Publications (7)8.54 Total impact
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Article: Chemokine CXCL10 at week 4 of treatment predicts sustained virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive value of CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 concentrations before and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment with pegylated interferon-α2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C infected with the hepatitis C virus genotype 1. The study included 46 adult patients (29 women and 17 men). Chemokine quantification in the serum was performed at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment by enzyme immunoassay. Chemokine responses were compared in patients achieving a sustained virological response to treatment (SVR, n=26) and the non-SVR group (n=20). The differences in the CXCL9 and CXCL10 concentrations between the SVR and non-SVR groups were statistically significant. A multivariant analysis showed a significant association between treatment failure and higher concentrations of CXCL10. A higher predictive value of CXCL10 concentrations after 4 weeks of treatment compared to pretreatment values has been found (area under the curve 0.9288 and 0.7942, respectively, P=0.016). CXCL10 concentrations above 250 pg/mL 4 weeks after the start of treatment were independently associated with non-SVR. In conclusion, the results of this study have shown that CXCL10 concentrations at the time of a rapid viral response (4 weeks) are better predictors of achieving SVR compared to baseline levels. Additionally, this study suggests an important role of CXCL9 as a biomarker of SVR in patients with chronic hepatitis C.Journal of interferon & cytokine research: the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research 07/2012; 32(8):386-91. · 1.63 Impact Factor -
Article: Intravenous Drug Users Can Achieve a High Sustained Virological Response Rate: experience From Croatian Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis.
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ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major infectious disease agents among injecting drug users (IVDUs). However, most of the IVDUs are not still treated. To examine the treatment course, adherence, tolerability and safety profiles and SVR rates in IVDUs compared to non-IVDUs. Demographic and clinical data were collected from medical records of 345 adult patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who were treated with a PEG-IFN-α and ribavirin in Croatian Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis in Zagreb between January 2003 and January 2010. Efficacy, safety and tolerability treatment profiles were analyzed in IVDUs vs. non-IVDUs. Positive predictors for treatment outcome were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. A total of 106 (30.46%) IVDUs were identified. The IVDUs were mainly male (81.13% vs. 52.30%, P = 0.0001), young (mean ± SD age: 32.46 ± 5.33 y vs. 46.12 ± 11.48 y, P = 0.0001), had lower fibrosis and HAI score (measured by ISHAK) and shorter duration of infection (mean ± SD: 8.98 ± 5.87 vs. 16.79 ± 8.99 y, P = 0.0001) compared to non-IVDU group. In IVDUs, genotype 1a (24.52%) and 3a (38.68%) were predominant. There were no differences in completion rate between the two studied groups. IVDUs achieved a significantly higher rate of overall SVR (70.75% vs. 51.04%, P < 0.0009) and in genotypes 1 and 4 (65.08% vs. 48.73%, P = 0.0294) vs. non-IVDUs. Treatment discontinuation rates due to side-effects were not significantly different in IVDUs and non-IVDUs (2.83% vs. 7.11%, P = 0.1390). IVDU group had a higher rate of lost to follow-up (13.21% vs. 4.60%, P = 0.0071). There were no statistically significant differences in SVR rate between IVDUs with, or without substitution therapy (55.55% vs. 74.62%, P = 0.0866). Independent predictors of SVR were age < 40 years and genotypes 2 and 3. Type of PEG-IFN-α used was not associated with SVR. Treatment of CHC in IVDUs should strongly be encouraged as they have positive predictors for achieving SVR such as younger age, shorter duration of infection, and consequently favorable histological stage of the disease, and good adherence to treatment. There is no difference in safety and tolerability profiles of treatment in IVDUs compared to patients with no history of drug abuse.Hepatitis Monthly 12/2011; 11(12):986-92. · 2.19 Impact Factor -
Article: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Croatian war veterans: experiences from Croatian reference center for viral hepatitis.
