Correction to: Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The article Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma, written by Byung-Han Rhieu, Amol K. Narang and Jeffrey Meyer, was originally published electronically on the publisher ’s internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on 16 October 2018 without open access. (Source: Current Hepatitis Reports)
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - September 15, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
The Role of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) and Other Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in the Management of Chronic Hepatitis B
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo provide a review and update of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches to the management of chronic hepatitis B, with particular emphasis upon traditional Chinese medicines (TCM).Recent FindingsThe major findings are as follows: (1) TCMs were better than interferons [IFN] in lowering serum HBeAg and normalizing serum ALT, and equivalent to IFN in clearing serum HBV DNA; (2) TCMs were equivalent to lamivudine [LAM] in lowering serum HBeAg, normalizing serum ALT, and clearing serum HBV DNA; (3) TCMs along with IFN or LAM significantly lowered serum HBeAg and improved the clearance ...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - August 5, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Strategies for Global Elimination of Chronic HBV Infection: 2019 Update
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWith just over a decade to go before the WHO 2030 hepatitis elimination targets, this review takes a global perspective at the major challenges standing in the way of hepatitis B virus (HBV) elimination and discusses potential innovative solutions on the horizon for use in high burden settings.Recent FindingsUniversal HBV infant vaccination has been an incredible success. However, in order to reach the elimination targets, efforts now need to urgently focus on scaling up HBV prevention of mother-to-child (PMTCT) interventions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and increasing population level testi...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - August 4, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Drug-Induced Liver Injury Due to Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
AbstractPurpose of ReviewNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a heterogeneous group of medications intended to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. While they are generally regarded as safe and most known for their potential gastrointestinal and renal side effects, cases of hepatotoxicity have been reported. This review summarizes the US and international literature regarding the incidence of NSAID-induced DILI and the biochemical signature of specific NSAIDs.Recent FindingsMultiple studies have identified diclofenac as one of the more common culprits of NSAID-induced DILI. A genetic predisposition to DIL...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - August 1, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Role of HBsAg Testing in the Management of Patients with Chronic HBV
AbstractPurpose of ReviewHBsAg has been an important serological marker for the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Recently, HBsAg quantification has been utilized to predict the disease activity and the response to antiviral treatment. This review aims to update the clinical utility of HBsAg quantification in the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Recent FindingsHBsAg level varies across different phases of the natural history of CHB, highest in the immune-tolerant phase and lowest in inactive carriers. HBsAg level is useful to stratify the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in low-viremic patients. HBsAg ...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 30, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Bone Disease in Patients with Chronic HBV Infection
AbstractPurpose of ReviewChronic hepatitis B (CHB) and treatment may be associated with increased risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Here, we review the prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis among patients with CHB and the effect of antiviral therapy on bone density. We also highlight screening and management strategies for bone disease among patients with CHB.Recent FindingsWhile there are concerns with first-line antiviral therapy such as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in the development of osteopenia/osteoporosis, the available data remain rather unclear. However, with the development of tenofovir alafenamide, these concer...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 30, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
The Role of Liver Biopsy in Drug-Induced Liver Injury
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review presents the current understanding of the role played by liver biopsy in the diagnosis and management of drug-induced liver injury (DILI).Recent FindingsWhile liver biopsy remains an optional procedure in the evaluation of DILI, it has the potential to provide detailed information about the state of the liver. Recent histological surveys of DILI provide a framework for categorizing the patterns of injury that may be seen. Pattern information can be used to distinguish DILI from other potential causes of injury, both other acute injuries as well as pre-existing injury. The pattern of inj...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 29, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Chronic Hepatitis B in US Veterans
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review summarizes recent data on chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) epidemiology, issues in special populations undergoing immunosuppressive and hepatitis C virus (HCV) direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, and describes care delivery, adherence to guideline-recommended care, and barriers to access to care and high-quality care for chronic HBV.Recent FindingsChronic HBV is present in up to 1% of veterans and is more than in the general US population. HBV is associated with more advanced liver disease in HCV, HIV, and delta hepatitis co-infection. Recent data on HBV reactivation show a substantia...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 28, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Regional and Racial Differences in Drug-Induced Liver Injury
