Portal Vein Thrombosis in COVID-19: An Underdiagnosed Disease?

Multiple studies have linked COVID-19 to a higher incidence of thromboembolic disorders. However, the association of COVID-19 with other potentially life-threatening complications, such as splanchnic vein thrombosis, is less well understood. This study aims to assess the prevalence, patient characteristics, clinical presentation, and outcomes of patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and COVID-19.

Recurrent alcohol-associated hepatitis is common and is associated with increased mortality.

Background And Aims: Alcohol relapse after surviving an episode of alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is common. However, the clinical features, risk factors, and prognostic implications of recurrent alcohol-associated hepatitis (RAH) are not well described.

Approach And Results: A registry-based study was done of patients admitted to 28 Spanish hospitals for an episode of AH between 2014 and 2021.

Bariatric Surgery Is Associated with Alcohol-Related Liver Disease and Psychiatric Disorders Associated with AUD.

Background/aims: Bariatric surgery can increase the risk of addictive disorders and nutritional deficiencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between bariatric surgery and alcohol use disorder (AUD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and psychiatric disorders associated with AUD. The impact of vitamin D deficiency in these associations was also investigated.

Poor Outcomes of Patients With NAFLD and Moderate Renal Dysfunction or Short-Term Dialysis Receiving a Liver Transplant Alone.

The outcomes of patients with moderate renal impairment and the impact of liver disease etiology on renal function recovery after liver transplant alone (LTA) are largely unknown. We explored whether NAFLD patients with pre-LTA moderate renal dysfunction (GFR 25-45 ml/min/1.73 m) may be more susceptible to develop post-LTA severe renal dysfunction (GFR<15 ml/min/1.

Spleen Transient Elastography and Damping Index Identify a Subgroup of Patients Without an Acute or Chronic Response to Beta-Blockers.

Background And Aims: Monitoring of acute or chronic response to beta-blockers in patients with liver cirrhosis is based on the measurement of the HVPG. Our aim was to evaluate the response to beta-blockers with non-invasive techniques.

Patients And Methods: This is a prospective observational study.

A nomogram as an indirect method to identify sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Introduction And Objectives: Sarcopenia is one of the most common complications of cirrhosis, associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. It is therefore necessary to perform a proper nutritional evaluation in these patients. Although CT scans are the gold standard for diagnosing sarcopenia, they are not widely used in clinical practice.

Clinical, histological and molecular profiling of different stages of alcohol-related liver disease.

Objective: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) ranges from never-decompensated ALD (ndALD) to the life-threatening decompensated phenotype, known as alcohol-related hepatitis (AH). A multidimensional study of the clinical, histological and molecular features of these subtypes is lacking.

Design: Two large cohorts of patients were recruited in an international, observational multicentre study: a retrospective cohort of patients with ndALD (n=110) and a prospective cohort of patients with AH (n=225).

Non-malignant portal vein thrombosis in a cohort of cirrhotic patients: Incidence and risk factors.

Aim: Non-malignant portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a complication of liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the annual incidence of PVT and related risk factors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical, laboratory, and radiological data collected prospectively from September 2016 to September 2017.

Adding Branched-Chain Amino Acids to an Enhanced Standard-of-Care Treatment Improves Muscle Mass of Cirrhotic Patients With Sarcopenia: A Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Introduction: The effect of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on muscle mass in patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia is unknown.

Methods: This is a pilot, prospective, randomized, and double-blind study of a cohort of 32 patients with cirrhosis and sarcopenia diagnosed by computed tomography scan who underwent a nutritional and physical activity intervention for 12 weeks. They were divided into 2 groups (placebo: 17 patients; BCAA: 15 patients).

Mild AST elevation as an early sign of COVID-19 severity in a multicenter Madrid cohort.

Introduction: liver enzyme elevation has been reported in SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) in heterogeneous cohorts, mainly from China. Comprehensive reports from other countries are needed. In this study, we dissect the pattern, evolution, and predictive value of such abnormalities in a cohort from Madrid, Spain.

Portal vein thrombosis and renal dysfunction: a national comparative study of liver transplant recipients for NAFLD versus alcoholic cirrhosis.

The prevalence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT), renal dysfunction (RD), and simultaneous PVT/RD in liver transplantation (LT) is poorly understood. We analyzed the prevalence of PVT, RD, simultaneous PVT/RD, and the outcomes of adult recipients of LT for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) between 2006 and 2016 in the United States. We found that the prevalence of PVT (7.

Estimation of visceral fat is useful for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), although obese patients with NAFLD do not always develop significant fibrosis. The distribution of body fat could predict the risk of NAFLD progression.

