Global patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma management from diagnosis to death: the <scp>BRIDGE</scp> Study Tập 35 Số 9 - Trang 2155-2166 - 2015
Joong‐Won Park, Minshan Chen, M. Colombo, Lewis R. Roberts, Myron Schwartz, Pei‐Jer Chen, Masatoshi Kudo, Philip J. Johnson, Samuel Wagner, Lucinda Orsini, Morris Sherman
AbstractBackground & AimsHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The global HCC BRIDGE study was a multiregional, large‐scale, longitudinal cohort study undertaken to improve understanding of real‐life management of patients with HCC, from diagnosis to death.MethodsData were collected retrospectively from January 2005 to September 2012 by chart reviews of eligible patients newly diagnosed with HCC at participating institutions.ResultsForty‐two sites in 14 countries contributed final data for 18 031 patients. Asia accounted for 67% of patients, Europe for 20% and North America for 13%. As expected, the most common risk factor was hepatitis C virus in North America, Europe and Japan, and hepatitis B virus in China, South Korea and Taiwan. The most common Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage at diagnosis was C in North America, Europe, China and South Korea, and A in Taiwan and Japan. Across all stages, first HCC treatment was most frequently transarterial chemoembolization in North America, Europe, China and South Korea, percutaneous ethanol injection or radiofrequency ablation in Japan and resection in Taiwan. Survival from first HCC treatment varied significantly by region, with median overall survival not reached for Taiwan and 60, 33, 31, 24 and 23 months for Japan, North America, South Korea, Europe and China respectively (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsInitial results from the BRIDGE study confirm previously reported regional trends in patient demographic characteristics and HCC risk factors, document the heterogeneity of treatment approaches across regions/countries and underscore the need for earlier HCC diagnosis worldwide.
The epidemiology of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease Tập 37 Số S1 - Trang 81-84 - 2017
Stefano Bellentani
AbstractThe increase in Non‐alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and the imminent disappearance of chronic viral hepatitis thanks to new and effective therapies is motivating hepatologists to change their clinical approach to chronic liver disease. NAFLD‐cirrhosis or NAFLD‐Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) are now the second cause of liver transplantation in the USA. This short‐review is focused to the epidemiology of NAFLD/Non‐alchoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), including the definition of this disease which should be revised as well discussing the prevalence, risk factors for progression, natural history and mortality. NAFLD is considered to be the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome (MS). It affects 25‐30% of the general population and the risk factors are almost identical to those of MS. The natural history involves either the development of cardiovascular diseases or cirrhosis and HCC. HCC can also develop in NASH in the absence of cirrhosis (45% of cases). We conclude that an international consensus conference on the definition, natural history, policies of surveillance and new pharmacological treatments of NAFLD and NASH is urgently needed.
A systematic review of hepatitis C virus epidemiology in Asia, Australia and Egypt Tập 31 Số s2 - Trang 61-80 - 2011
William Sievert, Ibrahim Altraif, Homie Razavi, Ayman A. Abdo, Ezzat Ali Ahmed, Ameen Al-Omair, Deepak Amarapurkar, Chien‐Hung Chen, Xiaoguang Dou, Hisham R El‐Khayat, Mohamed B. Elshazly, Gamal Esmat, R Guan, Kwang‐Hyub Han, Kazuhiko Koike, Angela Largen, Geoffrey W. McCaughan, Sherif Mogawer, Ali Monis, Arif Nawaz, Teerha Piratvisuth, Faisal M. Sanai, Ala I. Sharara, Scott Sibbel, Ajit Sood, Dong Jin Suh, Carolyn Wallace, Kendra A. Young, Francesco Negro
AbstractBackground: The hepatitis C pandemic has been systematically studied and characterized in North America and Europe, but this important public health problem has not received equivalent attention in other regions.Aim: The objective of this systematic review was to characterize hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemiology in selected countries of Asia, Australia and Egypt, i.e. in a geographical area inhabited by over 40% of the global population.Methodology: Data references were identified through indexed journals and non‐indexed sources. In this work, 7770 articles were reviewed and 690 were selected based on their relevance.Results: We estimated that 49.3–64.0 million adults in Asia, Australia and Egypt are anti‐HCV positive. China alone has more HCV infections than all of Europe or the Americas. While most countries had prevalence rates from 1 to 2% we documented several with relatively high prevalence rates, including Egypt (15%), Pakistan (4.7%) and Taiwan (4.4%). Nosocomial infection, blood transfusion (before screening) and injection drug use were identified as common risk factors in the region. Genotype 1 was common in Australia, China, Taiwan and other countries in North Asia, while genotype 6 was found in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. In India and Pakistan genotype 3 was predominant, while genotype 4 was found in Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria.Conclusion: We recommend implementation of surveillance systems to guide effective public health policy that may lead to the eventual curtailment of the spread of this pandemic infection.
