Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) polymorphisms may influence HDV RNA load and early response to bulevirtide.

Background & Aims: Genetic polymorphisms in the sodium taurocholate cotransporting peptide (NTCP encoded by SLC10A1) have been described, but their role in untreated and treated patients with chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) remains unknown. Virological response (VR) to the NTCP inhibitor bulevirtide (BLV) was achieved at week 48 by >70% of patients with CHD, but nearly 15% experienced virological non-response (VNR) or partial response (PR). This study aimed to evaluate whether NTCP genetic polymorphisms affect baseline HDV RNA load and response to BLV in patients with CHD.

Mycophenolate Interruption Restores Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Immunogenicity in Unresponsive Liver Transplant Recipients.

Background & Aims: The fourth dose of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine slightly improved the humoral response among previously seronegative liver transplant (LT) recipients. Mycophenolate (MMF) treatment worsens the vaccination response. This study aimed to evaluate whether temporary MMF interruption might improve the immunogenicity of the fourth anti-SARS-CoV-2 BNT16b2 vaccine dose in nonresponsive LT recipients.

Baseline Predictors of the Long-Term Insufficient Biochemical Response in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Single Center Experience.

The treatment response criteria in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) have been recently updated. This study aimed to assess treatment responses in 39 (16 males) patients with AIH confirmed by histology. Prednisone added to azathioprine or mycophenolate was the most frequent first-line treatment.

Low risk of nosocomial severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection in patients with liver disease admitted to a hepatology unit at an academic hospital: A single-center experience.

Background: Patients with liver disease may be at increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection due to immune dysfunction. However, the risk of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection in these patients remains unknown. This study aimed to determine whether patients with liver disease are at an increased risk of nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection upon admission to the hospital for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Immunogenicity and safety of a third dose of anti-SARS-CoV-2 BNT16b2 vaccine in liver transplant recipients.

Background & Aims: A strategy to improve the low rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine-induced immunogenicity in liver transplant recipients (LTs) is urgently needed.

Methods: We analysed the rate of positive (≥0.8 U/ml) anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor domain-binding protein (RBD) antibody response 2 months after a third dose of the BNT16b2 vaccine in 107 LTs who completed the second vaccine dose 7 months earlier.

Past COVID-19 and immunosuppressive regimens affect the long-term response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in liver transplant recipients.

Background & Aims: The long-term immunogenicity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in liver transplant (LT) recipients is unknown. We aimed to assess the long-term antibody response of the Pfizer-BioNTech® BNT162b2 vaccine in LT recipients compared to controls.

Methods: LT recipients underwent anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-receptor-binding domain protein IgG (anti-RBD) and anti-nucleocapsid protein IgG antibody (anti-N) measurements at the first and 1, 4 and 6 months after the second vaccination dose.

Recurrent and Treatment-Unresponsive Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Worsens survival in Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis.

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) remains a major complication of cirrhosis. However, the incidence and the real impact of SBP in determining patient survival rates remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for SBP development and the role of SBP in predicting transplant-free survival.

Morbidity and mortality after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement in patients with cirrhosis.

Objectives: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is adopted to treat refractory complications of portal hypertension, such as variceal bleeding and ascites. This study aimed to assess predictors of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) development and cumulative transplant-free survival after TIPS placement in patients with cirrhosis complicated by refractory ascites and major gastroesophageal bleeding.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-three cirrhotic patients who underwent TIPS positioning as a secondary prophylaxis of major upper gastroesophageal bleeding (N=30) or to control refractory ascites (N=33) were enrolled.

 Usefulness of acoustic radiation force impulse and fibrotest in liver fibrosis assessment after liver transplant.

Unlabelled:  Background and rationale. Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) is a non-invasive tool used in the evaluation of liver fibrosis in HCV positive immune-competent patients. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of ARFI in discriminating liver transplanted patients with different graft fibrosis severity and to verify whether ARFI, eventually combined with non-invasive biochemical tests, could spare liver biopsies.

PNPLA3 rs738409 and TM6SF2 rs58542926 variants increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in alcoholic cirrhosis.

Background: PNPLA3 rs738409 polymorphism is associated with fatty liver disease, alcoholic or non-alcoholic (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). TM6SF2 rs58542926 is clearly associated with NAFLD, but it is not clearly associated with HCC. The relationship between TM6SF2 rs58542926 and HCC and the potential synergistic effect of TM6SF2 and PNPLA3 variants in modifying the risk of HCC are not known.

PNPLA3 Gene Polymorphism Is Associated With Predisposition to and Severity of Alcoholic Liver Disease.

Objectives: The genetic polymorphism with an isoleucine-to-methionine substitution at position 148 (rs738409 C>G) in the patatin-like phospholipase domain protein 3 (PNPLA3) gene confers risk of steatosis. PNPLA3 polymorphism is shown to be associated with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine association of this genetic polymorphism with ALD spectrum and its severity.

Biliary strictures after liver transplantation: role of interleukin 28B genotypes in cyclosporine treated.

