Preoperative frailty assessment in older patients with colorectal cancer: use of clinical and radiological tool.

PURPOSE: The Memorial Sloan Kattering Frailty Index (MSK-FI) and the Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) have recently gained attention as markers of frailty and decreased physiologic reserve, and are promising as predictors of adverse postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing oncologic surgery. The objective of this study was to establish the prognostic accuracy of these indexes in a cohort of patients with colorectal cancer subjected to surgical intervention. METHODS: We performed an observational study including all patients older than 60 years, subjected to colorectal cancer surgery between January 2010 and May 2020, and stratified our cohort based on the presence of frailty, as defined by MSK-FI ≥ 3. Computed tomography was used to calculate SMI, using a standardized institutional protocol. A multivariable analysis was used to study the association between these novel indexes with adverse postoperative outcomes in our cohort. RESULTS: A total of 216 patients were included. Among these, 56 (26%) qualified as frail and 132 (62%) had a low SMI. On multivariable analysis (adjusted by patient and intraoperative characteristics), frailty was associated with increased risk of having a major postoperative complication (OR 29.78, 95%CI 10.36-85.71) and increased admission to the intensive care unit (OR 4.99, 95%CI 1.55-16.06), while both frailty and low SMI were associated with prolonged length of stay (OR 11.22, 95%CI 8.91-13.53 and OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.06-0.20, respectively). CONCLUSION: MSK-FI ≥ 3 and low SMI are associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. Implementing this practical tool in routine clinical practice, may help identify patients that would benefit from surgical prehabilitation and preoperative optimization to improve outcomes.

The Frailty Based on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Frailty Index for Prediction of Surgical Outcome in Advance Epithelial Ovarian Cancer-Experience of a Single Center in Mexico.

Retrospective impact evaluation of frailty as measured by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Frailty Index (MSK-FI) on outcomes in older women surgically treated for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Women ≥ 60 years with stage IIIC/IV EOC who underwent primary debulking surgery (PDS) or interval debulking surgery (IDS) were included. Medical records were reviewed for patients' characteristics and outcomes. We retrospectively applied the MSK-FI which included 10 comorbidities and functional assessment that were extracted from medical records. The MSK-FI ranges from 0 to 11; a score of ≥ 3 was considered frail. Associations were assessed using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression. We identified 79 patients treated with PDS (n = 36, 45.5%) or IDS (n = 43, 54.4%) with complete data. The prevalence of frailty based on MSK-FI was 25%. Almost half of the frail patients (47.3%) were admitted to the ICU compared to 16% of non-frail patients (p = 0.006). In univariable analysis, the MSK-FI was associated with postoperative complications [OR 1.57 (95% CI 1.04-2.37), p = 0.03] and ICU admission [OR 2.05 (95% CI 1.30-3.23), p = 0.002], but not with readmission rate [OR 1.29 (95% CI 0.65-2.59), p = 0.5], postoperative mortality [OR 1.02 (95% CI 0.51-2.00), p = 0.9], and hospital stay [ß 0.60 (95% CI - 1.19-2.41)]. In multivariable analysis, the frailty index was independently associated with postoperative complications [OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.02-2.34), p = 0.04] and ICU admissions [OR 1.97 (95% CI 1.23-3.16), p = 0.004]. Frailty, based on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Frailty Index, is associated with adverse postoperative outcomes in older women with advanced ovarian cancer, suggesting that MSK-FI can improve the predictive ability of current surgical assessment tools.

The Educational Quality of Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy Videos on YouTube.