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo summarize the growing epidemiologic and genetic data that suggest racial and regional differences in drug-induced liver injury (DILI).Recent FindingsSeveral registries and population-based studies report incidence data across continents from 2 to 24 per 100,000 with China reporting the highest incidence estimate. The agents causing DILI vary by race and region as well. Hepatotoxicity from herbal and dietary supplement is on the rise globally with China reporting the highest levels. Genome-wide association studies are beginning to shed light on racial genetic and HLA variants which may determine ...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 23, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Community-Based Strategies to Improve Screening, Diagnosis and Linkage to Care for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B
AbstractPurpose of ReviewChronic hepatitis B (CHB) places 3.5% of the world population at risk of dying from liver failure or liver cancer. Effective antiviral therapies can change disease outcomes, provided that CHB screening and linkage to care can be delivered at population level, to reach the vast numbers of undiagnosed people. We therefore reviewed the experience of community-based CHB screening programs reported in the English literature since 2014.Recent FindingsTwenty papers met eligibility criteria and only one originated from a low-income country. The two randomised studies found that culturally tailored hepatiti...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 23, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Management of Virologic Failure in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Treated with Nucleos(t)ide Analogues
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewPoorly controlled hepatitis B increases the risk for liver-related morbidity. Although there are now six approved nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), drug resistance and thus virologic breakthrough still exist. This review outlines a systematic approach to the management of virologic failure in patients with CHB treated with NAs.Recent FindingsCurrent NAs can be divided into older generation and newer generation agents, with newer generation agents associated with lower rates of virologic breakthrough. Both tenofovir dipovoxil fumarate (TDF) and tenofovi...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 21, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Economic Analyses to Inform and Support Health Policy for Chronic Hepatitis B Treatment
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSummarize insights into the economic impact of global hepatitis B treatment policies.Recent FindingsWith the highly effective antiviral treatment, entecavir and recently tenofovir, coming off patent, hepatitis B treatment is now very inexpensive and may save costs in the long run. In the USA alone, dramatic increases in screening and treatment would prevent between 80 and 100 thousand cases of cirrhosis, 50 and 60 thousand cases of liver cancer, and 80 to 100 thousand HBV-related deaths over the next 50 years.SummaryCost-effectiveness analyses can provide information in the form of what a proper ...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 21, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Global Epidemiology of Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI)
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDrug-induced liver injury (DILI) is not an uncommon liver disease in many parts of the world. DILI is one of the most common causes of acute liver failure in most countries. The current review summarizes the global epidemiology of DILI.Recent FindingsThe number need to harm in terms of DILI due to amoxicillin-clavulanate was approximately 1 out 2300, but was higher for azathioprine (1 out of 133) and infliximab (1 out of 148). A retrospective Chinese study showed the highest rate of DILI in hospitalized patients with an incidence of approximately 24 patients per 100,000 annually with a more favorab...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 15, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Bile Duct Injury Due to Drug-Induced Liver Injury
AbstractPurpose of ReviewDrug-induced liver injury (DILI) can present with a variable clinical and pathological phenotype and can be classified using liver enzymes as hepatocellular, cholestatic, or a mixed pattern. The cholestatic pattern has been considered amongst the spectrum of direct liver damage at the microscopic level, but recently, bile duct injury, as a manifestation of DILI, has emerged as a distinct entity, and this review examines several examples of biliary tract abnormalities due to DILI from a clinical, radiologic, and pathologic perspective.Recent FindingsCase series and reports have emerged over the last...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - July 14, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Management of Fatigue in Primary Biliary Cholangitis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewFatigue in primary biliary cholangitis patients is a frequently encountered and often debilitating symptom. With no currently approved drug therapies available to target fatigue as a symptom, managing these patients can be very challenging in a day-to-day clinical practise. We have critically appraised currently available evidence on various pharmacological agents trialled in the management of fatigue in PBC.Recent FindingsMost recently, a randomised controlled trial from Newcastle group using Rituximab in high fatigue patients has shown equivocal results for the improvement of fatigue, with a sign...
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - May 22, 2019 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
