Barriers and Facilitators of Hepatitis C Care in Persons Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are often co-transmitted. Viral coinfection results in worse outcomes. Persons who inject drugs (PWIDs) face barriers to medical treatment, but HCV treatment is indicated and effective even with ongoing active drug use. We aimed to assess access to HCV care and treatment results in patients coinfected with HIV-HCV. This is a real-world retrospective single-center study of patients followed in the HIV clinic between 2002 and 2018. Linkage to care was defined as achieving care cascade steps: (1) hepatology clinic visit, (2) receiving prescription of anti-HCV treatment, and (3) documentation of sustained virologic response (SVR). Of 1660 patients with HIV, 254 with HIV-HCV coinfection were included. Only 39% of them achieved SVR. The rate limiting step was the engagement into hepatology care. Being a PWID was associated with ~50% reduced odds of achieving study outcomes, active drug use was associated with ~90% reduced odds. Older age was found to facilitate treatment success. Once treated, the rate of SVR was high in all populations. HCV is undertreated in coinfected young PWIDs. Further efforts should be directed to improve access to care in this marginalized population.

Secondary sclerosing cholangitis following major burn.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Secondary sclerosing cholangitis in critically ill patients (SSC-CIP) is a relatively new previously unrecognized entity which may lead to severe biliary disease with rapid progression to cirrhosis. We present for the first time a case series of patients with rapidly progressive SSC-CIP requiring aggressive intensive care treatment following major burn injury. RESULTS: SSC-CIP was diagnosed in 4 consecutive patients hospitalized due to major burn injuries at our Intensive Care Unit (ICU). SSC-CIP was diagnosed when ERCP (n = 1) or MRCP (n = 3) demonstrated irregular intrahepatic bile ducts with multiple strictures and dilatations and, when a liver biopsy (n = 3) demonstrated severe cholestasis and bile duct damage. All patients were males; none of whom had pre-existing liver disease. Ages: 18-56 y. All patients suffered from severe (grade 2-3) burn injuries with total burn surface area ranging from 35 to 95%. Mean length of ICU hospitalization was 129.2 ± 53.0 days. All patients required mechanical ventilation (with a mean PEEP of 8.4 ± 2.1 cm H2O) and the administration of catecholamines for hemodynamic stabilization. All patients demonstrated severe cholestasis. Blood cultures and cultures from drained liver abscesses grew hospital acquired multiple resistant bacteria. Liver cirrhosis developed within 12 months. One patient underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Two patients (50%) died. In conclusion, SSC-CIP following major burn injury is a rapidly progressive disease with a poor outcome. Liver cirrhosis developed rapidly. Awareness of this grave complication is needed for prompt diagnosis and considerations of a liver transplantation.

Oncogenic viruses and hepatocellular carcinoma.

About 80% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections especially in the setting of established cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis, making HCC prevention a major goal of antiviral therapy. HCC tumors are highly complex and heterogeneous resulting from the aberrant function of multiple molecular pathways. The roles of HCV or HBV in promoting HCC development are still either directly or indirectly are still speculative, but the evidence for both effects is compelling. In patients with chronic hepatitis viral infection, cirrhosis is not a prerequisite for tumorigenesis.

Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst with high intra-cystic carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level.

A ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC) is a rare foregut developmental malformation usually diagnosed in adulthood. Five percent of reported cases of CHFC transform into squamous cell carcinoma. We report the presentation, evaluation, and surgical management of a symptomatic 45-year-old male found to have a 6.2 cm CHFC. Contrast tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration demonstrated columnar, ciliated epithelium consistent with the histologic diagnosis of CHFC. The intracystic levels of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were extremely high (978118 U/mL and 973 µg/L, respectively). Histologically, the wall of the cyst showed characteristic pseudopapillae lined with a ciliated stratified columnar epithelium, underlying smooth muscle, an outer fibrous layer and no atypia. Immunohistochemistry for CA19-9 and CEA was positive. This is the first case report of a CHFC in which levels of CA 19-9 and CEA were measured. Our findings suggest that a large sized multilocular cyst and elevated cyst CA19-9 and CEA levels do not exclude a CHFC from consideration in the diagnosis. CHFCs should be included in the differential diagnosis of hepatic lesions. Accurate diagnosis of a CHFC is necessary given its potential for malignant transformation, and surgical excision is recommended.

Late onset fulminant Wilson's disease: a case report and review of the literature.

Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder of hepatic copper metabolism. WD can be present in different clinical conditions, with the most common ones being liver disease and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Most cases present symptoms at < 40 years of age. However, few reports exist in the literature on patients in whom the disease presented beyond this age. In this report, we present a case of late onset fulminant WD in a 58-year-old patient in whom the diagnosis was established clinically, by genetic analysis of the ATP7B gene disclosing rare mutations (G1099S and c.1707+3insT) as well as by high hepatic copper content. We also reviewed the relevant literature. The diagnosis of WD with late onset presentation is easily overlooked. The diagnostic features and the genetic background in patients with late onset WD are not different from those in patients with early onset WD, except for the age. Effective treatments for this disorder that can be fatal are available and will prevent or reverse many manifestations if the disease is discovered early.