SASLT guidelines: Update in treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, 2024.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been a major global health concern, with a significant impact on public health. In recent years, there have been remarkable advancements in our understanding of HCV and the development of novel therapeutic agents. The Saudi Society for the Study of Liver Disease and Transplantation formed a working group to develop HCV practice guidelines in Saudi Arabia. The methodology used to create these guidelines involved a comprehensive review of available evidence, local data, and major international practice guidelines regarding HCV management. This updated guideline encompasses critical aspects of HCV care, including screening and diagnosis, assessing the severity of liver disease, and treatment strategies. The aim of this updated guideline is to assist healthcare providers in the management of HCV in Saudi Arabia. It summarizes the latest local studies on HCV epidemiology, significant changes in virus prevalence, and the importance of universal screening, particularly among high-risk populations. Moreover, it discusses the promising potential for HCV elimination as a public health threat by 2030, driven by effective treatment and comprehensive prevention strategies. This guideline also highlights evolving recommendations for advancing disease management, including the treatment of HCV patients with decompensated cirrhosis, treatment of those who have previously failed treatment with the newer medications, management in the context of liver transplantation and hepatocellular carcinoma, and treatment for special populations.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Cytomegalovirus Colitis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Tertiary Center Experience.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at a higher risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis because of their immunocompromised status. There are no studies from Saudi Arabia regarding the prevalence of CMV colitis in patients with IBD. Objective: To determine the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of CMV colitis in patients with IBD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IBD (aged 14-75 years) who were followed up at King Fahad Medical City, a referral care center in Riyadh, between January 2016 and December 2021; patients with indeterminate colitis or incomplete medical records were excluded. Results: A total of 341 patients with IBD were included, of which 236 (72.2%) had Crohn's disease (CD) and 105 (27.8%) had ulcerative colitis (UC). Qualitative CMV PCR was done for 192 patients (60 UC and 132 CD patients), of which 14 patients were positive for CMV colitis (7.3%), and all positive CMV colitis cases were among UC patients (23.3%). However, the hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stain and immunohistochemistry were negative for all patients. Most patients with CMV colitis were on steroids (71.4%), had at least one flare-up (64.3%), and were on biologic treatment (71.4%). Significant predictors of CMV colitis were hemoglobin (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.51-0.96), albumin (OR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78-0.98), and C-reactive protein (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.06) levels. Conclusion: This study found that the prevalence of CMV colitis was 7.3% among patients with IBD, and no case was diagnosed in patients with CD. In addition, as all cases diagnosed using qualitative CMV PCR were negative on H and E stain and immunohistochemistry, there is need for large-scale studies to improve the diagnosis of CMV colitis.

Alterations in circulating lipidomic profile in patients with type 2 diabetes with or without non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often coexist and drive detrimental effects in a synergistic manner. This study was designed to understand the changes in circulating lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in patients with T2DM with or without NAFLD. Methods: Four hundred thirty-four T2DM patients aged 18-60 years were included in this study. Fatty liver was assessed by FibroScan. The comprehensive metabolic lipid profiling of serum samples was assessed by using high-throughput proton NMR metabolomics. Results: Our data revealed a significant association between steatosis and serum total lipids in VLDL and LDL lipoprotein subclasses, while total lipids in HDL subclasses were negatively associated. A significant positive association was found between steatosis and concentration of lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides in VLDL and LDL subclasses, while HDL subclasses were negatively associated. Furthermore, a significant, association was observed between fibrosis and concentrations of lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides in very small VLDL, large, and very large HDL subclasses. Subgroup analysis revealed a decrease in the concentrations of lipids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and other lipid biomolecules in patients using antilipemic medications. Conclusion: The metabolomics results provide evidence that patients with T2DM with higher steatosis grades have altered lipid metabolomics compared to patients without steatosis. Increased lipid, phospholipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides concentration of VLDL and LDL subclasses are associated with steatosis in patients with T2DM.

Higher carbohydrate intake in relation to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an overlooked complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Current recommendations for the management of NAFLD are mainly focused on weight reduction, overlooking the role of macronutrient composition. Although dietary carbohydrates play a major role in intrahepatic fat synthesis, their association with the progression of liver steatosis has not been fully investigated in patients with T2D. Aim: To investigate the association between higher carbohydrate intake and the presence of liver steatosis in patients with T2D. Methods: This cross-sectional study included men and women aged 18-60 years diagnosed with T2D. Anthropometric measurements, hepatic steatosis assessment using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), blood samples, and dietary data were analyzed. Participants were divided into two groups: NAFLD and NAFLD-free. A two-sample t-test was used to evaluate the differences between the two groups. Stepwise multiple linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to determine the association between CAP values and higher carbohydrate intake. Results: In total, 358 participants were included. NAFLD was present in 79.3% of the participants. Body mass index, waist circumference, ALT, HbA1c, and triglycerides showed direct, while HDL-Cholesterol revealed inverse associations with CAP values. No significant relationship was found between carbohydrate intake and steatosis in the total study sample; however, multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant relationship between carbohydrate intake and CAP values in patients aged ≤50 years. Conclusion: In patients with T2D, higher carbohydrate intake was associated with liver steatosis in those aged 50 years and below. Further studies are required to confirm the causality between carbohydrate intake and liver steatosis.

