Current trends in access to treatment for hepatitis B in immigrants vs non-immigrants.

Background: Universal vaccination for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and migratory movements have changed the demographic characteristics of this disease in Spain and in Europe. Therefore, we evaluated the characteristics of the disease and the possible differences according to origin (immigrants vs non-immigrants) and access to treatment.

Methods: This is a multicenter cross-sectional study (June 2014 to May 2015) in which outpatients with a positive HBsAg were seen and followed in four Hepatology units.

Correction: Impact of treatment with direct-acting antivirals on anxiety and depression in chronic hepatitis C.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Salivary Cortisol Determination in ACTH Stimulation Test to Diagnose Adrenal Insufficiency in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Purpose: The prevalence of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis is unknown. Because these patients have lower levels of cortisol-binding carrier proteins, their total serum cortisol (TSC) correlates poorly with free serum cortisol (FC). Salivary cortisol (SaC) correlates better with FC.

Impact of treatment with direct-acting antivirals on anxiety and depression in chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aim: Treatment of hepatitis C with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) has few side effects. Although pivotal studies suggested that DAA were safe in patients with psychiatric diseases who could not be treated with previous antiviral therapies, their effects on anxiety and depression have not yet been analysed in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to analyse anxiety and depression in the setting of DAA treatment in a clinical practice series.

Utility of histology for the diagnosis of portal hypertensive gastroenteropathy. Concordance between the endoscopic image and gastrointestinal biopsies. Role of the CD34 marker.

Introduction: Upper gastroscopy in patients with cirrhosis often reveals non-specific lesions, which are usually oriented as portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). However, the diagnosis of PHG can be difficult, both from an endoscopic and histological point of view. The study of CD34 expression, which enhances the endothelial cells of the microvasculature, could help the differential diagnosis.

Analysis of predictive response scores to treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with primary biliary cholangitis.

Background And Objectives: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease that affects the small bile ducts. The only treatments currently approved in our country are ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and obeticholic acid. Different indices evaluate the response after one year of treatment.

Analysis of survival and prognostic factors in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in Spanish patients with drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization.

Background And Aim: Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) improves the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intermediate stage [i.e. Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer-B (BCLC-B)].

Inter and intra-observer concordance for the diagnosis of portal hypertension gastropathy.

Introduction: At present there is no fully accepted endoscopic classification for the assessment of the severity of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). Few studies have evaluated inter and intra-observer concordance or the degree of concordance between different endoscopic classifications.

Objectives: To evaluate inter and intra-observer agreement for the presence of portal hypertensive gastropathy and enteropathy using different endoscopic classifications.

Prognostic factors of liver cirrhosis mortality after a first episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. A multicenter study.

Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is an infectious complication with a negative impact on survival of patients with cirrhosis.

Objective: To analyze the short- and long-term survival after a first episode of bacterial peritonitis and the associated prognostic factors.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter study of patients admitted to hospital for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis between 2008 and 2013.

Effects of a multidisciplinary approach on the effectiveness of antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Unlabelled:  Background. Despite the introduction of direct antiviral agents, pegylated interferon remains the mainstay of treatment for chronic hepatitis C. However, pegylated interferon is associated with a high rate of severe adverse events and decreased quality of life.

Recurrent drug-induced liver injury (DILI) with ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic.

Ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic are two widely used antibiotics due to their high efficacy and few side effects. While the percentage of hepatotoxicity of these antibiotics is low, their frequent use has led to a progressive increase in the number of cases. Both antibiotics have been associated with a wide variety of hepatotoxic reactions, from a slight rise of transaminases to fulminant hepatitis.

[Isolation of Candida spp. from ascites in cirrhotic patients].

The isolation of Candida spp. in ascites of cirrhotic patients is an uncommon situation in clinical practice. Factors that have been associated with increased susceptibility to primary fungal peritonitis are exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics and immunosuppression, a typical situation of these patients.

Usefulness of indirect noninvasive methods in predicting progression to cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aims: The ability of noninvasive methods to predict the development of cirrhosis has not been established. We evaluated the ability of three noninvasive methods [the Forns index, the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and the Non-Invasive Hepatitis-C-related Cirrhosis Early Detection (NIHCED) score] to determine the risk of developing cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: Consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C who had undergone liver biopsy between 1998 and 2004 were eligible.

Safety and efficacy of treatment with pegylated interferon alpha-2a with ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C genotype 4.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype is an important predictive outcome parameter for pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy. Most published therapeutic trials to date have enrolled mainly patients with HCV genotypes 1, 2 and 3. Limited studies have focused on genotype 4 patients, who have had a poor representation in pivotal trials.

[Rizatriptan-induced liver toxicity. Report of a case].

Triptans are a class of drugs with proven efficacy in the acute treatment of migraine headache. The first component of these drugs was sumatriptan, with various derivatives subsequently emerging. Until now, there has only been one reported case of liver toxicity with zolmitriptan.

Factors related to survival in hepatocellular carcinoma in the geographic area of Sabadell (Catalonia, Spain).

Background: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very frequent tumor. Screening for the disease is effective, but the prognostic factors are difficult to evaluate.

Objectives: 1.

[Long survival after resection of cranial metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma. Case report and review of the literature].

The life expectancy of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased in the last few years due to recent treatment advances. However, extrahepatic metastases from tumors, previously described only occasionally, are becoming more frequent in clinical practice. The choice between an active or passive approach to these metastatic lesions can sometimes present clinicians with a difficult dilemma.

[Spontaneous visits to the emergency service and hepatology day hospital by patients with liver cirrhosis].

Introduction: Because of the current overload of emergency services, new units, such as day units, have had to be created. Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a chronic disease with frequent decompensations requiring medical attention. The aim of this study was to compare differences between emergency consultations in a hepatology day hospital (HDH) and in an emergency service (ES) among patients with LC.

[Results of pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in clinical practice: a 5-year experience].

Introduction: Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin but little is known about the results obtained in clinical practice.

Objective: To evaluate treatment response and factors influencing the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in clinical practice.

Material And Methods: Between August 2001 and December 2005, we treated 219 patients with pegylated interferon (alpha 2a -fixed dose, or alpha 2b, according to weight) and ribavirin.

Incidence, prevalence and clinical course of primary biliary cirrhosis in a Spanish community.

Background And Aims: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterized by the autoimmune inflammatory response of small intrahepatic bile ducts. Prevalence in Spain is estimated as 61.9 cases per million inhabitants, whereas Northern Europe rates over 200 cases/million.

[Induction therapy with interferon alfa-2a in compensated hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. Randomized, multicenter study].

Background: Although standard dose interferon (IFN) is successful in only 5% of patients with compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis, it has been suggested that this therapy might decrease the risk of complications or the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on HCV kinetics, daily IFN may improve response rates.

Patients And Method: Forty cirrhotic patients were randomised to receive (Group I: 19) or not (Group II: 21) treatment with IFN (4.