HEPATOLOGY WATCH® Timely Information for Practicing Physicians

Editors Statement Sponsors Acknowledgment Previous Issues Ask the Editors Register for Hepatology Watch Monthly Fax Broadcast Links to Related Sites

Monthly Issues 2003: January, February, March; April, May; June, July, August, September, October, November, December 2004: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December 2005: January, February, March, April , May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December Topic Listing 1998 AASLD Meeting Highlights 1999 Digestive Disease Week Highlights 1999 AASLD Meeting Highlights 2000 Digestive Disease Week Highlights 2000 AASLD Meeting Highlights 2001 Digestive Disease Week Highlights 2001 AASLD Meeting Highlights 2001 Special Issue: Pegylated Interferons in HCV 2002 Special Issue: Roche EASL Symposium Highlights 2002 Digestive Disease Week Highlights 2002 Special Issue: Viral Hepatitis in Asian Americans 2002 Special Issue: HCV – Navigating the Clinical and Medical-Legal Landscape 2003 Digestive Disease Week Highlights 2003 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Highlights 2003 AASLD Meeting Highlights 2004 European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Highlights 2004 Digestive Disease Week Highlights 2004 AASLD Meeting Highlights 2005 Digestive Disease Week Highlights 2005 AASLD Meeting Highlights Acute Liver Failure Hypothermia therapy for intracranial hypertension Multicenter, prospective study Alagille Syndrome Partial external biliary diversion Alcoholic Liver Disease Long-term follow-up after liver transplantation Lower risk of cirrhosis in wine drinkers Pentoxifylline (PTX) therapy Risk factors for fibrosis S-adenosylmethionine (Ado Met) Therapy Alternative Therapy Hepatic injury associated with herbal weight loss aids Milk thistle therapy for liver disease Ascites Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS Autoimmune Liver Disease Autoantibodies and primary biliary cirrhosis Bile duct injury Evolution to primary sclerosing cholangitis Failure of budesonide therapy PBC and autoimmune hepatitis overlap Liver transplantation Long-term outcomes Progressive fibrosis during corticosteroid therapy Response to steroids UDCA adjunctive therapy Variant syndromes of autoimmune hepatitis Benign Liver Tumors Biliary Disease Magnetic resonance cholangiography Cholestatic Chronic Liver Disease Cholestatic Liver Disease Cholesterol Stones Chronic Cholecystitis Cholangiocarcinoma Incidence and risk factors Increasing incidence of mortality Photodynamic therapy Cholestatic Liver Disease Hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy UDCA vs. cholestyramine in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy: A review Chronic Hepatitis B 18-year follow-up of a randomized trial in vaccinated patients Altered helper T-lymphocyte function Adefovir dipivoxil therapy Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) alone or in combination Adefovir resistance during 4 years of treatment Antigenic targets Genotype C and risk for HCC HBV genotypes Interferon alfa for HBV in children Interferon alpha-2b and lamivudine for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection Lamivudine Therapy for HBV: August 1998, September 1998, May 1999, June 1999, March 2000, February 2002, March 2003, February 2004, November 2004, February 2005 Long-term outcome and prevention Long-term adefovir dipivoxil therapy for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients Peginterferon therapy for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B Peginterferon alfa-2a vs lamivudine Peginterferon alfa-2b ± lamivudine in HBeAg-positive patients Pilot study of adefovir dipivoxil Relapse after lamivudine therapy Response to HBV vaccine Screening for hepatocellular carcinoma Sequential lamivudine and interferon-a (IFN-a) therapy Serum HBV DNA as a marker for treatment efficacy Telbivudine trial The impact of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus on kidney transplantation The maze of treatments for hepatitis B Vaccination: protection after 15 years of follow-up Chronic Hepatitis C Alcohol and hepatitis C Association of daily cannabis smoking with fibrosis progression Association with diabetes mellitus Analysis of HCV RNA Antiviral therapy for HCV with cirrhosis is associated with reduced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and improved survival Characteristics of patients with persistently normal ALT levels Chronic HCV infection and hepatitis B vaccine immunogenicity Chronic hepatitis C prognosis CHC in children Clinical course of interferon alfa treatment Clinical outcome as a function of transmission mode Coinfection with HIV Combination therapy with interferon (IFN) plus ribavirin Combination peginterferon and ribavirin therapy Cost considerations for the treatment of chronic HCV infection in prison inmates Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination in patients with chronic hepatitis C Determination of sustained virologic response Dynamics of HCV Infection Early prediction of response to interferon treatment Factors associated with HCV-related steatosis Factors affecting HCV clearance and progression to fibrosis Favorable prognostic effect of interferon (IFN) therapy HCV prevalence in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma HCV infection after liver retransplantation HCV infection in young injection drug users Hepatic iron content and virologic response Hepatic iron overloading in HCV infection Heterogenous virologic response rates to interferon-based therapy: a review Impact of alcohol on clinical course Impact of interferon alfa on hepatic fibrosis Impact of steatosis Inadequate biopsies give inadequate information Incidence of HCV in patients with type 2 diabetes Initial treatment of CHC Interferon alfa-2b therapy of acute hepatitis C Interferon alfa therapy Interferon alfa and ribavirin therapy Long-term follow-up of IFN treatment of acute hepatitis C Low-grade Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Maintenance interferon therapy for nonresponders with persistent viremia Meta-analysis on the effect of peginterferon alfa-2a on liver histology Mechanisms of interferon (IFN) resistance Natural History of HCV Infection Natural history in African Americans Pattern of liver enzymes Peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin treatment of nonresponders Peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin treatment for 12 vs 24 weeks in HCV genotype 2 or 3 Persistence of HCV after a sustained virologic response Performance of endoscopy is not a risk factor for HCV transmission Prevalence of cirrhosis in Asian patients Progression to fibrosis Small effect of therapy for chronic hepatitis C Sustained biochemical responders Three clinically relevant trial reports Treatment of patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus Pegylated Interferons Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin: a large-scale multicenter trial Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin in HCV patients with normal ALT levels Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin: 24 vs. 48 weeks and 800 vs. 1000/1200 mg ribavirin Pegylated (PEG) interferon (IFN) a-2a optimal dosing Peginterferon alfa-2a therapy Peginterferon alfa-2a in patients with cirrhosis Peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in children Peginterferon α-2b monotherapy in acute HCV Peginterferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection Predictability of sustained virological response Pretreatment evaluation of chronic hepatitis C Prevalence of HCV infection in the U.S. and racial differences in response to interferon Prevalence in porphyria cutanea tarda Problem patient groups Rimantadine treatment Ribavirin therapy Risk in blood donors Role of liver biopsy Susceptibility to hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection Sustained response to interferon alfa therapy The impact of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus on kidney transplantation Therapy with Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Transfusion-associated hepatitis (TAH)-C Treatment of patients with normal ALT levels Treatment of recurrent HCV after liver transplantation Treatment of Relapsed CHC Vaccine Research Viral dynamics Cirrhosis Antibiotic Prophylaxis Banding vs propranolol to prevent initial variceal hemorrhage Cirrhosis and obesity Endoscopic screening for esophageal varices Impact of Gastroenterology Consultation Improved survival after variceal bleeding Interferon treatment of HCV-related cirrhosis Portal hypertension Spironolactone vs. spironolactone plus furosemide in the treatment of ascites Telomerase gene delivery TIPS vs. paracentesis plus albumin for cirrhosis with refractory ascites Treatment of medical complications Type I hepatorenal syndrome Variceal hemorrhage Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Perceptions relative to conventional therapies Cystic Fibrosis Concomitant liver disease Drug Related Toxicity Analysis over a 10-year-period Lipokinetix Outcomes and prognostic markers Risk of statin hepatotoxicity in patients with elevated liver enzymes Esophageal Variceal Hemorrhage Propanolol therapy and salvage transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt Variceal banding ligation (VBL) versus propranolol (PPL) therapy Focal Nodular Hyperplasia Oral contraceptive use Gallstone Disease Coffee intake and risk of gallstone disease Natural history study Hemochromatosis Effect of excess alcohol intake in hereditary hemochromatosis Elevated hepatic iron index and end-stage liver disease H63D mutation, S65C mutation, and transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2) gene mutation Hemochromatosis gene mutations in chronic HCV patients Heterogeneity of hemochromatosis in Italy HFE gene expression HFE gene mutations in chronic viral hepatitis patients HFE genotyping Natural history of the C282Y homozygote Noninvasive prediction of cirrhosis Phenotypic expression of HFE mutations Population screening Screening for hemochromatosis Serum ferritin levels predict advance fibrosis Hepatic Encephalopathy Working Party final report Hepatic Evaluation Liver biopsy Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) Cost-benefit analysis of immunization Economic Analysis of Immunization Strategies Economic Burden Food-borne Outbreak Hepatitis A in Chronic Liver Disease Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Combination