Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.7.7.7 (DNA polymerase)
 17,007 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report three cases of hepatic steatosis associated with lactic acidosis occurring in HIV positive patients and due to a toxicity of antiviral nucleoside analogues. The clinico-pathological presentation was similar associating digestive signs (vomiting and abdominal pain), polypnea, lactic acidosis, a lethal clinical course, and an hepatomegaly with a diffuse macrovacuolar steatosis. The ultrastructural study performed in two cases showed mitochondrial alterations in hepatocytes. The toxicity of antiviral nucleoside analogues is due to a mitochondrial DNA polymerase inhibition. The incidence of this disease is actually low but probably underestimated. The diagnosis should be rapidly performed and the treatment immediatly interrupted.
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PMID:[A rare etiology of hepatic steatosis associated with lactic acidosis: the toxicity of antiviral nucleoside analogues]. 1137 88

A boy presented with lactic acidosis, hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, generalised icterus, and muscle hypotonia in the first weeks of life. At the age of 2 months, neonatal giant cell hepatitis was diagnosed by light microscopy. Electron microscopy of the liver revealed an accumulation of abnormal mitochondria and steatosis. Skeletal muscle was normal on both light and electron microscopy. At the age of 5 months, the patient died of liver failure. Biochemical studies of the respiratory chain enzymes in muscle showed that cytochrome-c oxidase (complex IV) and succinate-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase (complex II + III) activities were (just) below the control range. When related to citrate synthase activity, however, complex IV and complex II + III activities were normal. Complex I activity was within the control range. The content of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was severely reduced in the liver (17% to 18% of control values). Ultracytochemistry and immunocytochemistry of cytochrome-c oxidase demonstrated a mosaic pattern of normal and defective liver cells. In defective cells, a reduced amount of the mtDNA-encoded subunits II-III and the nuclear DNA-encoded subunits Vab was found. Cells of the biliary system were spared. Immunohistochemistry of mtDNA replication factors revealed normal expression of DNA polymerase gamma. The mitochondrial single-stranded binding protein (mtSSB) was absent in some abnormal hepatocytes, whereas the mitochondrial transcription factor A (mtTFA) was deficient in all abnormal hepatocytes. In conclusion, depletion of mtDNA may present as giant cell hepatitis. mtTFA and to a lesser degree mtSSB are reduced in mtDNA depletion of the liver and may, therefore, be of pathogenetic importance. The primary defect, however, is still unknown.
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PMID:Depletion of mitochondrial DNA in the liver of an infant with neonatal giant cell hepatitis. 1195 53

Adefovir is classified as a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor because it acts by inhibiting hepatitis B virus DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) and causing DNA chain termination after its incorporation into the viral DNA. Adefovir dipivoxil is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (alanine [ALT] or aspartate [AST]) or histologically active disease. It is useful in the treatment of patients with either hepatitis B e antigen-positive or -negative chronic hepatitis B. The recommended adefovir dipivoxil dose in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in patients with adequate renal function is 10 mg once daily. Adefovir dipivoxil therapy can reduce viral load, improve ALT, and produce histologic improvement in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Improvements are generally seen within the first few weeks of therapy and have shown persistence up to at least 3 years with continued therapy. Therapy with adefovir dipivoxil is generally well tolerated. However, nephrotoxicity is a risk with adefovir therapy, especially in patients receiving higher doses (30-120 mg/d). Patients should have their renal function monitored closely throughout therapy and may require an adjustment in dose relative to changes in the creatinine clearance. Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis may also occur during therapy.
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PMID:Adefovir dipivoxil: focus on its use in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. 1597 40