U.S. health officials said new cases of hepatitis C rose nearly 300 percent from 2010 to 2015, despite the availability of cures for the liver disease, fueled by a spike in the use of heroin and other injection drugs, according to a report released on Thursday. In 2015, the national reported rate of hepatitis C
Patients with recurrent episodes of hepatic encephalopathy experience cognitive improvements and significantly fewer hospitalizations after fecal microbiota transplantation than after standard care, according to a phase 1 study designed to evaluate the safety of this treatment. Fecal microbiota transplantation “is a safe procedure in this population with advanced hepatic encephalopathy,” said Jasmohan Bajaj, MD, from
Recently approved direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens can safely and effectively treat hepatitis C without interferon, with cure rates often exceeding 95%, according to a recently published review. “Oral DAA regimens that are highly efficacious, well-tolerated, and relatively short in duration are now available for all [hepatitis C virus] genotypes and for patient populations historically considered
The rise in the number of deaths caused by hepatitis makes the disease a global health threat on the level of tuberculosis and HIV, according to a World Health Organization report. The data, presented at the International Liver Congress, showed a 22% increase in deaths resulting from chronic hepatitis B and C from 2000 to
There is an old saying that brains are baffled by the end product of a bull’s digestion. But a similar product, from carefully selected human donors, might reduce recurrent hepatic encephalopathy in liver disease patients and protect their brains, according to Jasmohan Bajaj, MD, of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. “This is the first
Biomarkers of liver injury may persist after hepatitis C treatment
A biomarker of liver damage may persist after hepatitis C treatment: About one-third of patients who were successfully treated to eliminate the hepatitis C virus continued to exhibit liver inflammation, a German study showed. The findings include people who took direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs, the current preferred therapy for the virus. “This is the first
Direct-acting agents (DAAs) have demonstrated “astounding” success rates in the treatment of hepatitis C (HCV), making treatment failures rare. Indeed, failures may catch practitioners by surprise since cure rates range from about 95% to 100%. But non-response does happen, and key causes include virus genotype, the presence of liver cirrhosis, viral treatment resistance, and
Noninvasive liver fibrosis scores lack accuracy in some patient groups
With Hepatitis C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease being a healthcare issue of significant proportions to baby boomers, the availability of noninvasive tests to evaluate the degree of liver injury has become quite commonplace. But how accurate are these tests? Liver enzymes are notoriously inaccurate at determining the degree of either injury or scarring. Liver
Researchers say gallstone and heart disease association highlights a connection between the gut and the cardiovascular system. People who’ve ever suffered gallstones may have a slightly increased risk of developing heart disease down the road, a large new study suggests. This is especially true in women. Researchers suggested that changes in the gut’s microbiome may
Boutique Hangover Clinics Are All The Rage–But Are They Worth It?
The Hangover Clinic, a mobile center in Australia, joins a growing number of facilities that heal the ailments of over drinking with IV therapies. But these treatments aren’t worth the triple digit price tag. “Doctors, nurses, and paramedics have been using IVs to recover from hangovers for decades because it works,” said Max Petro, a
