Social Impact of Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a medical condition that stems from liver dysfunction, leading to the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream. This can result in cognitive impairments, mood changes, and motor dysfunction. Its social impact includes challenges in employment, relationships, and daily functioning for affected individuals.

Barriers for Liver Transplant in Patients with Alcohol-Related Hepatitis.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) for alcohol-related liver disease has historically been reserved for patients who have been six months abstinent. Given the increasing incidence of alcohol-related hepatitis (AH) and dismal survival in patients who fail medical therapy, transplant centers are extending their acceptance criteria for patients with less than 6 months of sobriety. We sought to determine the barriers for listing.

Long-term outcomes with oral therapy in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B.

Background: The long-term impact of oral hepatitis B antiviral therapy in liver transplant (LT) recipients is currently underexplored. The objective of this study was to evaluate how oral antiviral agents impact long-term renal function in this population.

Methods: We studied 79 patients who received a LT for hepatitis B and were placed on all-oral antiviral therapy after withdrawing from hepatitis B immune globulin therapy at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Elimination of Hepatitis C in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Recurrent hepatitis C (HCV) disease in liver transplant (LT) recipients is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. With the availability of noninterferon-based therapy, eliminating HCV may be achievable in LT recipients. We studied all consecutive recipients who underwent LT at the University of California Los Angeles between January 2005 and June 2017.

Hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection in the era of direct-acting antiviral agents: No longer a difficult-to-treat population.

Unlabelled: The treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) in human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV)-infected individuals has been historically marked by low sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in comparison to those without HIV infection, resulting in the Food and Drug Administration labeling those coinfected as a "special population with an unmet medical need." We systematically reviewed the treatment of chronic HCV infection in those infected with HIV. We propose that with the advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents, patients coinfected with HCV and HIV have similar SVR rates as HCV-monoinfected persons and that DAAs address an unmet medical need in this population.

Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence in Egyptian Americans in Southern California.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global medical health concern. Egypt has the highest HCV prevalence. Few studies have assessed the HCV prevalence rates among Egyptian-born expatriates.

Bariatric Surgery and Liver Transplantation.

Obesity is an important public health and medical concern in the United States. The rate of obesity has steadily risen for the past several decades. Obesity is associated with the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation.

Timing of Hepatitis C Antiviral Therapy in Liver Transplant Recipients With Direct-acting Agents.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is a substantial health care burden worldwide and is the leading cause of liver transplant in adults. In patients with detectable hepatitis C virus RNA at the time of transplant, interferon-based therapies for hepatitis C virus were poorly tolerated with low virologic response rates. Although reinfection after transplant is inevitable, the recent advent of direct-acting antiviral agents has revolutionized treatment of hepatitis C virus in the pre- and posttransplant settings.

Probiotics are helpful in hepatic encephalopathy: a meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major complication of cirrhosis and is associated with decreased survival and increased health care utilization.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics in the management minimal hepatic encephalopathy HE (MHE) and overt HE (OHE) in comparison to no treatment/placebo and lactulose.

Methods: The main outcomes measured were mortality, improvement in MHE, progression to OHE in patients with MHE and hospitalization.