Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Med Econ 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

a Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , 1425 US Route 206 , Bedminster , NJ 07921 , USA.

Objectives: Hepatorenal Syndrome (HRS) is characterized by renal failure in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (CLD) and is the leading cause of hospitalizations in CLD. This study examines the clinical and economic burden, outcomes, and unmet need of HRS treatment in US hospitals.

Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on a large electronic health records database (Cerner HealthFacts) with records for hospitalized HRS patients from January 2009 - June 2015. Read More

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2019 Feb 3. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Background: In young men, high body mass index (BMI) has been linked to liver disease later in life, but it is unclear if this also applies to women.

Aim: To study the association between BMI early in life and development of liver disease later in life in women.

Methods: We obtained data on early pregnancy BMI from 1 139 458 Swedish women between 1992 and 2015. Read More

Dig Dis Sci 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology (UIMH), Department of Medicine - DIMED, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128, Padua, Italy.

Cirrhosis is a serious and life-threatening condition which imposes a significant socioeconomic burden on affected individuals and healthcare systems. Cirrhosis can result in portal hypertension, which may lead to major complications, including acute variceal bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome. Without prompt treatment, these complications may be life-threatening. Read More

Am J Gastroenterol 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of Arkansas School of Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.

Introduction: There is a lack of data on the impact of readmission to the same vs a different hospital following an index hospital discharge in cirrhosis patients.

Methods: We sought to describe rates and predictors of different-hospital readmissions (DHRs) among patients with cirrhosis and also determine the impact on cirrhosis outcomes including all-cause inpatient mortality and hospital costs. Using the national readmissions database, we identified cirrhosis hospitalizations in 2013. Read More

Curr Opin Crit Care 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Critical Care Medicine.

Purpose Of Review: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhosis consists of varying phenotypes, with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) representing a single entity. Prompt recognition and diagnosis of AKI cause identifies appropriate therapeutic measures. This review provides an overview of AKI definitions, highlights challenges in quantifying renal impairment in cirrhosis, lists novel diagnostic AKI biomarkers, and summarizes transplantation implications. Read More

Lancet Oncol 2019 Feb 18;20(2):282-296. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Kindai University, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.

Background: Patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and increased α-fetoprotein concentrations have poor prognosis. We aimed to establish the efficacy of ramucirumab in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and α-fetoprotein concentrations of 400 ng/mL or higher.

Methods: REACH-2 was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial done at 92 hospitals, clinics, and medical centres in 20 countries. Read More

J Pineal Res 2019 Jan 19:e12561. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.

Adipocyte-derived exosomes (Exos) serve as bioinformation-containing messengers in cell-to-cell communications, and numerous reports demonstrate that resistin, an adipokine, is strongly associated with hepatic steatosis and other fatty liver diseases, suggesting that adipose dysfunction-generated altered pattern of exosomal cytokines may contribute to shaping the physiological activities in liver. Admittedly, melatonin-mediated positive effects on various tissues/organs have been respectively reported, but regulatory mechanisms of melatonin on the crosstalk between adipose tissue and liver have been investigated rarely. Overall, we hypothesize that the crosstalk originating from adipose tissue may be another worthy regulatory pathway for melatonin ameliorating of hepatic steatosis. Read More

Dig Dis Sci 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.

Background: The accuracy of diagnosis and clinical implications of the hepatoadrenal syndrome, as currently diagnosed using total cortisol, remain to be validated.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess adrenal function using free cortisol in stable cirrhosis and study the potential implications of any abnormalities for renal and/or cardiac function.

Methods: Sixty-one stable consecutively enrolled patients with cirrhosis underwent assessment of adrenal function using the low-dose short Synacthen test, renal function by Cr-EDTA glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and cardiac function by two-dimensional echocardiography. Read More

Hepatol Int 2019 Jan 18;13(1):1-21. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Pathogen Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.

The Chinese Society of Hepatology developed the current guidelines for the Management of Ascites and Its Related Complications in Cirrhosis based on the published evidences and the panelists' consensus. The guidelines provided recommendations for the diagnosis and management of cirrhotic ascites emphasizing a step-wise approach with the first-, second-, and third-line therapy. For refractory ascites, vasoconstrictors and albumin are recommended for splanchnic vasodilation and selective vasopressin (V2) receptor antagonists for moderate-to-severe hyponatremia. Read More

J Surg Case Rep 2019 Jan 9;2019(1):rjy356. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Human Pathology, Matsunami General Hospital, 185-1, Dendai, Kasamatsu, Hashima-gun, Gifu, Japan.

