A Blood Test for Subclinical Hepatic Encephalopathy?
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
In a pilot study of patients with cirrhosis, 3-nitro-tyrosine showed high accuracy in detecting or excluding MHE.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
October 28, 2011
Covering:
Montoliu C et al., Am J Gastroenterol 2011 Sep; 106:1629
Adherence to HCV Therapy Is Associated with Virologic Response
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Patients with better adherence to peginterferon and ribavirin showed better early and sustained virologic responses to HCV infection.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
October 21, 2011
Covering:
Lo Re V III et al., Ann Intern Med 2011 Sep 20; 155:353
Should We Continue Entecavir for HBV Infection Despite Partial Virologic Response?
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Results from a prospective cohort study found continued virologic response without viral resistance to entecavir despite PVR for up to 3 years.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
October 14, 2011
Covering:
Zoutendijk R et al., Hepatology 2011 Aug; 54:443
Adherence to Hepatitis C Virus Therapy Improves Virologic Outcomes
General Medicine Summary and Comment
At least for patients with genotype 1 or 4 infections, adhering to therapy improves response rates.
Child-Pugh Score Predicts Prognosis in Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Disease progression accelerates when Child-Pugh scores are
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
October 7, 2011
Covering:
Dienstag JL et al., Hepatology 2011 Aug; 54:396
Interferon-Free Regimen Shows Promise for Chronic HCV Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
In a phase Ib trial, the combination of a polymerase inhibitor, a protease inhibitor, and ribavirin demonstrated potent antiviral activity.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
September 30, 2011
Covering:
Zeuzem S et al., Gastroenterology 2011 Sep 16
Telaprevir Therapy for 24 Weeks Appropriate for Many with HCV Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
Response-guided treatment with telaprevir, peginterferon alfa-2a, and ribavirin for 24 weeks was noninferior to the standard 48-week course in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
September 16, 2011
Covering:
Sherman KE et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Sep 15; 365:1014
New Options for HCV Treatment: Is Better Good Enough? — The Experts Respond
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Antiretroviral Rounds
Free
Two experts describe how they would manage our latest Antiretroviral Rounds case.
New Options for HCV Treatment: Is Better Good Enough?
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Antiretroviral Rounds
Free
An HIV/HCV-coinfected patient who had only a partial response and treatment-limiting adverse effects with prior peginterferon/ribavirin therapy is interested in the new HCV treatment options. Would you recommend them?
HCV Transmission in HIV-Positive MSM — Sex, Not Just Drugs
High-risk sexual behavior is associated with HCV transmission among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
August 8, 2011
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011 Jul 22; 60:945
Another New Drug for Hepatitis C
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Telaprevir boosted response rates substantially in patients with genotype 1 infection.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
July 21, 2011
Covering:
Jacobson IM et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Jun 23; 364:2405
Zeuzem S et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Jun 23; 364:2417
Patterns in HBV DNA and ALT Levels Predict Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Risk was higher in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection who had ever high-normal, transiently abnormal, or persistently abnormal HBV DNA or alanine aminotransferase levels.
Landmark Biomarker Studies Are Likely to Overstate Findings
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Results of frequently cited studies often differ markedly from those of meta-analyses or studies in larger populations.
By JoAnne M. Foody, MD
July 6, 2011
Covering:
Ioannidis JPA and Panagiotou OA., JAMA 2011 Jun 1; 305:2200
Bossuyt PMM., JAMA 2011 Jun 1; 305:2229
Telaprevir Markedly Improves HCV Genotype 1 Cure Rates
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
Final results of phase III trials show that telaprevir plus standard therapy with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin was more effective than standard therapy alone.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
July 1, 2011
Covering:
Jacobson IM et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Jun 23; 364:2405
Zeuzem S et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Jun 23; 364:2417
Adding Entecavir to Tenofovir/FTC Works in Some HIV/HBV-Coinfected Patients
But the study was small, and the success of the intervention may be attributable to the low baseline rate of 3TC resistance.
Telaprevir Isn't Useful for All HCV Genotypes
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Free
Telaprevir-based triple therapy showed some promise against hepatitis C virus genotype 2 infection but had limited activity against genotype 3 infection.
Community-Based Primary Care Treatment of HCV Infection
General Medicine Summary and Comment
PCPs treated hepatitis C virus infections as safely and effectively as multidisciplinary specialty care providers.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
June 9, 2011
Covering:
Arora S et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Jun 9; 364:2199
Sequist TD., N Engl J Med 2011 Jun 9; 364:2258
Cutaneous Lesions of Azathioprine Hypersensitivity Syndrome
Dermatology Summary and Comment
These authors suggest that most cutaneous manifestations of azathioprine hypersensitivity represent neutrophilic dermatoses, but do they?
New Treatments for Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
The newly approved HCV protease inhibitors boceprevir and telaprevir promise to revolutionize HCV treatment.
Liver Transplantation in HIV-Infected Patients
Survival rates were 85% at 1 year and 64% at 5 years. The vast majority of patients were able to maintain HIV control following transplantation.
Lamivudine for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Switching from entecavir to lamivudine led to more viral rebound and drug resistance in patients who first achieved undetectable HBV DNA levels with entecavir.
More May Be Better: HBV Vaccination in HIV-Infected Patients
Four doses of HBV vaccine resulted in higher seroconversion rates than the standard three-dose schedule.
Hepatitis C Week Is Upon Us
Dr. Paul Sax outlines the many "known unknowns" of new HCV treatments in his blog HIV and ID Observations.
New Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C Infection?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Boceprevir, added to conventional therapy, raised response rates in patients with genotype 1.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 26, 2011
Covering:
Poordad F et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 31; 364:1195
Bacon BR et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 31; 364:1207
Jensen DM., N Engl J Med 2011 Mar 31; 364:1272
Low-Dose Peginterferon as Maintenance Therapy for Hepatitis C-Infected Patients with Cirrhosis
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
Peginterferon alfa-2b did not prolong time to first occurrence of either clinical decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplant, or death.
