Search

Introduction and Objectives: Public health policies in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are still lacking. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and severity of MASLD in primary health care (PHC) through non-invasive markers. Patients and Methods: Two-phase study, including a retrospective (RETR) and a prospective (PROS) one, was carried out in PHC in Brazil. In RETR, metabolic and hepatic profiles of 12,054 patients, including FIB-4, were evaluated. In PROS, 350 patients were randomly selected and submitted to a clinical and nutritional assessment. Results: RETR (65.4 % women, mean age 55.3 years old): dyslipidemia, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) present in 40.8 %, 34.3 %, and 12.2 % of the electronic health records, respectively. Fasting glucose >100 mg/dL in 34.5 %, and glycated hemoglobin higher than 5.7 % in 51.5 %, total cholesterol >200 mg/dL and triglycerides >150 mg/dL in 40.8 % and 32.1 %, respectively. Median FIB-4 was of 1.33, 5 % >2.67. No one had MASLD as a diagnostic hypothesis; PROS (71.8 % women, mean age 58 years old): body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m² in 31.8 %. MASLD prevalence (FLI≥ 30 + cardiometabolic features) of 62.1 %; 39.4 % of patients had FLI ≥60, with higher BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, triglycerides, AST, ALT and GGT, as well as lower HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001). FIB-4>1.3 in 40 % and NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS)>-1.45 in 59.2 % of steatotic patients. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of MASLD in PHC, with a significant risk of liver fibrosis. These findings reinforce we need to develop public policies to defeat MASLD epidemics.

Introduction and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a clinical condition without any approved pharmacological therapy. Probiotics are often indicated for the disease, but their results are controversial in part due to the poor quality of studies. Thus, we investigated the impact of 24-week probiotics supplementation on cardiovascular risk (CVR) in biopsy-proven non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients. Patients and Methods: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study (NCT03467282), adult NASH, randomized for 24 weeks daily sachets of probiotic mix (109CFU of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium lactis) or placebo. Clinical scores (atherogenic indexes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-ASCVD and systematic coronary risk evaluation-SCORE), biochemistry, miR-122, miR-33a, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), were determined before and after the intervention. Results: Forty-six patients were enrolled (23 received probiotics and 23 placebo), with a mean age of 51.7 years, most of them females and whites. Clinical and demographic features were similar between the groups at the baseline. The Median NAFLD activity score was 4.13 in both groups. Fibrosis was mild in most patients (15.2% and 65.2% F0 and F1, respectively). Treatment did not promote any clinically significant changes in body mass index or laboratory, including lipid and glucose profile. High CVR patients through atherogenic indexes decreased from baseline in both groups, as well as PAI-1 and miR-122 levels, although there was no difference between probiotics and placebo. Conclusions: A 24-week probiotic mix administration was not superior to placebo in reducing CVR markers in patients with NASH.

Introduction and Objectives: Liver fibrosis is an important prognosis marker in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Biopsy has been considered the gold-standard method for measuring liver fibrosis; however, it is an invasive procedure. Non-invasive diagnostic tools have been developed, such as clinical scores and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), which is the most accurate non-invasive method to determine liver fibrosis. Thus, the aim was to determine the NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) and the Fibrosis-4 Score (FIB-4) cut-off points that best identify NAFLD patients at risk for developing liver fibrosis. Patients and Methods: Single-center cross-sectional study with prospective recruitment of NAFLD (training-cohort) and MAFLD (validation-cohort) patients undergoing MRE. The NFS and the FIB-4 cut-off points that best-differentiated patients with fibrosis, using the MRE as the standard method, were determined. Results: Two cohorts were analyzed, a training cohort that included the initial 183 patients with NAFLD and a validation cohort that included 289 patients. In the training cohort, 60.1% had mild steatosis and 11.5% had liver fibrosis ≥ F1 by MRE. ROC curves were developed for FIB-4 and NFS, and the cut-off points chosen were 1.505 (sensitivity=85% and specificity=86%) for FIB-4 and -0.835 (sensitivity=100% and specificity=70%) for NFS, showing greater specificity than the cut-off points currently used (51% and 76%, respectively). The two cohorts exhibited similar characteristics and similar sensitivity and specificity results for the chosen cut-off points. Conclusions: This study has shown cut-off points with greater specificity and excellent sensitivity to guide the indication for further liver evaluation by MRE in NAFLD patients.