Madelung's disease (MD) is a rare lipid metabolic disorder of adipose tissue overgrowth, which has been reported to be related to alcohol abuse. Although it does not affect survival itself, alcoholism and metabolic disorders associated with MD can be life-threatening. Although surgical procedures and classifications have been reported, long-term follow-up has rarely been reported. Read More

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2018 Dec;43(12):1337-1344

DDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Changsha 410008, China.

Objective: To explore the prognostic factors for patients with drug-induced liver failure (DILF) and construct a logistic regression model (LRM).
 Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed in 183 hospitalized patients, who were diagnosed with DILF in Xiangya Hospital, the Second Xiangya Hospital and the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2009 to January 2018. The patients were divided into an improved group (n=67) and an ineffective group (n=116) according to their prognosis. Read More

Hepatology 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Hannover Medical School, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.

Impairment of renal function often occurs in patients with liver disease. Hepatorenal syndrome is a significant cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cirrhotic patients (HRS-AKI, type 1). Causes of non-HRS AKI include cholemic nephropathy (CN), a disease that is characterized by intratubular bile casts and tubular injury. Read More

Scand J Gastroenterol 2018 Dec 8;53(12):1590-1596. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

a Department of Critical Care Medicine , Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , PR China.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and devastating complication in patients with cirrhosis. In 2015, the International Club of Ascites (ICA) proposed the definition of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) type of AKI (HRS-AKI) in patients with cirrhosis. This study aims to evaluate the criteria of HRS-AKI in patients with cirrhosis admitted to ICU with regard to the prognosis. Read More

Semin Nephrol 2019 Jan;39(1):17-30

University College London Centre for Nephrology, Division of Medicine, University College London Medical School, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. Electronic address:

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common presentation in patients with advanced cirrhosis hospitalized with acute decompensation. A new revised classification now divides AKI in cirrhotic patients into two broad subgroups: hepatorenal syndrome AKI (HRS AKI) and non-hepatorenal syndrome AKI (non-HRS AKI). HRS AKI represents the end-stage complication of decompensated cirrhosis with severe portal hypertension and is characterized by worsening of renal function in the absence of prerenal azotemia, nephrotoxicity, and intrinsic renal disease. Read More

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Experimental and Clinical Internal Medicine, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and serum cystatin C (sCys C) in liver cirrhosis patients with renal dysfunction and to evaluate their role in the diagnosis of the hepatorenal syndrome (HRS).

Patients And Methods: Forty-five liver cirrhosis patients were enrolled in the study and they were divided into three groups; the first group included 15 patients with normal renal function, the second group included 15 patients with HRS; and the third group included 15 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). There was a fourth group, which included 15 healthy controls. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2019 Jan 2;20:5-9. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

School of Pharmacy, Master Program in Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), which is a type of functional renal impairment, is one of the most serious complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. Terlipressin can induce splanchnic vasoconstriction, which increases the renal blood flow and has beneficial effects on HRS. However, terlipressin administration may cause serious ischemic complications such as skin ischemia, peripheral gangrene, and ischemic bowel necrosis. Read More

Pediatr Transplant 2018 Dec 30:e13339. Epub 2018 Dec 30.

Paediatric Liver, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Centre, King's College Hospital, London, UK.

Objectives: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is an acute decompensation of cirrhosis complicated by other organ failure and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. ACLF has not been studied in children with biliary atresia (BA), which is the commonest indication for pediatric liver transplantation (LT) worldwide. This study aims to evaluate ACLF and outcomes in children with BA while awaiting deceased donor LT. Read More

Liver Int 2018 Dec 29. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona.

Background: Several lines of evidence indicate that decompensated cirrhosis is characterized by the presence of systemic inflammation. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS-AKI) is a unique type of renal failure that occurs at late stages of cirrhosis. However, confirmation of the presence and significance of such inflammatory response in HRS-AKI is lacking. Read More

Ann Hepatol 2018 Dec;18(1):155-164

Institute of Hepatology, the Third People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.

