Publications by authors named "M R Sterneck"
Background: In the third year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, little is known about the vaccine- and infection-induced immune response in liver transplant recipients (LTR) and liver cirrhosis patients (LCP).
Objective: This cross-sectional study assessed the vaccination coverage, infection rate, and the resulting humoral and cellular SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses in a cohort of LTR and LCP at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany between March and May 2023.
Methods: Clinical and laboratory data from 244 consecutive patients (160 LTR and 84 LCP) were collected via chart review and a patient survey.
Article Synopsis
- Periodontitis is commonly diagnosed in patients with ascitic decompensated liver cirrhosis, found in 82% of the study group compared to 59% in a control group, suggesting a strong correlation between the two conditions.
- The study utilized PCR testing on gingival samples, ascites, and stool but found no evidence of specific periodontitis pathogens in ascites, although some were present in stools and gums.
- Patients with periodontitis showed a significantly higher survival rate and transplant-free survival compared to those without, indicating a potential protective effect of periodontitis in this cohort.
Background & Aims: Comparative assessments of immunogenicity following different COVID-19 vaccines in patients with distinct liver diseases are lacking. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell and antibody responses were evaluated longitudinally after one to three vaccine doses, with long-term follow-up for COVID-19-related clinical outcomes.
Methods: A total of 849 participants (355 with cirrhosis, 74 with autoimmune hepatitis [AIH], 36 with vascular liver disease [VLD], 257 liver transplant recipients [LTRs] and 127 healthy controls [HCs]) were recruited from four countries.