Cirrhosis/Liver Failure News

Molecular adsorbent recirculating system therapy, or MARS, successfully replaced hepatic function in patients with acute liver failure, which may provide support during recovery or prior to transplantation.

Researchers observed a substantial reduction in in-hospital mortality among patients with cirrhosis during the last 10 years; however, it appears the mortality risk has shifted to the 30-day post-discharge period, possibly due to shorter hospital stays.

Hair ethyl glucuronide levels accurately estimated chronic excessive alcohol use in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, according to recently published data.

Samsca, also known as tolvaptan, was safe when combined with conventional diuretics and presented promising results in treating patients with difficult-to-treat cirrhotic ascites, according to results of a recent prospective study. Blood urea nitrogen was a favorable marker for selecting patients most likely to respond to treatment.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction tactics and supportive group therapy decreased rates of depression and improved sleep quality among patients with cirrhosis and their caregivers, according to a recently published study.

As research continues regarding health-related behavioral risks and their association with liver disease and mortality, recent reports have focused on alcohol consumption and abuse, including the importance of addiction therapy and abstinence for alcoholic hepatitis.

Alcohol use disorders, 12-month alcohol use and high-risk drinking is increasing in almost every population group in the United States, according to research recently published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Patients with cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis who received anticoagulant therapy had increased recanalization, reduced progression of thrombosis and a lower incidence of variceal bleeding compared with patients who did not receive anticoagulants, according to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis.

Liver cirrhosis is a risk factor for direct-acting antiviral therapy failure in patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus and HIV, according to researchers.

Sustained virologic response correlated with reduced hepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with HCV-associated cirrhosis, according to a recently published study. However, clinically significant portal hypertension continued to persist in most patients.