2nd Article

[Guest guest]

This is just a thought, but has anyone requested to see the FDA inspection

reports for Wyeth? I believe they were recently fined $30 million because of

repeat violations since 1995 and for lack of improving their process quickly

enough. They are the chief cause of the flu vaccine shortage this year. How

do their FDA reports compare to Bioport's, who in spite of their continued

incompetence, continue to have dollars thrown at them to keep the AVIP

program afloat?

ly, I wouldn't trust Bioport to make toast.

Blackburn

[Guest guest]

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Diagnosis and Testing

by Neighborhood Nurse

Article Date: 11/21/2003

Autoimmune hepatitis is a possible diagnosis for any young patient with hepatitis, especially when the patient does not have risk factors typically associated with liver disease, such as alcoholic or drug use, metabolic diseases or exposure to hepatitis-causing viruses. Patients with other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroiditis, ulcerative colitis, diabetes mellitus, vitiligo and Sjogren's syndrome are at increased risk for autoimmune hepatitis.A routine blood test for liver enzymes can help reveal a pattern typical of hepatitis, but further tests, especially for autoantibodies (antibodies against one’s own tissues), are needed to distinguish autoimmune hepatitis from viral hepatitis (such as hepatitis B or C) or a metabolic disease (such as 's disease).

Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses. In autoimmune hepatitis, the immune system makes autoantibodies, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies to smooth muscle cells (SMA), or liver and kidney microsomes (anti-LKM).

The pattern and level of these antibodies help distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 autoimmune hepatitis.Patients with Type 1 autoimmune hepatitis have antinuclear antibodies (ANA) or smooth muscle antibodies (SMA), or both. About 95% of people with autoimmune hepatitis, male and female combined, have Type 1.Patients with Type 2 autoimmune hepatitis may have normal or only slightly elevated antinuclear antibodies or smooth muscle autoantibodies but will have antibodies against particular liver and kidney microsomes called anti-LKM (liver kidney microsome). Type 2 patients comprise about 5 % of patients with autoimmune hepatitis, and are typically younger females with severe disease.Patients in whom a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis is suspected should have a liver biopsy.A liver biopsy is needed to determine how much inflammation and scarring has developed. The results of the liver biopsy allow the physician to tailor the treatment to each individual patient.Sources

“Autoimmune Hepatitis.†National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.Worman, H. Autoimmune Hepatitis. Columbia University Gastroenterology Web. http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/gi/autoimmune.html “Hepatitis.†Gastroenterology. http://www.gicare.com/pated/ecdlv33.htm