S456 Abstracts of the A.I.S.F. Monothematic Conference 2011 / Digestive and Liver Disease 43S (2011), S453–S456 populations which are either totally absent or change the clinical and epi- demiological characteristics of those already present. The aim of this study was to evaluate in our immigrant population (in particular the illegal or clandestine subjects) the frequency of liver disease, its etiology and severity, with particular attention to the viral forms. We retrospectively examined the hospital discharge cards of all immigrant patients admitted to our day-hospital from July 2006 to December 2010. From these it was possible to define the liver diseases presented by evaluating the anamnestic, clinical and laboratory data at our disposal. The sample population consisted of 1218 patients; 112 (72 M, 40 F) (9.2%) had a diagnosis of liver disease. More than half (58.0%) came from Africa, 21.0% from Asia and 21.0% from Eastern Europe. Most patients had an HBV-related liver disease (44.6%), followed by alcohol-related (25%) and HCV/ or cryptogenic disease (both 15.2%). Sixty-six patients underwent liver biopsy, fourteen cases (2 HBV, 6cryptogenic and 6 alcoholic) showed varying degrees of liver steatosis; forty-three cases (31 HBV, 8 HCV and 4 alcoholics) presented a variable severity of chronic liver disease; eight cases (4 HBV, 1 HCV, 3 alcoholics) had a definite picture of liver cirrhosis and there was 1 case of alcoholic hepatitis. Two other cases were not biopsied because of a clinically evident picture of liver cirrhosis. These data show that in the population of illegal immigrants liver disease represents a small proportion (9.2%) and that among its main causes hepatitis B infection is the most frequent, reflecting the epidemiology in the country of origin of these populations. Unfortunately, alcohol consumption is becoming more and more frequent among immigrants, likely related to the socio-cultural isolation suffered by many of them. OC10 IMPORTED ACUTE HEPATITIS OF VIRAL ETIOLOGY IN VICENZA, ITALY M.T. Giordani 1 , L. Lazzarini 1 , C. Stecca 1 , R. Binazzi 2 , E. Brunetti 3 , L. Romanò 4 , P. Fabris 1 1 Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy; 2 Infectious Diseases Unit, Bozen, Italy; 3 Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Pavia, IRCCS S. Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy; 4 Public Health Microbiology Virology Department University of Milan, Italy Introduction: Acute viral hepatitis is one of the most common imported infection in developed countries, but the increase in international travels is changing the etiology of this condition. Aim of the work: To investigate causes of imported viral acute hepatitis in our area. Material and methods: Cases of imported acute viral hepatitis seen at the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department of the San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza, Italy in the last 15 year were searched in our database. Results: From 1995 to 2010, 51 cases of imported acute hepatitis (33 male and 15 female, none pregnant, mean age 36±18 y) were admitted to our department. In 27 cases (52.9%) hepatitis A was diagnosed with positive specific IgM and IgG. The number of cases declined after 2004. (2 case/y in 1995–2004 vs 1.4 case/y in 2005–2010). All patients were tourists. One secondary case was described in a patient’s wife. 18 cases of acute hepatitis E were diagnosed in the same period with positive specific IgM and IgG and HEV-RNA PCR in blood and stools, and genotyping. Four patients had recently immigrated to Italy, 14 patients acquired the infection after travelling to their country of origin in Asia. One secondary case was found in a household contact. The number of cases reported increased slightly since 2004 (1.1 case/y in 1995–2003 vs 1.5 case/y in 2004–2010). Dengue fever was diagnosed in 4 patients, all with ALT elevation (range 127–2071 UI/L, n.v. <31 UI/L for females and <53 UI/L for males): three in Italian travellers and one in an immigrant from Bangladesh. The diagnosis was made with rapid test (ICT) serology (both IgM and IgG, two samples with a two-week interval) and confirmed by PCR. In two international travellers it was impossible to establish the agent of acute hepatitis. but it was presumed to be viral. All patients had a self-limited illness. No significant differences were found in AST, ALT and bilirubin levels, US findings and clinical symptoms. Conclusion: The most relevant differences in imported acute viral hepatitis concern different epidemiology in different groups of international travellers. These differences can be taken into account in counseling and post-travel evaluation. OC11 MIGRANTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C ARE BOTH “DIFFICULT TO MANAGE” AND “DIFFICULT TO TREAT”: RESULTS OF A SINGLE UNIT COHORT STUDY B. Zanini, S. Casella, F. Benini, M.G. Pigozzi, A. Lanzini University and Spedali Civili of Brescia: Unit of Gastroenterology, Brescia, Italy Background: During the last decade many patients with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) migrated in Italy from other countries, especially from high endemic areas. In clinical practice these patients are regarded as “difficult to manage” because of their migration pattern, medical-law issues, language barriers in communication. Aims and methods: In order to assess demographic, clinical and virological features of migrant patients with CHC and to evaluate access, efficacy and adherence to treatment rules of HCV therapy, we identified all clinical charts of migrant HCV+ patients attending our Clinic since 1995. Results: Out of 83 migrants 41 were HCV+ patients. The main features were: M/F ratio 29/12; place of birth Northern Africa in 51%; mean age and BMI 40±10 years and 27±4, respectively. HCV genotype was identified in 35 patients: 9 with 1a/1b, 1 with 2a/2c, 10 with 3a and 15 with 4c/4d. High HCV-RNA level (>400,000 IU/L), F3-F4 or cirrhosis and steatosis was present in 74%, 29% and 16% of the cohort, respectively. A total of 30 treat- ments were offered to 29 patients (1 patient was re-treated after NR). Reasons for exclusion were medical contraindications, refusal of the patient and lost to follow-up in 33%, 17% and 50%, respectively, out of the 12 untreated patients. Three patients are still on treatment; 18 achieved end of treatment response and 9 were non responders. No patient withdrew neither for adverse events nor for spontaneous drop-out. All patients adhered to scheduled visit and to blood-examination schedules and fulfilled physician recommendations. Eleven patients temporarily returned to their place of origin during treatment (range 5–15 weeks). SVR was confirmed in 12 patients (44%); 4 patients were lost to follow-up and 2 relapsed after the end of therapy. Conclusion: Migrant patients with CHC are highly motivated to access treatment and despite their difficult management and several unfavorable characteristics SVR is achieved in 44% of them.