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ABSTRACT: To examine the risk factors, comorbidity, severity of liver disease, treatment course, and outcome in Croatian war veterans with chronic hepatitis C, especially those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We collected medical records of 170 adult men diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C who started treatment with a combination of pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin between January 2003 and June 2009 at the Croatian Reference Centre for Viral Hepatitis. Participants' mean age was 43 ± 9 years. Among 170 participants, there were 37 war veterans (22%). The main risk factor in veteran patients were operative procedures with transfusions (46% vs 5% in non-veterans; P < 0.001) and in non-veteran patients intravenous drug use (42.1% vs 13%; P < 0.001). The average duration of infection was longer in war veterans (14.5 ± 3.4 vs 12.2 ± 7.2 years; P = 0.020). The percentage of PTSD comorbidity in the whole group was 11% (18/170) and in the war veterans group 49% (18/37). The prevalence of sustained virological response in patients with PTSD was 50% and in patients without PTSD 56%. Treatment reduction in patients with PTSD (33%) was higher than in patients without PTSD (12%; P = 0.030). Croatian war veterans are a group with high risk of chronic hepatitis C infection because many of them were wounded during the Croatian War 1991-1995. Considerations about PTSD as a contraindication for interferon treatment are unjustified. If treated, patients with PTSD have an equal chance of achieving sustained virological response as patients without PTSD.Croatian Medical Journal 02/2011; 52(1):35-40. · 1.80 Impact Factor -
Article: Virological and immunological characteristics of fatal Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis in a 17-year-old Caucasian male presenting with meningoencephalitis and hemophagocytic syndrome.
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ABSTRACT: In this report, the authors present a detailed immunological and virological assessment of an immunocompetent 17-year-old Caucasian male with a fatal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infectious mononucleosis presenting with meningoencephalitis and hemophagocytic syndrome. The patient with serologically confirmed EBV infectious mononucleosis was admitted to the hospital because of 3 weeks' fever. Fine-needle aspiration of lymph nodes showed reactive hyperplasia with prominent hemophagocytosis. Percentages of intracellular interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the peripheral blood progressively increased during the course of disease (10.2% and 8.5% on day 35; 30.1% and 53.2% on day 44; 42.2% and 75.2% on day 50; 36.1% and 50.6% on day 59, respectively). On day 50, the patient developed meningoencephalitis. Brain computed tomography (CT) was normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multifocal inflammatory lesions in frontal and temporal cortex of the right hemisphere as well as severe perivascular inflammatory reaction. The patient was treated with steroids, cyclosporin A, and methotrexate intratecally. Following treatment, EBV viremia in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) decreased from pretreatment values (54,490 copies of EBV DNA/ml and 39,500 copies/ml, respectively) to 8715 copies/ml in the blood and 14,690 in the CSF. Despite treatment, the patient remained unconscious and died of sepsis and pneumonia 3 months after initial symptoms. Immunohistochemical staining showed the presence of EBV in both perivascular infiltrates and grey matter. Enhanced Th1 response as shown by high levels of IFN-gamma in peripheral blood lymphocytes may be a predictor of severe complications during acute EBV infection. Early implementation of immunosuppressive therapy in these patients should be considered.Journal of NeuroVirology 09/2007; 13(4):389-96. · 2.31 Impact Factor -
Article: Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Croatia--a 10 year retrospective study of four geographic regions.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this 10-year retrospective study was to investigate the distribution of HCV genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C monitored in the largest center for molecular diagnostics of HCV infection in Croatia. The study enrolled 1163 anti-HCV positive adults with detectable HCV RNA in the plasma. The patients were classified in four regions: Zagreb and surrounding continental area, Split, Slavonija and Rijeka. HCV genotyping was performed by using VERSANT HCV Genotyping Assay (LIPA) (Bayer Diagnostics, Puteaux Cedex, France). Statistical analysis was performed by using Statistica for Windows V.5.1. The majority of HCV infections in the study population were caused by genotypes 1 (58.8% of infected patients) and 3 (35.6%). Percentages of patients infected with subtypes 1b and 1a were 37.4% and 13.1%, respectively. Genotypes 2 and 4 were present in a very low percentage of patients (2.2% and 3.4%, respectively) while genotypes 5 and 6 were not detected. Analysis of regional differences in the distribution of HCV genotypes revealed similar percentages of subtype 3a and 1b infections in the Split region while the majority of infections in other regions were caused by subtype 1b. Infections with genotypes 2 and 4 were present in less than 5% of patients in all geographic regions. Analysis of an association between risk factors for infection and distribution of genotypes and subtypes in a subset of patients from the Split region confirmed the association between IVDU and subtype 3a. We conclude that the prevalence of HCV genotypes and subtypes follows the pattern of other Southern and Eastern European Countries with the predominance of subtypes 1b, 3a and 1a.Collegium antropologicum 01/2007; 30 Suppl 2:139-43. · 0.61 Impact Factor -
Article: [Acute hepatitis C--an unresolved issue].
