Noninvasive Assessment of Fibrosis Regression after Direct-acting Antiviral Treatment in Hepatitis C Virus Patients.

Background: New direct acting antiviral agent (DAA) therapies are associated with a high sustained virological response rate (SVR) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. The understanding of the impact of SVR on fibrosis stage is limited.

Objectives: To determine the effect of treatment with the DAAs on long-term liver fibrosis stages, as determined by shear-wave elastography (SWE) or FibroTest.

The Role of Liver Segment-to-Spleen Volume Ratio in the Staging of Hepatic Fibrosis in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Background: Accurate assessment of liver fibrosis is crucial for the management of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of liver segment-to-spleen volume ratio in predicting the severity of liver fibrosis.

Methods: Sixty-four consecutive HCV patients were enrolled in this retrospective study.

HCV genotype-1 subtypes and resistance-associated substitutions in drug-naive and in direct-acting antiviral treatment failure patients.

Background: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment regimens and response rates of patients with HCV genotype-1 (GT1) are currently considered subtype-dependent. Identification of clinically relevant resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) in the NS3 and NS5A proteins at baseline and in DAA failures, may also impact clinical decisions.

Methods: In a multicentre cohort study (n=308), NS3 or NS5B sequencing (n=248) was used to discriminate between GT1 subtypes.

Positive antimitochondrial antibody but normal serum alkaline phosphatase levels: Could it be primary biliary cholangitis?

Aim: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease, typically diagnosed by elevated cholestatic liver enzymes and a positive antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) test. The clinical significance of AMA positivity in patients with normal cholestatic liver enzymes is uncertain.

Methods: Charts of patients with normal cholestatic liver enzymes and AMA positivity who underwent liver biopsy between 2012 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.

Inflammatory bowel disease: an emergent disease among Ethiopian Jews migrating to Israel.

Background: The development and characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel were investigated.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in 7 tertiary care hospitals in Israel. Patients of Ethiopian origin with IBD >6 months were included.

Prognosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis in israel is independent of coexisting inflammatory bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare chronic progressive cholestatic disorder. We assessed its characteristics and natural history in Israel and compared its outcome with respect to coexisting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Data on characteristics, course and outcome were retrospectively retrieved on patients diagnosed with PSC from five large Israeli medical centers between 1988 and 2012.