0000000000172502
AUTHOR
Walter Granà
Hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of two different periods at the same center.
Aims: To analyze the main etiological factors and some clinical characteristics of patients with HCC at diagnosis and to compare them with those we described ten years ago. Methods: 179 patients were included in Group 1, while 132 patients were included in Group 2. For all patients age, sex, serum markers of hepatitis B and C viruses, alcohol consumption, serum alpha feto-protein (AFP) levels and the main liver function parameters at HCC diagnosis were recorded. Results: Mean age was 66.0 years for Group 1 and 69.0 for Group 2 (P=0.005). HCV was responsible for 80.3% of HCC cases in Group 2 versus 72% in Group 1 (P=0.005). HBV alone and co-infection of HCV+HBV decreased, but not significant…
Associated Factors and Liver Disease Severity for Decreased Bone Mineral Density in HIV Mono- and HIV/HCV Co-infected Patients
Objective: We assessed the prevalence and risk factors of decreased bone mineral density (BMD) in patients mono-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV). We also evaluated whether bone loss was linked to lipid asset in both groups and to severity of liver fibrosis in the co-infected group. Methods: We consecutively enrolled 194 HIV-patients (129 mono-infected and 65 co-infected). All HIV-patients underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while co-infected patients underwent transient elastography. Advanced liver fibrosis was defined as a median liver stiffness ≥ 9.5 kPa. Fibrosis was also assessed in all the HIV-patients using …
Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Non-Pharmacological Treatment of HCC
ABSTRACT: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still one of the most common tumors, ranking first among all cancers in relation to its frequency and mortality. Only very recently has there been a deceleration in the incidence and mortality of this neoplasia, which suggests that we may be close to the peak of the HCC epidemic, at least in the Western population. Risk factors are well known, and the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses are the main etiologic factors. Indeed, liver cirrhosis (LC) of any etiology is the main cause of predisposition to the neoplastic degeneration of the liver; an underlying LC is present in most cases of HCC. For this reason, a surveillance program has been establis…
Nontumorous portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis: Possible role of β-blockers
<b><i>Objective:</i></b> Nonselective β-blockers (NSBB) are used in liver cirrhosis (LC) to prevent variceal bleeding because they decrease portal pressure. A main risk factor for the development of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in LC is decreased portal vein inflow velocity. The aim of our study was to examine retrospectively the incidence of PVT and its correlation with the use of β-blockers in a cohort of LC patients. <b><i>Subjects and Methods:</i></b> Data from 230 LC patients (90% Child-Pugh class A), who had been followed up for at least 5 years, were reviewed. The diagnosis of PVT was made by ultrasound. The presence of PVT was evaluate…