Lucia De Franceschi, Giovanna Fattovich, Franco Turrini, Kodjo Ayi, Carlo Brugnara, Franco Manzato, Franco Noventa, Anna Maria Stanzial, Pietro Solero, Roberto Corrocher – 30 December 2003 – The antiviral drug ribavirin (RBV) is widely used in combination with interferon (IFN) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A major side effect of RBV is a reversible hemolytic anemia. We have evaluated the in vitro effects of RBV on erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and on hexosemonophosphate shunt (HMS).

Nicholas Onaca, Robert M. Goldstein, Goran B. Klintmalm – 30 December 2003

Gitte Irene Strauss, Kirsten Møller, Fin Stolze Larsen, Jens Kondrup, Gitte Moos Knudsen – 30 December 2003 – Hyperammonemia and hyperventilation are consistent findings in patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), which may interfere with cerebral glucose and oxygen metabolism. The aim of the present study is to evaluate whether cerebral oxidative metabolism is preserved early in the course of FHF and whether hyperventilation has an influence on this. We included 16 patients with FHF, 5 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, and 8 healthy subjects.

Stephanie Mackey, Pallavi Singh, Gretchen J. Darlington – 30 December 2003

Richard B. Freeman – 30 December 2003 – Background: Indices for predicting survival are essential for assessing prognosis and assigning priority for liver transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis. The model for end stage liver disease (MELD) has been proposed as a tool to predict mortality risk in cirrhotic patients. However, this model has not been validated beyond its original setting. Aim: To evaluate the short and medium term survival prognosis of a European series of cirrhotic patients by means of MELD compared with the Child‐Pugh score.

30 December 2003

30 December 2003

30 December 2003

Robin Patel – 30 December 2003

30 December 2003