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Introduction: Ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV/r) is the preferred second-line protease inhibitor option for HIV patients as per the NACO guidelines. Atazanavir is a protease inhibitor with several advantages including once-daily dosing, low pill burden, and favorable effect on lipid profile compared with other protease inhibitors. Atazanavir-induced hyperbilirubinemia is not widely studied in the Indian population. Aim: The aim is to study the occurrence of atazanavir-induced hyperbilirubinemia in HIV patients receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) and its outcome. Materials and Methods: One hundred and ten HIV patients treated with ATV/r-based second-line anti-retroviral regimen at a tertiary care hospital were included in the study and followed up for at least 12 months. Liver function tests were measured at baseline (at the time of initiation of ATV/r), at 6 months and 12 months of second-line ART. Results: The cumulative incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in the study population was 42.72% (n = 47). However, atazanavir-induced hyperbilirubinemia was self-limiting and did not mandate change in regimen. Conclusion: A significant number of patients on ATV/r-based second-line ART developed indirect hyperbilirubinemia. There was no significant elevation in liver enzymes. Most of the patients tolerated ATV/r-based regimen well and there was no need for discontinuation/change of regimen. Patients on ATV/r-based regimen must be followed up closely and counseled regarding adherence to therapy.

Background: The severity of liver dysfunction in chronic liver disease is often estimated with Child-Pugh (CTP) classification or model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score is a new model for assessing the severity of liver dysfunction, which is simple and more objective. Aims and Objective: The present study was aimed to retrospectively compare the performance of ALBI score with Child-Pugh score for predicting the mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. Materials and Methods: Data of patients with chronic Liver disease irrespective of etiology were retrospectively reviewed. Child Pugh score and ALBI score were calculated for the patients and results from ROC curves were analysed. Results: Study conducted on 299 patients of chronic liver disease, age distribution was between 20-85 years with mean age of patients being 45.7+/-10.94 years, sex ratio male: female is 265:34 with mortality rate of 19.73%.The area under curves of ROC of ALBI and Child pugh are 0.586 and 0.549 respectively. Conclusion: Ability of ALBI score for predicting mortality was comparable with that of Child Pugh score but Child pugh score of more than 10 has got better performance of predicting mortality as compared to ALBI score.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is the end result of chronic liver injury. Cirrhosis of liver may progressively deteriorate from a well-compensated state to decompensated conditions. Aims and Objective: Our study aims at evaluating the AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) for predicting the in-hospital mortality and also comparing APRI, MELD and albumin for predicting in hospital mortality in chronic liver disease. Materials and Methods: Data of Patients with Chronic liver disease were retrospectively reviewed. MELD and APRI scores were calculated for the patients and results from ROC curves were analysed. Results: In our study conducted on 299 patients, the age distribution was between 18-64 years with mean age of patients being 46.47+/-10.9 years, sex ratio Male: Female: 266:37 with mortality rate of 17.7%. The Area under curves of ROC of APRI, MELD and Albumin are 0.63, 0.76 and 0.55. Conclusion: APRI is an independent predictor of mortality. The prognostic performance of all 3 was comparable but MELD has better prognostic significance than APRI score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]