Summary: The muscle fiber morphometric analysis (MusMA) is a protocol to segment and characterize the morphometry of individual cross-sectioned striated muscle fibers. Using a semi-automated Excel spreadsheet, the protocol allows the objective measurement of muscle fibers’ subpopulations, aiming to characterize physiopathological conditions related to muscle tissue. The main limitation of MusMA is the need for high-quality tissue slides and images and control samples to set up the analyses. : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) currently represents an epidemic worldwide. NAFLD is the most frequently diagnosed chronic liver disease, affecting 20–30% of the general population. Furthermore, its prevalence is predicted to increase exponentially in the next decades, concomitantly with the global epidemic of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and sedentary lifestyle. NAFLD is a clinical syndrome that encompasses a wide spectrum of associated diseases and hepatic complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, this disease is believed to become the main indication for liver transplantation in the near future. Since NAFLD management represents a growing challenge for primary care physicians, the Asociación Latinoamericana para el Estudio del Hígado (ALEH) has decided to organize this Practice Guidance for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, written by Latin-American specialists in different clinical areas, and destined to general practitioners, internal medicine specialists, endocrinologists, diabetologists, gastroenterologists, and hepatologists. The main purpose of this document is to improve patient care and awareness of NAFLD. The information provided in this guidance may also be useful in assisting stakeholders in the decision-making process related to NAFLD. Since new evidence is constantly emerging on different aspects of the disease, updates to this guideline will be required in future.

Introduction and objectives: Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir is a highly effective and well tolerated treatment for hepatitis C infection. Brazilian patients were not included in the original development studies for glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. This study aimed to assess safety and efficacy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir in treatment-naïve Brazilian adults without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis. Patients and methods: EXPEDITION-3 was a Phase 3, open-label, multicenter study in treatment-naïve Brazilian adults with hepatitis C infection genotype 1–6. Patients without cirrhosis (F2 or F3) or with compensated cirrhosis (F4) received 8 or 12 weeks of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir, respectively. The primary efficacy endpoint was the rate of sustained virologic response at post-treatment Week 12. Secondary endpoints were on-treatment virologic failure and relapse rates. Baseline polymorphisms were assessed in NS3 and NS5A. Adverse events and laboratory abnormalities were monitored. Results: 100 patients were enrolled, 75 received 8 weeks of treatment and 25 received 12 weeks; all patients completed treatment. Overall sustained virologic response at post-treatment Week 12 rate was high (98.0%; 98/100; 95% confidence interval: 93.0–99.4) and remained high regardless of baseline viral or host factors, including demographics, hepatitis C virus RNA levels, polymorphisms in NS3 and/or NS5A, genotype, and relevant comorbidities. 55% of patients reported ≥1 adverse event, the most common being headache (18.0%). Four patients reported serious adverse events; none were considered drug related or led to study drug discontinuation. No hepatic decompensations were observed. Conclusions: Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir was effective and well tolerated in treatment-naïve Brazilian patients with hepatitis C infection without cirrhosis and with compensated cirrhosis. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03219216.

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) is a hepatic vascular disease histologically characterized by edema, necrosis, detachment of endothelial cells in small sinusoidal hepatic and interlobular veins and intrahepatic congestion, which leads to portal hypertension and liver dysfunction. In the Western world, most HSOS cases are associated with myeloablative pretreatment in a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation setting. Here we report a case of a 54 years old female patient, otherwise healthy, with no history of alcoholic ingestion, who presented with jaundice and signs of portal hypertension, including ascites and bilateral pleural effusion. She had no history of liver disease and denied any other risk factor for liver injury, except Senecio brasiliensis ingestion as a tea, prescribed as a therapy for menopause. Acute viral hepatitis and thrombosis of the portal system were excluded in complementary investigation, as well as sepsis, metastatic malignancy and other liver diseases, setting a RUCAM score of 6. Computed tomography demonstrated a diffuse liver parenchymal heterogeneity (in mosaic) and an extensive portosystemic collateral venous circulation, in the absence of any noticeable venous obstruction. HSOS diagnosis was confirmed through a liver biopsy. During the following-up period, patient developed refractory pleural effusion, requiring hemodialysis. Right before starting anticoagulation, she presented with abdominal pain and distention, with findings compatible of mesenteric ischemia by computed tomography. A laparotomy was performed, showing an 80 cm segment of small bowel ischemia, and resection was done. She died one day after as a result from a septic shock refractory to treatment. The presented case was related to oral intake of S. brasiliensis, a plant containing pyrrolidine alkaloids, which are one of the main causes of HSOS in the East, highlighting the risk of liver injury with herbs intake.

