Characteristics of patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver diseases just before the era of oral direct-acting antiviral therapy in Italy.

Background: In 2017, oral direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection became available free of charge for all HCV-RNA-positive patients, irrespective of their fibrosis stage.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of HCV-related chronic liver disease (CLD) in Italy just before the introduction of DAA therapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients with CLD were enrolled in two national surveys conducted in 2001 and in 2014.

Gender differences in chronic liver diseases in two cohorts of 2001 and 2014 in Italy.

Background: Gender differences in chronic liver disease (CLD) have been partially investigated. To extend the present knowledge, we evaluated 12,263 patients with CLD enrolled in two national surveys (9997 in 2001 and 2557 in 2014).

Methods: The two surveys prospectively recruited patients aged ≥ 18 referring to Italian liver units throughout the country using a similar clinical approach and analytical methods.

Influence of universal HBV vaccination on chronic HBV infection in Italy: Results of a cross-sectional multicenter study.

Background And Aim: The universal hepatitis B vaccination for infants and 12-year-old adolescents (the latter limited to the first 12 years of application) was launched in Italy in 1991. Twenty-three years later we evaluated the impact of the vaccination campaign on the burden of HBsAg-positive chronic liver diseases (CLD).

Material And Methods: A total of 513 HBsAg-positive chronic carriers referring to 16 Italian liver units were investigated and compared with HBsAg carriers enrolled in previous surveys.

Epidemiological and clinical scenario of chronic liver diseases in Italy: Data from a multicenter nationwide survey.

Background: The last Italian prevalence survey on chronic liver diseases (CLD) was performed in 2001. The present study evaluated the changes occurring over thirteen years.

Methods: We enrolled 2,557 CLD consecutive patients in 16 Italian liver units in 2014.

12 weeks of interferon-based therapy is feasible in patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia: A post hoc analysis of eltrombopag studies.

Background: A 24-48-week course of interferon-based therapy poorly tolerated in hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis patients with thrombocytopenia. Aim of the study was to identify patients at low-risk of liver-related complications over a 12-week course of interferon-based therapy.

Methods: We assessed the rate of complications and death during the first 12 weeks of interferon-based therapy in HCV cirrhotics with thrombocytopenia (platelets ≤75×10(9)/L) enrolled in the ENABLE-1 and -2 phase 3 randomised controlled trials.