Liver stiffness measurements by 2-dimensional shear wave elastography compared to histological and ultrasound parameters in primary biliary cholangitis.

Background And Aims: Liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) by 2-dimensional-shear-wave elastography (LSM) are now widely used in hepatology. However, relevant information for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is scant. We compare LSM with liver biopsy (LB) in a cohort of PBC patients in Greece.

Long-term clinical outcome of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients who discontinued nucleos(t)ide analogues.

Background & Aims: Discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) remains a debatable issue in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to address the outcome of HBeAg-negative CHB patients who discontinued NA therapy.

Methods: This prospective study included 57 non-cirrhotic HBeAg-negative Caucasian CHB patients who discontinued NA therapy after median virological remission of 6 years.

Collagen proportionate area is an independent predictor of long-term outcome in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Collagen proportionate area (CPA) measurement is a technique that quantifies fibrous tissue in liver biopsies by measuring the amount of collagen deposition as a proportion of the total biopsy area. CPA predicts clinical outcomes in patients with HCV and can sub-classify cirrhosis.

Aim: To test the ability of CPA to quantify fibrosis and predict clinical outcomes in patients with NAFLD.

Assessment of biopsy-proven liver fibrosis by two-dimensional shear wave elastography: An individual patient data-based meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) has proven to be efficient for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in small to moderate-sized clinical trials. We aimed at running a larger-scale meta-analysis of individual data. Centers which have worked with Aixplorer ultrasound equipment were contacted to share their data.

Keratin 19 protein expression is an independent predictor of survival in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: We aimed to assess the clinicopathological relevance and prognostic significance of expression of the hepatic progenitor cell markers keratin 19 (K19), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and CD117 (c-KIT) in a White series of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of K19, EpCAM and CD117 in 89 surgical specimens of HCC from Greek patients (mean age 66.7±11.

Prevalence and clinical course of hepatitis delta infection in Greece: a 13-year prospective study.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis D virus (HDV) has decreased in Europe, but recent reports indicate a rising trend. We report the epidemiological changes, clinical progress, and effect of treatment on the natural course of HDV infection in Greece during the last 13 years.

Methods: Prospective data were extracted from the HepNet.

Long-term adefovir plus lamivudine therapy does not decrease creatinine clearance in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background/aims: As there are concerns about potential nephrotoxicity of nucleotide analogues, we evaluated renal function parameters during long-term adefovir and lamivudine combination therapy.

Methods: Forty-six HBeAg-negative patients with lamivudine-resistance treated with adefovir and lamivudine for up to 90 months were included. Renal function was assessed by estimated creatinine clearance (eC(CR) ) and compared with a matched control group of untreated inactive hepatitis B virus carriers.

Effect of antiviral therapy on the immunohistochemical expression of bcl-xL and bax protein in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

The effect of antiviral treatment on apoptosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has not been clarified. We evaluated the hepatic immunohistochemical expression of the pro-apoptotic bax and the antiapoptotic bcl-xL protein in HBeAg-negative CHB patients before and after treatment. In our study we included 72 paired biopsies from 36 HBeAg-negative CHB patients: 29 treated (interferon-alfa: 17, adefovir: 12) and 7 untreated.

Virological suppression does not prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients with cirrhosis receiving oral antiviral(s) starting with lamivudine monotherapy: results of the nationwide HEPNET. Greece cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the risk and predictors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients of the large HEPNET.Greece cohort study who received long-term oral antivirals starting with lamivudine monotherapy.

Design: Retrospective analysis of HCC incidence in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients from a retrospective-prospective cohort who were treated with nucleos(t)ide analogue(s) starting with lamivudine monotherapy for ≥12 months.

Hepatitis B surface antigen: relation to hepatitis B replication parameters in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: Translation of HBsAg depends on transcription of the appropriate mRNAs from cccDNA, but its relation to other hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication parameters is not known, inasmuch as integrated sequences of HBV-DNA may also contribute to its serum levels, especially in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: We investigated HBsAg serum levels, its hepatocellular expression, and their relationship to HBV replicative- and host-response parameters before treatment in 54 HBeAg-negative CHB patients and in 15 of them after 40.1±33.

