Aim: To determine the frequency and risk factors of Gallbladder stone disease (GSD) among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on patients with chronic HCV infection admitted to Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University Hospital during the Period from November 2010 to December 2011 and patients without HCV infection attending Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Clinic, Assiut University Hospital. The study included 48 patients (29 males, 19 females) with chronic HCV infection and 192 patients (113 males, 79 females) without HCV infection. For all participants, the following was conducted: Clinical evaluation (Medical History and Physical Examination), abdominal ultrasonographic examination, and laboratory investigations including estimation of fasting serum level of glucose, lipid profile [fasting serum levels of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and triglycerides], liver profile [serum levels of bilirubin, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], prothrombin time, and complete blood count. Results: The frequency of GSD among patients with chronic HCV infection was 25% while it was 15.1% among the subjects without HCV infection. The metabolic syndrome (Odds ratio was 33 and 95% confidence interval was 3-424) and glucose intolerance (Odds ratio was 12 and 95% confi- dence interval was 1-133) were significantly, independently associated with GSD among patients with chronic HCV infection. Conclusion: The frequency of GSD is more among patients with chronic HCV infection than among HCV-negative sub- jects. Among patients with chronic HCV infection, risk factors for GSD are the metabolic syndrome and glucose intolerance.

Aim: To determine the frequency and risk factors of Gallbladder stone disease (GSD) among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on patients with chronic HCV infection admitted to Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University Hospital during the Period from November 2010 to December 2011 and patients without HCV infection attending Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Clinic, Assiut University Hospital. The study included 48 patients (29 males, 19 females) with chronic HCV infection and 192 patients (113 males, 79 females) without HCV infection. For all participants, the following was conducted: Clinical evaluation (Medical History and Physical Examination), abdominal ultrasonographic examination, and laboratory investigations including estimation of fasting serum level of glucose, lipid profile [fasting serum levels of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and triglycerides], liver profile [serum levels of bilirubin, albumin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], prothrombin time, and complete blood count. Results: The frequency of GSD among patients with chronic HCV infection was 25% while it was 15.1% among the subjects without HCV infection. The metabolic syndrome (Odds ratio was 33 and 95% confidence interval was 3-424) and glucose intolerance (Odds ratio was 12 and 95% confi- dence interval was 1-133) were significantly, independently associated with GSD among patients with chronic HCV infection. Conclusion: The frequency of GSD is more among patients with chronic HCV infection than among HCV-negative sub- jects. Among patients with chronic HCV infection, risk factors for GSD are the metabolic syndrome and glucose intolerance.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) may exhibit significant liver pathology despite alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV DNA levels below the cutoff values advised by treatment guidelines. We evaluated candidacy for HBV therapy when baseline histopathological changes are taken into consideration. METHODS: Clinical, biochemical, serological, virological, and histopathological (METAVIR score) data of 117 patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV genotype D were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Significant pathology (≥F2 and/or ≥A2) and fibrosis (≥F2 ± ≥A2) were found in 73 (62.4%) and 59 (50.4%) patients, respectively. Based on HBV DNA (>2,000 IU/ml) and ALT levels >2 × 40 U/l (the standard cutoff value), only 31 (26.5%) patients were candidates for therapy. This increased to 58 (49.6%) patients when the new ALT cutoff values (30 U/l for males, and 19 U/l for females) were applied. Relying on either ≥F2 and/or A ≥2 or ≥F2 ± ≥A2 increases the treatment candidacy to 73 (62.4%) and 59 (50.4%) patients, respectively. Also, when compared with standard ALT cutoff values, applying both new ALT cutoff values with either significant pathology or fibrosis increases treatment candidacy to 28 (23.9%) and 42 (35.9%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Liver pathology is more reliable than ALT and HBV DNA in the decision to treat patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV genotype D.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) may exhibit significant liver pathology despite alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV DNA levels below the cutoff values advised by treatment guidelines. We evaluated candidacy for HBV therapy when baseline histopathological changes are taken into consideration. METHODS: Clinical, biochemical, serological, virological, and histopathological (METAVIR score) data of 117 patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV genotype D were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Significant pathology (≥F2 and/or ≥A2) and fibrosis (≥F2 ± ≥A2) were found in 73 (62.4%) and 59 (50.4%) patients, respectively. Based on HBV DNA (>2,000 IU/ml) and ALT levels >2 × 40 U/l (the standard cutoff value), only 31 (26.5%) patients were candidates for therapy. This increased to 58 (49.6%) patients when the new ALT cutoff values (30 U/l for males, and 19 U/l for females) were applied. Relying on either ≥F2 and/or A ≥2 or ≥F2 ± ≥A2 increases the treatment candidacy to 73 (62.4%) and 59 (50.4%) patients, respectively. Also, when compared with standard ALT cutoff values, applying both new ALT cutoff values with either significant pathology or fibrosis increases treatment candidacy to 28 (23.9%) and 42 (35.9%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Liver pathology is more reliable than ALT and HBV DNA in the decision to treat patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV genotype D.

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