Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and chronic pancreatitis in chronic alcoholic liver disease: coincidence or shared toxicity?

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and to analyze the possible associated factors.

Methods: This is an analytical observational study of cases and controls for a sample of patients with chronic alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was diagnosed using the C mixed-triglyceride breath test.

Efficacy of a hepatitis B vaccination schedule with two cycles of four double doses of conventional vaccine and four doses of adjuvanted vaccine in chronic kidney disease patients evaluated for renal transplantation.

Introduction: The response to hepatitis B (HB) vaccine remains suboptimal among chronic kidney disease patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of a hepatitis B vaccination schedule with two 4-double doses of conventional vaccine and four doses of adjuvant vaccine in chronic kidney disease patients evaluated for renal transplantation.

Methods: In this prospective study, we recruited chronic kidney disease patients evaluated for renal transplantation to receive four 40-μg doses of hepatitis B virus vaccine (0, 1, 2 and 6 months) and another four 40 μg doses of hepatitis B virus vaccine and four 20 μg doses of adjuvant vaccine if they were nonresponders.

Management of HCV infection in chronic kidney disease.

The prevalence of chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with chronic kidney disease is higher than in the general population. The estimated prevalence is 13% in haemodialysis, with wide variations geographically and between units in the same country. A liver biopsy is a useful tool for deciding whether to start antiviral therapy and to exclude concomitant causes of liver dysfunction.