Introduction. Surgical technique videos are an important part of surgical fellows' education. YouTube has been identified as the preferred source of educational videos among trainees. The aim of this article is to objectively evaluate the quality of the 50 most viewed videos on YouTube concerning right laparoscopic hemicolectomy using LAParoscopic surgery Video Educational GuidelineS (LAP-VEGaS). We hypothesized that the number of likes or views will not necessarily reciprocate with the educational content. Materials and methods. This observational study started with a YouTube search under the words "laparoscopic right hemicolectomy", "right colectomy", and "right hemicolectomy". The 50 most viewed videos with an English title were chosen. Video characteristics and LAP-VEGaS score were analyzed by four colorectal surgery fellows from a tertiary center in Mexico City. Results. Right hemicolectomy videos were reviewed; there was no correlation between the LAP-VEGaS score and the view ratio, the like ratio, or the video power index. The LAP-VEGaS score was significantly higher among videos uploaded by medical associations, journals, or commercial when compared with videos uploaded by doctors/physicians or academic associations. Conclusion. Educational quality in right laparoscopic hemicolectomy videos did not reciprocate with their educational quality, but it agrees significantly with the video uploading source. Low educational quality was identified among the videos underscoring the need to endorse peer-reviewed video channels.

Non-invasive imaging criteria for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Criteria defined by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) enable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis based on imaging in cirrhosis. Non-cirrhotic patients require biopsy given the lower pre-test probability of HCC. The objective of our study was to assess the performance of EASL and LI-RADS criteria for the diagnosis of HCC in non-cirrhotic patients with chronic HBV infection. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study performed at a referral center. We included all patients with HBV without cirrhosis with focal liver lesions who underwent contrast-enhanced CT or MRI at our clinic between 2005-2018. Studies were reviewed by 2 radiologists blinded to the diagnosis. RESULTS: We included 280 patients, median age was 56.8 (IQR 48.2-65.45) years and 223 (80%) were male. In 191 (79%) cases the lesion was found as a result of screening. Cirrhosis was excluded based on pathology in 252 (90%) cases. We assessed 338 nodules: 257 (76%) HCC, 40 (12%) non-HCC malignant lesions, and 41 (12%) benign lesions. EASL criteria and LR-5/LR-tumor-in-vein (TIV) categories had a 100% agreement in categorizing lesions as HCC, and 226 nodules (67%) were classified as HCCs. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 82.1 (76.9-86.6), 81.5 (71.3-89.2), 93.4 (89.3-96.2), and 58.9 (49.2-68.1), respectively. When the pre-test probability of HCC is >70%, estimated as a PAGE-B score above 9, and EASL or LR-5/LR-TIV criteria are met, post-test probability would be >90%. CONCLUSIONS: EASL criteria and LR-5/LR-TIV categories show a positive predictive value in patients with HBV without cirrhosis that is comparable to that seen in patients with cirrhosis. These criteria can be used when the pre-test probability of HCC is >70%. LAY SUMMARY: Current guidelines recommend performing a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis of presumed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients without cirrhosis. We showed that specific imaging criteria had a 100% agreement for categorizing lesions as HCC, with a positive predictive value of 93.4%. These imaging criteria could be used to diagnose HCC in HBV patients without cirrhosis with a pre-test probability of HCC of ≥70%, avoiding the need for a liver biopsy.

Statins and Liver Cancer in Cirrhosis: The Most Relevant Questions Are Still Unanswered.

ABSTRACT: Several observational studies have shown an association between statin use and lower incidence of liver cancer. However, several potential biases limit a causal interpretation that could lead to a recommendation of statin prescription to patients with cirrhosis in the absence of a cardiovascular indication. Ongoing randomized trials will soon provide a clearer picture on the efficacy and safety of statins for preventing liver cancer and other complications of cirrhosis.

Influence of Muscle Mass Area and Visceral Obesity on 30-day Mortality After Colorectal Surgery with Primary Anastomosis.

