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Flamm SL. Key Insights and Clinical Pearls in the Identification and Management of Cirrhosis and Its Complications. Am J Med 2024:S0002-9343(24)00326-7. [PMID: 38788826 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Cirrhosis is a prevalent, chronic condition with an asymptomatic compensated phase, in which patients may feel well, and a decompensated phase that begins with onset of complications (eg, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, and/or variceal bleeding). Because patients with cirrhosis may appear healthy with normal liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, and serum bilirubin levels, awareness of clinical signals is important. For example, patients with thrombocytopenia should be evaluated for chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Early recognition and management of cirrhosis-related complications (eg, hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, and/or variceal bleeding) is important, given their association with hospitalization and poor prognosis (eg, increased odds of short-term mortality). Hepatic encephalopathy can be the most subtle cirrhosis-related complication, and associated cognitive impairment may be misdiagnosed. Because hepatic encephalopathy can be associated with hospital readmissions, reducing readmission rates after hepatic encephalopathy-related hospitalizations is critical. This includes incorporating ongoing therapy (eg, rifaximin plus lactulose) in postdischarge management plans to reduce the risk of hepatic encephalopathy recurrence. Strategies that mitigate cirrhosis progression and prevent development of cirrhosis-related complications are key to improving patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L Flamm
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rush University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.
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2
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Ferraioli G, Barr RG, Berzigotti A, Sporea I, Wong VWS, Reiberger T, Karlas T, Thiele M, Cardoso AC, Ayonrinde OT, Castera L, Dietrich CF, Iijima H, Lee DH, Kemp W, Oliveira CP, Sarin SK. WFUMB Guideline/Guidance on Liver Multiparametric Ultrasound: Part 1. Update to 2018 Guidelines on Liver Ultrasound Elastography. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024:S0301-5629(24)00142-X. [PMID: 38762390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2024.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) endorsed the development of this document on multiparametric ultrasound. Part 1 is an update to the WFUMB Liver Elastography Guidelines Update released in 2018 and provides new evidence on the role of ultrasound elastography in chronic liver disease. The recommendations in this update were made and graded using the Oxford classification, including level of evidence (LoE), grade of recommendation (GoR) and proportion of agreement (Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine [OCEBM] 2009). The guidelines are clinically oriented, and the role of shear wave elastography in both fibrosis staging and prognostication in different etiologies of liver disease is discussed, highlighting advantages and limitations. A comprehensive section is devoted to the assessment of portal hypertension, with specific recommendations for the interpretation of liver and spleen stiffness measurements in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Ferraioli
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Richard Gary Barr
- Department of Radiology, Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, USA; Southwoods Imaging, Youngstown, Ohio, USA
| | - Annalisa Berzigotti
- Department of Visceral Surgery and Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ioan Sporea
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Victor Babeș" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timișoara, Romania
| | - Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
- Medical Data Analytics Centre, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Institute of Digestive Disease, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Christian-Doppler Laboratory for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Karlas
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine II, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maja Thiele
- Center for Liver Research, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Department for Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Ana Carolina Cardoso
- Hepatology Division, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Clementino, Fraga Filho Hospital, Rua Prof. Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Oyekoya Taiwo Ayonrinde
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia; Medical School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia; Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Laurent Castera
- Université Paris-Cité, Inserm UMR1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Paris, France; Service d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance-Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Clichy, France
| | - Christoph Frank Dietrich
- Department Allgemeine Innere Medizin (DAIM), Kliniken Hirslanden Beau Site, Salem and Permancence, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hiroko Iijima
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Department of Gastroenterology, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan; Ultrasound Imaging Center, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Dong Ho Lee
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - William Kemp
- Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Claudia P Oliveira
- Gastroenterology Department, Laboratório de Investigação (LIM07), Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo, HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Shiv Kumar Sarin
- Department of Hepatology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India