Introduction And Aim: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome with high short-term mortality, and predicting the prognosis is challenging. This study aimed to compare the performance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C (CysC) in predicting the 90-day mortality in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated ACLF (HBV-ACLF).

Materials And Methods: This prospective, observational study enrolled 54 patients with HBV-ACLF. Read More

J Am Coll Surg 2018 Dec 23. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

Department of Surgery, Division of Abdominal Transplantation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

Background: Simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation is lifesaving, however, the utility of allocating 2 organs to a single recipient remains controversial, particularly in the face of potentially inferior survival. This study aims to determine the effect of renal indication for transplantation on simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation outcomes.

Methods: All adult recipients of combined whole liver-kidney transplants in the United Network for Organ Sharing database from 2003 to 2016 with a renal diagnosis of hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), acute tubular necrosis (ATN), or hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) were examined. Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2018 Dec 7;33(52):e335. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious infectious complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, information about prognosis of SBP in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is limited. We investigated the clinical course of SBP in HCC patients. Read More

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Medical Area (DAME).

Objectives: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is adopted to treat refractory complications of portal hypertension, such as variceal bleeding and ascites. This study aimed to assess predictors of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) development and cumulative transplant-free survival after TIPS placement in patients with cirrhosis complicated by refractory ascites and major gastroesophageal bleeding.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-three cirrhotic patients who underwent TIPS positioning as a secondary prophylaxis of major upper gastroesophageal bleeding (N=30) or to control refractory ascites (N=33) were enrolled. Read More

Transpl Int 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Division of gastroenterology and hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Kidney injury is frequently seen in patients with end stage liver disease from cirrhosis and liver failure. Among select patients, simultaneous liver kidney (SLK) transplantation provides improved post-transplant graft and patient outcomes compared to liver transplantation alone. We conducted review of the existing literature on SLK transplant criteria and outcomes. Read More

Ann Ital Chir 2018 Dec 5;7. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

We present a case of a suspect splenic hematoma in an anticoagulated patient with an ignored diabetes mellitus, come to our emergency department. Lab tests showed increased CRP and INR, with an incoming hepatorenal syndrome. During the CT-scan the patient became unstable and the hemoglobin decreased. Read More

Arq Gastroenterol 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):314-320

Hospital Português, Unidade de Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.

Acute kidney injury is a common complication of cirrhosis, occurring in up to 20% of patients hospitalized with cirrhosis. This field is rapidly changing, with significant advances in classification, biomarkers and therapy over the last few years. On the behalf of the Brazilian Society of Hepatology, a panel of experts in Hepatology and Nephrology reviewed published evidence to integrate findings and develop the recommendations presented in this manuscript. Read More

Curr Med Res Opin 2018 Nov 25:1-22. Epub 2018 Nov 25.

a Department of Gastroenterology , General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area , Shenyang , China.

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of liver cirrhosis, which is of pre-renal origin due to central volume depletion together with cardiac dysfunction and characterized by oliguria with severe urinary sodium retention and elevated serum creatinine levels. HRS is divided into HRS I, which is rapidly progressive and mostly seen in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and HRS II, which progresses more slowly and is always accompanied by gross ascites. Liver transplantation is the best choice of treatment for HRS but rarely available. Read More

Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Jan 22;4(1):52-62. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, London, UK.

Background: Liver disease is a major cause of mortality, with high numbers of hospital deaths, and disproportionately affects people younger than 65 years. This study aims to examine the place of death and factors associated with hospital death for people who died from liver disease.

Method: We did a national population-based, observational study using the National Death Registration Database from the Office for National Statistics, 2001-14. Read More

Hepatology 2018 Nov 24. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

"G. Fontana" Centre for the Study and Multidisciplinary Treatment of Alcohol Addiction, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.

