Sofosbuvir in Combination with Simeprevir +/- Ribavirin in Genotype 4 Hepatitis C Patients with Advanced Fibrosis or Cirrhosis: A Real-World Experience from Belgium.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major global health issue and successful treatment has been associated with a reduction of risk of all-cause mortality. Advancements have been made in HCV treatment through the use of interferon-free regimens. Most trials have been conducted in HCV genotype (GT) 1 and data for interferon-free regimens in GT4 patients are limited.

Antithrombotic treatment with direct-acting oral anticoagulants in patients with splanchnic vein thrombosis and cirrhosis.

Background: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are used in patients with splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) and cirrhosis, but evidence for safety and efficacy in this setting is limited. Our aim was to identify indications and reasons for starting or switching to DOACs and to report adverse effects, complications and short-term outcome.

Methods: Data collection including demographic information, laboratory values, treatment and complications through the Vascular Liver Disease Interest Group Consortium.

Intensive Enteral Nutrition Is Ineffective for Patients With Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis Treated With Corticosteroids.

Background & Aims: Severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a life-threatening disease for which adequate oral nutritional support is recommended. We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine whether the combination of corticosteroid and intensive enteral nutrition therapy is more effective than corticosteroid therapy alone in patients with severe AH.

Methods: We enrolled 136 heavy consumers of alcohol (age, 18-75 y) with recent onset of jaundice and biopsy-proven severe AH in our study, performed at 18 hospitals in Belgium and 2 in France, from February 2010 through February 2013.

Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in Belgium: similarities and differences in epidemics and initial management.

Introduction: Nationwide studies comparing patients with hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections are mandatory for assessing changes in epidemiology.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare epidemiological data and initial management of newly diagnosed patients with persistent HBV (HBsAg positive) or HCV (detectable HCV RNA) infection in Belgium.

Patients And Methods: Data were extracted from two Belgian observational databases.

HBV infection in Belgium: results of the BASL observatory of 1,456 HBsAg carriers.

Introduction: Nationwide studies are mandatory to assess changes in the epidemiology of HBV infection in Europe.

Aim: To describe epidemiological characteristics of HBsAg-positive patients, especially inactive carriers, and to evaluate how practitioners manage HBV patients in real life.

Methods: Belgian physicians were asked to report all chronically infected HBV patients during a one-year period.

Enteral nutrition with or without N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of severe acute alcoholic hepatitis: a randomized multicenter controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Severe acute alcoholic hepatitis is associated with a high mortality rate. Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of acute alcoholic hepatitis. Previous findings had also suggested that enteral nutritional support might increase survival in patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis.

Impaired fibrinolysis as a risk factor for Budd-Chiari syndrome.

In Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), thrombosis develops in the hepatic veins or inferior vena cava. To study the relationship between hypofibrinolysis and BCS, we measured plasma levels of fibrinolysis proteins in 101 BCS patients and 101 healthy controls and performed a plasma-based clot lysis assay. In BCS patients, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) levels were significantly higher than in controls (median, 6.

Acute portal vein thrombosis unrelated to cirrhosis: a prospective multicenter follow-up study.

Unlabelled: Current recommendations for early anticoagulation in acute portal vein thrombosis unrelated to cirrhosis or malignancy are based on limited evidence. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the risk factors, outcome, and prognosis in patients managed according to these recommendations. We enrolled 102 patients with acute thrombosis of the portal vein, or its left or right branch.

Etiology, management, and outcome of the Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Background: The Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is hepatic venous outflow obstruction. What is known about the syndrome is based on small studies of prevalent cases.

Objective: To characterize the causes and treatment of incident BCS.

What is the optimal duration of therapy in patients with hepatitis C genotype 2 or 3 infection?: a review.

Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is the standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C (HCV). Even if genotype 2 and 3 patients only request a treatment of 24 weeks, this treatment remains very costly and difficult to tolerate due to numerous side effects. Recently several studies focused on the possibility of further reducing treatment duration in chronic HCV genotype 2 and 3 patients without compromising sustained virological response (SVR).

Clinicopathological forms and prognostic index in Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Background: A recent study in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome showed the value of a prognostic index including age, Pugh score, ascites and serum creatinine. Surgical portosystemic shunt did not appear to improve survival.

Aims: To validate these findings in an independent sample; to evaluate a classification into three forms according to the presence of features of acute injury, chronic lesions, or both of them (types I, II or III, respectively); and to assess whether taking into account this classification would alter our previous conclusions.

Evolution of hypoxemia in patients with severe cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Hypoxemia is common in patients with cirrhosis but the natural history of this syndrome is unknown. The aim of this study was to follow a series of patients with cirrhosis and to compare patients with and without hypoxemia to determine their risk of complications and survival rate.

Methods: Fifty-eight consecutive Child-Pugh C patients with cirrhosis were included and followed up for 1-18 months.