Liver and Biliary Tract Disease in Patients with Coronavirus disease-2019 Infection.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) had become a global pandemic since March 2020. Although, the most common presentation is of pulmonary involvement, hepatic abnormalities can be encountered in up to 50% of infected individuals, which may be associated with disease severity, and the mechanism of liver injury is thought to be multifactorial. Guidelines for management in patients with chronic liver disease during COVID-19 era are being regularly updated.

Coronavirus disease 2019 gastrointestinal and liver manifestations in adults: A review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an important health problem that has a serious adverse impact on the global economy and healthcare systems. The virus is not only involved in the respiratory system, but also causes other systemic effects as well as several gastrointestinal and liver issues. Evidence has shown direct viral invasion into the gastrointestinal tissue and supporting vascular network, causing various manifestations such as diarrhea, nausea, gastrointestinal bleeding, and abnormal liver function tests.

COVID-19 and the Liver: Lessons Learnt from the EAST and the WEST, A Year Later.

Globally, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus) has been a major cause for significant morbidity and mortality. Since the start of the pandemic, several hepato-biliary manifestations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been described and unique considerations raised. The review aims to summarize the pathogenesis and hepato-biliary manifestations in COVID-19 and discuss the similarities, contrasting features and disease-specific management across a range of hepato-biliary diseases from the EAST and the WEST.

Predictors, Presentation, and Treatment Outcomes of Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation: A Large Single Center Experience.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is an accepted therapeutic option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis. Despite careful candidate selection, HCC recurrence occurs. We aimed to describe the predictors of recurrence, clinical presentation, and predictors of survival after HCC recurrence post-LT.

Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation: What Is the Issue, and How Should It Be Managed?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in the background of cleared and overt chronic HBV infection, can be seen in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents. Risk of reactivation is variably associated with HBV serologic status and types of immunosuppressive therapy. Prevention of HBV reactivation by antiviral prophylaxis is an effective strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality in those with immunocompromised states.

Fungal and Parasitic Infections of the Liver.

Hepatosplenic candidiasis and other fungal infections of the liver are uncommon in healthy individuals; however, high index of suspicion is essential in immunocompromised patients with prolonged fever. Parasitic infections are protozoan or helminthic; their distribution and epidemiology are variable among different world regions. Clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, fascioliasis, and ascariasis are helminthic infections that commonly involve the biliary systems.

Hepatitis C virus therapy in advanced liver disease: Outcomes and challenges.

While for many years investigators had worked on highly effective direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA) therapy, we are now encountering challenges on the appropriate timing of DAA therapy in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Improvement in hepatic function and quality of life can be achieved following successful therapy but not in all patients. Predictors of improvement or failure to improve have been noted but these are currently not robust enough to ubiquitously apply them to clinical practice.

Infections in Cirrhosis.

Purpose Of Review: Patients with cirrhosis are at high risk of developing serious infections. Bacterial infections remain the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. This review is focused on the prevalence of infections in those with cirrhosis, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, pathogenesis of infection-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), current treatment recommendations, and prophylactic strategies in patients with cirrhosis.