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Blaney HL, Khalid MB, Yang AH, Asif BA, Vittal A, Kamal N, Wright EC, Abijo T, Koh C, George D, Goldman D, Horneffer Y, Diazgranados N, Heller T. Hepatology consultation is associated with decreased early return to alcohol use after discharge from an inpatient alcohol use disorder treatment program. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0414. [PMID: 38619432 PMCID: PMC11019822 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol cessation is the only intervention that both prevents and halts the progressions of alcohol-associated liver disease. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between a return to alcohol use and consultation with hepatology in treatment-seeking patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). METHODS Two hundred forty-two patients with AUD were enrolled in an inpatient treatment program, with hepatology consultation provided for 143 (59%) patients at the request of the primary team. Patients not seen by hepatology served as controls. The primary outcome was any alcohol use after discharge assessed using AUDIT-C at 26 weeks after discharge. RESULTS For the primary endpoint, AUDIT at week 26, 61% of the hepatology group and 28% of the controls completed the questionnaire (p=0.07). For the secondary endpoint at week 52, these numbers were 22% and 11% (p = 0.6). At week 26, 39 (45%) patients in the hepatology group versus 31 (70%) controls (p = 0.006) returned to alcohol use. Patients evaluated by hepatology had decreased rates of hazardous alcohol use compared to controls, with 36 (41%) versus 29 (66%) (p = 0.008) of the patients, respectively, reporting hazardous use. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between groups and no difference in rates of prescribing AUD therapy. There was no difference in outcomes at 52 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Patients evaluated by hepatology had significantly lower rates of return to alcohol use and lower rates of hazardous drinking at 26 weeks but not at 52 weeks. These findings suggest that hepatology evaluation during inpatient treatment of AUD may lead to decreased rates of early return to alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna L. Blaney
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mian B. Khalid
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexander H. Yang
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bilal A. Asif
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anusha Vittal
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Natasha Kamal
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth C. Wright
- Office of the Director, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tomilowo Abijo
- Office of the Director, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Chris Koh
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - David George
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - David Goldman
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Yvonne Horneffer
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nancy Diazgranados
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Theo Heller
- Liver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Ramirez-Cadiz C, Blaney H, Kubanek N, Díaz LA, Loomba R, Skladany L, Arab JP. Review article: Current indications and selection criteria for early liver transplantation in severe alcohol-associated hepatitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2024; 59:1049-1061. [PMID: 38475893 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is a severe inflammatory form of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) that carries a high mortality rate. Early liver transplantation for severe AH is increasingly available. However, specific criteria for referral and selection remain a subject of debate. AIMS To provide a narrative review of the natural history, diagnostic criteria and indications for referral for early liver transplantation for severe AH. METHODS We searched PubMed for articles published through August 2023. Key search terms were 'alcoholic hepatitis,' 'alcohol-associated hepatitis,' 'abstinence,' 'alcohol relapse,' and 'liver transplantation.' RESULTS Previously, a six-month period of alcohol abstinence was required before patients with ALD were considered for liver transplantation. However, studies in recent years have demonstrated that, among carefully selected patients, patients who received early transplants have much higher survival rates than patients with similarly severe disease who did not undergo transplants (77% vs. 23%). Despite these successes, early liver transplantation remains controversial, as these patients have typically not undergone treatment for alcohol use disorder, with the ensuing risk of returning to alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS While early liver transplantation for AH has survival benefits, many patients would not have received treatment for alcohol use disorder. An integrated approach to evaluating candidacy for early liver transplantation is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Ramirez-Cadiz
- Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University & London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hanna Blaney
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Natalia Kubanek
- Division of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine II, Slovak Medical University Faculty of Medicine, F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital, Banska Bystrica, Slovak Republic
| | - Luis Antonio Díaz
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rohit Loomba
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Lubomir Skladany
- Division of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine II, Slovak Medical University Faculty of Medicine, F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital, Banska Bystrica, Slovak Republic
| | - Juan Pablo Arab