Prevalence and associated factors of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type‐2 diabetes mellitus Tập 29 Số 1 - Trang 113-119 - 2009
Nathalie C. Leite, Gil F. Salles, Antonio Luis Eiras de Araújo, Cristiane Alves Villela‐Nogueira, Claudia R.L. Cardoso
AbstractBackground/Aims: Diabetic patients have an increased prevalence and severity of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to investigate the prevalence and the factors associated with the presence of ultrasonographic NAFLD in type‐2 diabetic individuals.Methods: In a cross‐sectional design study, 180 type‐2 diabetic patients were submitted to a complete clinical and laboratory evaluation and abdominal ultrasonography for NAFLD detection and grading. Statistical analysis included bivariate tests, analysis of variance (anova, for increasing severity of steatosis) and multivariate logistic regression.Results: The prevalence of ultrasonographic NAFLD was 69.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 58.3–82.7%]. Patients with NAFLD were more obese, had a higher waist circumference and serum triglyceride and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels than those without steatosis. Neither diabetic degenerative complication, nor glycaemic control was associated with liver steatosis. On multivariate analysis, a high serum triglycerides level [>2.82 mmol/L, odds ratio (OR): 3.7–4.1, 95% CI: 1.2–13.3] and a high‐normal ALT level (≥40 U/L, OR: 2.5–2.7, 95% CI: 1.2–5.9) were independently associated with hepatic steatosis, together with either the presence of obesity (OR: 7.1, 95% CI: 3.0–17.0) or of increased waist circumference (OR: 4.8, 95% CI: 1.9–12.2).Conclusions: Type‐2 diabetic patients have a high prevalence of ultrasonographic NAFLD and its presence is associated with obesity, mainly abdominal, hypertriglyceridaemia and high‐normal ALT levels. Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in diabetic patients may develop and progress independent of the diabetes progression itself.
Liver diseases: A major, neglected global public health problem requiring urgent actions and large‐scale screening Tập 38 Số S1 - Trang 2-6 - 2018
Patrick Marcellin, B. Kutala
AbstractCLDs represent an important, and certainly underestimated, global public health problem. CLDs are highly prevalent and silent, related to different, sometimes associated causes. The distribution of the causes of these diseases is slowly changing, and within the next decade, the proportion of virus‐induced CLDs will certainly decrease significantly while the proportion of NASH will increase. There is an urgent need for effective global actions including education, prevention and early diagnosis to manage and treat CLDs, thus preventing cirrhosis‐related morbidity and mortality. Our role is to increase the awareness of the public, healthcare professionals and public health authorities to encourage active policies for early management that will decrease the short‐ and long‐term public health burden of these diseases. Because necroinflammation is the key mechanism in the progression of CLDs, it should be detected early. Thus, large‐scale screening for CLDs is needed. ALT levels are an easy and inexpensive marker of liver necroinflammation and could be the first‐line tool in this process.
Asian‐Pacific consensus statement on the management of chronic hepatitis B: a 2005 update Tập 25 Số 3 - Trang 472-489 - 2005
Yun‐Fan Liaw, Nancy Leung, R Guan, George Lau, I Merican, Geoffrey W. McCaughan, Edward Gane, Jia‐Horng Kao, Masao Omata
Abstract:
Background/Aims: A large amount of new data on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B has become available such that the 2003 consensus statement requires revision and update.Methods: New data were presented, discussed and debated in an expert pre‐meeting to draft a revision. The revised contents were finalized after discussion in a general meeting of APASL.Results: Conceptual background, including the efficacy and safety profile of currently available and emerging drugs, was reviewed. Nineteen recommendations were formed and unresolved issues and areas for further study were suggested.Conclusion: The current therapy of chronic hepatitis B is modestly effective but not satisfactory. The development of new drugs and new strategies is required to further improve the outcomes of treatment.
A systematic review of hepatitis C virus epidemiology in Europe, Canada and Israel Tập 31 Số s2 - Trang 30-60 - 2011
Andreas Erhardt, Homie Razavi, Alfredo Alberti, Enos Bernasconi, María Buti, Curtis Cooper, Olav Dalgård, John F. Dillion, Robert Flisiak, Xavier Forns, Soňa Fraňková, Adrian Goldiș, Ioannis Goulis, Waldemar Halota, Béla Hunyady, Martin Lagging, Angela Largen, Michael Makara, Spilios Manolakopoulos, Patrick Marcellin, Rui Tato Marinho, Stanislas Pol, Thierry Poynard, Massimo Puoti, Olga Sagalova, Scott Sibbel, Krzysztof Simon, Carolyn Wallace, Kendra A. Young, Cihan Yurdaydın, Eli Zuckerman, Francesco Negro, Stefan Zeuzem
AbstractBackground and Aim: Decisions on public health issues are dependent on reliable epidemiological data. A comprehensive review of the literature was used to gather country‐specific data on risk factors, prevalence, number of diagnosed individuals and genotype distribution of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in selected European countries, Canada and Israel.Methodology: Data references were identified through indexed journals and non‐indexed sources. In this work, 13 000 articles were reviewed and 860 were selected based on their relevance.Results: Differences in prevalence were explained by local and regional variances in transmission routes or different public health measures. The lowest HCV prevalence (≤0.5%) estimates were from northern European countries and the highest (≥3%) were from Romania and rural areas in Greece, Italy and Russia. The main risk for HCV transmission in countries with well‐established HCV screening programmes and lower HCV prevalence was injection drug use, which was associated with younger age at the time of infection and a higher infection rate among males. In other regions, contaminated glass syringes and nosocomial infections continue to play an important role in new infections. Immigration from endemic countries was another factor impacting the total number of infections and the genotype distribution. Approximately 70% of cases in Israel, 37% in Germany and 33% in Switzerland were not born in the country. In summary, HCV epidemiology shows a high variability across Europe, Canada and Israel.Conclusion: Despite the eradication of transmission by blood products, HCV infection continues to be one of the leading blood‐borne infections in the region.
