Hepatology

Yearly surveillance fails to detect cancer early in primary sclerosing cholangitis

2 days ago

In unselected patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), yearly surveillance with carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 and magnetic resonance imaging including cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) does not seem to increase the chances of detecting cancer early, a new study has found.

MEFIB bests MAST, FAST for fibrosis detection in NAFLD

4 days ago

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) plus FIB-4 (MEFIB) outperforms both magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]-aspartate aminotransferase (MAST) and FibroScan-AST (FAST) in detecting stage ≥2 fibrosis and at-risk nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), reveals a study.

Bulevirtide safe, effective in HDV-induced cirrhosis with hypertension

6 days ago

A recent study has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of bulevirtide (BLV) monotherapy for 48 weeks in difficult-to-treat patients with hepatitis delta virus (HDV)-related compensated cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH).

Plasma ammonia tied to death, hospitalization in cirrhosis patients

25 Nov 2022

Among outpatients with clinically stable cirrhosis, higher levels of plasma ammonia appear to increase the risk of mortality and liver-related complications leading to hospitalization, a recent study has found.

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).

Is vonoprazan an alternative to pantoprazole in preventing post-EVL ulcers, bleeding?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 08 Nov 2022

Vonoprazan may be as effective as pantoprazole in reducing the risk of ulcers or bleeding following endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) in patients with portal hypertension, according to a small study from Egypt presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week (UEG 2022).

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.