No abstract available.
Lamivudine*

Background/Aims: The impact of liver cirrhosis (LC) on the clinical outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains elusive. This study evaluated the association between LC and the development of severe complications from COVID-19. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance claims data of Korea. We included 234,427 patients older than 19 years who tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Patients with LC who were infected with COVID-19 (n = 67, LC+ COVID+) were matched with those with cirrhosis only (n = 332, LC+ COVID–) and those with COVID-19 only (n = 333, LC– COVID+) using a propensity score in a 1:5 ratio. The primary outcome was the development of severe complications. Results: Of the matched patients, the mean age was 60 years and 59.7% were male. Severe complications occurred in 18, 54, and 60 patients in the LC+ COVID+, LC+ COVID–, and LC– COVID+ groups, respectively. After adjusting for comorbidities, there was no significant difference in the risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19 between the LC+ COVID+ and LC– COVID+ groups but significant difference exists between the LC+ COVID+ and LC+ COVID–. Older age, hypertension, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a higher Charlson comorbidity index were associated with a higher risk of severe complications in patients with cirrhosis and COVID-19. Conclusions Our study suggests that LC was not independently associated with the development of severe complications, including mortality, in patients with COVID-19. Our results need to be evaluated through a large, prospective study.

Background/Aims: The impact of liver cirrhosis (LC) on the clinical outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains elusive. This study evaluated the association between LC and the development of severe complications from COVID-19. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance claims data of Korea. We included 234,427 patients older than 19 years who tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Patients with LC who were infected with COVID-19 (n = 67, LC+ COVID+) were matched with those with cirrhosis only (n = 332, LC+ COVID–) and those with COVID-19 only (n = 333, LC– COVID+) using a propensity score in a 1:5 ratio. The primary outcome was the development of severe complications. Results: Of the matched patients, the mean age was 60 years and 59.7% were male. Severe complications occurred in 18, 54, and 60 patients in the LC+ COVID+, LC+ COVID–, and LC– COVID+ groups, respectively. After adjusting for comorbidities, there was no significant difference in the risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19 between the LC+ COVID+ and LC– COVID+ groups but significant difference exists between the LC+ COVID+ and LC+ COVID–. Older age, hypertension, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a higher Charlson comorbidity index were associated with a higher risk of severe complications in patients with cirrhosis and COVID-19. Conclusions Our study suggests that LC was not independently associated with the development of severe complications, including mortality, in patients with COVID-19. Our results need to be evaluated through a large, prospective study.

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a group of rare genetic disorders caused by defects in biliary epithelial transporters. It mostly presents as low γ-glutamyltransferase cholestasis. Recently, USP53 has been identified as one of the novel genes associated with PFIC. Herein, we report a 21-year-old Korean male patient with a late-onset PFIC. Initial work-up, including whole genome sequencing, did not find any associated gene. However, reviewing sequencing data identified novel compound heterozygous variants in splicing site of USP53 (NM_001371395.1:c.972+3_972+6del, and c.973-1G>A). The patient’s bilirubin level fluctuated during the disease course. At 4.5 years after the initial presentation, the patient’s symptom and high bilirubin level were normalized after administration of high-dose ursodeoxycholic acid. Recognition of this disease entity is important for prompt diagnosis and management. USP53 is recommended for the work-up of low γ-glutamyltransferase cholestasis.

Over the past several decades, entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) have remained the first-line antiviral agents in several international guidelines. These two antiviral agents have shown similar short to intermediateterm efficacy, including virologic, biochemical, serologic, and histologic responses. However, huge controversies regarding the antiviral efficacy of ETV and TDF in preventing the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still exist. In this review, we summarized recent studies that compared the treatment efficacy of ETV and TDF in terms of HCC development.

Over the past several decades, entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) have remained the first-line antiviral agents in several international guidelines. These two antiviral agents have shown similar short to intermediateterm efficacy, including virologic, biochemical, serologic, and histologic responses. However, huge controversies regarding the antiviral efficacy of ETV and TDF in preventing the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still exist. In this review, we summarized recent studies that compared the treatment efficacy of ETV and TDF in terms of HCC development.