Safety and efficacy of pharmacologic weight loss in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Obesity poses unique risks in patients with advanced liver fibrosis; however, given surgical risks of bariatric surgery in cirrhosis treatment recommendations are currently limited to lifestyle interventions. This study seeks to inform a potential treatment gap by describing the safety and efficacy of pharmacologic weight loss in patients with advanced liver disease.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of the electronic medical record was conducted for all patients in the Scripps Health system from 2005 to 2017 with established advanced liver fibrosis that were prescribed medications associated with weight loss.

A Practical Review of Cytomegalovirus in Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous virus with a wide spectrum of pathology in humans. Host immunity is a major determinant of the clinical manifestation of CMV and can vary widely in the gastroenterology and hepatology practice setting. Immunocompetent patients generally develop a benign, self-limited mononucleosis-like syndrome whereas gastrointestinal tissue-invasive disease is more frequently seen in immunocompromised and inflammatory bowel disease patients.