Top 10 Hepatology stories of 2015

Numerous developments were made in the field of Hepatology this year, as well as new, groundbreaking data on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis and liver transplantation, presented at the biggest Hepatology conferences. Using web analytics, social media and expert opinion, Healio.com/Hepatology has compiled a list of the most read research and news in hepatology presented during the past year.

Kuvan fails to improve portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis

“Sapropterin, at the used dose, did not reduce portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis,” the researchers wrote. Read more

Proton beam therapy improves OS in patients with ICC

“We were able to successfully demonstrate a 2-year actuarial local control exceeding our intended goal of 80%,” Theodore S. Hong, MD, told Healio.com/Hepatology. Read more

Practice guidelines released for treating primary sclerosing cholangitis

Key points of the 24 suggested recommendations include: how to diagnose a patient; should ursodeoxycholic acid be used as a treatment; endoscopic management and how to treat patients who need a liver transplant or have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); and general management. Read more

LEAN trial: Victoza effective in resolving NASH

“We feel the GLP-1 analog, liraglutide, gives you the whole package potentially of improving your liver disease while improving your cardiovascular risk at the same time,” Matthew J. Armstrong, BSc, MBChB, MRCP, said during a presentation at the International Liver Meeting in Vienna. Read more

Matthew J. Armstrong

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Celiac disease increases risk of NAFLD

In study data published in the Journal of Hepatology, patients with celiac disease had an increased risk for developing NAFLD vs. the general population. Read more

Diabetes, metabolic syndrome increase risk for HCC

HONOLULU — Allison Kasmari, MD, and colleagues from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center found that diabetes and metabolic syndrome were independent risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, according to data presented during a plenary session at ACG 2015. Read more

Screening patients with type 2 diabetes may prevent liver-related diseases

Rohit Loomba, MD, MHSc, and colleagues found that among a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes, NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were common, suggesting that noninvasive screening among patients with diabetes should be considered in a primary care setting to avoid liver-related complications. Read more

Rohit Loomba, MD, MHSc

Elevated aminotransferases common in US

“This study indicates that NAFLD is on a rise and true prevalence of NAFLD may be even higher, as it can also present without elevated liver enzymes,” Dhruv Mehta, MD, told Healio.com/Hepatology about his recent research presented at ACG 2015. Read more

FDA, SillaJen agree to begin phase 3 liver cancer trial

The primary objective of the trial is to determine the overall survival benefit for patients receiving Pexa-Vec (SillaJen) followed by Nexavar (sorafenib, Bayer Healthcare), compared with sorafenib alone in patients with advanced liver cancer, according to a press release. Read more

GS-4774 for HBV fails to meet primary endpoint in phase 2 trial

Results from a phase 2 trial of GS-4774 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection showed that patients treated with the highest dose of the drug, in addition to ongoing oral antiviral therapy, failed to meet the study’s primary endpoint through no reduction in hepatitis B surface antigen after 24 weeks of therapy, according to a press release from the manufacturer. Read more