Transient elastography for the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: Evidence from the CORDIAL cohort study.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD among Saudi patients with T2DM using transient elastography. Methods: A total of 490 patients with T2DM who attended diabetes and primary care clinics were recruited. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurements (LSM) were obtained via FibroScan to assess steatosis and fibrosis. Results: Of the examined 490 patients with T2DM, 396 (80.8%) had hepatic steatosis (CAP ≥248 dB/m): 326 (66.5%) had severe steatosis (CAP ≥280 dB/m), while 41 (8.4%) and 29 (5.9%) had mild (CAP ≥248 to <268 dB/m) and moderate steatosis (CAP ≥268 to <280 dB/m), respectively. Of the 396 patients with steatosis, only 35 (8.8%) had LSM ≥7.9 kPa, suggesting the presence of fibrosis, while 361 (91%) had LSM <7.9 kPa, indicating the absence of fibrosis. Increased body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were positively associated with both steatosis and fibrosis. After adjusting for age and gender, data from logistic regression analysis demonstrated BMI, waist circumference, SBP, ALT, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as significant independent factors for steatosis, while SBP was the only significant predictor associated with fibrosis. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate an increase in prevalence of NAFLD in Saudi patients with T2DM, based on transient elastography and CAP score. The risk of NAFLD appears to be higher in T2DM patients with abdominal obesity, elevated SBP, and increased ALT levels, which supports the screening of these conditions in patients with T2DM.

Microbial dysbiosis in irritable bowel syndrome: A single-center metagenomic study in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The focus of this study was to explore potential differences in colonic mucosal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients compared to a control group utilizing a metagenomic study. METHODS: Mucosal microbiota samples were collected from each IBS patient utilizing jet-flushing colonic mucosa in unified segments of the colon with distilled water, followed by aspiration, during colonoscopy. All the purified dsDNA was extracted and quantified before metagenomic sequencing using an Illumina platform. An equal number of healthy age-matched controls were also examined for colonic mucosal microbiota, which were obtained during screening colonoscopies. RESULTS: The microbiota data on 50 IBS patients (31 females), with a mean age 43.94 ± 14.50 (range19-65), were analyzed in comparison to 50 controls. Satisfactory DNA samples were subjected to metagenomics study, followed by comprehensive comparative phylogenetic analysis. Metagenomics analysis was carried out, and 3.58G reads were sequenced. Community richness (Chao) and microbial structure in IBS patients were shown to be significantly different from those in the control group. Enrichment of Oxalobacter formigenes, Sutterella wadsworthensis, and Bacteroides pectinophilus was significantly observed in controls, whereas enrichment of Collinsella aerofaciens, Gemella morbillorum, and Veillonella parvula Actinobacteria was observed significantly in the IBS cohort. CONCLUSION: The current study has demonstrated significant differences in the microbiota of IBS patients compared to controls.

Epidemiology, disease burden, and treatment strategies of chronic hepatitis C virus infections in Saudi Arabia in the new treatment paradigm shift.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Around 101,000 individuals are estimated to be viremic for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in 2014; however, only about 20% have been diagnosed. We aim to assess baseline epidemiology, disease burden, and evaluate strategies to eliminate HCV in KSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The infected population and disease progression were modeled using age- and gender-defined cohorts to track HCV incidence, prevalence, hepatic complications, and mortality. Baseline assumptions and transition probabilities were extracted from the literature. The impacts of two scenarios on HCV-related disease burden were considered through increases in treatment efficacy alone or treatment and diagnosis. RESULTS: In 2030, it is estimated by the base scenario that viremic prevalence will increase to 103,000 cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to 470, decompensated and compensated cirrhosis cases to 1,300 and 15,400, respectively, and liver-related mortality to 670 deaths. Using high efficacy treatment alone resulted in 2030 projection of 80,700 viremic cases, 350 HCC cases, 480 liver-related deaths, and 850 and 11,500 decompensated and compensated cirrhosis cases, respectively. With an aggressive treatment strategy, in 2030 there will be about 1,700 viremic cases, 1 HCC case, about 20 liver-related deaths, and 5 and 130 cases of decompensated and compensated cirrhosis, respectively. Delaying this strategy by one year would result in 360 additional deaths by 2030. CONCLUSIONS: HCV in KSA remains constant, and cases of advanced liver disease and mortality continue to rise. Considered increases in treatment efficacy and number treated would have a significantly greater impact than increased treatment efficacy alone. The projected impact will facilitate disease forecasting, resource planning, and strategies for HCV management. Increased screening and diagnosis would likely be required as part of a national strategy.

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy Mimicking Puerperal Sepsis: Report of a Case with Literature Review.

