Real-world effectiveness and safety of bulevirtide monotherapy for up to 96 weeks in patients with HDV-related cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Bulevirtide (BLV) 2 mg/day is EMA approved for treatment of compensated chronic hepatitis due to Delta virus (HDV) infection, however real-life data in large cohorts of patients with cirrhosis are lacking.

Methods: Consecutive HDV-infected patients with cirrhosis starting BLV 2 mg/day since September 2019 were included in a European retrospective multicenter real-life study (SAVE-D). Patient characteristics before and during BLV treatment were collected.

Transarterial Radioembolization Can Downstage Intermediate and Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Liver Transplantation.

Background: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) is an effective treatment to control tumor growth and improve survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The role of TARE in downstaging patients to liver transplantation (LT) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the downstaging efficacy of TARE for intermediate and advanced HCC.

Torquetenovirus Loads in Peripheral Blood Predict Both the Humoral and Cell-Mediated Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Elicited by the mRNA Vaccine in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, mass vaccination campaigns have largely controlled the disease burden but have not prevented virus circulation. Unfortunately, many immunocompromised patients have failed to mount protective immune responses after repeated vaccinations, and liver transplant recipients are no exception. Across different solid organ transplant populations, the plasma levels of Torquetenovirus (TTV), an orphan and ubiquitous human virus under control of the immune system, have been shown to predict the antibody response after COVID-19 vaccinations.

Phylogenetic and Phylodynamic Analysis of Delta Strains Circulating in Italy.

The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) exhibits high genetic and evolutionary variability and is classified into eight genotypes (HDV-1 to -8). HDV-1 is the most widespread genotype worldwide and includes several subtypes. It predominates mainly in Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Northern Africa, and is associated with both severe and mild forms of liver disease.

Forecasting the long-term impact of COVID-19 on hepatitis C elimination plans in Italy: A mathematical modelling approach.

Background: Italy has a high HCV prevalence, and despite the approval of a dedicated fund for 'Experimental screening' for 2 years, screening has not been fully implemented. We aimed to evaluate the long-term impact of the persisting delay in HCV elimination after the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Italy.

Methods: We used a mathematical, probabilistic modelling approach evaluating three hypothetical 'Inefficient', 'Efficient experimental' and 'WHO Target' screening scenarios differing by treatment rates over time.