The natural history of HCV-related cirrhosis and its temporal progression across the different clinical stages.

Purpose: The clinical course of hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis and its temporal progression across the different clinical stages has not been completely investigated. Our study evaluated the cumulative incidences (CIs) of clinical outcomes marking disease progression across the different clinical stages.

Methods: At baseline, 660 patients were classified as compensated [absence (294), or presence (108) of gastroesophageal varices] or decompensated [ascites (144), variceal bleeding alone (45) or in combination with ascites (17) and encephalopathy alone or together with bleeding and/or ascites (52)].

Arterial blood pressure is closely related to ascites development in compensated HCV-related cirrhosis.

Background: Arterial blood pressure (BP) is a reliable marker of circulatory dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. There are no prospective studies evaluating the association between different levels of arterial BP and ascites development in compensated cirrhotic patients. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between arterial BP and ascites development in compensated cirrhotic patients.

The natural history of compensated HCV-related cirrhosis: a prospective long-term study.

Background & Aims: The natural history of HCV-related compensated cirrhosis has been poorly investigated in Latin-American countries. Our study evaluated mortality and clinical outcomes in compensated cirrhotic patients followed for 6 years.

Methods: Four hundred and two patients with compensated HCV-related cirrhosis were prospectively recruited in a tertiary care academic center.

Viusid, a nutritional supplement, increases survival and reduces disease progression in HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis: a randomised and controlled trial.

Objectives: Viusid is a nutritional supplement with recognised antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties which could have beneficial effects on cirrhosis-related clinical outcomes such as survival, disease progression and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of viusid in patients with HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis.

Design: A randomised double-blind and placebo-controlled study was conducted in a tertiary care academic centre (National Institute of Gastroenterology, Havana, Cuba).