (EMA) and anti‐tissue transglutaminases (a‐tTG). However, duodenal biopsy remains the gold standard in adult coeliac disease.

Delta infection in the Naples area: Epidemiologic and clinical significance

To define the epidemiologic and clinical significance of delta infection in the Naples area, we sought anti-delta antibodies in all cases of HBV-associated liver diseases, hospitalized in our department during 1983 (234 acute hepatitis, 9 of which fulminant; 51 chronic hepatitis; 32 cirrhosis; 19 hepatocarcinomas) and in randomly selected acute hepatitis over the previous 6 years. Delta agent in acute forms and IgM anti-HBc in delta-positive acute forms were also tested. The acute cases were controlled for at least 9 months after dismissal. Delta infection showed a high prevalence in the Naples area (20% of all acute cases in 1983; similar prevalences in previous years; high rate of coinfections, 81%; no peculiar modalities of circulation) and a high pathogenicity, as proved by the greater prevalence in fulminant cases (66.7%) and severe chronic forms. Moreover superinfection appears a more dangerous event than coinfection as regards the diseases becoming chronic (77.8% vs 2.5%).

OC.10.2: HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA (HCC) IN CIRRHOSIS: LONG-TERM RESULTS OF PERCUTANEOUS RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION OF BOTH THE NODULE AND THE PORTAL VENOUS TUMOR THROMBUS

G4 40/98 (40.8%). At univariate analysis SVR was associated with female sex (p=0.047), Italian ethnicity (p=0.004), absence of cirrhosis (p 50 (p=0.004), alpha 2a PEG-IFN treatment (p=0.009). At multivariate analysis genotype, HC viral load, cirrhosis and center size, but not PEG-IFN choice, were predictive of response. Conclusions: 1) The overall efficacy of combination therapy with PEG-IFNs & RBV in clinical practice overlaps the efficacy observed in Registration Trials; 2) higher prevalence of “easy to treat genotypes” accounts for this similar effectiveness; 3) cirrhosis, HCV genotype and viral load, but not BMI and PEG-IFN choice, account for effectiveness variability.