is a risk haplotype for primary sclerosing cholangitis mediating activation of NKp44+ NK cells.

Objective: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterised by bile duct strictures and progressive liver disease, eventually requiring liver transplantation. Although the pathogenesis of PSC remains incompletely understood, strong associations with HLA-class II haplotypes have been described. As specific HLA-DP molecules can bind the activating NK-cell receptor NKp44, we investigated the role of HLA-DP/NKp44-interactions in PSC.

Frequent detection of functional hyposplenism via assessment of pitted erythrocytes in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.

Background: Asplenia or functional hyposplenism are risk factors for severe infections, and vaccinations against encapsulated bacteria are advised. There are only limited data regarding the spleen function of cirrhotic patients.

Methods: We evaluated spleen function in patients with liver cirrhosis, who were prospectively enrolled in this study.

Stop of proton-pump inhibitor treatment in patients with liver cirrhosis (STOPPIT): study protocol for a prospective, multicentre, controlled, randomized, double-blind trial.

Background: Proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) are liberally prescribed in patients with liver cirrhosis. Observational studies link PPI therapy in cirrhotic patients with an increased risk for infectious complications, hepatic encephalopathy and an increased risk for hospitalization and mortality. However, patients with liver cirrhosis are also considered to be at risk for peptic ulcer bleeding.

Performance of non-invasive fibrosis scores in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with and without morbid obesity.

Background: Non-invasive scores, such as the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) Fibrosis Score (NFS), are increasingly used for liver fibrosis assessment in patients with NAFLD. The aim of this study was to assess the applicability and reliability of non-invasive fibrosis scores in NAFLD patients with and without morbid obesity.

Methods: Three hundred sixty-eight patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD identified between January 2012 and December 2015 were studied; 225 with morbid obesity (biopsy obtained during bariatric surgery) and 143 patients without (termed as "conventional").

Evolution of liver stiffness and post-treatment surveillance by liver elastography for HCV patients in the DAA era.

Objective: Baseline liver stiffness (LS) is prognostically relevant in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection but may change after successful HCV eradication. Data on post-treatment LS for a further risk stratification remain scarce. Here, we study the kinetics of LS and laboratory parameters in patients undergoing HCV treatment and analyze the association of post-treatment LS with outcome parameters.

Risk factors associated with bleeding after prophylactic endoscopic variceal ligation in cirrhosis.

Background: Prophylactic endoscopic variceal band ligation (EVL) is frequently performed in patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of our study was to identify factors associated with early upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) in cirrhosis patients after prophylactic EVL.

Methods: 787 nonemergency EVLs performed in 444 patients in two German University medical centers were analyzed retrospectively.

Treatment and re-treatment results of HCV patients in the DAA era.

Background: Re-treatment in patients with a chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and a previous failure to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment remains a challenge. Therefore, we investigated the success rate of treatment and re-treatment regimens used at our center from October 2011 to March 2018.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of DAA-based HCV therapies of 1096 patients was conducted.

Reinfection With the Hepatitis C Virus in Men Who Have Sex With Men After Successful Treatment With Direct-acting Antivirals in Germany: Current Incidence Rates, Compared With Rates During the Interferon Era.

Background: Micro-elimination of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) includes treatment in populations at risk of ongoing HCV transmission, such as men who have sex with men (MSM) or people who inject drugs (PWID). We analyzed the HCV reinfection incidence rates of participants in the German hepatitis C cohort (GECCO) and compared our data to previous findings from the interferon era.

Methods: Patients with HCV reinfections in the multi-centric GECCO cohort were compared to patients in whom no reinfection occurred.

The impact of individual patient data in a network meta-analysis: An investigation into parameter estimation and model selection.

The use of individual patient data (IPD) in network meta-analysis (NMA) is becoming increasingly popular. However, as most studies do not report IPD, most NMAs are performed using aggregate data for at least some, if not all, of the studies. We investigate the benefits of including varying proportions of IPD studies in an NMA.

Time trend of reported cases and publications: hepatitis E in comparison to hepatitis A - D in Germany from 2001 to 2016.

Background: The frequency of autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Western countries has increased since the millennium, probably due to a higher awareness for HEV. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological situation and regional distribution of HEV in comparison to hepatitis A - D in Germany.

Methods: Data of the reported cases, patients' travel histories, and the regional distribution of hepatitis A - E virus infections from 2001 to 2017 were extracted from databases of the Robert Koch Institute.

Chronic pancreatitis in patients with liver cirrhosis negatively affects graft survival after liver transplantation.

Background: Limited data exists concerning the coincidence of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and liver cirrhosis with respect to the patient outcome after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for graft loss after liver transplantation and to evaluate the impact of CP on graft survival.

Methods: We analyzed the data of 421 cirrhotic patients who underwent evaluation for primary liver transplantation from January 2007 to January 2014.