BACKGROUND: Muscle mass and visceral fat may be assessed at the level of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) in computed tomography (CT). Both variables have been related with adverse surgical outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to study the association of skeletal muscle index (SMI) and visceral fat area (VFA) with 30-day mortality in colorectal surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary referral hospital in Mexico City. Patients who underwent colorectal surgery with primary anastomosis from January 2007 to December 2018 were included in the study. Their preoperative CT scans were analyzed with the NIH ImageJ software at the level of the third lumbar vertebra to determine their SMI (L3-SMI) and the VFA. Logistic regression analysis (adjusted by surgery anatomical location) was used to determine the association between these variables and surgical 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 548 patients were included; 30-day mortality was 4.18% (23 patients). On univariable analysis, L3-SMI, low SMI, anastomosis leak, pre-operative albumin, estimated blood loss, age, steroid use, Charlson comorbidity index score >2, and type of surgery were associated with 30-day mortality. On multivariable analysis, low SMI remained an independent risk factor with an odds ratio of 4.74, 95% confidence interval 1.22-18.36 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Low SMI was found to be an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality in patients submitted to colorectal surgery with a primary anastomosis, whether for benign or malignant diagnosis. VFA was not associated with 30-day mortality.

Frailty index as a predictive preoperative tool in the elder population undergoing major abdominal surgery: a prospective analysis of clinical utility.

PURPOSE: The geriatric population has increased considerably in the last decades. Such increases come along with new challenges for surgical practitioners, who now face a risen number of frail patients in need of major operations. The value of frailty indexes in this setting has been discussed recently. This study assessed the modified Rockwood frailty index (mRFI) as a predictive tool for postoperative complications in older adults subjected to major abdominal operations and correlated it with other scores widely utilized for this purpose. METHODS: We performed a prospective study utilizing the mRFI including all patients older than 65 years subjected to major abdominal surgery between May 2017 and May 2019 in a third-level academic center. A comparison between frail (mRFI >0.25) and non-frail patients (mRFI <0.25) was performed. We performed logistic regression to identify predictors of postoperative complications and 30-day mortality. We analyzed the correlation between mRFI and ACS-NSQIP, P-POSSUM, PMP, and Charlson score risk calculators. RESULTS: One hundred forty patients were included in our study, of whom 49 (35%) were identified as frail. Frail patients demonstrated significantly prolonged hospital stay (p<.0001), ICU admission rates (p=0.004), hospital readmissions (p=0.007), and higher mortality rates (p=0.02). Our univariate analysis associated frailty (mRFI>0.25), ASA >III, increased age, and BMI with postoperative complications. In our multivariate analysis, frailty remained an independent predictor for postoperative complications (OR 6.38, 95% CI [2.45-16.58], p<0.001). Frailty was also associated with length of stay (LOS) regardless of the type of surgery (OR 3.35, 95% CI [0.37-6.33], p= 0.03). mRFI>0.25 demonstrated a sensitivity (Se) of 70% and specificity (Sp) 67% with area under the curve (AUC) 0.75 for perioperative complications, Se 69% and Sp 70% with AUC 0.74 for ICU admissions, and Se 83% and Sp 68% with AUC 0.83 for mortality. CONCLUSION: Frail patients demonstrated significantly prolonged hospital stay, ICU admission rates, hospital readmissions, and higher mortality rates. mRFI is an independent predictor for perioperative complications with a Se of 70% and Sp 67% and AUC 0.75.

