Hepatology

Artificial liver device improves outcomes, but with safety concerns

Tristan Manalac, 4 days ago

The Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS), a nonbiological artificial liver device, leads to better clinical and biological outcomes among patients receiving the intervention, according to a recent study. However, adverse events and safety concerns related to the device are common.

Low-dose IL-2 falls short of inducing transplant tolerance

26 Sep 2022

While treatment with low-dose interleukin (IL)-2 leads to the expansion of circulating regulatory T cells (Treg), it does not appear to induce allograft tolerance among liver transplant patients, reports a new study.

Vebicorvir plus Nrtl safe, well tolerated in patients with chronic HBV infection

Stephen Padilla, 16 Sep 2022

Treatment with vebicorvir (VBR) plus nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NrtIs) among virologically suppressed patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) is well tolerated and has a favourable safety profile, according to a 24-week study.

Is albumin superior to plasmalyte in cirrhosis, sepsis-induced hypotension?

13 Sep 2022

Use of 20% albumin in patients with cirrhosis and sepsis-induced hypotension results in faster improvement in haemodynamics and lactate clearance than plasmalyte, but 28-day survival is similar, according to a study.

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 benefit in unresectable HCC consistent across baseline liver function

Roshini Claire Anthony, 11 Sep 2022

The overall survival (OS) benefit observed with the STRIDE regimen compared with sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is consistent regardless of baseline liver function, according to exploratory analysis of data from the phase III HIMALAYA trial presented at ESMO GI 2022.

Durvalumab + gemcitabine-cisplatin confers benefit in biliary tract cancer

Durvalumab + gemcitabine-cisplatin benefit in biliary tract cancer consistent across tumour locations

Roshini Claire Anthony, 27 Aug 2022

The benefit of adding durvalumab to gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) was consistent regardless of primary tumour location, according to a subgroup analysis of the phase III TOPAZ-1 study presented at ESMO GI 2022.

Is bulevirtide a potential answer for chronic hep D?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20 Aug 2022

Bulevirtide at a dose of 2 mg or 10 mg daily induces biochemical and virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection, according to results of Study MYR301.

RATIONALE-208 subanalyses boost tislelizumab potential for HCC

Audrey Abella, 05 Aug 2022

The monoclonal antibody tislelizumab continued to show promise as a treatment alternative in certain subgroups of patients with previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to subgroup analyses of the phase II, single-arm RATIONALE-208 study.

Real-world studies demonstrate TAF efficacy and safety in chronic hep B

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20 Jul 2022

Treatment with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) results in similar virological response compared with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in treatment-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), according to a real-world study from Korea presented at ILC 2022.

Unexplained hepatitis outbreak in kids: Are COVID-19, adenovirus the triggers?

Elvira Manzano, 19 Jul 2022

Cases of acute, severe hepatitis of unknown aetiology in young children have increased recently and investigations are underway, says an expert during a media briefing at ILC 2022.

Resmetirom demos potential in NASH

Roshini Claire Anthony, 18 Jul 2022

Safety analysis of the phase III MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 trial presented at ILC 2022 demonstrated the potential of resmetirom as a treatment for patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) who have liver fibrosis.