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University & London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Narro GEC, Díaz LA, Ortega EK, Garín MFB, Reyes EC, Delfin PSM, Arab JP, Bataller R. Alcohol-related liver disease: A global perspective. Ann Hepatol 2024:101499. [PMID: 38582247 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2024.101499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) represents one of the deadliest yet preventable consequences of excessive alcohol use. It represents 5.1 % of the global burden of disease, mainly involving the productive-age population (15-44 years) and leading to an increased mortality risk from traffic road injuries, suicide, violence, cardiovascular disease, neoplasms, and liver disease, among others, accounting for 5.3 % of global deaths. Daily alcohol consumption, binge drinking (BD), and heavy episodic drinking (HED) are the patterns associated with a higher risk of developing ALD. The escalating global burden of ALD, even exceeding what was predicted, is the result of a complex interaction between the lack of public policies that regulate alcohol consumption, low awareness of the scope of the disease, late referral to specialists, underuse of available medications, insufficient funds allocated to ALD research, and non-predictable events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where increases of up to 477 % in online alcohol sales were registered in the United States. Early diagnosis, referral, and treatment are pivotal to achieving the therapeutic goal in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and ALD, where complete alcohol abstinence and prevention of alcohol relapse are expected to enhance overall survival. This can be achieved through a combination of cognitive behavioral, motivational enhancement and pharmacological therapy. Furthermore, the appropriate use of available pharmacological therapy and implementation of public policies that comprehensively address this disease will make a real difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela Elia Castro Narro
- Hepatology and Transplant Unit, Hospital Médica Sur. Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubiran". Mexico City, Mexico; Latin-American Association for the Study of the Liver (ALEH). Santiago de Chile, Chile.
| | - Luis Antonio Díaz
- Latin-American Association for the Study of the Liver (ALEH). Santiago de Chile, Chile; Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Santiago, Chile
| | - Eric Kauffman Ortega
- Internal Medicine Department, Centenario Hospital Miguel Hidalgo. Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | - María Fernanda Bautista Garín
- Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubiran". Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Eira Cerda Reyes
- Investigation Department, Central Military Hospital. Mexico City, Mexico; Military School of Health Graduates, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Juan Pablo Arab
- Latin-American Association for the Study of the Liver (ALEH). Santiago de Chile, Chile; Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Santiago, Chile; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University & London Health Sciences Centre. London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Ramón Bataller
- Ramon. Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic. Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDI-BAPS). Barcelona, Spain.
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Perumalswami PV, Winder GS, Fernandez AC, Mellinger JL. Practical Considerations to Optimize Care for Patients With Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease in General Gastroenterology Practice. Am J Gastroenterol 2024; 119:591-595. [PMID: 37725695 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ponni V Perumalswami
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Gastroenterology Section, Veterans Affairs, Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- VA Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Gerald Scott Winder
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anne C Fernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jessica L Mellinger
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Gratacós-Ginès J, López-Pelayo H, Pose E. Reply: Medications promoting abstinence in alcohol-associated cirrhosis. Hepatology 2024; 79:E100-E101. [PMID: 38193591 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Gratacós-Ginès
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Hugo López-Pelayo
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Pose
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
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Julien J, Ayer T, Tapper EB, Chhatwal J. The Rising Costs of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease in the United States. Am J Gastroenterol 2024; 119:270-277. [PMID: 37463414 PMCID: PMC10872874 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is rising in the United States because of an increase in high-risk drinking, but population-level ALD cost is unknown. Our aim was to project the direct and indirect costs associated with ALD in the US population through 2040. METHODS We used a previously validated microsimulation model of alcohol consumption and ALD with model parameters estimated from publicly available data sources, including the National Epidemiologic Survey Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and published studies informing the impact of alcohol consumption on ALD severity in the United States resident population. The simulated scenario included current and projected ALD-associated costs. RESULTS From 2022 to 2040, the ALD is projected to cost $880 billion, $355 billion in direct healthcare-related costs, and $525 billion in lost labor and economic consumption. The annual cost of ALD is projected to increase from $31 billion in 2022 to $66 billion (118% increase) in 2040. Although the female population makes up 29% of these costs in 2022, by 2040 on a per annum basis, female costs would be 43% of the total annual expenditure. DISCUSSION Increased consumption of alcohol in the US population, especially in females, will cause a steep rise in the economic burden of ALD in the United States. These findings highlight the need for planners and policymakers to plan for the increased impact of liver disease in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovan Julien