Hepamet Fibrosis Score in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients in Mexico: Lower than Expected Positive Predictive Value.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with different negative outcomes in the presence of advanced fibrosis. The Hepamet Fibrosis Score (HFS), a recently described noninvasive score, has shown excellent performance for the detection of advanced fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess its performance in a Mexican population with NAFLD. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study performed in 222 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD, of whom 33(14%) had advanced fibrosis. We retrieved clinical data from each patient's medical record to compute the HFS, the NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS), and the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), and assess their performance. RESULTS: When considering the models as continuous variables, the area under the receiving operating characteristics curve of the HFS(0.758) was not different from that of the NFS(0.669, p = 0.09) or FIB-4(0.796, p = 0.1). The HFS had a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 76.7% (95% CI 57.7-90.1), 90.1% (95% CI 85-93.9), 36.7% (95% CI 19.9-56.1), and 94.3% (95% CI 88.5-97.7), respectively. Indeterminate results (i.e., gray area) were more common with FIB-4 and HFS when compared with NFS [139(63%) and 122(55%) vs 80(36%), p < 0.001]. The variables that were associated with misclassification using the HFS were diabetes [OR 3.40 (95% CI 1.42-8.10), p = 0.006] and age [OR 1.06 (95% CI 1.01-1.11), p = 0.01]. CONCLUSION: The HFS showed sensitivity and specificity similar to that reported in the original publication; however, the positive predictive value was 36.7% at a pretest probability of 14%. The role of the HFS in prospective studies and in combination with other methods should be further explored.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Across the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stages.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common lethal cancer, and there is a need for effective therapies. Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) has been increasingly used, but is not supported by guidelines due to a lack of solid evidence. AIMS: Determine the efficacy and safety of SIRT in HCC across the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages A, B, and C. METHODS: Consecutive patients that received SIRT between 2006 and 2016 at two centers in Canada were evaluated. RESULTS: We analyzed 132 patients, 12 (9%), 62 (47%), and 58 (44%) belonged to BCLC stages A, B, and C; mean age was 61.2 (SD ± 9.2), and 89% were male. Median survival was 12.4 months (95% CI 9.6-16.6), and it was different across the stages: 59.7 (95% CI NA), 12.8 (95% CI 10.2-17.5), and 9.3 months (95% CI 5.9-11.8) in BCLC A, B, and C, respectively (p = 0.009). Independent factors associated with survival were previous HCC treatment (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.23-3.27, p = 0.005), bi-lobar disease (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.30-3.89, p = 0.003), ascites (HR 1.77, 95% CI 0.99-3.13, p = 0.05), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02-1.20, p = 0.01), Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI) grade-3 (HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.22-5.92, p = 0.01), tumor thrombus (HR 2.95, 95% CI 1.65-5.24, p < 0.001), and disease control rate (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39-0.96, p = 0.03). Forty-four (33%) patients developed severe adverse events, and ALBI-3 was associated with higher risk of these events. CONCLUSIONS: SIRT has the potential to be used across the BCLC stages in cases with preserved liver function. When using it as a rescue treatment, one should consider variables reflecting liver function, HCC extension, and systemic inflammation, which are associated with mortality.

Visceral Adipose Tissue Radiodensity Is Linked to Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Selective Internal Radiation Therapy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Various factors, such as tumor size, tumor multiplicity, and liver function, have been linked to the prognosis of HCC. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic significance of muscle, subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass, and radiodensity, in a cohort of 101 HCC patients treated with selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT). Muscle and adipose tissue cross sectional area (cm2/m2) and radiodensity, reported as the Hounsfield Unit (HU), were determined using pre-SIRT computed tomography images. Cox proportional hazard models and exact logistic regression were conducted to assess associations between body composition and adverse outcomes. Majority of the patients were male (88%) with a mean VAT radiodensity of -85 ± 9 HU. VAT radiodensity was independently associated with mortality (HR 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01-1.08; p = 0.01), after adjusting for cirrhosis etiology, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, previous HCC treatment, and portal hypertension markers. Patients with a high VAT radiodensity of ≥-85 HU had a two times higher risk of mortality (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.14-3.54, p = 0.02), compared to their counterpart. Clinical features of portal hypertension were more prevalent in patients with high VAT radiodensity. High VAT radiodensity was associated with severe adverse events after adjusting for confounding factors. High VAT radiodensity is independently associated with both increased mortality and severe adverse events in patients treated with SIRT. VAT radiodensity measurement might serve as an objective approach to identify patients who will experience the most benefit from SIRT.

Obesity in the Liver Transplant Setting.

The obesity epidemic has resulted in an increased prevalence of obesity in liver transplant (LT) candidates and in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) becoming the fastest growing indication for LT. LT teams will be dealing with obesity in the coming years, and it is necessary for them to recognize some key aspects surrounding the LT in obese patients. Obesity by itself should not be considered a contraindication for LT, but it should make LT teams pay special attention to cardiovascular risk assessment, in order to properly select candidates for LT. Obese patients may be at increased risk of perioperative respiratory and infectious complications, and it is necessary to establish preventive strategies. Data on patient and graft survival after LT are controversial and scarce, especially for long-term outcomes, but morbid obesity may adversely affect these outcomes, particularly in NAFLD. The backbone of obesity treatment should be diet and exercise, whilst being careful not to precipitate or worsen frailty and sarcopenia. Bariatric surgery is an alternative for treatment of obesity, and the ideal timing regarding LT is still unknown. Sleeve gastrectomy is probably the procedure that has the best evidence in LT because it offers a good balance between safety and efficacy.

