Hepatology

Android fat deposition tied to increased NAFLD, fibrosis prevalence in women

09 Jun 2022

An android fat deposition pattern, independent of body mass index (BMI), appears to predict higher odds of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in both men and women, but its effect on fibrosis is only seen in females, suggests a US study.

Hepatitis E virus resistant to most alcohol-based disinfectants

Stephen Padilla, 08 Jun 2022

Alcohols and alcohol-based disinfectants are not strong enough to eliminate the hepatitis E virus (HEV), except for one commercial ethanol-based product that has phosphoric acid, a study has shown. This finding may help develop measures to reduce transmission in clinical practice.

Noninvasive tests can predict liver complications in NAFLD patients

03 Jun 2022

Blood test fibrosis-4 (FIB4) and vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) can accurately classify patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) who are at risk of liver-related events (LREs), suggests a recent study.

Treating alcohol abuse cuts hepatitis readmission rates

Tristan Manalac, 03 Jun 2022

Counselling for alcohol dependence and abuse can help reduce the 30-day readmission rates for alcoholic hepatitis (AH), according to a study presented at the recently concluded 2022 Digestive Disease Week (DDW 2022).

Reducing risks and improving long-term outcomes in patients with CHB

Prof. Vincent Wong, Prof. Ray Kim, Dr. Tan Poh Seng, 10 Sep 2019

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major public health concern because of its worldwide distribution and potential adverse sequelae, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). At a recent symposium held during the GIHep Singapore 2019, Professor Vincent Wong from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Professor Ray Kim from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, US, discussed antiviral treatments for CHB, with a focus on the novel agent tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy®). Dr Tan Poh Seng from the National University Hospital, Singapore, chaired the symposium.

Relationship between tumour response to systemic therapy and overall survival in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Dr Raghav Sundar, 09 Sep 2019

Overall survival (OS) is currently the primary criteria in assessing the efficacy of a cancer treatment. Dr Raghav Sundar, a consultant medical oncologist at the National University Hospital, Singapore, details the crucial role played by tumour response in evaluating treatment efficacy, with a focus on the multiple kinase inhibitor lenvatinib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

STRIDE regimen boosts OS in unresectable HCC

Roshini Claire Anthony, 25 Feb 2022

The addition of tremelimumab to durvalumab (STRIDE regimen) in the first-line setting improved overall survival (OS) compared with sorafenib in patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to results of the phase III HIMALAYA trial.

Lenvatinib-TACE combo a new first-line treatment alternative for advanced liver cancer?

Audrey Abella, 23 Feb 2022

In individuals with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and lenvatinib as first-line treatment led to improved survival outcomes as opposed to lenvatinib monotherapy, according to findings of the phase III LAUNCH* trial.

Study offers clues on which patients may safely stop HBV therapy

Elvira Manzano, 15 Dec 2021

Think twice before withdrawing HBV treatment. Not all patients can safely discontinue nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy as shown in the retrospective RETRACT-B study of patients from Europe, North America, and Asia.

Increased serum iron may hint at HCC risk in NAFLD patients

Roshini Claire Anthony, 07 Dec 2021

Increased serum iron or transferrin saturation levels in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may point to an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study presented at The Liver Meeting Digital Experience™.

Switching to TAF helps improve virologic response in HBV patients in real world

Pearl Toh, 06 Dec 2021

Switching to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) from nucleos(t)ide analogue therapies was associated with improved virologic response and liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, even in those with decompensated HBV cirrhosis, according to real-world studies presented at AASLD 2021.

Interim findings boost therapeutic potential of lanifibranor for NASH

Audrey Abella, 06 Dec 2021

The pan-PPAR* agonist lanifibranor further advances into the NASH** treatment field, as more data from the phase IIb NATIVE*** study presented at AASLD 2021 unveil further histologic and therapeutic benefits for patients with NASH.