Between 14%-30% of the world's population is affected by alcohol use disorder (AUD), and excessive alcohol consumption represents the most common cause of liver disease in the western world. The clinical picture of alcoholic end-stage liver disease is rendered extremely complex, as manifestations such as alcohol withdrawal syndrome, craving and physical dependence, as well as extrahepatic alcohol-related diseases merge with the complications of advanced cirrhosis. This makes AUD recognition and assessment difficult and its management arduous as many drugs commonly used to treat complications such as alcohol withdrawal syndrome are often contraindicated by the presence of hepatic encephalopathy or hepatorenal syndrome. Read More

Clin Liver Dis 2019 Feb 26;23(1):81-98. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Recanati-Miller Transplantation Institute, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1104, New York, NY 10029, USA. Electronic address:

Alcoholic hepatitis is a unique type of alcohol-associated liver disease characterized by acute liver inflammation caused by prolonged heavy alcohol use. Treatment is mostly supportive. The short-term prognosis of acute alcoholic hepatitis depends on liver recovery, and ranges widely from rapid improvement to grim multiorgan failure despite treatment. Read More

Metab Brain Dis 2019 02 15;34(1):213-221. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Gastroenterology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, 252004, China.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a serious complication of liver disease. To establish a model for predicting 3-month mortality in patients with HE in China. This retrospective study included 609 patients with HE admitted to the Peoples' Hospital, Liaocheng City, China (August 2006 to January 2016). Read More

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018 Dec 11;48(11-12):1271-1281. Epub 2018 Nov 11.

Section Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Background: Loss of skeletal muscle mass is a recognised complication with a prognostic impact in patients with cirrhosis.

Aim: To explore in a retrospective analysis which muscle compartment most reliably predicts the occurrence of cirrhosis-associated complications and if there are gender-related differences.

Methods: 795 patients with cirrhosis listed for liver transplantation between 2001 and 2014 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria including an abdominal CT scan (±200). Read More

Hernia 2018 Nov 8. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06351, South Korea.

Purpose: Incisional hernia is a complication following abdominal operation. Patients undergoing liver transplantation have a high risk of developing incisional hernia because of immunosuppression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate incisional hernia after liver transplantation and to identify risk factors for hernia formation in those patients. Read More

Case Rep Nephrol Dial 2018 Sep-Dec;8(3):207-215. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Bile cast nephropathy (BCN) is seen in patients who have acute kidney injury and severe hyperbilirubinemia due to a wide range of hepatobiliary system diseases. Findings seen by renal biopsy include acute tubular injury with necrotic and sloughed epithelial cells, yellow-green pigment within tubular epithelial cells, and pigmented granular casts. Hall's special stain for bile turns these casts green. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2018 Oct;180(43)

This case report presents a 70-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, who was hospitalised due to pulmonary oedema, and who developed acute renal injury. Though the criteria were not fulfilled, hepatorenal syndrome was suspected and treated with terlipressin, after which the patient developed severe penile ischaemia. Hepatorenal syndrome is one of many potential causes of acute kidney injury in patients with acute or chronic liver disease. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Oct 24;8(1):15691. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Endocrine Unit, "Aretaieion" Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Medicine, Athens, Greece.

Children born with IUGR develop features of the metabolic syndrome and exhibit deranged markers of hepatorenal physiology. Metabolic and hepatorenal biochemistry and the rs9939609 FTO polymorphism were investigated in prepubertal children born with IUGR. Ninety-eight prepubertal children (46 IUGR and 52 AGA), subdivided in <5 years and >5 years old groups were included. Read More

Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2018 Oct 23:1-9. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

a Mount Sinai Medical Center, Arkadi M. Rywlin M.D. , Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine , Miami Beach , FL , USA.

Introduction: Inadequate perfusion and abnormal cellular metabolism are among the mechanisms of organ dysfunction in sepsis. Concomitant hepatorenal failure during the late phase of sepsis is poorly understood.

Case Report: The autopsy of a child who developed sepsis-induced hepatorenal failure revealed bile cast nephropathy, hepatic centrilobular necrosis and cholangitis lenta, a type of sepsis-induced cholestasis, with no biliary obstruction, fibrosis or cirrhosis. Read More

Visc Med 2018 Aug 27;34(4):261-268. Epub 2018 Jul 27.

Section Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Introduction: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is associated with a high susceptibility to infections leading to complications and poor prognosis. The sensitized immune system overwhelmingly responds to invading bacteria leading to organ damage. After resolution of infection or prolonged disease duration, the phagocytic system becomes irresponsive with a reduced bacterial clearance capacity promoting secondary infection. Read More

Visc Med 2018 Aug 14;34(4):246-252. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.

