Suitability of the simplified autoimmune hepatitis score for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis in a German cohort.

Background: Several years ago the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group simplified the previous for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) into a scoring system based on only four instead of 13 parameters.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the suitability of the AIH score for diagnosis of AIH in a German cohort with chronic liver diseases.

Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we compared the accuracy of both AIH scores in 70 patients with AIH and 211 patients with chronic liver diseases (PBC ( = 52), PSC ( = 27), NASH ( = 67), DILI ( = 15), CHB/C ( = 50)).

Prophylaxis of post-ERC infectious complications in patients with biliary obstruction by adding antimicrobial agents into ERC contrast media- a single center retrospective study.

Background: Patients with biliary obstruction are at high risk to develop septic complications after endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). We evaluated the benefits of local application of antimicrobial agents into ERC contrast media in preventing post-ERC infectious complications in a high-risk study population.

Methods: Patients undergoing ERC at our tertiary referral center were retrospectively included.

Evaluation of treatment response after chemoembolisation (TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma using real time image fusion of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and computed tomography (CT)--preliminary results.

Objective: To evaluate treatment response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with a new real-time imaging fusion technique of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with multi-slice detection computed tomography (CT) in comparison to conventional post-interventional follow-up.

Material And Methods: 40 patients with HCC (26 male, ages 46-81 years) were evaluated 24 hours after TACE using CEUS with ultrasound volume navigation and image fusion with CT compared to non-enhanced CT and follow-up contrast-enhanced CT after 6-8 weeks. Reduction of tumor vascularization to less than 25% was regarded as "successful" treatment, whereas reduction to levels >25% was considered as "partial" treatment response.

Monitoring during hepatic radiofrequency ablation (RFA): comparison of real-time ultrasound elastography (RTE) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS): first clinical results of 25 patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of ultrasound elastography for delineating thermal ablation defects post-radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by comparing lesion dimensions determined by real-time elastography (RTE) with the findings of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

Materials And Methods: A total of 21 malignant liver tumors were percutaneously ablated using RFA. Color-coded elastography and CEUS were performed by one experienced examiner, using a 1 - 5 MHz multi-frequency convex transducer (LOGIQ E9, GE).

Elevated systemic monocyte chemoattractrant protein-1 in hepatic steatosis without significant hepatic inflammation.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. It encompasses a clinico-pathologic spectrum of conditions ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The latter develops upon pro-inflammatory cell infiltration and is widely considered as the first relevant pathophysiological step in NAFLD-progression.