A significant number of patients with chronic HCV infection had elevated serum GGT levels. Furthermore, this enzyme seemed to be useful as an indirect marker of more advanced liver disease in chronic hepatitis C.

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Introduction: Although various studies have been published regarding the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with peginterferon (Peg-IFN) and ribavirin, little is known regarding the real impact of gender on the characteristics that influence the effectiveness and safety of antiviral treatment for CHC patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of gender on HCV treatment outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analytical study was conducted among selected carriers of CHC genotype 1, who were treated with Peg-IFN α-2b at a dose of 1.5 µg/kg or Peg-IFN α-2a at a dose of 180 µg/week plus a ribavirin dose of 1,000-1,250 mg/day, according to weight, between 2001 and 2007. Results: Among 181 patients undergoing treatment, the mean age was 46.4 ± 11.0 years and 46% were women. At baseline, 32% of the patients had advanced fibrosis (F3-F4 Scheuer), and 83% of the subjects had viral load > 400,000 IU/ml, without significant difference between the genders (p = 0.428 and p = 0.452, respectively). When compared with men, women had higher incidence of many adverse events such as anemia (p < 0.001) and higher need for dose reduction, for both Peg-IFN (p = 0.004) and ribavirin (p = 0.006). However, the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) did not differ between the genders: 45% (female) vs 41% (male); p=0.464. Conclusions: This study suggests that women and men react differently to combined therapy, especially in relation to the incidence of adverse events and the need for dose modification. Nevertheless, these differences do not influence the SVR rate.

The study is a randomized trial using recombinant DNA vaccine to determine whether an intramuscular 10 micrograms dose or intradermal 2 micrograms induces satisfactory anti-HBs levels compared to the standard dose of intramuscular 20 micrograms. Participants were 359 healthy medical and nurse students randomly allocated to one of the three groups: Group I-IM 20 micrograms; Group II-IM 10 micrograms; Group III-ID 2 micrograms at 0, 1 and 6 months. Anti-HBs titres were measured after complete vaccine schedule by ELISA/Pasteur. Baseline variables were similar among groups and side effects were mild after any dose. Vaccines in the IM-10 micrograms group had seroconversion rate and geometric mean titre (GMT 2344 IU L-1), not significant different from the IM-20 micrograms group (GMT 4570 IU L-1). On the contrary, 21.4% of the ID-2 micrograms recipients mount antibody concentration below 10 IU L-1 and GMT of 91 IU L-1, a statistically significant difference compared with the standard schedule IM-20 micrograms (p < 0.001). A three dose regimen of half dose IM could be considered an appropriate schedule to prevent hepatitis B in young health adults which is of relevance to the expansion of hepatitis B vaccine programme.