Latest Conference Articles

Norah Terrault, MPH, MD, discusses gaps in treatment in people who are infected with hepatitis C virus and what steps clinicians should take when treating these patients.

The new approach could shave off time and costs from the current standard regimen.

Using relevant clinical trial data, investigators created a price tag of about $6300 annually for the very effective, often costly inhibitor.

James Januzzi, MD, discusses trial results from the PIONEER-HF trial and what cardiologists and hospitalists should know about sacubitril-valsartan.

At 12 weeks post treatment per protocol analysis with 8 weeks of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir treatment, patients with hepatitis C virus genotypes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 achieved a sustained virologic response.

Norah Terrault, MPH, MD, addresses the many unanswered questions and data surrounding cannabis use in liver disease.

Investigators praised the excellent effectiveness of both therapies, but advised care regarding the increased odds of adverse events requiring hospitalizations.

Steven Nissen, MD, discusses the updates to the cholesterol guidelines and how the risk calculator should not be considered an end-all be-all.

Investigators have found a pair of increased biomarker levels indicate patients with AF are at a greater risk of neurodegeneration.

“These guidelines bring back the concept of adjusting therapy for cholesterol levels, and they recommend more aggressive treatment targets for people in very high risk,” said Cleveland Clinic’s Steven Nissen.

A launderable mattress barrier has shown to decrease hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infections.

Clostridium difficile infection leads to higher rates of overall mortality among patients with cirrhosis compared to those who do not have the condition.

The US Department of Health and Human Services updated guidelines feature key recommendations for young children aged 3-5, youths aged 6-17, adults, older adults, pregnant and post-partum women, as well as adults with chronic health conditions and disabilities.

The use of mood-altering medications does not increase odds for hepatic encephalopathy or hepatic encephalopathy-related hospital admissions after TIPS placement, according to the results of a new study.

When compared with enalapril, in patients with acute decompensated heart failure, sacubitril–valsartan led to greater reduction in N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and reduced re-hospitalization for heart failure, and was well tolerated.

People who inject drugs who are infected with hepatitis C virus can achieve sustained viral response at the completion of treatment, despite imperfect adherence.

In addition to a 25% reduction of risk of future cardiovascular events, icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) lowered the risk of cardiovascular death by 20%.

Research on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in persons infected with HIV revealed a prevalence of the condition of about 40%.

Although acute kidney injury is common in patients with cirrhosis, those who are admitted to the hospital are at increased risk, especially if they are of older age, Child-Pugh Class C, or have ascites or sepsis.

Ezetimibe 10 mg/day significantly reduced the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in elderly patients with high LDL cholesterol compared to control.

Data from a phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, showed a higher dose of simvastatin was associated with greater liver and muscle toxicity compared with a lower dose for patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Treatment was also successful in patients with prior noncompletion or poor adherence to direct-acting antiviral therapy.

Anthony Rosenzweig, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital discusses how exercise can protect the heart and its potential role in cardiac regeneration.

In the VITAL study, investigators found that supplementation with omega-3s and vitamin D did not meet the primary endpoint of significantly reducing major cardiovascular events or total invasive cancer.

PTSD was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality or a major heart event in 12 months following cardiac arrest.

The updated cholesterol guidelines continue to emphasize a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages and the need for personalized treatment plans. They also lay out a path for escalating treatment when statins aren’t sufficient.

Obese patients who underwent weight-loss surgery prior to receiving a liver transplant had a significantly lower risk of metabolic complications post-transplant than those who followed medical weight loss prior to transplant.

The first results of a study on the use of monthly RNAi with ARO-HBV in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infections indicate that the treatment effectively reduced all measurable viral products, including HBsAg.

The biology of thrombopoietin metabolism in advanced liver disease may be influenced by platelet count and degree of liver failure.

In visits with overweight or obese children with high blood pressure, pediatricians either provide no communication about BP or unclear or dismissive statements, unless SBP is ≥120 mmHg.