View clinical trials related to Hepatitis.
Filter by:To determine the risk of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C virus (HCV) in cardiac surgery patients before and after donor screening for anti-HCV and surrogate markers of non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH). Also, to characterize donors who were HCV seronegative and who lacked surrogate markers at the time of donation, but whose recipient seroconverted to HCV.
To compare the clinical, biochemical, and histological status of Non-A, Non-B post-transfusion hepatitis patients with that of patients who did not develop post-transfusion hepatitis.
To elucidate the role of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) in the development of chronic liver disease in patients with hemophilia.
To determine the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) in a large cohort of hemophiliacs and to elucidate the role of HDV in the development and progression of liver disease in this population.
This study will evaluate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in blood donors who test positive for antibodies to this virus. Most HCV-infected people do not become ill and are not aware that they have hepatitis or have had it in the past. Some infected people recover completely, whereas others remain chronically infected. The study will try to define infectivity of anti-HCV positive individuals, routes of transmission of the virus, and the number of HCV-infected persons who have evidence of liver disease. Blood donors at the NIH Clinical Center or the Central Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross who test positive for HCV may be eligible for this study. Participants will have a physical examination and history, including questions about socioeconomic status and current sexual practices. They will have 100 milliliters (ml) (6 tablespoons) of blood drawn at the first visit and 50 ml (3 tablespoons) drawn 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the initial visit. Some participants may undergo plasmapheresis, a procedure for collecting additional plasma (the liquid portion of the blood). For this procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein. The blood circulates through a machine that separates it into its components. The plasma is then removed, and the red and white cells and platelets are returned to the body, either through the same needle used to draw the blood or through a second needle placed in the other arm. In some individuals, other body fluids (saliva, urine or semen) may also be collected. Participants may be asked to bring their household contacts and sexual partners to NIH for interview and blood testing for evidence of HCV infection and liver disease. Although this is not required for participation in the study, it would provide additional valuable information. Participants found to have chronic viral infection will be seen more often and will provide additional blood samples for routine medical care. Further medical evaluation may include X-rays or liver scans and referral to a specialist for additional tests or therapy. Ten people in this study will be recruited to participate in a secondary investigation to analyze changes in the level of HCV and the immune response to it, and to relate these changes to the degree of liver damage. In addition to blood collected for the primary study, participants in this investigation will have an additional 50 ml (3 tablespoons) of blood drawn from an arm vein every week for 10 weeks to measure levels of virus, ALT (a liver enzyme), and immune response.
This protocol represents a continuation of a series of prospective studies to define the incidence and etiology of transfusion-associated hepatitis (TAH) and to examine the impact on TAH of various modifications in the selection of blood donors. The primary goal of the study will be to determine TAH incidence after the institution of a variety of interventive measures to exclude hepatitis and AIDS virus carriers: including surrogate assays (ALT, anti-HBc), a specific assay for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a specific assay for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and intensified donor questioning for high-risk behavior patterns. There is high probability that the exclusion of donors at high risk for AIDS transmission will also exclude donors at high risk for hepatitis transmission. Incidence data obtained in the study will be enhanced by the simultaneous follow-up of a control population undergoing identical surgical procedures, but receiving no blood or only autologous blood. This control population, made possible by the recent dramatic increase in the amount of autologous blood utilized, will allow for a clear distinction between transfusion-associated hepatitis and that due to nosocomial transmission or other background causes of hepatocellular inflammation in cardiac surgery patients.
OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether the initial response to interferon alfa (IFN-A) can be increased by starting at a dose of 5 MU three times a week in patients with chronic hepatitis C. II. Determine whether patients who had normalized alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels can maintain normal ALT during stepwise dose reduction from 5 MU to 3 MU to 1.5 MU.
Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Patients with hepatitis C may feel well and show no signs or symptoms of being ill. However, researchers would like to study the long-term effects of this disease. Volunteer blood donors diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) and various levels of liver enzyme activity will be offered a complete medical evaluation and liver biopsy. The tests will enable researchers to provide the patients with an idea of how severe their liver disease is. The virus and patient will be studied in order to understand why patients with hepatitis C develop different levels of liver damage.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused by an infection with a virus, but poisonous (toxic) substances can also cause it. Researchers have identified several of the viruses responsible for hepatitis, however some patients with hepatitis show no evidence of being infected with known hepatitis viruses. Researchers call conditions like this, seronegative hepatitis. It means that a patient has hepatitis but he/she does not have evidence in their blood of a viral infection. Seronegative hepatitis is often complicated by autoimmune disorders and associated severe disorders especially, fulminant hepatitis of childhood and post-hepatitis aplastic anemia. Researchers have attempted to identify the cause of these conditions but have been unsuccessful. Therefore, this study was developed to collect blood and stool samples from patients with seronegative hepatitis in order to help identify the virus responsible.
Chronic hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. The disease can be serious and even fatal. Approximately 25% of patients with chronic hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis and some of these patients will develop cancer of the liver or liver failure. Presently the disease is treated with a combination of alpha interferon or peginterferon (antiviral and immune stimulating drugs) and ribavirin (an antiviral drug). Alpha interferon is given by injection three times a week whereas peginterferon is given by injection only once a week. Ribavirin is given as a tablet by mouth twice a day. The combination therapy is given for 6 to months. About half of the patients given these medications will receive a lasting benefit and many patients do not respond well to the combination therapy. This study will select up to 50 patients will chronic hepatitis C who have not responded to combination therapy or who could not stand the side effects associated with interferon or peginterferon therapy. These subjects will be evaluated and undergo liver biopsy to determine their present liver condition. If selected as subjects they will be started on single drug therapy with ribavirin. The drug will be given orally twice a day at a dose based on the patient's body weight. The patients will be followed on an out-patient basis. They will we asked to return for regular check-ups and blood tests every 2 to 8 weeks for the duration of the study. After 6 months, the medication will be stopped or adjusted based on the results of the subject's blood tests (liver enzymes). A response is considered if a decrease of 50% or more of the initial liver enzyme (alanine aminotransferase, ALT) is noted. A complete response will be considered if liver enzymes return to normal levels. Therapy will be discontinued after 6 months if patients do not respond. However, patients that respond to the single drug therapy will continue to receive the medication at a decreased dose. The patients will remain on an appropriate dose for up to 8 years with repeat liver biopsies at 2, 4 and 8 years to assess progress. This study will determine if long-term therapy with ribavirin is safe and effective.