Background & aims: Gaucher disease (GD) is a multisystemic disease. Liver involvement in GD is not well characterised and ranges from hepatomegaly to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We aim to describe, and assess the effect of treatment, on the hepatic phenotype of a cohort of patients with GD types I and II. Methods: Retrospective study based on the review of the medical files of the Gaucher Reference Centre of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. Data from all GD types I and III patients seen at the centre since 2003 were analysed. Variables were compared as pre- (“baseline”) and post-treatment (“follow-up”). Results: Forty-two patients (types I: 39, III: 3; female: 22; median age: 35 y; enzyme replacement therapy: 37; substrate reduction therapy: 2; non-treated: 3; median time on treatment-MTT: 124 months) were included. Liver enzyme abnormalities, hepatomegaly, and steatosis at baseline were seen in 19/28 (68%), 28/42 (67%), and 3/38 patients (8%), respectively; at follow-up, 21/38 (55%), 15/38 (39%) and 15/38 (39%). MRI iron quantification showed overload in 7/8 patients (treated: 7; MTT: 55 months), being severe in 2/7 (treated: 2/2; MTT: 44.5 months). Eight patients had liver biopsy (treated: 6; MTT: 58 months), with fibrosis in 3 (treated: 1; time on treatment: 108 months) and steatohepatitis in 2 (treated: 2; time on treatment: 69 and 185 months). One patient developed hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions: GD is a heterogeneous disease that causes different patterns of liver damage even during treatment. Although treatment improves the hepatocellular damage, it is associated with an increased rate of steatosis. This study highlights the importance of a follow-up of liver integrity in these patients. Keywords: Gaucher disease, Enzyme replacement therapy, Liver steatosis, Hemosiderosis, Biopsy, large-core needle, Cholelithiasis

A 63-year-old female patient with recent diagnosis of hepatitis C and cirrhosis and no other comorbidities, on no medications, was found to have Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C hepatocellular carcinoma and began systemic therapy with sorafenib 400 mg twice daily. Five days after starting treatment, the patient went to an emergency department with pruritic, target-shaped, erythematous papules compatible with erythema multiforme, painful oral aphthous ulcers, and fever. Sorafenib was suspended and the patient underwent oral corticosteroid treatment for 5 days, showing significant improvement of the lesions. One month after discharge, the patient was reassessed at an outpatient clinic. As she was asymptomatic and had no skin lesions, sorafenib was resumed at a lower dose (200 mg daily). Three hours after ingesting a single dose of sorafenib, the patient experienced chills, fever, rash, angioedema and stridor. She immediately sought the emergency department and was diagnosed with anaphylaxis. The patient received intravenous corticosteroid therapy, which improved her respiratory and cutaneous symptoms in 72 h. Sorafenib was permanently suspended, and regorafenib could not be prescribed as second-line therapy. This is the first description of anaphylaxis to sorafenib.

Conflict of interest: Yes, FONDECYT #1241450 Introduction and Objectives: Although Latinos living in the United States are at higher risk of steatotic liver disease (SLD), information from Latin American countries is extremely scarce. We aimed to characterize SLD in Latin America and explore the role of the common genetic variants in this region. Patients / Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional multicenter study including individuals with SLD who undergo liver biopsy or transient elastography (TE) between 2003–2024. TE thresholds were established as follows: significant fibrosis (F2) ≥8.2 kPa, advanced fibrosis (F3) ≥9.7 kPa, and cirrhosis (F4) ≥13.6 kPa. Analyses included logistic binary regression. Results and Discussion: We included 2,159 patients (93.7% metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD and 6.3% alcohol-associated liver disease) from 13 centers in 5 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Peru). Mean age was 54.3±14.3 years old, 58.8% were female, and 60.2% had a liver biopsy. Around 18% had significant fibrosis, 18.7% advanced fibrosis, and 16.2% had cirrhosis. Additionally, 21.8% were homozygous carriers of the rs738409 risk polymorphism (PNPLA3 I148M variant), 42.5% were heterozygotes, and 35.7% were non-carriers. In an adjusted multivariable model, only age (odds ratio [OR]:1.03; 95%CI:1.01–1.04; p=0.030), body mass index (BMI) (OR:1.04; 95%CI:1.01–1.08, p=0.008), prediabetes/diabetes (OR:2.41; 95%CI:1.48–3.91, p

