Hepatitis B Delta: assessment of the knowledge and practices of hepato-gastroenterologists practicing in non-academic settings in France.

Background: Data on the management of Hepatitis B-Delta (HB-D) by hepatogastroenterologists (HGs) practicing in nonacademic hospitals or private practices are unknown in France.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the knowledge and practices of HGs practicing in nonacademic settings regarding HB-D.

Methods: A Google form document was sent to those HGs from May to September 2021.

International survey among hepatologists and pulmonologists on the hepatic hydrothorax: plea for recommendations.

Background: The Hepatic hydrothorax is a pleural effusion related to portal hypertension; its diagnosis and therapeutic management may be difficult. The aims of this article are which follows: To gather the practices of hepatogastroenterologists or pulmonologists practitioners regarding the diagnosis and management of the hepatic hydrothorax.

Methods: Practitioners from 13 French- speaking countries were invited to answer an online questionnaire on the hepatic hydrothorax diagnosis and its management.

Community-based respondent-driven sampling as a strategy for drug use surveillance in a large French urban area.

Background: Understanding drug use and behavior within the PWUD population is crucial to adapt harm reduction and prevention strategies, and provide improved addiction and medical treatment. However, in most countries such as France, the knowledge of drug use behaviors is likely biased as it originates from addiction centers which are attended by only an unknown proportion of PWUD. The objectives of this study were to describe drug use behavior in a population of active PWUD in the urban area of Montpellier, South of France.

An observational, prospective, multicenter study on the utilization and effectiveness of elbasvir-grazoprevir treatment association for chronic hepatitis C in France (ZEPHYR study).

Background And Aim: The efficacy and safety profiles of elbasvir-grazoprevir (EBR/GZR) has been established in more than 10 clinical trials. However, the characteristics of patients treated in routine clinical practice may differ. The present study was therefore designed to assess the real-life effectiveness of EBR/GZR therapy in the general population and among subgroups with a high hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence in France.

Reaching Hard-to-Reach People Who Use Drugs: A Community-Based Strategy for the Elimination of Hepatitis C.

Background: Elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who use drugs (PWUD) remains a challenge even in countries in which HCV care is provided free of cost. We assessed whether an innovative community-based, respondent-driven sampling (RDS) survey, coupled with HCV screening and immediate treatment, could be efficient to detect and cure current PWUD with chronic HCV in a large city of Southern France.

Methods: At a community site with peers, PWUD (cannabis not included) were enrolled after confirmation by a urine drug test.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: opinions, population served, and management from a sample of French hepato(gastroentero)logists (PERSEPT study).

Objective: The three-fold objective of this study was to describe the opinions, the population served, and tools used for the management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by French hepato(gastro)enterologists (HGEs).

Methods: Seventy-five French HGEs working in hospitals or in private practice, who regularly managed patients with NAFLD, completed three questionnaires: one about their opinions about disease management, one on the 10 first patients with NAFLD they saw in February 2020, and the third about the first five patients meeting the 2016 European Association for the Study of the Liver criteria for specialist referral.

Results: Management of NAFLD was seen as challenging, complex, time-consuming, and frustrating.

Non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare and chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown cause commonly associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and characterized by progressive obliterative fibro-inflammation of the biliary tree. Although the natural course is highly variable, PSC is often progressive, leading to biliary cirrhosis and its complications. In addition, PSC is a condition harbouring broad neoplastic potential with increased susceptibility for the development of both biliary and colon cancer.

Non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of primary biliary cholangitis.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intra-hepatic bile ducts [1]. It is characterised biologically by chronic cholestasis associated with the presence of specific autoantibodies, and histologically by lesions of nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis. If left untreated it can progress to cirrhosis, portal hypertension and liver failure.

Non-invasive diagnosis and follow-up of autoimmune hepatitis.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a liver disease characterised by necrotico-inflammatory lesions of hepatocytes, the presence of specific autoantibodies and response to corticosteroid treatment. AIH must be considered in any patient with acute or chronic liver disease. As there is no pathognomonic sign of AIH, the diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical, biological, immunological and histological findings, after excluding other causes of liver disease.

Subclinical proximal tubulopathy in hepatitis B: The roles of nucleot(s)ide analogue treatment and the hepatitis B virus.

Background: The recommended monitoring tools for evaluating nucleot(s)ide analogue renal toxicity, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and phosphatemia, are late markers of proximal tubulopathy. Multiple early markers are available, but no consensus exists on their use.

