Redefining fatty liver disease: an international patient perspective.

Despite its increased recognition as a major health threat, fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction remains largely underdiagnosed and undertreated. An international consensus panel has called for the disease to be renamed from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and has suggested how the disease should be diagnosed. This Viewpoint explores the call from the perspective of patient advocacy groups.

Hepatitis B surface antigen loss after discontinuing nucleos(t)ide analogue for treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients is persistent in White patients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the long-term clinical outcome and persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss after discontinuation of treatment.

Background: The prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) who discontinue treatment after loss of HBsAg remains largely unknown, particularly in White patients.

Patients And Methods: We analysed a cohort of patients with CHB who discontinued NA treatment after loss of HBsAg.

Identifying Improved and Non-improved Aspects of Health-related Quality of Life After Liver Transplantation Based on the Assessment of the Specific Questionnaire Liver Disease Quality of Life.

Introduction: The specific questionnaire Liver Disease Quality of Life (LDQOL) is a valid tool for measuring quality of life (QOL) and has been used to show that liver transplantation (LT), which is an effective treatment for end-stage liver disease, may improve QOL.

Objectives: This study aims to identify aspects of QOL that improve after LT and those that do not.

Patients And Methods: Patients accepted for LT were invited to answer the LDQOL at baseline and after transplantation at 6 and 12 months.

Randomized clinical trial comparing high versus standard dose of ribavirin plus peginterferon alfa-2a in hepatitis C genotype 3 and high viral load. Dargen-3 study.

Introduction: Less than half of patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 (G3) and high viral load (HVL) without a rapid virological response (RVR) achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) when treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin (RBV).

Objectives: To assess the impact of high doses of RBV on SVR in patients with G3 and HVL.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients were randomized to receive peginterferon α-2a+RBV 800 mg/day (A; n=42) or peginterferon α-2a+RBV 1600 mg/day+epoetin β 400 IU/kg/week SC (B; n=55).

Effectiveness and safety of everolimus in the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis related to anti-hepatitis C virus therapy after liver transplant: three case reports.

Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation is indicated in selected cases. During the combined treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, some patients develop immune-mediated liver dysfunction similar to the previously described "de novo" autoimmune hepatitis. Herein we have presented three liver transplant patients who during or after combined antiviral treatment were diagnosed as autoimmune hepatitis related to interferon based on their clinical, biochemical, and liver histology features.

Everolimus in clinical practice in long-term liver transplantation: an observational study.

Introduction: Everolimus, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, has been used in acute and chronic treatment of kidney and heart transplants. There is scarce information regarding its use in liver transplant recipients, although everolimus may be a useful alternative for selected cases.

Objective: The objective of this study was to study the clinical, biochemical, and pathological features of patients to whom everolimus was added based upon defined clinical profiles.

Assessing outcomes in liver disease patients: reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Liver Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (LDQOL 1.0).

Objective: To assess the reliability and validity of a Spanish version of the LDQOL 1.0 (Liver Disease Quality of Life questionnaire).

Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study in Spanish patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT).

Health-related Quality of Life before and after a solid organ transplantation (kidney, liver, and lung) of four Catalonia hospitals.

Introduction And Aims: It has been described that patients who receive a transplant display a better Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Our objective was to describe the HRQoL before and after a solid organ transplantation, comparing results among various transplantations.

Methods: This HRQoL study using the SF-36 was implemented before as well as at 3 and 12 months posttransplantation.

Impact of health related quality of life in Catalonia liver transplant patients.

Objective: Our aim was to study the changes in the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) during the first year following liver transplantation.

Materials And Methods: Among 159 patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) who were prospectively studied at 4 hospitals in Catalonia, 108 actually obtained an organ. HRQoL over time, namely, before, as well as at 3 and 12 months after transplantation, was recorded using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Liver Disease Quality of Life (LDQOL 1.

Perceived state of health is worse in kidney recipients younger than 60 years vs older than 60 years.