- Institute for Technology Assessment, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Turgay Ayer
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Jagpreet Chhatwal
- Institute for Technology Assessment, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Singal AK, Leggio L, DiMartini A. Alcohol use disorder in alcohol-associated liver disease: Two sides of the same coin. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:200-212. [PMID: 37934047 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) has emerged as the leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) worldwide, with 40% of LTs in the United States performed for ALD in 2019. The ALD-related health care burden accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in young individuals. Alcohol use disorder (AUD), which focuses on the negative effects of alcohol on psychosocial, physical, and mental health, is present in the majority of patients with ALD, with moderate to severe AUD in 75%-80%. During the last decade, early liver transplantation (eLT) has emerged as a lifesaving treatment for selected patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis; these patients may have a higher risk of using alcohol after LT. The risk of alcohol use recurrence may be reduced during the pretransplant or post-transplant period with AUD treatment using behavioral and/or pharmacological therapies and with regular monitoring for alcohol use (self-reported and complemented with biomarkers like phosphatidylethanol). However, AUD treatment in patients with ALD is challenging due to patient, clinician, and system barriers. An integrated model to provide AUD and ALD care by hepatologists and addiction experts in a colocated clinic starting from LT evaluation and selection to monitoring listed candidates and then to following up on recipients of LT should be promoted. However, the integration of addiction and hepatology teams in an LT program in the real world is often present only during evaluation and candidate selection for LT. Data are emerging to show that a multidisciplinary integrated AUD treatment within an LT program reduces recurrent alcohol use after LT. If we want to continue using early liver transplantation for patients with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis, LT programs should focus on building integrated multidisciplinary care teams for the integrated treatment of both AUD and ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwani K Singal
- Department of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Avera McKennan University Hospital, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
- Department of Transplant Hepatology, Avera Transplant Institute, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
- Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Lorenzo Leggio
- Department of Neuropsychopharmacology Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Addiction Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Andrea DiMartini
- Departments of Psychiatry and Transplant Surgery, and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Gratacós-Ginès J, Bruguera P, Pérez-Guasch M, López-Lazcano A, Borràs R, Hernández-Évole H, Pons-Cabrera MT, Lligoña A, Bataller R, Ginès P, López-Pelayo H, Pose E. Medications for alcohol use disorder promote abstinence in alcohol-associated cirrhosis: Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hepatology 2024; 79:368-379. [PMID: 37625154 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The role of medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) in patients with cirrhosis is not well established. Evidence on the efficacy and safety of these drugs in these patients is scarce. APPROACH AND RESULTS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocol guidelines on the efficacy of MAUD in patients with cirrhosis. A search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, including all studies until May 2022. The population was defined as patients with AUD and cirrhosis. The primary outcome was alcohol abstinence. Safety was a secondary outcome. We performed a random-effect analysis and expressed the results as relative risk of alcohol consumption. Heterogeneity was measured by I2 . Out of 4095 unique references, 8 studies on 4 different AUD treatments [baclofen (n = 6), metadoxine (n = 1), acamprosate (n = 1), and fecal microbiota transplant (n = 1)] in a total of 794 patients were included. Four were cohort studies, and 4 were RCTs. Only RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. MAUD was associated with a reduced rate of alcohol consumption [relative risk = 0.68 (CI: 0.48-0.97), P = 0.03], increasing alcohol abstinence by 32% compared to placebo or standard treatment, despite high heterogeneity ( I2 = 67%). Regarding safety, out of 165 serious adverse events in patients treated with MAUD, only 5 (3%) were possibly or probably related to study medications. CONCLUSION MAUD in patients with cirrhosis is effective in promoting alcohol abstinence and has a good safety profile. Larger studies on the effects of MAUD are needed, especially in patients with advanced liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Gratacós-Ginès
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pol Bruguera
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Martina Pérez-Guasch
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana López-Lazcano
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Clinical Health Psychology Section, Institute of Neuroscience (ICN), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Roger Borràs
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | | | - Maria T Pons-Cabrera
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Anna Lligoña
- Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Ramón Bataller
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Pere Ginès
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Hugo López-Pelayo
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Pose
