Baclofen Combined With Psychosocial Care is Useful and Safe in Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis Patients: A Real-Life Multicenter Study.

Background: Alcohol-related cirrhosis is a frequent and difficult-to-treat disease. Despite the low hepatic metabolism of baclofen, data on its use in this subgroup are scarce. The French multicenter Observatory of patients treated with Baclofen for Alcohol DEpendence real-life cohort assessed: (a) prescription modalities of baclofen in liver units; (b) safety profile of baclofen; and (c) declared alcohol intake, biological markers of excessive alcohol intake and hepatic function at 12 months.

Lessons from "real life experience" of rifaximin use in the management of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy.

Background: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a major complication of cirrhosis with independent prognostic significance. The current management of HE is mainly based on lactulose. Rifaximin has been shown to decrease the risk of HE recurrence in patients with episodic forms.

Effects of Age on Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C with Direct Acting Antivirals.

Introduction And Aim: Data on the efficacy and tolerance of interferon-free treatment in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in elderly patients are limited in phase II-III trials.

Material And Methods: A prospective cohort of adult patients with CHC treated in French general hospitals.

Results: Data from 1,123 patients, distributed into four age groups, were analyzed.

Hepatitis C treatment with all-oral direct-acting antivirals: Effectiveness and tolerance in a multicenter, prospective, observational study from French general hospitals (APROVVIE, ANGH).

Background And Aims: According to clinical trials, the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with second-generation direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) is highly efficient and well tolerated. The goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of various combinations of these drugs during their first 2 years of use in the real-world practice of French general hospitals.

Methods: Data from patients treated with all-oral DAAs in 24 French non-academic hospital centers from March 1, 2014 to January 1, 2016, were prospectively recorded.

Severe liver failure rather than cirrhosis is associated with mortality in patients with infectious endocarditis: a retrospective case-control study.

Background: Data on infectious endocarditis (IE) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) are sparse. We aimed to describe the characteristics and predictors of mortality from IE in patients with LC.

Patients And Methods: Overall, 101 patients with LC and 101 controls with IE matched for sex, age, date of IE, and diabetes were retrospectively selected in 23 liver units between 2000 and 2013.

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.

One year of baclofen in 100 patients with or without cirrhosis: a French real-life experience.

Background: Several studies have suggested the efficacy of baclofen in reducing alcohol consumption, leading to a temporary recommendation for use in France.

Aim: Our aim was to report our experience in using baclofen in alcohol-dependant patients with or without liver cirrhosis.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive patients from two liver and alcohol units were recruited over a 3-year period and received increasing doses of baclofen associated with social, psychological, and medical care.

[Hepatic hydrothorax].

Hydrothorax liver is defined by the presence of pleural effusion greater than 500mL secondary to portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients. Poor tolerance of hepatic hydrothorax makes the therapeutic management of these fragile patients and is associated with iatrogenic complications. The mechanism of hydrothorax formation cirrhosis is due to a unidirectional transfer of the abdominal ascites through the diaphragmatic gaps (that were identified macroscopically and microscopically) in the pleural cavity.

The Periscreen Strip Is Highly Efficient for the Exclusion of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis in Cirrhotic Outpatients.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the performance of a new strip (Periscreen) for the rapid diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

Methods: Ascitic fluid (AF) of cirrhotic patients hospitalized between March 2014 and August 2015 was independently tested by two readers using the new strip, which has four colorimetric graduations (negative, trace, small, and large). SBP was diagnosed on neutrophils in ascites>250/mm.

[Hepatopulmonary syndrome].

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is defined by the association of portal hypertension, increased alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient and intrapulmonary vascular dilations. Pathophysiological mechanisms of hypoxemia are characterized by ventilation-perfusion mismatch, oxygen diffusion limitation between alveolus and the centre of the dilated capillary, and right-to-left shunting. An excess of vasodilator molecules (like nitric monoxide) and proangiogenic factors (like VEGF) play an important role in the occurrence of HPS.

Chronic hepatitis C: treat or wait? A prospective study on reasons for treatment or nontreatment in the era of first-generation protease inhibitors.

Background And Aims: In many countries, current treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C involves a combination of peginterferon and ribavirin, associated with a protease inhibitor for hepatitis C virus genotype 1. More recent and efficient less toxic antiviral treatments are now available for some patients. Thus, the decision to treat or to wait is challenging.