Serum apoptotic caspase activity in chronic hepatitis C and nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease.

Background: Apoptotic caspases are substantially activated in liver and serum caspase activity has been suggested as a marker of early liver injury.

Aim: To investigate whether serum levels of caspase-generated fragments of cytokeratin-18 are associated with the severity of histologic lesions in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We included 134 patients with chronic HCV infection and 58 patients with NAFLD, who consecutively underwent liver biopsy, and 40 healthy controls.

The burden and recent epidemiological changes of the main chronic liver diseases in a Greek referral tertiary centre.

Objective: To investigate the burden and recent epidemiological changes of the main chronic liver diseases in a Greek referral tertiary centre.

Methods: We evaluated the main epidemiological characteristics of 1080 consecutive adult patients, seen at our outpatient liver clinic between 2002 and 2007, with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and/or C (HCV) virus infection, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our patient population was divided into two groups in relation to the time of the first visit (period A: 2002-2004, period B: 2005-2007).

Is there a meaningful serum hepatitis B virus DNA cutoff level for therapeutic decisions in hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B virus infection?

Unlabelled: The diagnosis of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B indicating therapeutic intervention currently requires serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA >or=2,000 IU/mL. We evaluated the severity of liver histology and the presence of histological indication for treatment in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection focusing on those with low viremia and/or normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT). In total, 399 patients with increased ALT and detectable serum HBV DNA (chronic hepatitis B patients) and 35 cases with persistently normal ALT and HBV DNA >2,000 IU/mL (inactive carriers) were included.

Serum adipokine levels in chronic liver diseases: association of resistin levels with fibrosis severity.

Objective: Leptin and adiponectin have been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but little is known about the role of resistin in chronic liver diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate serum levels of the above three adipokines in relation to the etiology of liver disease and to determine their associations with histological severity.

Material And Methods: We prospectively evaluated 146 patients (HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB): 52, CHC: 70, NASH: 24) who consecutively underwent liver biopsy.

Changes of liver and muscle enzymes activity in patients with rigor.

Aim: We investigated whether changes of liver and muscle enzymes activity are associated with rigor of several causes and have any prognostic significance.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with rigor were prospectively evaluated. Serum enzymes were measured at the onset of rigor and during the three following days.

Quantitative analysis of hepatitis D virus RNA and hepatitis B surface antigen serum levels in chronic delta hepatitis improves treatment monitoring.

Background/aims: Treatment of chronic delta hepatitis is long and difficult and better monitoring is needed.

Methods: In this study, hepatitis delta virus (HDV) RNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were retrospectively quantified in 53 patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis delta. Twenty-one had received 28 courses of 3-5 MU interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) thrice weekly for a median of 12.

Prediction of treatment-related HBsAg loss in HBeAG-negative chronic hepatitis B: a clue from serum HBsAg levels.

Background: Quantification of HBsAg in serum may be of clinical importance in predicting HBsAg seroconversion and complete response to treatment.

Methods: Serum HBsAg was quantified by ADVIA Centaur in 63 patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHBe-). A total of 42 had received interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) (median 12.

Liver involvement in acute vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell disease: prevalence and predisposing factors.

Objective: To study the prevalence and predisposing factors of liver involvement in sickle cell disease (SCD) of patients with acute vaso-occlusive crisis.

Material And Methods: We prospectively evaluated 41 consecutive patients (44% M, median age 39 years, range 16-56 years) with homozygous (HbSS; 12 cases) or sickle cell-beta thalassemia (HbSbeta-thal; 29 cases), admitted to our Medical Department in the period 2002 to 2004. Severity of crisis was graded by in-house-modified APACHE score; presence of asplenia or functional hyposplenism was also considered.

Hepatic steatosis in genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C is mainly because of metabolic factors.

Background/aim: Hepatic steatosis is considered to be mostly associated with viral factors in genotype 3 and metabolic factors in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C, while there are rather few data for genotype 4. We determined the parameters associated with steatosis in 350 chronic hepatitis C patients, focusing on genotype 4.

Methods: Histological lesions were evaluated according to Ishak's classification and steatosis was semiquantitatively graded.