Puerperal pyrexia is defined as fever in a woman within 6 weeks of giving birth, which is ≥38°C. We describe the clinical scenario of fever and progressive jaundice in a 32-year-old female in the postpartum period. The laboratory data showed normal leukocytic counts and all her septic screen was noncontributory. While in the hospital, her bilirubin levels progressively increased and showed a mild elevation of liver enzymes. There was no evidence of biliary obstruction. A liver biopsy clinched the diagnosis of acute fatty liver. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. It typically presents in the third trimester and can lead to multi-organ failure and death. This report highlights the importance of liver biopsy and an atypical presentation of fatty liver of pregnancy.

Fish bone migration: an unusual cause of liver abscess.

Treating a pyogenic liver abscess is a therapeutic challenge when a patient presents with atypical symptoms. One of the rare causes of treatment failure of these abscesses is the unrecognised migration of a foreign body from the gastrointestinal tract. The authors describe a pyogenic liver abscess in a 45-year-old male who presented with a 10 day history of fever, and abdominal pain. A CT scan of the abdomen revealed a needle-like foreign body in the liver. At operation a 2.5 cm fish bone was extracted from the liver. Subsequently, his feverish symptoms disappeared, and he has remained well in the ensuing 3 month postoperative period. Fish bone-induced liver abscess is discussed in this brief report.

Bee sting therapy-induced hepatotoxicity: A case report.

The use of bee venom as a therapeutic agent for the relief of joint pains dates back to Hippocrates, and references to the treatment can be found in ancient Egyptian and Greek medical writings as well. Also known as apitherapy, the technique is widely used in Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America. The beneficial effects of bee stings can be attributed to mellitinin, an anti-inflammatory agent, known to be hundred times stronger than cortisone. Unfortunately, certain substances in the bee venom trigger allergic reactions which can be life threatening in a sensitized individual. Multiple stings are known to cause hemolysis, kidney injury, hepatotoxicity and myocardial infarction. The toxicity can be immediate or can manifest itself only weeks after the exposure. We describe hepatotoxicity in a 35-year-old female, following bee sting therapy for multiple sclerosis. She presented to our clinic 3 wk after therapy with a history of progressive jaundice. The patient subsequently improved, and has been attending our clinic now for the last 9 mo.

Celiac disease and autoimmune pancreatitis: an uncommon association. A case report.

We present the clinical scenario of acute abdominal pain in a 27-year-old man with recent-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus. Evaluation of the patient revealed elevated levels of serum amylase, lipase, and transaminase without any biliary obstruction. He had elevated serum IgG4 levels, and his computed tomography scan showed features consistent with autoimmune pancreatitis. Further evaluation revealed celiac disease. He was treated as a patient with autoimmune pancreatitis and was started on steroids in addition to a gluten-free diet. His liver function improved in 6 weeks. He gained weight and his glycemic control also improved. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography after 3 months revealed complete resolution of pancreatic enlargement. The patient is being followed up in our clinic since the past 3 years. To the best of our knowledge and according to the Medline search, this is the first case report of celiac disease as an association of autoimmune pancreatitis.

Spontaneous regression of a large hepatocellular carcinoma: case report.

The prognosis of untreated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is grim with a median survival of less than 6 months. Spontaneous regression of HCC has been defined as the disappearance of the hepatic lesions in the absence of any specific therapy. The spontaneous regression of a very large HCC is very rare and limited data is available in the English literature. We describe spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma in a 65-year-old male who presented to our clinic with vague abdominal pain and weight loss of two months duration. He was found to have multiple hepatic lesions with elevation of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level to 6,500 µg/L (normal <20 µg/L). Computed tomography revealed advanced HCC replacing almost 80% of the right hepatic lobe. Without any intervention the patient showed gradual improvement over a period of few months. Follow-up CT scan revealed disappearance of hepatic lesions with progressive decline of AFP levels to normal. Various mechanisms have been postulated to explain this rare phenomenon, but the exact mechanism remains a mystery.

Lithobezoar--an unusual cause of dyspepsia.

Bezoar is the accumulation of exogenous undigested materials in the gastrointestinal tract. Various names have been used to describe bezoars based on the accumulated material. Commonly seen types are phytobezoar (composed of vegetable matter and seeds of fruits), tricobezoar (hair) lactobezoar (milk cuds). Lithobezoar (composed of stones and rocks) is uncommon and only limited reports are available in the English literature. The authors report a case of gastrointestinal lithobezoar presenting with ulcer-like abdominal pain. Some of the stones were removed endoscopically and some got expelled out after the use of promotility drugs. Invariably, there are predisposing factors for such behaviour. This case emphasises a meticulous psychiatric evaluation in a given patient, in order to prevent recurrence of symptoms.

A case of gastric polyposis in antral area of stomach following prolonged proton-pump therapy.

We describe the clinical scenario of a young male with history of non ulcer dyspepsia who had endoscopic evidence of gastric polyposis in antral area. The polyps disappeared four months after proton pump inhibitors were stopped. Proton pump inhibitors have been linked to gastric fundal polyposis and not antral gland polyposis. This is the first report originating from an Asian country describing antral gland polyposis (AGPs) in a patient on long-term PPI therapy with no evidence of Helicobacter pylori. A case report with brief review is presented.