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Top liver studies presented at ACG

Healio.com/Hepatology compiled a list of the latest, most relevant research on hepatitis C virus infection, liver transplantation and other liver disease topics presented at ACG 2015 in Honolulu.

Acute kidney injury common among patients with ALD hospitalized for ACLF

HONOLULU — In a liver plenary session, Sujan Ravi, MD, MPH, clinical assistant professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, presented clinical data that found acute kidney injury to be common among patients with alcoholic liver disease hospitalized for acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Sujan Ravi

“AKI frequently occurs among ALD patients hospitalized for ACLF [and] development of AKI is associated with higher morbidity, mortality and use of hospital resources,” Ravi said. Read more

VIDEO: Paul Y. Kwo, MD, speaks to HBV as a curable disease

HONOLULU — In this exclusive video interview, Paul Y. Kwo, MD, professor of medicine and director of liver transplantation at Indiana University, and HCV Next Editorial Board member, discusses current therapies for hepatitis B virus infection and whether it will ever be a curable disease.

“Over time, hopefully we can transition from viral suppression to true functional cure, meaning clearing of surface antigen and antibody,” Kwo said. “I still think we will have to follow these individuals closely, but the more we are able to improve the outcomes for hepatitis B patients, the more likely we will be able to make this a rare disease.” Watch video

Diabetes, metabolic syndrome increase risk for HCC

HONOLULU — Researchers from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center found that diabetes and metabolic syndrome were independent risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Allison Kasmari

“HCV represented the largest risk factor associated with a single risk factor for HCC,” Allison Kasmari, MD, said during her presentation. “Diabetes and hypertension represented individual increased risk for HCC.” Read more

Repeat diagnostic paracentesis may improve ascites in SBP

HONOLULU — Researchers found that patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis who underwent repeat diagnostic paracentesis showed improvement in ascites absolute neutrophil count.

“Twenty-five percent of SBP patients with repeat diagnostic paracentesis had improvement of ANC, but still remained at more than 250 mm,” Badar Muneer, MD, fellow, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, said, during his presentation. “For such patients, completing their originally prescribed antibiotic course resulted in encouraging outcomes with 100% index hospital survival.” Read more

VIDEO: Sovaldi-based regimens show promise for HCV with ESRD

HONOLULU — In an exclusive video, Naim Alkhouri, MD, staff physician and medical director of the Metabolic Liver Disease Clinic, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, discusses results of a pilot study that investigated the safety and efficacy of Sovaldi-based regimens in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and end-stage renal disease.

“We have shown in this small pilot study that sofosbuvir-based regimens can be utilized in this patient population with high efficacy and no significant side effects,” Alkhouri said. Watch video

LT recipients with primary sclerosing cholangitis commonly develop de novo IBD

HONOLULU — Developing de novo inflammatory bowel disease post-transplant was common among patients who underwent liver transplant for primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Mohamad A. Mouchli

“Transplant-related immunosuppression may modify the risk of de novo IBD,” Mohamad A. Mouchli, MD, associate consultant at the Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, said during his presentation. “[We should] consider de novo IBD in patients with PSC undergoing LT as a cause for diarrhea after ruling out other factors like infection and medication-induced diarrhea.” Read more

Researchers find possible link between marijuana, HCV

HONOLULU — Any use of marijuana was found to be associated with a positive hepatitis C antibody serum test, according to a poster presentation.

Akeem O. Adebogun

“The apparent association seen between marijuana use and a positive hepatitis C status in the univariate analysis is driven by the use of other drugs, as that association disappears in the multivariate analysis while adjusting for the use of other drugs,” Akeem O. Adebogun, MD, MPH, of Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC, told Healio Gastroenterology. “This is consistent with marijuana being a gateway drug.” Read more

Cesarean section, formula feeding do not reduce HBV transmission

HONOLULU — Researchers found that birth via cesarean section and formula feeding did not reduce infection transmission among mothers with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and their infants.

“With the current recommendations … C-section and formula feeding do not reduce mode of transmission risk,” Rasham Mittal, MD, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, said during his presentation. Read more