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ABSTRACT: The problem encountered on collecting a large number of cases of acute hepatitis C (AH-C) cases are the reduction in the incidence of new infections, clinically mild or completely asymptomatic disease, and absence of specific diagnostic tests to identify acute HCV infection and to distinguish it from acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis C (CH-C). AIM, PATIENTS AND METHODS: The aim of this paper is to give an overview of 108 patients with AH-C hospitalized at Viral Hepatitis Unit, University Hospital of Infectious Diseases, during a 13-years period. Anti-HCV testing was started in 1990 and detection of HCV-RNA by PCR method in 1995. By epidemiologic data, we were able to distinguish patients with acute posttransfusion hepatitis C (PTH-C) from those with other risk factors. All patients were followed-up at the Outpatient Clinic for Viral Hepatitis in order to diagnose those who would develop persistent HCV infection and CH-C. Thirty-eight patients with acute PTH-C, were followed-up from 1991 till the end of 2003, 82% of them until 1994, because proper anti-HCV blood donors testing started in 1994 in Croatia. All of the patients with acute PTH-C had jaundice. The development of chronic hepatitis C occurred in 86% of untreated patients with acute PTH-C and 50% of patients treated with recombinant interferon-alfa (3 MU s.c. t.i.w.) monotherapy during six months. The chronic course of disease was recorded in 40% of patients with AH-C and other exposure risk factors. A patient with AH-C after needle-stick injury (HCV genotype 1b) was treated by recombinant interferon-alfa monotherapy (10 MU s.c. once daily) during 3 months without effect, then was switched to combination therapy with recombinant interferon-alfa (5 MU s.c. t.i.w.) + ribavirin 1200 mg daily for 12 months. Another patient with accidental blood exposure refused specific therapy. In the former patient, the treatment with high daily doses of interferon had no led to viral clearance, and virologic response was achieved after 6 months of combination therapy. In the untreated patient, spontaneous viral clearance occurred after 12 months. There is convincing evidence from published studies that interferon monotherapy reduces the rate of AH-C progression to KH-C. Despite this evidence, there still are many issues that remain to be solved. What is unclear is whom to treat, when to start therapy, and what doses and duration of treatment to use? Maybe 12 months of standard combined therapy (recombinant interferon alfa 5 MU s.c. t.i.w. + ribavirin 800-1200 mg daily) in patients with AH-C genotype 1b is warranted. Evaluation of the efficacy of peginterferon monotherapy or in combination with ribavirin, and comparison of different doses and duration of treatment are needed.Acta medica Croatica: c̆asopis Hravatske akademije medicinskih znanosti 02/2004; 58(4):335-9. -
Article: [Hepatitis E in tourists to India].
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ABSTRACT: Hepatitis E (HE) is a serious problem in developing countries worldwide, affecting in epidemics or as sporadic cases millions of people. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the main cause of enterically transmitted acute viral hepatitis, especially in tropic and subtropic areas. We presented two patients, our citizens who traveled to India, and contracted HE. The source of infection was contaminated drinking water in both of them. The diagnosis of HE was confirmed by the finding of anti-HEV antibodies of class IgG and IgM (ELISA) in acute phase, and by dissappearing of IgM anti-HEV in convalescent period. Thus, these patients are the first documented cases of imported sporadic HE in Croatia.Lijec̆nic̆ki vjesnik 11/2002; 124(10):313-4.
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2002–2012
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Zagreb University Hospital for Infectious Diseases
Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
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