Aim: To determine the 24 mo prevalence of subclinical proximal tubulopathy (SPT), as defined with early biomarkers, in treated untreated hepatitis B virus (HBV)-monoinfected patients.

Management of primary biliary cholangitis: results from a large real-life observational study in France and Belgium.

Background And Aims: To assess the characteristics, care, treatment response, and outcomes of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients recently followed-up by hepato-gastroenterologists in various French and Belgian healthcare settings.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with PBC who recently visited 79 hepato-gastroenterologists in France and Belgium. Data were collected at the time of diagnosis and at last visit and were compared according to biochemical response (BR) to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) (BR), using Paris I-II criteria, and clinical outcomes.

Hepatitis C virus infection impacts work productivity and fatigue: An epidemiologic real-life study.

Introduction And Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and treatment impact the patient's daily life and work productivity. Until recently, treatments were associated with side effects and insufficient virologic and hepatic results. This study evaluated fatigue, work productivity, and treatment modalities in patients with HCV infection.

Albumin Use in Patients With Cirrhosis in France: Results of the "ALBU-LIVE" Survey: A Case for Better EASL Guidelines Diffusion and/or Revision.

Introduction: The use of human albumin for the management of cirrhosis has increased. Recommendations have been published for therapeutic paracentesis (TP), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), and type 1 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). The goal of this survey was to assess the prescription practices of French hepatogastroenterologists.

Major changes in the number and indications of liver biopsy for chronic liver diseases over one decade in France.

Aims: French clinical practice guidelines on the use of liver biopsy (LB) published in 2002 focused on ultrasound guidance (USG) and ambulatory LB. The aims of this study were as follows: (i) to evaluate the number and indications for LB for chronic liver diseases and (ii) to evaluate LB modalities according to French clinical practice guidelines. Data recorded included the number and indications for LB, procedures, use of USG, and complications.

Hepatogastroenterologists' knowledge of inactive carriers and immunotolerant hepatitis B virus patients in France: results of a practice survey.

Background: Before the 2012 revision of the EASL guidelines for the management of hepatitis B virus infection, we conducted a survey to determine how French nonacademic hepatogastroenterologists defined inactive hepatitis B virus carriers and immunotolerant patients.

Methods: We asked 680 hepatogastroenterologists to complete a simple survey consisting of 11 multiple-choice questions.

Results: The participation rate was 32%.

Safety and efficacy of combination therapy with peginterferon alfa-2a (40kD) and ribavirin in the outpatient setting: prospective analysis of 197 patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection.

Objectives: Combination therapy using peginterferon alfa-2a (40 kD) plus ribavirin achieves viral eradication in nearly 60% of patients with chronic hepatitis C viral infection. However, because of the numerous side effects, use of the combination regimen might be restricted for patients consulting private practitioners specialized in hepatogastroenterology.

Patients And Method: Conducted in this specific context, this prospective clinical trial investigated the safety and efficacy of combination therapy in 197 patients.

Are drugs a risk factor of post-ERCP pancreatitis?

Background: Pancreatitis is the most severe complication of ERCP. The aim of this study was to assess whether the use of potentially pancreatotoxic drugs is a risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Methods: Risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis and all drugs taken during the month before ERCP were recorded retrospectively in a database.

[Acute hepatitis due to ecstasy].

Background: Ecstasy is a synthetic amphetamine which causes a wide variety of adverse effects. Hepatic toxicity was only recently demonstrated but can be quite severe.

Case Report: A 27-year-old male with no past medical or surgical history developed jaundice without fever.

[Prognostic factors of hepatocellular carcinoma: a multivariate analysis in 113 patients].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to identify clinical, biological or morphological prognostic factors in 113 patients with HCC in terms of survival. All patients (100 men, aged 65 [28-85], 95% cirrhosis) were diagnosed between 1982-1990. Mean survival time was 21 +/- 3 weeks.

[Chronic viral hepatitis C and interferon: results after a year and predictive factors of response (a multivariate study with 35 patients)].

Six months alpha IFN therapy was efficient for chronic viral hepatitis C in 31% patients after six months and in 17% after one year. Cirrhosis, low serum albumin or prealbumin levels and elevated IgA seric level were non responsiveness predictive factors.

[Autoimmune biological anomalies in 35 patients with chronic viral hepatitis C treated over 6 months with interferon and followed-up over a year].

Several clinical or biological autoimmune disorders, particularly lupoid diseases, are associated with chronic hepatitis C. They may be exacerbated by alpha IFN, but they are not involved in the response to therapy.