Browsing by Subject "chronic hepatitis"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    A 68-Year-Old Woman With Unexplained Liver Enzyme Elevation and Active Chronic Hepatitis: Beware of Drug-Induced Autoimmune-Like Hepatitis
    (Elsevier, 2023-10-04) Dara, Lily; Ghabril, Marwan; Phillips, Elizabeth; Kleiner, David; Chalasani, Naga; Medicine, School of Medicine
    This patient’s case history (void of protected health information) was discussed in a multidisciplinary meeting including hepatologists (LD, MG), a pathologist (DK), an immunologist (EP) with NC as moderator. We summarize the case history and discussion in the following article.
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    Autoimmune Hepatitis in the Elderly: Diagnosis and Pharmacologic Management
    (Springer, 2018-07) Rizvi, Syed; Gawrieh, Samer; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may present as acute or chronic hepatitis in the elderly. Advanced hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis are common on first presentation in this population. In this review, we discuss the presentation, approach to diagnosis and management of AIH in the elderly. As polypharmacy is common in the elderly, careful medication use history is essential for detecting drug-induced AIH-like hepatitis. Steroid-sparing or minimizing therapeutic regimens are preferred to treat AIH in the elderly. For the purpose of induction, budesonide or lower dose prednisone in combination with azathioprine (AZA) regimens are preferred over high-dose prednisone monotherapy due to the higher risk of side effects of the later in the elderly. The goal of maintenance therapy should be to achieve full biochemical and histologic remission. Bone density monitoring and interventions to prevent steroid-related bone disease should be implemented throughout the course of the disease. Liver transplantation should be considered in the elderly patient with liver failure or early hepatocellular carcinoma if there are no significant comorbidities or compromise in functional status.
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    Randomised clinical trial: emricasan versus placebo significantly decreases ALT and caspase 3/7 activation in subjects with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
    (Wiley, 2019-01) Shiffman, Mitchell; Freilich, Bradley; Vuppalanchi, Raj; Watt, Kymberly; Chan, Jean L.; Spada, Al; Hagerty, David T.; Schiff, Eugene; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background: Lipotoxicity leading to excessive caspase‐mediated apoptosis and inflammation is believed to drive liver damage in NAFLD. Emricasan is a pan‐caspase inhibitor that decreased serum ALT and apoptotic and inflammatory markers in subjects with chronic hepatitis. Aims: To assess whether 28 days of emricasan would reduce elevated levels of serum ALT, AST, cleaved cytokeratin‐18, full‐length cytokeratin‐18, and caspase 3/7 in subjects with NAFLD and raised aminotransferases. Methods: Double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, office‐practice study assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of emricasan in subjects with NAFLD and ALT levels ≥1.5 x ULN during screening. Subjects were randomised to emricasan 25 mg twice daily or matching placebo. Subjects with cirrhosis and other causes for raised aminotransferases were excluded. The primary endpoint was the change in ALT at day 28 in the emricasan group vs placebo. Results: 38 subjects were randomised, 19 each to emricasan or placebo. Baseline disease factors were well balanced except for lower median ALT values in emricasan subjects. Three subjects randomised to placebo discontinued prior to day 28. ALT values decreased significantly in emricasan‐treated subjects vs placebo at days 7 (P < 0.0001) and 28 (P = 0.02). cCK18 (day 7), flCK18 (days 7 and 28), and caspase 3/7 (day 7) were also significantly decreased in emricasan‐treated subjects vs placebo. Emricasan treatment was generally safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: Emricasan decreased ALT and biomarkers in subjects with NAFLD and raised aminotransferases after 28 days. These results support the further development of emricasan in patients with NAFLD.