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
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11
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Ratner JA, Blaney H, Rastegar DA. Management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome in patients with alcohol-associated liver disease. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0372. [PMID: 38251886 PMCID: PMC10805424 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Alcohol-associated liver disease is a common and severe sequela of excessive alcohol use; effective treatment requires attention to both liver disease and underlying alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) can be dangerous, is a common barrier to AUD recovery, and may complicate inpatient admissions for liver-related complications. Hepatologists can address these comorbid conditions by learning to accurately stage alcohol-associated liver disease, identify AUD using standardized screening tools (eg, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), and assess risk for and symptoms of AWS. Depending on the severity, alcohol withdrawal often merits admission to a monitored setting, where symptom-triggered administration of benzodiazepines based on standardized scoring protocols is often the most effective approach to management. For patients with severe liver disease, selection of benzodiazepines with less dependence on hepatic metabolism (eg, lorazepam) is advisable. Severe alcohol withdrawal often requires a "front-loaded" approach with higher dosing, as well as intensive monitoring. Distinguishing between alcohol withdrawal delirium and HE is important, though it can be difficult, and can be guided by differentiating clinical characteristics, including time to onset and activity level. There is little data on the use of adjuvant medications, including anticonvulsants, dexmedetomidine, or propofol, in this patient population. Beyond the treatment of AWS, inpatient admission and outpatient hepatology visits offer opportunities to engage in planning for ongoing management of AUD, including initiation of medications for AUD and referral to additional recovery supports. Hepatologists trained to identify AUD, alcohol-associated liver disease, and risk for AWS can proactively address these issues, ensuring that patients' AWS is managed safely and effectively and supporting planning for long-term recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Ratner
- Division of Addiction Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hanna Blaney
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Darius A. Rastegar
- Division of Addiction Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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12
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Hernández-Évole H, Jiménez-Esquivel N, Pose E, Bataller R. Alcohol-associated liver disease: Epidemiology and management. Ann Hepatol 2024; 29:101162. [PMID: 37832648 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol is the leading cause of preventable liver morbidity and mortality worldwide, as it is also the most frequent cause of advanced liver disease. Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) covers different phenotypes ranging from steatosis to the development of inflammation (steatohepatitis), fibrosis and ultimately, in a proportion of patients, the development of liver cirrhosis and its associated complications. ALD has a complex pathogenesis that includes the interplay of both genetic and environmental factors, yet the precise mechanisms are largely unknown. Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is a severe clinical presentation of ALD, which is characterized by abrupt jaundice and clinical decompensations of liver disease. AH occurs in a percentage of patients with underlying ALD and active alcohol consumption. Currently, there are no approved targeted therapies able to interfere in the pathogenesis of ALD and halt the progression of the disease, therefore alcohol abstinence is the most effective measure to improve prognosis in this patient population. In this regard, alcohol cessation remains the first-line treatment in all stages of alcohol disease. In patients with advanced ALD nonresponding to medical therapy, liver transplantation is the only approach that improves prognosis, and it should be considered in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. In the last years, AH has emerged as a new indication of early liver transplantation in non-responders to medical therapy, with promising results in highly selected patients. In this review, we provide an update on the epidemiology, risk factors, natural history, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and current treatments for ALD, taking into account the importance of assessing and managing alcohol consumption as the etiological factor and the main driver of prognosis in patients with ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Hernández-Évole
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalia Jiménez-Esquivel
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisa Pose
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramón Bataller
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
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13