lamivudine/HBIg prophylaxis Correlation of clinical outcomes with HBV genotypes Durability of response to lamivudine therapy Famciclovir therapy HBeAg seroconversion HBV genotype, precore and core promoter variants, and potential new treatments Influence of virus genotype Initial treatment for chronic HBV infection Lamivudine resistance Long-term outcome of IFN-alfa therapy Long-term prophylaxis after liver transplantation Long-term therapy with lamivudine Role of YMDD motif mutations Treatment of decompensated cirrhosis with lamivudine Vaccine efficacy and safety Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Acute hepatitis C Association of steatosis with progressive fibrosis Asymptomatic carriers Cell Culture System Cigarette smoking and hepatic lesions Correlates of liver disease in HCV-infected injection drug users Cryoglobulinemia and cirrhosis Early testing for HCV viremia during interferon therapy Extrahepatic manifestations Host factors in infection HCV and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma HIV coinfection Impact of peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin on liver fibrosis Improvement of fibrosis after interferon therapy Infection in the Nile Delta Insulin resistance impairs sustained virologic response rate Interferon alfa and depression Interferon beta (IFN-b) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Interferon treatment Kidney transplantation and liver fibrosis Long-term outcomes of community-acquired HCV infection Low risk of cirrhosis in HCV genotype 1b infection Mother-to-child transmission Natural history Normal vs. elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels Orthotopic liver transplantation with HCV-positive grafts Predictive value of ALT levels for histological findings Predictors of HCV antiviral response Prevalence of liver disease in asymptomatic persons Prolongation of life expectancy by interferon (IFN) therapy Psychiatric disorders Regression of splenic lymphoma with interferon therapy Signal transduction pathways Significance of baseline serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels Steatosis and chronic HCV infection Studies of viral clearance Transmission during medical care Transmission of HCV by blood exposure Treatment of HCV-related cirrhosis prior to liver transplantation Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C in liver transplant recipients Triple antiviral therapy Hepatobiliary Carcinoma HBC and primary sclerosing cholangitis Hepatocellular Carcinoma Alpha-fetoprotein Association of HCC with PBC Cancer risk in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis Coffee consumption reduces HCC risk Correlation of tumor recurrence with HBV genotype Early detection HFE C282Y heterozygosity Increasing incidence in the US Interferon therapy after tumor ablation Interferon treatment reduces HCC risk Lipiodol chemoembolization Liver transplantation Natural history of untreated nonsurgical hepatocellular carcinoma Positron emission tomography Progression to hepatocellular carcinoma Progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to HCC Racial differences in effectiveness of a-fetoprotein (AFP) screening Risk associated with HBeAg Resection vs. transplantation for early hepatocellular carcinoma Rising incidence Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma Surgical resection Transarterial embolization Treatment with chemoembolization Viral hepatitis disease progression and hepatocellular carcinogenesis Hepatic Steatosis Prevalence and risk factors Hepatic Veno-occlusive Disease Ursodeoxycholic acid prophylaxis HIV Infection Effect of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection Effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on liver-related mortality Survival in HIV patients coinfected with HCV Hepatorenal Syndrome New treatments Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1 Hypoglycemic Agents and Liver Toxicity Cohort study of acute liver injury Intestinal Failure Parenteral nutrition-related liver disease Liver Failure Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection Minimal hepatic encephalopathy impairs fitness to drive Models to predict survival Osteopenia Prevention of acute liver failure with immortalized hepatocytes Prophylaxis of variceal bleeding: endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) plus nadolol vs EVL alone Serum phosphorus levels predict outcome Liver Fibrosis Association with obesity Liver Transplantation Evolution in outcomes Recurrent autoimmune hepatitis Late-onset renal failure Liver transplantation in HIV patients Living donor liver transplantation Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) Prevalence of diabetes Response to IFN-based therapy in patients with recurrent HCV Results of the first year of the new liver allocation plan Natural History of Chronic Liver Disease Fibrosis progression rate in miscellaneous chronic liver diseases Natural HCV disease progression rate Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma Small esophageal varices (EV) in cirrhotic patients Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Association of overweight with elevated ALT levels Association with the insulin resistance syndrome Betaine