Prevalence of primary non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in a population‐based study and its association with biochemical and anthropometric measures Tập 26 Số 7 - Trang 856-863 - 2006
Shira Zelber‐Sagi, Dorit Nitzan, Zamir Halpern, Ran Oren
Abstract: Background/Aims: Only a few studies have assessed the epidemiology of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of primary NAFLD in a population‐based study in Israel and to determine independent risk factors.Methods: A cross‐sectional study of a subsample of the Israeli national health survey (n=352). Individuals with a known etiology for secondary NAFLD were excluded. Each participant underwent an abdominal ultrasound, biochemical tests and an anthropometric evaluation.Results: Three hundred and twenty‐six subjects (53.4% male, mean age 50.5±10.3 standard deviaton [SD]) met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of primary NAFLD was 30% (25–35% 95% confidence intervals [CI]). NAFLD was more prevalent in men than women (38% vs. 21%; P=0.001). Compared with ultrasonography, the sensitivity of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) for the diagnosis of primary NAFLD was 8.2%. Risk factors independently associated with NAFLD included male gender (odds ratios (OR)=2.8, 95% CI 1.5–5.3), abdominal obesity (OR=2.9, 95% CI 1.3–6.4), homeostasis model assessment (OR=5.8, 95% CI 2.0–17.2), hyperinsulinemia (OR=2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.3, P=0.01) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR=2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.5).Conclusions: NAFLD is prevalent in the general Israeli population and closely related to the metabolic syndrome. The use of ALT as a marker for NAFLD seriously underestimates its prevalence.
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in Egypt 2015: implications for future policy on prevention and treatment Tập 37 Số 1 - Trang 45-53 - 2017
Amr Kandeel, Mohamad Genedy, Samir El‐Refai, Anna Funk, Arnaud Fontanet, Maha Talaat
AbstractBackground & AimsIn 2015, a national Egyptian health issue survey was conducted to describe the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In this paper, we describe the HCV burden in 2015, compare the results with the national survey conducted in 2008, and discuss the implications of the new findings on prevention of HCV in Egypt.MethodsA multistage probability sampling approach was used, similar to the national demographic survey conducted in 2008. More than 90% of sampled individuals complied with the interview and provided blood samples.ResultsIn the 15–59‐year age groups, the prevalence of HCV antibody was found to be 10.0% (95% CI 9.5–10.5) and that of HCV RNA to be 7.0% (95% CI 6.6–7.4). In children, 1–14 years old, the prevalence of HCV antibody and HCV RNA were 0.4% (95% CI 0.3–0.5) and 0.2% (95% CI 0.1–0.3) respectively. Approximately, 3.7 million persons have chronic HCV infection in the age group 15–59 in 2015. An estimated 29% reduction in HCV RNA prevalence has been seen since 2008, which is largely attributable to the ageing of the group infected 40–50 years ago during the mass schistosomiasis treatment campaigns. Prevention efforts may have also contributed to this decline, with an estimated 75% (95% CI 6–45) decrease in HCV incidence in the 0–19 year age groups over the past 20 years.ConclusionsThese findings can be used to shape future HCV prevention policies in Egypt.
Neuropsychological assessment of hepatic encephalopathy: ISHEN practice guidelines Tập 29 Số 5 - Trang 629-635 - 2009
Christopher Randolph, Robin C. Hilsabeck, Ainobu Kato, P Kharbanda, Yuyuan Li, Daniela Mapelli, Lisa Ravdin, Manuel Romero‐Gómez, Andrea Stracciari, Karin Weißenborn
AbstractLow‐grade or minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is characterised by relatively mild neurocognitive impairments, and occurs in a substantial percentage of patients with liver disease. The presence of MHE is associated with a significant compromise of quality of life, is predictive of the onset of overt hepatic encephalopathy and is associated with a poorer prognosis for outcome. Early identification and treatment of MHE can improve quality of life and may prevent the onset of overt encephalopathy, but to date, there has been little agreement regarding the optimum method for detecting MHE. The International Society on Hepatic Encephalopathy and Nitrogen Metabolism convened a group of experts for the purpose of reviewing available data and making recommendations for a standardised approach for neuropsychological assessment of patients with liver disease who are at risk of MHE. Specific recommendations are presented, along with a proposed methodology for further refining these assessment procedures through prospective research.