Recurrent alcohol-associated hepatitis is common and is associated with increased mortality.

Background And Aims: Alcohol relapse after surviving an episode of alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is common. However, the clinical features, risk factors, and prognostic implications of recurrent alcohol-associated hepatitis (RAH) are not well described.

Approach And Results: A registry-based study was done of patients admitted to 28 Spanish hospitals for an episode of AH between 2014 and 2021.

Further decompensation in cirrhosis: Results of a large multicenter cohort study supporting Baveno VII statements.

Background And Aims: The prognostic weight of further decompensation in cirrhosis is still unclear. We investigated the incidence of further decompensation and its effect on mortality in patients with cirrhosis.

Approach And Results: Multicenter cohort study.

Predicting survival in patients with 'non-high-risk' acute variceal bleeding receiving β-blockers+ligation to prevent re-bleeding.

Background & Aims: Pre-emptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the treatment of choice for high-risk acute variceal bleeding (AVB; i.e., Child-Turcotte-Pugh [CTP] B8-9+active bleeding/C10-13).

Alcohol-related liver disease phenotype impacts survival after an acute variceal bleeding episode.

Background & Aims: Alcohol-related hepatitis (AH) encompasses a high mortality. AH might be a concomitant event in patients with acute variceal bleeding (AVB). The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of AH in patients with AVB and to compare the clinical outcomes of AH patients to other alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) phenotypes and viral cirrhosis.

Follow-up evaluation of patients with liver test abnormalities detected during SARS-CoV2 infection.

Abnormal liver function tests (A-LFTs) during admission for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) are frequent, but its evolution after COVID-19 resolution remains unexplored. We evaluated factors related to A-LFTs during COVID-19 and assessed the liver outcome after patients' discharge. This is a observational study including: (1) retrospective analysis of variables related to A-LFTs during COVID-19; and (2) follow-up evaluation with blood test, transient elastography and liver biopsy in those with persistent A-LFTs.

Effect of rifaximin on infections, acute-on-chronic liver failure and mortality in alcoholic hepatitis: A pilot study (RIFA-AH).

Background & Aims: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is associated with a high incidence of infection and mortality. Rifaximin reduces bacterial overgrowth and translocation. We aimed to study whether the administration of rifaximin as an adjuvant treatment to corticosteroids decreases the number of bacterial infections at 90 days in patients with severe AH compared to a control cohort.

On-therapy HBsAg kinetics can predict HBsAg loss after nucleos(t)ide analogues interruption in HBeAg-negative patients. The cup is half full and half empty.

Background: Nucleos(t)ide analogues withdrawal may improve HBsAg loss rates. However, conditions to select patients are not well established.

Aims: to evaluate the impact of HBsAg kinetics before treatment interruption on post-treatment response.

Effects of Albumin on Survival after a Hepatic Encephalopathy Episode: Randomized Double-Blind Trial and Meta-Analysis.

Unlabelled: No therapies have been proven to increase survival after a hepatic encephalopathy (HE) episode. We hypothesize that two doses of albumin could improve 90-day survival rates after a HE episode.

Methods: (1) A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (BETA) was conducted in 12 hospitals.

Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core-related antigen kinetics after adding pegylated-interferon to nucleos(t)ids analogues in hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients.

Background: Hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B patients under nucleos(t)ids analogues (NAs) rarely achieve hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss.

Aim: To evaluate if the addition of pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) could decrease HBsAg and hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels and increase HBsAg loss rate in patients under NAs therapy.

Methods: Prospective, non-randomized, open-label trial evaluating the combination of Peg-IFN 180 µg/week plus NAs during forty-eight weeks NAs in monotherapy.

Rebleeding and mortality risk are increased by ACLF but reduced by pre-emptive TIPS.

Background & Aims: The relationship between acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is poorly understood. Specifically, the prevalence and prognosis of ACLF in the context of AVB is unclear, while the role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the management in patients with ACLF has not been described to date.

Methods: A multicenter, international, observational study was conducted in 2,138 patients from 34 centers between 2011 and 2015.

Quantification of HBsAg to predict low levels and seroclearance in HBeAg-negative patients receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues.

Background: HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients require long-term nucleos(t)ide analogues(NAs) because loss of surface antigen (HBsAg) is unusual. Low quantitative HBsAg (qHBsAg) levels can identify patients with higher probability of seroclearance. The aim of our study was to evaluate qHBsAg in HBeAg-negative patients receiving NAs to predict a reduction of HBsAg levels and seroclearance.

Effects of alfapump™ system on kidney and circulatory function in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

The alfapump system has been proposed as a new treatment for the management of refractory ascites. The system removes ascites from the peritoneal cavity to urinary bladder, producing a continuous low-volume paracentesis. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of treatment with the alfapump™ system on kidney and circulatory function in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites.

