Implementation of a re-linkage to care strategy in patients with chronic hepatitis C who were lost to follow-up in Latin America.

To achieve WHO's goal of eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV), innovative strategies must be designed to diagnose and treat more patients. Therefore, we aimed to describe an implementation strategy to identify patients with HCV who were lost to follow-up (LTFU) and offer them re-linkage to HCV care. We conducted an implementation study utilizing a strategy to contact patients with HCV who were not under regular follow-up in 13 countries from Latin America.

Performance of pre-transplant criteria in prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma progression and waitlist dropout.

Background & Aim: Liver transplantation (LT) selection models for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been proposed to predict waitlist dropout because of tumour progression. The aim of this study was to compare the alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) model and other pre-LT models in their prediction of HCC dropout.

Methods: A multicentre cohort study was conducted in 20 Latin American transplant centres, including 994 listed patients for LT with HCC from 2012 to 2018.

Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: Prognostic and predictive factors of survival in a Latin American cohort.

Background & Aim: Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation (LT) has a poor prognosis, and the adjusted effect of different treatments on post-recurrence survival (PRS) has not been well defined. This study aims to evaluate prognostic and predictive variables associated with PRS.

Methods: This Latin American multicenter retrospective cohort study included HCC patients who underwent LT between the years 2005-2018.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: impact of expansion criteria in a multicenter cohort study from a high waitlist mortality region.

This study aimed to compare liver transplantation (LT) outcomes and evaluate the potential rise in numbers of LT candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of different allocation policies in a high waitlist mortality region. Three policies were applied in two Latin American cohorts (1085 HCC transplanted patients and 917 listed patients for HCC): (i) Milan criteria with expansion according to UCSF downstaging (UCSF-DS), (ii) the AFP score, and (iii) restrictive policy or Double Eligibility Criteria (DEC; within Milan + AFP score ≤2). Increase in HCC patient numbers was evaluated in an Argentinian prospective validation set (INCUCAI; NCT03775863).

Direct-Acting Antivirals and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: No Evidence of Higher Wait-List Progression or Posttransplant Recurrence.

The association between direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) wait-list progression or its recurrence following liver transplantation (LT) remains uncertain. We evaluated the impact of DAAs on HCC wait-list progression and post-LT recurrence. This Latin American multicenter retrospective cohort study included HCC patients listed for LT between 2012 and 2018.

A changing etiologic scenario in liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in a multicenter cohort study from Latin America.

Background And Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasing cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver transplantation (LT). Our study focused on changing trends of liver related HCC etiologies during the last years in Latin America.

Methods: From a cohort of 2761 consecutive adult LT patients between 2005 and 2012 in 17 different centers, 435 with HCC were included.

Results of Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Multicenter Latin American Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: Heterogeneous data has been reported regarding liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Latin America. We aimed to describe treatment during waiting list, survival and recurrence of HCC after LT in a multicenter study from Latin America.

Material And Methods: Patients with HCC diagnosed prior to transplant (cHCC) and incidentally found in the explanted liver (iHCC) were included.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: evaluation of the alpha-fetoprotein model in a multicenter cohort from Latin America.

Background & Aims: The French alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) model has recently shown superior results compared to Milan criteria (MC) for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) in European populations. The aim of this study was to explore the predictive capacity of the AFP model for HCC recurrence in a Latin-American cohort.

Methods: Three hundred twenty-seven patients with HCC were included from a total of 2018 patients transplanted at 15 centres.

Hepatocyte Growth Factor Reduces Free Cholesterol-Mediated Lipotoxicity in Primary Hepatocytes by Countering Oxidative Stress.

Cholesterol overload in the liver has shown toxic effects by inducing the aggravation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to steatohepatitis and sensitizing to damage. Although the mechanism of damage is complex, it has been demonstrated that oxidative stress plays a prominent role in the process. In addition, we have proved that hepatocyte growth factor induces an antioxidant response in hepatic cells; in the present work we aimed to figure out the protective effect of this growth factor in hepatocytes overloaded with free cholesterol.

Hepatitis C screening in the general population.

Background: A significant number of patients infected with hepatitis C virus remain unaware of their infection, as this is a silent disease for many years. Patients are frequently detected at advance stages of the disease.

Objective: To identify the prevalence and viremic stage of hepatitis C among a general population cohort.

Hepatocyte growth factor protects against isoniazid/rifampicin-induced oxidative liver damage.

The worldwide increment of multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis has emphasized the importance of looking for new options in therapeutics. Long-time usage or higher doses of isoniazid and rifampicin have been considered for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; however, the risk of liver failure is proportionally increased. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multitask growth factor that stimulates both antiapoptotic and antioxidant responses that counteract the toxic effects of drug metabolism in the liver.

Reversal of hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhotic patients with terlipressin plus albumin. First experience in Mexico.

Introduction: Type 1 hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a functional renal failure that complicates end-stage cirrhosis. The vasopressin analogue terlipressin has been associated with improved renal function in patients with type 1 HRS.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of an infusion of terlipressin plus albumin in reversing type 1 HRS, its tolerability, and its adverse effects.

Adipokines in a group of Mexican patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Introduction: Leptin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. It has also been suggested that adiponectin plays an important role in the transition from fatty liver disease to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Objective: To evaluate whether leptin and adiponectin levels are related to the degree of necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Etiology of liver cirrhosis in Mexico.

Background: In the last decades it has been suggested that the main cause of liver cirrhosis in Mexico is alcohol. Currently in Western countries hepatitis C virus stage liver disease and liver transplantation. In Mexico, we have no data relative to the etiology of liver cirrhosis.