Objective: To evaluate the differences in perceived state of health (PSH) according to patient age younger or older than 60 years.

Patients And Methods: One hundred sixty-two patients were entered on the waiting list for renal transplantation from July 2003 at 4 hospitals in California and were observed prospectively for 2 years. Data were obtained at baseline and at 3 and 12 months after transplantation.

[Adefovir dipivoxil compassionate use program in Spain: efficacy and resistance analysis].

Background And Objective: The extended treatment with lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B is associated with the emergence of resistances. Patients with resistance to lamivudine show a loss of biochemical and virological responses and a higher progression of their liver disease. Adefovir dipivoxil, an analogue of the nucleotides, is effective for the treatment of patients with resistance to lamivudine.

Gastrointestinal complications in liver transplant recipients: MITOS study.

Introduction: Liver transplant recipients frequently suffer gastrointestinal (GI) complications but their prevalence and their influence on quality of life remain unknown.

Objective: The objective of this study was to asses the prevalence, impact on quality of life, and management of GI complications in liver transplant recipients.

Patients And Methods: This was an epidemiologic, cross-sectional, multicenter study.

Treatment of chronic he1patitis C genotype 1 with peginterferon-alpha2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin under routine clinical practice in Spain: early prediction of sustained virological response rate.

Background: Sustained virological response rates of up to 52% have been obtained with peginterferon alpha2a (40 kDa) plus ribavirin in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 in randomized-controlled trials.

Aim: To assess early virological response and its clinical utility in predicting an sustained virological response in patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 in routine clinical practice in Spain.

Methods: Treatment-naïve patients received pegylated interferon alpha2a (40 kDa) 180 microg/week plus ribavirin 1000/1200 mg/day for 48 weeks, and were followed for a further 24 weeks.

Cofactors associated with liver disease mortality in an HBsAg-positive Mediterranean cohort: 20 years of follow-up.

The risk of developing liver cancer in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers differs across geographical areas, suggesting that exposure to other risk factors may contribute to HBV-linked cancer risk. Our study estimates the mortality due to liver disease and the role of other risk factors in a Spanish HBV cohort. 2,352 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and 15,504 HBsAg-negative subjects were identified among blood donors during 1972-1985 and were followed until December 2000 through the Mortality Registry.

Study on the efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil treatment in post-liver transplant patients with hepatitis B virus infection and lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence and de novo HBV infection are frequent events in liver transplantation recipients. Treatment with lamivudine is initially efficient in both infections but the incidence of lamivudine-resistant HBV emergence increases over time. Adefovir appears to be promising in post-liver transplantation patients with recurrent HBV infection and lamivudine-resistant HBV.

Clinical and virological effects during two years of ongoing adefovir dipivoxil in the treatment of lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B infection.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding adefovir to lamivudine therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients resistant to Ramivudine.

Patients And Methods: Among 17 studied patients, 7 had chronic active HBV infection and 10 were posttransplant with HBV infection (9 with de novo HBV). They received lamivudine plus adefovir therapy for 2 years.

Validation of the Spanish version of the Liver Disease Quality of Life questionnaire in transplant patients.

Objective: Our aim was to validate Spanish and Catalan versions of the Liver Disease Quality of Life questionnaire (LDQOL) for use in liver transplant patients.

Methods: The LDQOL consists of the SF-36 generic measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and 12 disease-specific dimensions for liver disease patients. The Spanish and Catalan versions of the questionnaire were administered to 138 patients with a liver transplant.

Applicability of liver transplantation in Catalonia at the end of the millennium. A prospective study of adult patient selection for liver transplantation.

We prospectively studied the global applicability of liver transplantation in Catalonia, a region with a high rate of organ donation. We followed 232 adult patients assessed as possible candidates for liver transplantation over 12 months in the three hospitals that perform the procedure in this region. The liver disease leading to patient assessment was cirrhosis in most cases, alone (159 patients) or associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (57 patients).

[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.