Prevalence and short-term mortality of acute-on-chronic liver failure: A national cohort study from the USA.

Background & Aims: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterised by the presence of organ failure in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and is associated with high short-term mortality. However, there are limited data on the prevalence and short-term outcomes of ACLF in patients with cirrhosis seen in the US. We aimed to study the prevalence and risk factors associated with the development and short term mortality in a large cohort of patients in the US.

Hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States: influence of ethnic status.

Objectives: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seems to be rising in the United States (US), and considerable variability in the incidence and etiology of HCC has been noted among different racial and ethnic groups in this country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of racial and ethnic status in the viral etiology of HCC in the US.

Methods: Retrospective surveys were conducted at liver transplantation centers in the US.

Emotional distress in chronic hepatitis C patients not receiving antiviral therapy.

Background/aims: The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence, type, and severity of emotional distress in a large group of consecutive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients not receiving anti-viral therapy.

Methods: The brief symptom inventory and a 67-item questionnaire with the SF-36 embedded within it were used to study 220 outpatients with compensated CHC.

Results: Seventy-seven (35%) participants reported significantly elevated global severity index (GSI) T-scores compared to an expected frequency of 10% in population controls.