Francisco Rodriguez-Frias

Publications (106) View all

• Article: [Hepatitis E: scale of the problem in Spain.]

  Mar Riveiro-Barciela, Francisco Rodríguez-Frías, María Buti
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  ABSTRACT: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is one of the most frequent causes of acute hepatitis worldwide. However, in Spain, HEV causes only a tiny number of cases of acute hepatitis, the most prevalent cause being hepatitis A. Most cases of HEV in Spain are "imported", being acquired through travel to areas where this infection is endemic. Nevertheless, in the last few years a growing number of "autochthonous cases" have been reported in persons with no history of travelling to HEV-endemic areas. The prevalence of IgG antibodies against HEV, indicating exposure to this virus, is approximately 0.6-7.3% in the general population in Spain and is 19% in persons with risk factors such as exposure to pigs.
  Gastroenterología y Hepatología 05/2012; · 0.73 Impact Factor
• Article: Twelve-week posttreatment follow-up to predict sustained virologic response for recurrent hepatitis C infection in liver recipients.

  Isabel Campos-Varela, Lluis Castells, Juan Ignacio Esteban, Marta Bes, Francisco Rodríguez-Frías, Gonzalo Sapisochin, Helena Allende, Ramón Charco, Rafael Esteban
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  ABSTRACT: The current standard for determining sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients treated for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is undetectable serum HCV-RNA 24 weeks after treatment. This study evaluates the value of HCV-RNA determination at 12 weeks posttreatment (W+12) to predict SVR in liver transplant (LT) patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin for recurrent HCV infection. This study, performed in 2001 to 2010, included HCV-LT patients with an end-of-treatment response (undetectable serum HCV-RNA) and HCV-RNA testing at 12 and 24 weeks posttreatment (W+12/W+24). HCV-RNA was detected with a qualitative polymerase chain reaction assay (detection limit 50 IU/mL) and, when positive, measured by quantitative PCR (detection limit 600 IU/mL) up to 2006. Since 2007, a real-time PCR-based test (detection limit 15 IU/mL) has been used. The positive predictive value (PPV) was defined as the probability that SVR would occur in patients with undetectable HCV-RNA at W+12 and W+24. Of 162 patients treated during the study period, 57 (35%) had end-of-treatment response and were included. Of these, 45 (79%) had SVR and 12 (21%) had virologic relapse. At W+12, HCV-RNA was undetectable in 45 (79%) patients, all of whom had SVR, yielding a PPV for SVR at W+12 of 100% (95% confidence interval, 75.8%-100%). Undetectable HCV-RNA at W+12 posttreatment has a high PPV for predicting SVR. HCV-RNA testing to assess SVR at this time point seems as valid as W+24 testing and could be considered for predicting SVR in HCV-LT patients receiving treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
  Transplantation 02/2012; 93(4):450-3. · 4.00 Impact Factor
• Article: [Quantification of hepatitis B virus HBsAg: clinical implications].

  Maria Buti, Francisco Rodríguez Frías, Rafael Esteban
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  ABSTRACT: The surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) is the main serological marker of HBV infection since its discovery almost 50 years ago. Currently the quantification of HBsAg has acquired special relevance as there are commercial tests to measure its levels. Several studies have shown that in patients treated with pegylated interferon alfa the fall of HBsAg levels predicts the loss of HBsAg and persistent virologic response. The role of the quantification of HBsAg in the treatment with nucleoside analogues is still not well understood and requires further studies.
  Medicina Clínica 06/2011; 138(11):483-8. · 1.38 Impact Factor
• Article: [Diagnosis of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: limitations of rapid diagnostic laboratory tests].

  Francisco Rodríguez-Frías, Brian Vila-Auli, María Homs-Riba, Rafael Vidal-Pla, José Luis Calpe-Calpe, Rosendo Jardi-Margalef
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  ABSTRACT: Hereditary alpha-1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) deficiency predisposes to pulmonary emphysema. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the limitations of some laboratory methods used in the study of the deficiency, and which may produce errors in interpretation and detection of uncommon alleles. Two clinical cases are described: the index patient, who had pulmonary emphysema with α1-AT levels less than 12 mg/dL, was erroneously classified as a homozygote of the normal allelic variant PI MM using a rapid genotype method; the mother of the patient, asymptomatic, with low levels (60 mg/dL), was also classified as PI MM. The gene sequencing classified the index patient as a carrier of the PI Clayton null allele and PI Mmalton deficient. The mother was a PI Clayton/PI heterozygote carrier. These results highlight the difficulties in diagnosing the deficiency, as the well as the need to reach a consensus on methods for this study.
  Archivos de Bronconeumología 04/2011; 47(8):415-7. · 2.17 Impact Factor
• Article: Determination of hepatitis delta virus RNA by polymerase chain reaction in acute and chronic delta infection

  Rosendo Jardi, Maria Buti MD, Montserrat Cotrina, Francisco Rodriguez, Helena Allende, Rafael Esteban, Jaime Guardia
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  ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in acute and chronic D hepatitis and to correlate with HDV-RNA detection by dot blot and hepatic delta antigen. Serum samples from 33 patients with acute hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive hepatitis (15 with hepatitis B and D coinfection, 8 with HDV superinfection, and 10 with acute hepatitis B), 85 patients with chronic HBsAg-positive hepatitis (73 with chronic D hepatitis and 12 with chronic B hepatitis), and consecutive serum samples from nine patients with chronic D hepatitis treated with interferon alfa-2b were studied. HDV-RNA was detected by PCR in 93% of the patients with hepatitis B and D coinfection, in 100% of the patients with of the patients with hepatitis D superinfection, and in 1 of the 10 patients with acute hepatitis B who subsequently seroconverted to total antibody to hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg), whereas HDV-RNA was found by dot blot technique in 60% of the hepatitis B and D coinfection cases, in 62.5% of the patients with hepatitis D superinfection, and in none of the acute hepatitis B cases. In chronic D hepatitis, HDV-RNA tested positive by PCR assay in 97% of patients with intrahepatic HDAg, in one patient with undetectable hepatic HDAg, and in none of the patients with chronic hepatitis B. In the treated patients, HDV-RNA was observed to become negative by PCR only in the three patients who had a persistent response to interferon. The results of this study show that HDV-RNA determination by PCR assay is a reliable tool for the diagnosis of delta infection and a clear improvement over other methods for the evaluation of HDV replication and response to antiviral therapy. (Hepatology 1995;21:25-29).
  Hepatology 12/2005; 21(1):25 - 29. · 11.66 Impact Factor