Publications by authors named "Abbey Barnard-Giustini"

Background And Aims: Recently proposed "Rule-of-Five" criteria define compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) using liver stiffness (LS) and platelet count. We aimed to validate these criteria by determining whether they are associated with risk of adverse outcomes.

Approach And Results: Patients without prior hepatic decompensation or HCC who underwent LS and platelet measurements (n = 17,076) were categorized as follows: no cACLD (LS: 2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The controlled attenuated parameter (CAP) score derived from vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE, i.e., FibroScan) is a well-validated marker of hepatic steatosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Homeopathic remedies made primarily from eggshells, and therefore calcium, can be marketed for treatment of back pain and vaginal discharge. We present a case of a 23-year-old otherwise healthy woman who presented with acute liver failure (ALF) ultimately requiring liver transplantation as a result of taking increased doses of a homeopathic product with the primary ingredient of eggshells. Although relatively uncommon compared with medications such as acetaminophen, herbal supplements have been reported to cause drug-induced liver injury (DILI), thought to be primarily due to contaminants.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Elective TIPS placement can worsen cognitive issues in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) by allowing toxins to enter the bloodstream.
  • A study of 22 cirrhosis patients showed that existing intrahepatic shunts may predict the severity of HE after TIPS.
  • Post-TIPS changes in bile acid levels and certain chemicals in the blood are linked to HE severity, suggesting that these metabolomic changes could affect HE development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence and mortality continue to rise worldwide. Society guidelines recommend HCC screening for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or cirrhosis. Unfortunately, HCC screening rates remain relatively low, and the performance characteristics of current screening modalities are suboptimal.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication of advanced liver disease causing brain dysfunction. This is likely due to the accumulation of unfiltered toxins within the bloodstream. A known risk factor for developing or worsening HE is the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), which connects the pre-hepatic and post-hepatic circulation allowing some blood to bypass the dysfunctional liver and decreases portal hypertension.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF