Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:2.6.1.2 (alanine aminotransferase)
 26,722 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Approximately 15% of Indian patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related chronic liver disease (CLD) have infection with precore mutant forms. These patients are likely to have an aggressive course. There are equivocal reports of success with interferon therapy of mutant infection in the West. This therapy has not been evaluated in precore mutant-related CLD in Asian Indians. Eighteen patients (mean age 38.2 +/- 12 years, M:F: 17:1) with biopsy proven CLD and precore mutant HBV infection (hepatitis B surface antige (HBsAg) positive, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative, anti-HBe positive, HBV-DNA positive) were included. Interferon alpha 2b was given at 3 mIU on alternate days for 4 months. Serology, determination of HBV-DNA (both by dot-blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction) and liver biopsy were repeated after completion of the therapy. Response to interferon therapy was defined as loss of HBV-DNA by dot-blot hybridization. Thirteen (72.2%) patients responded to the treatment (responders). Mean alanine aminotransferase levels (83 +/- 12 vs 55 +/- 29 IU/L, P < 0.01) and the histological activity index (15 +/- 1.4 vs 12 +/- 1.3, P < 0.01) significantly decreased in the responders compared with initial values. Serum albumin levels also improved at the end of the therapy (3.5 +/- 0.4 g/dL vs 3.8 +/- 0.4 g/dL, P = 0.07). During follow up, seven of the 13 (54%) responders relapsed; cirrhotics relapsed more often than chronic hepatitis patients (P < 0.05). All 18 patients, however, continued to be HBV-DNA positive at the end of follow up. This study concluded that: 1. Interferon therapy is beneficial, albeit to a limited extent, in HBV precore mutant-related chronic liver disease in Asian Indians. 2. It is ineffective in eliminating the mutant HBV infection, which explains the high relapse rate. 3. Prolonged low-dose interferon therapy alone or in combination with newer nucleoside analogues should be evaluated in these patients.
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PMID:Low-dose recombinant interferon therapy in anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B in Asian Indians. 971 16

A 38-year-old, male patient, with end-stage HCV cirrhosis, underwent liver transplantation (OLT). After a sufficient recovery a rapid elevation of ALT and profound jaundice developed 3 months after OLT, together with a 15-fold rise of pre-transplant HCV RNS level. Liver biopsy was carried out, histology excluded rejection and signs of acute hepatitis were observed. Interferon alpha 2b 3 MU TIW and ribavirin 800 mg/day resulted in normalization of ALT, se. bilirubin and decrease of viral load by 90 per cent at the 3rd month of treatment. Improvement of hepatitis and no rejection was shown by control histology. A 6-month combination therapy followed by continuous ribavirin monotherapy maintains a permanent good condition with normal ALT, no icterus, a continuously low HCV RNA level and a mild chronic hepatitis with fibrosis in the liver histology 18 months after OLT. Danger of HCV reactivation after OLT, difficulties of diagnosis, interactions of immunostimulant and immunosuppressive drugs, advantages of combination therapy are discussed.
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PMID:[Severe relapse of hepatitis C following liver transplantation. Successful treatment with a combination of interferon-alpha and ribavirin]. 1050 72

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has antitumor and antiangiogenic effects. The purpose of this work was to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the treatment of infancy hemangioma and to monitor the appearance of anti-IFN antibodies in these patients. Thirty-nine children (29 girls) aged 1.5-158 months, with 19 younger than 1 year and 9 older than 5, were treated with 3 x 10(6) IU/m(2) IFN-alpha 2b, subcutaneously (s.c.) daily. Inclusion criteria were life-threatening or life-limiting hemangioma and parents' informed consent. Regression was considered if tumor size diminished by 50% or more. Of the 38 patients who completed 6 months of treatment, 27 (71.1%) had regression and 11 (28.9%) had stable disease. No patient experienced progression. Regression was more frequent (100%) among patients between 1 and 5 years old, but it was particularly important (68%) among those under 1 year old, when spontaneous regression is rare. The main side effects were the IFN-related flulike syndrome (79%), increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (28%), anorexia (19%), and mild inflammation at the injection site (19%). There was no effect on psychomotor or physical development. On the contrary, 1 patient with neurologic symptoms improved remarkably, including seizure disappearance. Eight patients developed anti-IFN-alpha 2 neutralizing antibodies, and 7 of them responded to IFN treatment. IFN-alpha 2b is a safe and efficacious treatment of infancy hemangioma. Further work should look for other treatment schedules and ways of administration and carefully monitor anti-IFN neutralizing antibodies, which does not seem to interfere with response.
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PMID:Regression of infancy hemangiomas with recombinant IFN-alpha 2b. 1117 78

Interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) is the only approved treatment for chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection. In a non-controlled study 33 pediatric patients infected with HBV and in chronic phase of the disease were included and treated with 3 to 5 x 10(6) IU/m2 body surface of Interferon alpha 2b, 3 times per week, during 4 months. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment in terms of the histological, biochemical and viral markers evolution of the patients. The patients were evaluated carrying out determinations of alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), HBsAg and HBeAg before treatment, at the end of the treatment and every 4 months during one year of follow-up. Liver biopsy and Knodell index determination were carried out at the beginning and upon concluding the follow-up. 39.3% of the patients concluded the treatment with normal ALAT values; 7% became HBsAg negative and 14.3% became HBsAg negative. These values ascended after follow-up to 51.5%, 11% and 37.5% respectively. The histological analysis evidenced a decrease of the Knodell index in 69% of the patients, an increase in 14.2%, and 13.8% did not show variation. Correlating the biochemical and histological responses, a favorable outcome was obtained in 36.4% of the patients, evidencing a remarkable reduction of the hepatic cytolysis. The treatment was well tolerated, being the fever the most frequent adverse events. The results confirm that interferon alfa seems to be an effective treatment for children with chronic hepatitis B.
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PMID:[Interferon alfa 2b treatment decreases histological activity in children with chronic hepatitis B]. 1213 90