Katsuhisa Saso

Th1/Th2 cytokine profiles and their relationship to clinical features in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Purpose. An imbalance in helper T-cell type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) cytokines is suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic viral infections, but this issue is not resolved in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the balance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and liver damage. Methods. We investigated cytokine levels in the peripheral blood and liver tissue of patients with chronic HCV infection (n = 59) by three different methods; we used flow cytometry to detect intracellular cytokines, and we measured cytokine titers in sera and in the supernatants of lymphocyte cultures with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results. In both CD4+ and CD8+ cells, interferon (IFN) γ-producing cell populations increased, while there was no difference in interleukin (IL)-10 production, indicating a shift to a Th1 cytokine profile with the progression of liver disease. With respect to the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-10, a correlation was found in CD4+ cells between peripheral blood and liver tissue (r = 0.98; P = 0.0011). Th1 cytokine was predominant in intrahepatic CD4+ cells, while it was predominant in peripheral blood CD8+ cells. Conclusions. These findings indicate a correlation between dominant Th1 response and disease activity and progression. In addition, we suggest that intrahepatic CD4+ T cells play a pathogenetic role in the hepatic injury of HCV infection.

Standards for selecting percutaneous ethanol injection therapy or percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for solitary small hepatocellular carcinoma: consideration of local recurrence

OBJECTIVES:Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) are effective treatments for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There are no clear standards, however, for the selection of PEIT or PMCT. We determined standards based on local recurrence.METHODS:The subjects were 88 patients with solitary HCC measuring ≤30 mm in diameter, who were treated by PEIT (n = 45) or PMCT (n = 43) and judged to be cured using computerized tomography (CT) with contrast medium after treatment. Patient characteristics, including age, gender, viral markers, Child-Pugh classification, tumor size, tumor cell differentiation, and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration we analyzed, and the factors influencing the local recurrence in the PEIT and PMCT groups were determined, using univariate and multivariate analysis.RESULTS:Univariate analysis indicated that tumor cell differentiation and serum AFP concentration influenced local recurrence in the PEIT group, and tumor size did so in the PMCT group. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor cell differentiation influenced local recurrence in the PEIT group, and tumor size did so in the PMCT group. PEIT was effective for treating well-differentiated HCC, and PMCT was effective for treating HCC measuring ≤15 mm in diameter. PMCT was superior to PEIT for treating patients with HCC measuring ≤15 mm in diameter. In such cases with well-differentiated HCC, PEIT was as effective as PMCT.CONCLUSIONS:The selection of PEIT or PMCT to treat patients with HCC should be based on tumor size and cell differentiation.

Limitations of imaging diagnosis for small hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison with histological findings

Background and Aims : The purpose of this study was to clarify the value and limitation of imaging modalities for diagnosing small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Original ContributionsStandards for selecting percutaneous ethanol injection therapy or percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for solitary small hepatocellular carcinoma: consideration of local recurrence

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) and percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) are effective treatments for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There are no clear standards, however, for the selection of PEIT or PMCT. We determined standards based on local recurrence. METHODS: The subjects were 88 patients with solitary HCC measuring ≤30 mm in diameter, who were treated by PEIT (n = 45) or PMCT (n = 43) and judged to be cured using computerized tomography (CT) with contrast medium after treatment. Patient characteristics, including age, gender, viral markers, Child-Pugh classification, tumor size, tumor cell differentiation, and serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration we analyzed, and the factors influencing the local recurrence in the PEIT and PMCT groups were determined, using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Univariate analysis indicated that tumor cell differentiation and serum AFP concentration influenced local recurrence in the PEIT group, and tumor size did so in the PMCT group. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor cell differentiation influenced local recurrence in the PEIT group, and tumor size did so in the PMCT group. PEIT was effective for treating well-differentiated HCC, and PMCT was effective for treating HCC measuring ≤15 mm in diameter. PMCT was superior to PEIT for treating patients with HCC measuring ≤15 mm in diameter. In such cases with well-differentiated HCC, PEIT was as effective as PMCT. CONCLUSIONS: The selection of PEIT or PMCT to treat patients with HCC should be based on tumor size and cell differentiation.

COMBINED USE OF UNCOVERED DUODENAL AND COVERED BILIARY METALLIC STENT FOR CARCINOMA OF THE PAPILLA OF VATER

We have reported successful implantation of self‐expandable metallic stents for palliative treatment in a case of an 87‐year‐old female patient with carcinoma of the papilla of Vater. She suffered from both duodenal and biliary stenoses, but refused surgical treatment. For the duodenal stenting, a self‐expandable knitted nitinol metallic stent, for esophageal use, was inserted endoscopically. For the biliary stenting, a self‐expandable metallic stent, partially polyurethane‐covered on the proximal part to prevent tumor ingrowth and overgrowth, was inserted via the percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage route. No major complications occured during these procedures. After the two stents were inserted in an end‐to‐side fashion, she was able to eat a normal diet adequately and suffered from no abdominal symptoms and jaundice during the follow‐up period of 13 months. These stenting procedures might be less invasive and more useful than surgical treatment and provide long patency of biliary stenting and a good quality of life.

A case of acute lymphatic leukemia showed severe hepatic disorder and pancytopenia as primary symptoms.

症例は21歳, 男性. 1995年5月, 感冒様症状が出現し, 近医を受診. 肝機能障害を指摘され治療を受けるも軽快せず, 当院を紹介された. 入院時血液生化学検査ではGOT 3, 569U/l, GPT 3, 262U/l, 総ビリルビン値3.5mg/dl, プロトロンビン時間活性 (PT) 37.2%と著明な肝機能障害を認め, また白血球数は500/mm3と著明な低下を示した. 骨髄像では細胞数は減少していたが, 腫瘍細胞は認めなかった. ステロイドパルス療法などの治療により, 自・他覚症状ともに改善し退院したが, 同年10月, 再び肝機能障害が出現し再入院した. 第2回入院時に行った肝生検組織像, および骨髄像で腫瘍細胞を認め, 骨髄染色および表面マーカーから急性リンパ性白血病 (ALL) と診断した. ALLに重症肝障害をきたした報告は, 現在までに本症例を含め4例みられるが, 他の3症例では重症肝障害発症早期に死亡しており, 長期間にわたり経過を観察し得たのは本例のみであった.