Renal failure is a severe complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. It is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Diagnosis is a challenge because it is mainly based on serum creatinine, which does not seem to be an ideal measure of renal function in cirrhosis. Read More

Nat Rev Dis Primers 2018 Oct 15;4(1):33. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

The original version of this article omitted an initial from the name of contributing author Patrick S. Kamath, who was listed as Patrick Kamath. The article has now been corrected. Read More

Am J Gastroenterol 2018 Nov 12;113(11):1629-1638. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Institute of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Objectives: Antiviral treatment modifies the natural history of chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related cirrhosis as reflected by improving Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score over time. We evaluated the impact of on-treatment change of MELD score on clinical outcomes in patients with CHB-related cirrhosis.

Methods: Cirrhotic CHB patients who received entecavir and/or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for at least 6 months in Hong Kong between 2005 and 2016 were identified. Read More

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Oct 11. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.

Background And Aim: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is increasingly common in cirrhotics, but its impact on mortality and outcomes is unclear. Studies evaluating PVT have been limited by small sample size. This study analyzes the trend of the prevalence of PVT and its associated mortality in hospitalized decompensated cirrhotics. Read More

Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2018 28;11:1756284818800307. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.

Background: Cirrhosis-related complications are associated with poor prognosis. With our analyses, we examined the potential benefit of rifaximin in reducing the risk of developing cirrhosis-related complications.

Methods: Adults with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in remission were randomly assigned to receive rifaximin 550 mg twice daily or placebo for 6 months with concomitant lactulose permitted. Read More

Clin Exp Gastroenterol 2018 18;11:317-324. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of Internal Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India,

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of noradrenaline for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS).

Background: HRS represents the development of renal failure in cirrhotic patients. The standard treatment for HRS is terlipressin, which, as opposed to noradrenaline, is more expensive and less accessible in most tertiary care centers. Read More

Scand J Gastroenterol 2018 Sep 29;53(9):1107-1113. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

a Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology , Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.

Objectives: The clinical relevance of spontaneous portosystemic shunts detected by ultrasound is insufficiently investigated. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the frequency and clinical relevance of spontaneous portosystemic shunts in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: We evaluated portosystemic shunts, liver cirrhosis and spleen size by ultrasound in 982 patients with liver cirrhosis and correlated these with laboratory results, clinical data and the incidence of clinical endpoint deaths, liver transplantation and the development of HCC during the follow-up period (mean 1. Read More

Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Oct 1. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

a Service de Néphrologie, Hémodialyse , Aphérèses et Transplantation rénale, Grenoble-Alpes , France.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are the major causes of chronic liver disease. HBV and HCV affect nearly 7% of the world's population. Extra-hepatic complications and particularly renal failure have different mechanisms and manifestations. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2018 Sep;24(35):3980-3999

Department of Pediatrics, King George Medical University, Uttar Pradesh 226003, India.

Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second common malignant liver tumor in children after hepatoblastoma. It differs from the adult HCC in the etiological predisposition, biological behavior and lower frequency of cirrhosis. Perinatally acquired hepatitis-B virus, hepatorenal tyrosinemia, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, glycogen storage disease, Alagille's syndrome and congenital portosystemic shunts are important predisposing factors. Read More

Transfus Apher Sci 2018 Dec 18;57(6):762-767. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart Center, Cebeci Hospitals, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Objective: Apheresis is performed for treatment of numerous diseases by removing auto-antibodies, antigen-antibody complexes, allo-antibodies, paraproteins, non-Ig proteins, toxins, exogenous poisons. In current study, we present our experience of using therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in patients with different types of clinical scenarios.

Methods: Between January 2013 and May 2016, we retrospectively presented the results of 64 patients in whom postoperative TPE was performed in ICU setting after cardiac surgery. Read More

Curr Drug Targets 2019 ;20(4):380-387

Department of Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

Aim: The role of rifaximin in the prevention of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) is not well studied. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the role of rifaximin in the prevention of SBP.

Methods: A computerized literature search for relevant clinical trials was conducted during August 2017. Read More

Liver Int 2019 Jan 8;39(1):98-105. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology (UIMH), Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.

Background & Aims: In patients with cirrhosis, the clinical benefit of the treatment with human albumin for ascites is debated, and no data are available regarding refractory ascites. In this study, in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites, we assessed the effect of long-term albumin administration on emergent hospitalization and mortality.

Methods: Seventy patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites, followed at the Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, University and General Hospital of Padova, Italy, were included into the study. Read More