Real-world effectiveness of sofosbuvir-based treatment regimens for chronic hepatitis C genotype 3 infection: Results from the multicenter German hepatitis C cohort (GECCO-03).

There are limited data regarding the real world effectiveness of direct acting antivirals (DAA) for the therapy of chronic genotype 3 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. All HCV genotype 3 infected patients from the German hepatitis C cohort (GECCO), which is a prospective database of nine German hepatitis C treatment centers, were included in the study. Three hundred forty-two chronically infected HCV genotype 3 patients were analyzed (253 males [74.

Factors associated with long-term survival after liver transplantation: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: To identify predictive factors associated with long-term patient and graft survival (> 15 years) in liver transplant recipients.

Methods: Medical charts of all adult liver transplant recipients ( = 140) who were transplanted in Hamburg between 1997 and 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. In total, 155 transplantations were identified in this time period (15 re-transplantations).

Acute Hepatitis E: Two Sides of the Same Coin.

The relevance of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections has been underestimated for a long time. In the past, HEV infection had been interpreted falsely as a disease limited to the tropics until the relevance of autochthonous HEV infections in the Western world became overt. Due to increased awareness, the incidence of diagnosed autochthonous HEV infections (predominantly genotype 3) in industrialized countries has risen within the last decade.

Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir for 8 Weeks for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection in HCV-Monoinfected and HIV-HCV-Coinfected Individuals: Results From the German Hepatitis C Cohort (GECCO-01).

Background: Shortening the duration of treatment with HCV direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) leads to substantial cost reductions. According to the label, sofosbuvir and ledipasvir can be prescribed for 8 weeks (SL8) in noncirrhotic women or men with HCV genotype 1 and low viral loads. However, real-world data about the efficacy and safety of SL8 are largely missing.

Effect of antiviral therapy for HCV on lipid levels.

Background: HCV has complex interactions with human lipid metabolism leading to down regulation of cholesterol levels. Interferon (IFN) therapy has been shown to decrease cholesterol even further. With the availability of second-generation direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) the effect of suppressing and eliminating HCV on lipid metabolism warrants reevaluation.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with excessive calorie intake rather than a distinctive dietary pattern.

We aimed to assess the dietary patterns associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the efficacy of dietary interventions in a real-life setting at a tertiary medical center in Northern Germany.Clinical and laboratory data as well as data obtained by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire of 55 consecutive patients diagnosed with NAFLD were compared to an age and gender-matched cohort of 88 healthy individuals by univariate analysis. The efficacy of the dietary intervention was assessed in a subgroup of 24 NAFLD patients 6 months after receiving dietary advice.

Infections complicating severe alcoholic hepatitis: Enterococcus species represent the most frequently identified pathogen.

Background: Patients with acute alcoholic steatohepatitis are at a high risk for infections. To date, neither disease-specific pathogen patterns, nor typical sites of infection, nor antibiotic treatment strategies have been established for AH.

Aims: To characterize incidence of infections, pathogen spectrum, sites of infection, and related mortality of patients with AH under steroid therapy.

Efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-based triple therapy in hepatitis C genotype 4 infection.

Background: There are only limited data on sofosbuvir-based treatment regimens in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4-infected patients.

Aims: To evaluate safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir-based triple-therapy in HCV genotype 4 infection.

Methods: All HCV genotype 4-infected patients who started sofosbuvir-based triple-therapy at our two centres between January and June 2014 were prospectively included (N=24) and compared to genotype 4 patients treated with peginterferon/ribavirin between January 2001 and December 2012 (N=63).

High Rate of Cardiac Abnormalities in a Postmortem Analysis of Patients Suffering From Liver Cirrhosis.

Background: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is a recently defined cardiac disorder in patients with end-stage liver disease. The frequency and exact manifestations of cardiac changes in liver cirrhosis is unknown.

Goals: We aim to describe cardiac changes in a large autopsy study of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Safety and efficacy of protease inhibitor based combination therapy in a single-center "real-life" cohort of 110 patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 infection.

Background: The combination of boceprevir or telaprevir with peginterferon-alfa and ribavirin for the treatment of patients infected with HCV genotype 1 has led to significantly increased rates of sustained virological response (SVR) in phase III trials. There is only limited data regarding the safety and efficacy in a "real-life" cohort.

Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 110 unselected HCV patients who started triple therapy from September 2011 to February 2013 by chart review with focus on the individual course of treatment, complications and outcome.

Prediction of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic ascites by a simple scoring system.

Background And Aims: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a life-threatening complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of this prospective study was to identify predictors of SBP in order to develop a noninvasive method to identify or exclude an episode of SBP.

Patients And Methods: Three hundred and ninety-two consecutive patients, who underwent paracentesis from March 2008 through January 2012 in our department due to cirrhotic ascites, were screened.