Introduction and Objectives: Although most cases of HCC occur in patients with advanced liver disease and there are effective screening methods, health policies aimed at preventing and detecting HCC are not often on the agenda of government initiatives and policies. This study aimed to explore HCC-related population-wide public health policies, treatment availability, epidemiological surveillance, and awareness campaigns in the Americas. Materials and Methods: We conducted a 43-item survey about HCC among experts from 12 countries. Questions were classified into four categories: policies and civil society (18 questions), clinical guidelines (5 questions), epidemiology (7 questions), and care management (13 questions). The survey was administered using an electronic form in May 2022. Data was collected in a spreadsheet, revised by two independent reviewers, and contrasted with governmental institutions. Results: We obtained 22 responses from 15 out of the 18 countries targeted. A total of 7 (47%) countries had a written national cancer strategy or action plan. Only 4 (27%) countries had a specific written national HCC strategy or action plan, including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. These same four countries also had national clinical guidelines on HCC. HCC is managed by various providers, including Hepatologists (80%), Oncologists (80%), Gastroenterologists (60%), Surgeons (47%), and Palliative medicine (20%). There were important differences in the availability of treatments among countries in the Americas (Figure). Of note, 60% of countries had liver transplantation available for HCC, but only 67% of them had this therapy outside the capital city. Nine (60%) countries had a national disease registry that included HCC. However, only Brazil (7%) had governmental funded awareness campaigns on HCC prevention or screening. Conclusions: Implementation of public health policies on HCC is scarce in the Americas. Important differences in treatments were observed across countries, especially in curative therapies. Our results strongly encourage developing public health policies on HCC in the Americas.

Introduction and aims: Several non-invasive scoring systems have been developed and validated worldwide to predict the risk of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, information about the performance of these systems in Latin American populations is scarce. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of the Hepamet Fibrosis Score, Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) and the NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) in a mixed Latin American group of NAFLD patients. Methods: Clinical, laboratory and liver biopsy data collected from 379 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients from Latin American tertiary health centers were reviewed. Histological fibrosis stages were classified using the Kleiner score. Accuracy was determined, and new fibrosis score thresholds were calculated to better compare the performances of non-invasive tests and to explore their usefulness in excluding fibrosis. Results: The distribution of fibrosis stages among the sample population was as follows: F0 (45%), F1 (27%), F2 (8%), F3 (16%) and F4 (4%). Using modified thresholds, the areas under the ROC curves (AUROC) for Hepamet and FIB-4 (0.73 and 0.74, respectively) to detect significant fibrosis were higher than that of NFS (0.58). However, the AUROCs of the three scores were not significantly different in advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. To exclude fibrosis, we calculated lower cutoffs than standard thresholds for Hepamet, FIB-4 and NFS with similar performances. Conclusion: Thresholds of non-invasive fibrosis scores (Hepamet, FIB-4 and NFS) can be modified to maximize diagnostic accuracy in Latin American patients with NAFLD.

Introduction and objectives: Little is known about the etiology of acute liver failure (ALF) in Latin America. The objective of this paper is to investigate the main etiologies of ALF in Brazil, including Drug Induced Liver Injury (DILI) using stringent causality criteria. Patients or material and methods: All the cases of individuals who underwent liver transplantation (LT) in 12 centers in Brazil for ALF were reviewed. When DILI was stated as the cause of ALF, causality criteria were applied on site by the main investigator in order to rule out other etiologies. Results: 325 individuals had ALF mainly for unknown reasons (34%), DILI (27%) and AIH (18%). Reassessment of the 89 cases of DILI, using stringent causality criteria, revealed that in only 42 subjects could DILI be confirmed as the cause of ALF. Acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity (n = 3) or DILI due to herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) (n = 2) were not commonly observed. Conclusions: Undetermined etiology and DILI are the main causes of ALF in Brazil. However, APAP toxicity and DILI due to HDS are mostly uncommon.

Background & Aims: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems and it may have heavily impacted patients with liver cancer (LC). Herein, we evaluated whether the schedule of LC screening or procedures has been interrupted or delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An international survey evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice and clinical trials from March 2020 to June 2020, as the first phase of a multicentre, international, and observational project. The focus was on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, cared for around the world during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave. Results: Ninety-one centres expressed interest to participate and 76 were included in the analysis, from Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and Africa (73.7%, 17.1%, 5.3%, 2.6%, and 1.3% per continent, respectively). Eighty-seven percent of the centres modified their clinical practice: 40.8% the diagnostic procedures, 80.9% the screening programme, 50% cancelled curative and/or palliative treatments for LC, and 41.7% modified the liver transplantation programme. Forty-five out of 69 (65.2%) centres in which clinical trials were running modified their treatments in that setting, but 58.1% were able to recruit new patients. The phone call service was modified in 51.4% of centres which had this service before the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 19/37). Conclusions: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a tremendous impact on the routine care of patients with liver cancer. Modifications in screening, diagnostic, and treatment algorithms may have significantly impaired the outcome of patients. Ongoing data collection and future analyses will report the benefits and disadvantages of the strategies implemented, aiding future decision-making. Lay summary: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally. Herein, we assessed the impact of the first wave pandemic on patients with liver cancer and found that routine care for these patients has been majorly disrupted, which could have a significant impact on outcomes.

