Journal of hepatology
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Journal of hepatology · Aug 2013
ReviewEstablished and new-generation antithrombotic drugs in patients with cirrhosis - possibilities and caveats.
Until recently, it was widely accepted that patients with cirrhosis have a bleeding tendency related to the changes in the hemostatic system that occur as a consequence of the disease. However, it has now been well established that patients with cirrhosis are at risk for both bleeding and thrombotic complications. These thrombotic complications include portal vein thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and coronary or cerebrovascular infarctions. ⋯ In this review, we will outline the indications for antithrombotic treatment in patients with cirrhosis. Furthermore, we will discuss the available antithrombotic drugs and indicate possible applications, advantages, and caveats. Since for many of these drugs very little experience in patients with cirrhosis exists, these data are essential in the design of future clinical and laboratory studies on mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of the various antithrombotic strategies in these patients.
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Journal of hepatology · Aug 2013
The diagnostic accuracy of Fibroscan for cirrhosis is influenced by liver morphometry in HCV patients with a sustained virological response.
Transient elastography (TE) is a validated non-invasive tool to evaluate hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Whether TE may sense changes of liver fibrosis following therapeutic HCV eradication has never been evaluated. ⋯ Following therapeutic eradication of HCV, the predictive power of the viremic cut-off of 12 kPa was low as a consequence of liver remodelling and fibrosis reabsorption. LB still remains the only reliable approach to stage liver fibrosis following an SVR.
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Journal of hepatology · Aug 2013
Observational StudySleep duration and quality in relation to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in middle-aged workers and their spouses.
Although accumulated evidence implies that short sleep duration and poor sleep quality may lead to an altered metabolic milieu, potentially triggering the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), no studies have explored this association. This study sought to examine whether short sleep duration or poor sleep quality is associated with NAFLD in the general population. ⋯ In the middle-aged, general population, short sleep duration, and poor sleep quality were significantly associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. Prospective studies are required to confirm this association.
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Journal of hepatology · Jul 2013
Lessons from look-back in acute liver failure? A single centre experience of 3300 patients.
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rapidly progressive critical illness with high mortality. Complex intensive care unit (ICU) protocols and emergency liver transplantation (ELT) are now often available, but rarity and severity of illness have limited its study and evidence-base for care. We reviewed patients treated over a 35-year period at a specialist high-volume ICU, quantifying changes in disease aetiology, severity and evolution of ICU support and ELT use and outcome. ⋯ The nature and outcome of ALF have transformed over 35 years, with major improvements in survival and a fall in prevalence of cerebral oedema and ICH, likely consequent upon earlier illness recognition, improved ICU care, and use of ELT.
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Journal of hepatology · Jul 2013
Multicenter StudyA phase 2a trial of 12-week interferon-free therapy with two direct-acting antivirals (ABT-450/r, ABT-072) and ribavirin in IL28B C/C patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1.
ABT-450 (combined with low-dose ritonavir, ABT-450/r) is a potent HCV NS3 protease inhibitor, and ABT-072 is a non-nucleoside NS5B polymerase inhibitor. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the peginterferon-free combination of ABT-450/r and ABT-072 with ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients with IL28B CC genotype, infected with HCV genotype 1. ⋯ A 12-week regimen of ABT-450/r and ABT-072 with ribavirin was well tolerated with 9/11 patients achieving sustained virologic response through 36 weeks of post-treatment observation. These findings suggest that peginterferon-free regimens may have the potential to cure a high proportion of HCV genotype 1-infected patients.