Predictive Algorithm for Hepatic Steatosis Detection Using Elastography Data in the Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Records.

Background And Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has reached pandemic proportions. Early detection can identify at-risk patients who can be linked to hepatology care. The vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is biopsy validated to diagnose hepatic steatosis (HS).

Long-term outcomes with oral therapy in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis B.

Background: The long-term impact of oral hepatitis B antiviral therapy in liver transplant (LT) recipients is currently underexplored. The objective of this study was to evaluate how oral antiviral agents impact long-term renal function in this population.

Methods: We studied 79 patients who received a LT for hepatitis B and were placed on all-oral antiviral therapy after withdrawing from hepatitis B immune globulin therapy at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Race affects SVR12 in a large and ethnically diverse hepatitis C-infected patient population following treatment with direct-acting antivirals: Analysis of a single-center Department of Veterans Affairs cohort.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease. HCV cure has been linked to improved patient outcomes. In the era of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), HCV cure has become the goal, as defined by sustained virological response 12 weeks (SVR12) after completion of therapy.

Outcomes in Adults With Acute Liver Failure Between 1998 and 2013: An Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare syndrome of severe, rapid-onset hepatic dysfunction-without prior advanced liver disease-that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Intensive care and liver transplantation provide support and rescue, respectively.

Objective: To determine whether changes in causes, disease severity, treatment, or 21-day outcomes have occurred in recent years among adult patients with ALF referred to U.

The cost of screening esophageal varices: traditional endoscopy versus computed tomography.

Objective: Under current guidelines, patients diagnosed with cirrhosis are to undergo initial and continued screening endoscopy for esophageal varices throughout the course of disease. Recent literature suggests that computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen is adequately sensitive for detecting grade 3 varices, those in need of immediate intervention. This study presents a cost comparison of traditional endoscopy versus CT of the abdomen.

Health-related quality of life predicts mortality in patients with advanced chronic liver disease.

Background & Aims: It is well-established that cirrhosis negatively impacts health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, it is less clear how to use this information in everyday clinical practice. If HRQOL predicted survival in cirrhosis, then measuring HRQOL would have important clinical implications.

Is it cost-effective to treat recurrent hepatitis C infection in orthotopic liver transplantation patients?

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurs in the allograft almost universally after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), with a variable course ranging from mild hepatitis to frank cirrhosis. The uncertain prognosis after OLT has lead to widely increased use of antiviral therapy in the post-OLT setting. We compared two scenarios (antiviral therapy versus no antiviral therapy) using a Markov-based decision analytic model to simulate costs and health outcomes for recurrent HCV in three age and sex cohorts of post-OLT patients.