Aim: To investigate the role of bioelectrical impedance-estimated visceral fat (VF) in assessing NAFLD severity.

Massive impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on gastroenterology and hepatology departments and doctors in Spain.

Background And Aim: Significant human and material resources have been diverted to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Healthcare workers are at high risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gastroenterology and hepatology departments and specialists in Spain.

Elevation of Liver Fibrosis Index FIB-4 Is Associated With Poor Clinical Outcomes in Patients With COVID-19.

Background: COVID-19 is a potentially severe disease caused by the recently described SARS-CoV-2. Whether liver fibrosis might be a relevant player in the natural history of COVID-19 is currently unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between FIB-4 and the risk of progression to critical illness in middle-aged patients with COVID-19.

COVID-19 and the digestive system: protection and management during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

The purpose of this rapid review is to provide an update on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on Gastroenterology and Hepatology departments, our patients, and our new way of working. The gastrointestinal tract and the liver are affected by SARS-CoV-2, especially in patients with immunosuppressive therapies. Patients with liver transplantation should be followed closely.

Visceral fat is associated with cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis.

: Central obesity, due to the accumulation of visceral fat(VF), is one of the main risk factors for venous thrombosis. The aim of this study was to determine if VF may be a risk factor for development of portal vein thrombosis(PVT) in cirrhotic patients.: A total of 214 cirrhotic patients at the outpatient clinic were consecutively included, undergoing an anthropometric evaluation, blood tests and bioimpedance.

Impact of Sustained Viral Response in the Evolution of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy: a Prospective Pilot Study.

Introduction And Aims: To determine the prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to evaluate the impact of sustained viral response (SVR) on MHE.

Material And Methods: We performed a prospective study using MHE screening and follow-up on patients with HCV and LC. The patients were evaluated at the beginning of treatment and 24 weeks after treatment.

Impact of sustained viral response in the evolution of minimal hepatic encephalopathy: A prospective pilot study.

Introduction And Aims: To determine the prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy(MHE) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to evaluate the impact of sustained viral response (SVR) on MHE.

Materials And Methods: We performed a prospective study using MHE screening and follow-up on patients with HCV and LC. The patients were evaluated at the beginning of treatment and 24 weeks after treatment.

Colder Weather and Fewer Sunlight Hours Increase Alcohol Consumption and Alcoholic Cirrhosis Worldwide.

Risk of alcoholic cirrhosis is determined by genetic and environmental factors. We aimed to investigate if climate has a causal effect on alcohol consumption and its weight on alcoholic cirrhosis. We collected extensive data from 193 sovereign countries as well as 50 states and 3,144 counties in the United States.

Hepatitis C virus plays with fire and yet avoids getting burned. A review for clinicians on processing bodies and stress granules.

Over the last few years, many reports have defined several types of RNA cell granules composed of proteins and messenger RNA (mRNA) that regulate gene expression on a post-transcriptional level. Processing bodies (P-bodies) and stress granules (SGs) are among the best-known RNA granules, only detectable when they accumulate into very dynamic cytosolic foci. Recently, a tight association has been found between positive-stranded RNA viruses, including hepatitis C virus (HCV), and these granules.

Permissiveness of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines for hepatitis C virus entry and replication.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a globally prevalent pathogen and is associated with high death rates and morbidity. Since its discovery in 1989, HCV research has been impeded by the lack of a robust infectious cell culture system and thus in vitro studies on diverse genetic backgrounds are hampered because of the limited number of hepatoma cell lines which are able to support different aspects of the HCV life cycle. In the current study, we sought to expand the limited number of permissive cells capable of supporting the diverse phases of the HCV life cycle.

Validation of noninvasive methods to predict the presence of gastroesophageal varices in a cohort of patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease.

Background And Aim: The aim was to validate noninvasive methods to predict the presence of gastroesophageal varices (GEV) in patients with suspected compensated advanced chronic liver disease.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and radiological data collected prospectively between September 2013 and September 2015. We reviewed 442 consecutive patients with suspected compensated advanced chronic liver disease measured by transient elastography (TE) and a gastroscopy.

Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with cirrhosis and predictive value of model for end-stage liver disease: Analysis of data from the Hepa-C registry.

Unlabelled: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are highly effective and well tolerated in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, including those with compensated cirrhosis. However, fewer data are available in patients with more advanced liver disease. Our retrospective, noninterventional, national, multicenter study in patients from the Spanish Hepa-C registry investigated the effectiveness and safety of interferon-free DAA regimens in patients with advanced liver disease, including those with decompensated cirrhosis, in routine practice (all currently approved regimens were registered).