Aplastic Anemia and Severe Myelosuppression with Boceprevir or Simeprevir-Containing Hepatitis C Virus Treatment.

The addition of the new protease inhibitors (PIs) to peg-interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RBV), approved for chronic hepatitis C, has clearly improved sustained virological response (SVR) rates although several adverse events have been reported with this regimens, including mild hematological toxicity. Moreover, severe pancytopenia and aplastic anemia during triple therapy with telaprevir has recently been described in seven patients. We report here two cases of severe agranulocytosis/aplastic anemia using boceprevir or simeprevir in interferon-based combination and 2 additional cases of severe myelosupression in IFN-free therapy with sofosbuvir and simeprevir plus RBV.

Impact of anthropometric features on the applicability and accuracy of FibroScan (M and XL) in overweight/obese patients.

Background And Aim: Transient elastography is the reference method for liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in the general population, having lower applicability in obese patients. We evaluated the applicability and diagnostic accuracy of the M and XL probes in overweight/obese patients to establish the most appropriate approach.

Methods: From May 2013 to March 2015, we evaluated patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 28 kg/m .

Correction: Neutrophil and Monocyte Function in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Undergoing Antiviral Therapy with Regimens Containing Protease Inhibitors with and without Interferon.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF®) Score Using HCV-Infected Serum Samples Cryopreserved for up to 25 Years.

Introduction & Aims: Cryopreservation of serum samples is a standard procedure for biomedical research in tertiary centers. However, studies evaluating the long-term biological stability of direct liver fibrosis markers using cryopreserved samples are scarce.

Methods: We compared the stability of hyaluronic acid (HA), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) and amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) in 225 frozen serum samples of HCV-infected patients with a paired liver biopsy for up to 25 years (1990-2014).

Neutrophil and Monocyte Function in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Undergoing Antiviral Therapy with Regimens Containing Protease Inhibitors with and without Interferon.

Real-life data showed an increased incidence of bacterial infections in patients with advanced liver disease receiving a protease inhibitor (PI)-containing antiviral regimen against hepatitis C (HCV). However, the causes of this event are unknown. We hypothesized that PIs might impair innate immune responses through the inhibition of proteases participating in the anti-bacterial functions of neutrophils and monocytes.

Drug-drug interactions of telaprevir and boceprevir in HCV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients can modify the adherence.

Background & Aims: The first generation protease inhibitors, boceprevir (BOC) and telaprevir (TVR), are both CYP3A4 inhibitors, which predispose drug-drug interactions (DDIs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of potential DDIs, the management of outpatient medication and its impact on adherence and efficacy to antiviral treatment in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients receiving BOC and TVR.

Methods: The usual medication starting with BOC or TVR was screened by the pharmacist of the multidisciplinary support programme (MSP) for potential DDIs.

The addition of a protease inhibitor increases the risk of infections in patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Antiviral therapy with interferon and ribavirin (double therapy) is associated with a significant risk of developing bacterial infections in patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis. The addition of telaprevir or boceprevir seems to increase this risk but there are no studies yet to compare the infection rate between both treatments. We aimed to assess rate, type and predictive factors of infection in cirrhotic patients undergoing triple or double antiviral therapy.

Rebleeding prophylaxis improves outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. A multicenter case-control study.

Unlabelled: Outcome of variceal bleeding (VB) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. We compared outcomes after VB in patients with and without HCC. All patients with HCC and esophageal VB admitted between 2007 and 2010 were included.

A multidisciplinary support programme increases the efficiency of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Adherence to antiviral treatment is important to achieve sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We evaluated the efficiency of a multidisciplinary support programme (MSP), based on published HIV treatment experience, to increase patient adherence and the efficacy of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin in CHC.

Methods: 447 patients receiving antiviral treatment were distributed into 3 groups: control group (2003-2004, n=147), MSP group (2005-2006, n=131), and MSP-validation group (2007-2009, n=169).

Acute hepatitis C in Spain: a retrospective study of 131 cases.

Background And Aims: The management of acute hepatitis C (AHC) is controversial. We have conducted a retrospective study to determine the epidemiological and biochemical aspects, the genotypes, the spontaneous clearance of HCV (SVC), and the treatment responses in patients with AHC.

Methods: We have retrospectively collected data from 131 patients with AHC from 18 Spanish hospitals.

Incidence and prognosis of different types of functional renal failure in cirrhotic patients with ascites.

Background & Aims: Hepatorenal syndrome is a well-characterized type of terminal renal failure that occurs in patients with cirrhosis with ascites. Information about other types of functional renal failure in these patients is scarce. We assessed the incidence and prognosis of different types of functional renal failure in cirrhotic patients with ascites and investigated prognostic factors for these disorders.