Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Jan 2024
Hepatitis B virus coinfection in patients treated for chronic hepatitis C: Clinical characteristics, risk of reactivation with long-term follow-up and effectiveness of antiviral therapy.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share a similar transmission route, which increases coinfection odds and worsens clinical outcomes. ⋯ Neither the presence of HBV markers nor HBV reactivation during DAA treatment reduced effectiveness of the therapy. Our findings are important for future recommendations and guidelines on managing HBV/HCV coinfection.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Jan 2024
Hydroxychloroquine as an important immunomodulator: a novel insight into an old drug.
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an increasingly popular drug owing to its efficacy, long‑term safety, and a wide range of therapeutic effects. Currently, due to the numerous benefits it provides, the use of the drug goes beyond the treatment of rheumatic and dermatologic diseases. As HCQ shows anti‑inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and photoprotective action, it has a great potential to be applied also in the treatment of oncologic diseases, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or recurrent miscarriages. ⋯ This paper presents the latest data on HCQ, its mechanisms of action, its therapeutic potential in current clinical practice as well as future perspectives. It also discusses the correct dosing regimen and long‑term monitoring, with consideration of possible rare complications. Finally, it focuses on the enormous benefits for patients with rheumatic diseases in terms of reducing the disease activity and organ damage, preventing flares and pregnancy‑related complications, and, most importantly, lowering mortality rates in SLE patients.