therapy Case-control study Central obesity and cirrhosis-related death or hospitalization Clinical and pathological findings Does weight loss improve liver histology? Hepatic iron and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Metabolic markers of insulin resistance Natural history Insulin resistance and mitochondrial abnormalities Obesity associated with liver disease Pilot study of pioglitazone Predictive factor for HCV-associated allograft injury posttransplant Predictors of severe hepatic fibrosis Predictors of NASH and liver fibrosis Prevalence in the elderly, progression rate, and association with metabolic syndrome Radiologic imaging in NAFLD Role of adiponectin vs. tumor necrosis factor Sampling variability of liver biopsies UDCA treatment Vitamin E and pioglitazone Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Effect of obesity on survival Quality of life after OLT and survival after OLT for hemochromatosis Osteoporosis in Patients with Liver Disease Alendronate therapy Portal Hypertension Predictors of early mortality Prophylaxis of growth of small esophageal varices Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Altered monocyte response to toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands Antimitochondrial antibody Autoimmune mechanism of disease Association between reproductive history and PBC Budesonide and ursodeoxycholic acid treatment Cirrhosis development in ursodiol-treated patients Cross-sectional study in Japan Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy in early stage of PBC Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on histologic progression Epidemiology Epidemiology in the U.S. Estrogen therapy to prevent bone loss Etidronate for osteoporosis Etiology, epidemiology and treatment Fatigue and its impact on quality of life Geographical distribution Impact of fatigue Natural history and prognosis of asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis Long-term effects of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy Long-term follow-up Low-dose methotrexate Meta-analysis of UDCA trials Methotrexate therapy Mitochondrial antigens in saliva Overlap syndrome Patterns of autoimmunity and characteristics of asymptomatic disease PBC with features of autoimmune hepatitis Prevalence of isotype-specific antinuclear antibodies Recurrence of PBC after living donor liver transplantation Risk factors Serologic findings and fetal microchimerism Silymarin therapy Survival and symptom progression Systematical review of randomized trials of colchicine Transplantation Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid UDCA effects Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) effect on liver fibrosis progression Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Cancers and PSC Chemical xenobiotics: possible etiologic role Cholangiocarcinoma and primary sclerosing cholangitis Combination budesonide and ursodeoxycholic acid therapy Effect of high-dose ursodeoxycholic acid Effect of liver transplantation on inflammatory bowel disease Endoscopic screening for esophageal varices Epidemiology in Olmsted County, Minnesota High-dose ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) therapy Increased prevalence of PSC among first-degree relatives Long-term follow-up Magnetic resonance cholangiography vs. endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography Recurrence following liver transplantation Small duct PSC Ursodiol therapy and decreased prevalence of colonic neoplasia in ulcerative colitis Pyogenic Liver Abscess Catheter drainage vs. needle aspiration Radiologic Studies Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Refractory Ascites Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt Review of the Month Nonalcoholic steatosis syndromes SARS SARS-associated viral hepatitis Serum ALT Serum alanine aminotransferase activity Normal range for serum alanine aminotransferase levels Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis Effects of intravenous albumin Oral ciprofloxacin Risk in cirrhotic patients Surgical Risk in Patients with Liver Disease Transfusion-Associated Hepatitis SEN virus infection Transfusion Transmitted Virus Troglitazone Hepatotoxicity Ursodeoxycholic Acid Chemopreventive agent for colorectal dysplasia or cancer Cost-effectiveness of therapy for primary biliary cirrhosis Elevated levels of bile acids in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy High-dose UDCA therapy for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy Inhibition of apoptosis Prophylaxis in veno-occlusive disease Reduction of cardiac allograft rejection Treatment of PBC Significance of serum bilirubin levels in PBC Variceal Bleeding Emergency sclerotherapy vs. vasoactive drugs: a meta-analysis Endoscopic ligation versus nadolol and isosorbide mononitrate Meta-analyses of treatments, May 2001, May 2002 Primary prevention Propranolol plus isosorbide-5-mononitrate TIPS and Gastric Variceal Bleeding/prognostic Factors TIPS vs endoscopic treatment TIPS vs endoscopic sclerotherapy Viral Hepatitis Evaluation of grade and stage of liver disease Interferon-based therapies Wilson’s Disease Diagnostic value of quantitative hepatic copper determination Zinc Treatment During Pregnancy