The oncogenic role of hepatitis delta virus in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a small defective virus that needs hepatitis B virus (HBV) to replicate and propagate. HDV infection affects 20-40 million people worldwide and pegylated interferon (PegIFN) is the only recommended therapy. There is limited data on the contribution of HDV infection to HBV-related liver disease or liver cancer. Evidence from retrospective and cohort studies suggests that HBV/HDV coinfection accelerates progression to cirrhosis and is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development compared to HBV monoinfection. Although the life cycle of HDV is relatively well known, there is only ancillary information on the molecular mechanisms that can drive specific HDV-related oncogenesis. No thorough reports on the specific landscape of mutations or molecular classes of HDV-related HCC have been published. This information could be critical to better understand the uniqueness, if any, of HDV-related HCC and help identify novel targetable mutations. Herein, we review the evidence supporting an oncogenic role of HDV, the main reported mechanisms of HDV involvement and their impact on HCC development.

Non-Invasive Prediction of High-Risk Varices in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: Baveno-VI guidelines recommend that patients with compensated cirrhosis with liver stiffness by transient elastography (LSM-TE) <20 kPa and platelets >150,000/mm(3) do not need an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to screen for varices, since the risk of having varices needing treatment (VNT) is <5%. It remains uncertain if this tool can be used in patients with cholestatic liver diseases (ChLDs): primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). These patients may have a pre-sinusoidal component of portal hypertension that could affect the performance of this rule. In this study we evaluated the performance of Baveno-VI, expanded Baveno-VI (LSM-TE <25 kPa and platelets >110,000/mm(3)), and other criteria in predicting the absence of VNT. METHODS: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study in four referral hospitals. We retrospectively analyzed data from 227 patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) due to PBC (n = 147) and PSC (n = 80) that had paired EGD and LSM-TE. We calculated false negative rate (FNR) and number of saved endoscopies for each prediction rule. RESULTS: Prevalence of VNT was 13%. Baveno-VI criteria had a 0% FNR in PBC and PSC, saving 39 and 30% of EGDs, respectively. In PBC the other LSM-TE-based criteria resulted in FNRs >5%. In PSC the expanded Baveno criteria had an adequate performance. In both conditions LSM-TE-independent criteria resulted in an acceptable FNR but saved less EGDs. CONCLUSIONS: Baveno-VI criteria can be applied in patients with cACLD due to ChLDs, which would result in saving 30-40% of EGDs. Expanded criteria in PBC would lead to FNRs >5%.

A Survey of Molecular Heterogeneity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Understanding the heterogeneity of dysregulated pathways associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may provide prognostic and therapeutic avenues for disease management. As HCC involves a complex process of genetic and epigenetic modifications, we evaluated expression of both polyadenylated transcripts and microRNAs from HCC and liver samples derived from two cohorts of patients undergoing either partial hepatic resection or liver transplantation. Copy number variants were inferred from whole genome low-pass sequencing data, and a set of 56 cancer-related genes were screened using an oncology panel assay. HCC was associated with marked transcriptional deregulation of hundreds of protein-coding genes. In the partially resected livers, diminished transcriptional activity was observed in genes associated with drug catabolism and increased expression in genes related to inflammatory responses and cell proliferation. Moreover, several long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs not previously linked with HCC were found to be deregulated. In liver transplant recipients, down-regulation of genes involved in energy production and up-regulation of genes associated with glycolysis were detected. Numerous copy number variants events were observed, with hotspots on chromosomes 1 and 17. Amplifications were more common than deletions and spanned regions containing genes potentially involved in tumorigenesis. Colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), nucleolar phosphoprotein B23 (NPM1), platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha polypeptide (PDGFRA), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), G-protein-coupled receptors-like receptor Smoothened (SMO), and tumor protein P53 (TP53) were mutated in all tumors; another 26 cancer-related genes were mutated with variable penetrance. Conclusion: Our results underscore the marked molecular heterogeneity between HCC tumors and reinforce the notion that precision medicine approaches are needed for management of individual HCC. These data will serve as a resource to generate hypotheses for further research to improve our understanding of HCC biology. (Hepatology Communications 2018; 00:000-000).