Introduction: The role of Interleukin 28B (IL-28B) genetic polymorphisms in influencing the occurrence of biliary complications after liver transplantation has never been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-28B rs12979860C/T polymorphisms associate with the occurrence of biliary complications after liver transplantation and if these complications may influence survival.

Methods: One hundred seventy one recipients (133 males) who underwent liver transplantation were recruited.

Recipient perioperative cholesterolaemia and graft cholesterol metabolism gene expression predict liver transplant outcome.

Background & Aims: We analysed for the first time whether recipient perioperative serum total cholesterol (sTC) concentration is associated with liver transplantation outcome.

Methods: We studied noncholestatic cirrhotics submitted to primary deceased-donor liver transplantation in a prospective group (n=140) from Rome and in a validation retrospective cohort (n=157) from Udine, Italy. Pre-ischaemia and post-reperfusion cholesterol metabolism gene mRNA was measured by RT-PCR in 74 grafts of the study group.

Genetic polymorphisms of vitamin D pathway predict antiviral treatment outcome in slow responder naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Vitamin D serum levels seem to influence antiviral response in chronic hepatitis C. Vitamin D pathway is controlled by genes presenting functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Data regarding the association between these polymorphisms and the rate of sustained viral response (SVR) following antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are largely incomplete.

Association between the PNPLA3 (rs738409 C>G) variant and hepatocellular carcinoma: Evidence from a meta-analysis of individual participant data.

Unlabelled: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in Western countries. Although several clinical factors have been identified, many individuals never develop HCC, suggesting a genetic susceptibility. However, to date, only a few single-nucleotide polymorphisms have been reproducibly shown to be linked to HCC onset.

Interaction between calcineurin inhibitors and IL-28B rs12979860 C>T polymorphism and response to treatment for post-transplant recurrent hepatitis C.

Background: The impact of calcineurin inhibitors on achievement of sustained virological response to antiviral therapy for post-transplant recurrent hepatitis C is controversial. This study aimed at investigating the interactions between calcineurin inhibitors and interleukin-28B (IL-28B) gene polymorphisms and sustained virological response.

Methods: Retrospective study of 147 liver transplant recipients with recurrent hepatitis C, who received 48 weeks of peg-interferon-α (N=113) or standard interferon (N=34), in association with ribavirin.

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with hepatitis C virus chronic infection and with unresponsiveness to interferon-based antiviral therapy.

Unlabelled: Recent data suggest that vitamin A modulates the expression of type I interferon receptor enhancing the antireplication effect of interferon-α on hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among patients with chronic HCV infection and to assess whether vitamin A deficiency could be associated with unresponsiveness to interferon-based antiviral therapy. The analysis included 199 consecutive treatment-naïve chronic HCV patients in whom pretreatment serum vitamin A and 25-OH vitamin D were measured; 119 healthy blood donors were used as controls.

Toll like receptor 4 D299G associates with disease progression in Caucasian patients with chronic HBV infection: relationship with gender.

This study aimed to verify whether rs4986790 A > G single nucleotide polymorphism of toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4) associates with a more severe course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic infection. A cross-sectional study enrolled 191 Caucasian HBV-positive patients: 28 HBsAg + inactive carriers, 121 chronic hepatitis B, 42 HBsAg + transplant candidates. A longitudinal study included 94 patients followed-up for a median time of 19.

Vitamin D binding protein gene polymorphisms and baseline vitamin D levels as predictors of antiviral response in chronic hepatitis C.

Unlabelled: Vitamin D deficiency seems to predict the unsuccessful achievement of sustained viral response (SVR) after antiviral treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV) difficult-to-treat genotypes. Vitamin D binding protein (GC) gene polymorphisms are known to influence vitamin D levels. This study was performed to assess whether the interaction between basal circulating vitamin D and the GC polymorphism plays a role in influencing the rate of antiviral responses in patients affected by chronic hepatitis C.

Recipient interleukin-28B Rs12979860 C/T polymorphism and acute cellular rejection after liver transplantation: role of the calcineurin inhibitor used.

Background: Interleukin-28 (IL-28B) rs12979860 C/T polymorphism is known to predict the outcome of antiviral therapy in hepatitis C. In addition to its interferon-like and antiviral functions, IL-28B possesses the ability to modulate CD8 T cells function. This study aimed to investigate whether recipient IL-28B polymorphism may have a role in predicting the occurrence of acute cellular rejection (ACR) after liver transplantation (LT).

The interleukin 28B rs12979860 C/T polymorphism and serum cholesterol as predictors of fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C and persistently normal transaminases.

The interleukin 28B (IL-28B) rs12979860 C/T polymorphism is a predictor of spontaneous and treatment-induced hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance. The C/C genotype is associated with higher serum cholesterol, predictor of a favorable outcome in chronic hepatitis C. Whether IL-28B polymorphism and serum cholesterol play a role in modulating the history of mild hepatitis C is unknown.