Background and aims. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) often triggers acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent and correlates with higher mortality in such cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria in the prediction of death in cirrhotic patients after an episode of SBP.Material and methods. Forty-six cirrhotic patients with SBP were included in a cohort study. Renal injury was estimated by AKIN criteria (grades 1, 2 or 3) to examine the association between AKI severity and mortality. Patients were followed-up for a mean of 13.22 months. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the hazard ratio of mortality by Cox regression model were calculated accordingly to the AKIN criteria.Results. The mean age of the included patients was 56.94 ± 9.49; 29 (63%) were male. Mean MELD score was 19.46 ± 6.16; 78.3% were Child-Pugh C. AKI occurred in 43.5% of patients (8.7, 17.4 and 17.4% respectively for AKIN criteria 1, 2 and 3). Inpatient mortality for AKIN 1, 2 and 3 was 50, 37.5 and 62.5 vs. 3.8% for patients without renal injury (p = 0.002, 0.001 and < 0.001 respectively). Patients with AKIN grades 1, 2 or 3 had no significant differences regarding MELD score (p = 0.893). The hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval of mortality for patients with AKI (AKIN grades 1, 2 and 3 grouped) were 3.41 (1.58-7.36).Conclusions. AKIN criteria are useful to predict mortality in patients with SBP.

Background: Some evidence suggests an association between gut dysbiosis and cirrhosis progression. The authors investigated Gut Microbiome (GM) influence on 90-day mortality and hospitalization/rehospitalization rates in cirrhotic patients., Methods: Compensated/decompensated outpatients and decompensated inpatients were prospectively included and compared to healthy controls. Clinical, laboratory, GM, and two ratios between phyla were evaluated. Patients were followed up for 90 days for hospitalization/rehospitalization and mortality., Results: 165 individuals were included (50 compensated, 49 decompensated outpatients; 36 decompensated inpatients; 30 healthy), 48.5 % female, mean age was 61, main cirrhosis etiology was hepatitis C (27.3 %), and mostly Child-Pugh (CP) B patients, median MELD of 13. As liver disease progressed, microbiota diversity decreased between the groups (p = 0.05; p < 0.004). There were 9 deaths and 22 hospitalizations or rehospitalizations. GM composition had correlation with norfloxacin (p = 0.36, p = 0.04), encephalopathy (p = 0.31, p = 0.01), lactulose (p = 0.26, p = 0.01), 90-day mortality (p = 0.22, p = 0.04), CP (p = 0.17, p = 0.01), previous 6-month antibiotic use (p = 0.16, p = 0.01), MELD (p = 0.145, p = 0.01), ALBI (p = 0.1, p = 0.04) and 90-day hospitalization/rehospitalization (p = 0.08, p = 0.03). Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) and Firmicutes/Proteobacteria (F/P) ratios were progressively lower and more significant and had an association with 90-day mortality (p < 0.001). Three MELD set-points (≥ 15, 18 and 20) were significantly associated with both ratios, with similar accuracies., Conclusions: GM dysbiosis was associated with higher CP, MELD, 90-day mortality and hospitalization/rehospitalization. F/B and F/P ratios were associated with 90-day mortality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Objective:: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors for the treatment of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus-infected patients at Brazilian reference centers., Methods:: This multicenter cross-sectional study included hepatitis C virus genotype 1 monoinfected patients treated with Peg-interferon, ribavirin, and either boceprevir (n=158) or telaprevir (n=557) between July 2013 and April 2014 at 15 reference centers in Brazil. Demographic, clinical, virological, and adverse events data were collected during treatment and follow-up., Results:: Of the 715 patients, 59% had cirrhosis and 67.1% were treatment-experienced. Based on intention-to-treat analysis, the overall sustained viral response was 56.6%, with similar effectiveness in both groups (51.9% for boceprevir and 58% for telaprevir, p=0.190). Serious adverse events occurred in 44.2% of patients, and six deaths (0.8%) were recorded. Cirrhotic patients had lower sustained viral response rates than non-cirrhotic patients (46.9% vs. 70.6%, p<0.001) and a higher incidence of serious adverse events (50.7% vs. 34.8%, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that sustained viral response was associated with the absence of cirrhosis, viral recurrence after previous treatment, pretreatment platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3, and achievement of a rapid viral response. Female gender, age>65 years, diagnosis of cirrhosis, and abnormal hemoglobin levels/platelet counts prior to treatment were associated with serious adverse events., Conclusion:: Although serious adverse events rates were higher in this infected population, sustained viral response rates were similar to those reported for other patient cohorts.