The Use of Statins in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Statins are drugs developed to treat hypercholesterolemia. Its use in patients with liver disease has been limited because one of its potential and most feared side effects is hepatotoxicity. However, there is robust evidence that supports the safety of statins in this population in the absence of severe liver dysfunction. In this review, we will summarize the efficacy and safety of statins in cirrhosis. RECENT FINDINGS: Statins are effective in the treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with liver disease, because of their pleiotropic properties. These properties are independent of their effect on cholesterol levels, such as improving endothelial dysfunction or having antioxidant, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, proapoptotic, or immunomodulation properties. Statins have been studied in other areas such as in treatment of portal hypertension, prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma, and/or protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. Approved indications for statins in patients with cirrhosis are those of the general population, including dyslipidemia and increased cardiovascular risk. Compensated cirrhosis is not a contraindication. In patients with decompensated cirrhosis, statins should be prescribed with extreme caution at low doses, and with frequent monitoring of creatinine phosphokinase levels in order to detect adverse events in a timely fashion.

Non-invasive diagnosis of esophageal varices after Baveno VI.

A major complication of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis is the development of esophageal varices with the associated risk of variceal bleeding. Hence, the Baveno consensus on portal hypertension in its first five editions had recommended surveillance with periodic upper endoscopies in these patients to identify in a timely fashion the development of esophageal varices and initiate a primary prophylaxis strategy in those at a high risk of bleeding. For the first time, the Sixth Baveno Consensus on Portal Hypertension (Baveno VI) recommended using non-invasive tools to rule out the presence of varices with a high risk of bleeding. According to Baveno VI, surveillance endoscopy is not necessary for patients with "compensated advanced chronic liver disease" (cACLD) who have normal platelets (>150×109/L) and a liver stiffness measure (LSM) <20 kPa. In this review, we will briefly describe the currently available non-invasive methods to predict the presence of varices, such as serum tests, imaging, and elastography. We will also discuss the rationale that led to Baveno VI recommendation and describe the studies that have validated Baveno VI criteria after its publication. Finally, we will mention some potential caveats and suggest some areas for future research.

Chronic Hepatitis C Treatment with Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents in a Real-Life Setting.

BACKGROUND: In clinical trials, new oral direct-acting antiviral agent therapies have demonstrated a high sustained virological response rate in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety data from direct-acting antiviral agent interferon-free therapy in hepatitis C virus infection in a study performed in five different clinical settings in Mexico City; four private practice sites and one academic medical center in a real-world scenario. METHODS: Eighty-one patients were treated with seven different direct-acting antiviral agent regimens, in which the end of treatment, sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment, and adverse effects were evaluated. At their discretion, attending physicians selected the treatment regimens and durations. RESULTS: In total, 70.4% of the patients were female and the mean age was 60.7 years; 74.1% had blood transfusion as a risk factor. The most common genotype was 1b (70.4%). The fibrosis stage was F3 or F4 in 55.5% of patients; liver cirrhosis was present in 44%. The overall end of treatment response was 98.8%, and the rate of sustained virological response was 96%, independent of the regimen. Three patients did not achieve sustained virological response; they had cirrhosis and were treatment-experienced, and two had hepatocarcinoma. Non-significant adverse effects during treatment were documented. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-life setting in Mexico, a rate of 96% of sustained virological response to direct-acting antiviral agents was achieved in an older population of patients with advanced fibrosis. This study provides data that may be useful in guiding health professionals and authorities in the development of health policies.