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Jophlin LL, Singal AK, Bataller R, Wong RJ, Sauer BG, Terrault NA, Shah VH. ACG Clinical Guideline: Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease. Am J Gastroenterol 2024; 119:30-54. [PMID: 38174913 PMCID: PMC11040545 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is the most common cause of advanced hepatic disease and frequent indication for liver transplantation worldwide. With harmful alcohol use as the primary risk factor, increasing alcohol use over the past decade has resulted in rapid growth of the ALD-related healthcare burden. The spectrum of ALD ranges from early asymptomatic liver injury to advanced disease with decompensation and portal hypertension. Compared with those with other etiologies of liver disease, patients with ALD progress faster and more often present at an advanced stage. A unique phenotype of advanced disease is alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) presenting with rapid onset or worsening of jaundice, and acute on chronic liver failure in severe forms conveying a 1-month mortality risk of 20%-50%. The model for end stage disease score is the most accurate score to stratify AH severity (>20 defined as severe disease). Corticosteroids are currently the only available therapeutic with proven efficacy for patients with severe AH, providing survival benefit at 1 month in 50%-60% of patients. Abstinence of alcohol use, a crucial determinant of long-term outcomes, is challenging to achieve in ALD patients with concurrent alcohol use disorder (AUD). As patients with ALD are rarely treated for AUD, strategies are needed to overcome barriers to AUD treatment in patients with ALD and to promote a multidisciplinary integrated care model with hepatology, addiction medicine providers, and social workers to comprehensively manage the dual pathologies of liver disease and of AUD. Liver transplantation, a definitive treatment option in patients with advanced cirrhosis, should be considered in selected patients with AH, who are unresponsive to medical therapy and have a low risk of relapse to posttransplant alcohol use. Level of evidence and strength of recommendations were evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations system. This guideline was developed under the American College of Gastroenterology Practice Parameters Committee.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loretta L Jophlin
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Louisville Health, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Ashwani K Singal
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Ramon Bataller
- Liver Unit, Department of Digestive and Metabolic Diseases, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert J Wong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Bryan G Sauer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Norah A Terrault
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vijay H Shah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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14
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Patidar KR, Guarnizo Ortiz M, Slaven JE, Nephew LD, Vilar Gomez E, Kettler CD, Ghabril MS, Desai AP, Orman ES, Chalasani N, Gawrieh S. Incidence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors associated with recurrent alcohol-associated hepatitis. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0341. [PMID: 38055648 PMCID: PMC10984669 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol relapse occurs frequently in alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) survivors, but data on the frequency and course of recurrent alcohol-associated hepatitis (rAH) are sparse. We investigated the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of rAH. METHODS Hospitalized patients with AH from 2010 to 2020 at a large health care system were followed until death/liver transplant, last follow-up, or end of study (December 31, 2021). AH was defined by NIAAA Alcoholic Hepatitis Consortium criteria; rAH was defined a priori as a discrete AH episode >6 months from index AH hospitalization with interim >50% improvement or normalization of total bilirubin. Multivariable competing risk analysis was performed to identify factors associated with rAH. Landmark Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to compare survival between patients who did versus those who did not develop rAH. RESULTS Of 1504 hospitalized patients with AH, 1317 (87.6%) survived and were analyzed. During a 3055 person-year follow-up, 116 (8.8%) developed rAH at an annual incidence rate of 3.8% (95% CI: 2.8-4.8). On multivariable competing risk analysis, marital status [sub-HR 0.54 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.92), p=0.01] and medications for alcohol use disorder [sub-HR 0.56 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.91), p=0.02] were associated with a lower risk for rAH. On landmark Kaplan-Meier analysis, the cumulative proportion surviving at 1 year (75% vs. 90%) and 3 years (50% vs. 78%) was significantly lower in patients who developed rAH compared to those who did not develop rAH (log-rank p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS rAH develops in ~1 in 10 AH survivors and is associated with lower long-term survival. Medications for alcohol use disorder lower the risk for rAH and, therefore, could be a key preventative strategy to improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavish R. Patidar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Maria Guarnizo Ortiz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - James E. Slaven
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Lauren D. Nephew
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Eduardo Vilar Gomez
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Carla D. Kettler
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Marwan S. Ghabril
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Archita P. Desai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Eric S. Orman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Naga Chalasani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine and Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Samer Gawrieh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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15
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Wakeman SE. Medications for alcohol use disorder among patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis: An underutilized intervention that could save lives. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e00202. [PMID: 37378631 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wakeman
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham, Office of the Chief Medical Officer Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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