Weight gain in infancy and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in a prospective birth cohort of Latino children.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease among U.S. children.

Poor sleep and hepatic steatosis contribute to poorer quality of life in people with human immunodeficiency virus.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and poor sleep are common among people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) and may mediate the impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) seen in PWH and in people with MASLD. However, the prevalence and burden of poor sleep in PWH and MASLD is not well described.

Aim: To study the prevalence and multi-faceted relationship between MASLD, poor sleep, and HRQoL in PWH.

The association of food insecurity with hepatic steatosis in women with and without HIV.

Objective: Food insecurity is a risk factor for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in the general population. However, little is known about the impact of food insecurity on hepatic steatosis among women with (WWH) and without HIV (WWOH).

Design: We assessed hepatic steatosis by controlled attenuated parameter (CAP) in decibels/meter (dB/m) and food security status using the U.

Magnetic resonance evaluation of three-dimensional liver fat fraction by hepatitis C status and associations with inflammatory cytokines.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may influence cytokine and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels, which could contribute to increased hepatic steatosis. We utilized MRI to compare three-dimensional volumetric liver fat fraction by chronic HCV status and evaluated associations between liver fat fraction and inflammatory cytokines and IGF-1.

Methods: Participants with untreated, non-genotype 3 chronic HCV and participants without HCV were enrolled between 2019-2022 and underwent MRI to quantify three-dimensional volumetric liver fat fraction.

Feasible and acceptable social drivers of health screening among patients with chronic liver disease.

Background: Social drivers of health (SDoH) contribute to health disparities among patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Little is known about the feasibility and acceptability of SDoH screening in hepatology clinics. This study aimed to define SDoH prevalence among CLD patients, identify a feasible and acceptable screening approach, and assess the convergent validity of a locally developed screener.

Update on hepatitis C virus management.

Purpose Of Review: Despite the efficacy of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant contributor to liver-related morbidity and mortality. This review summarizes the approach to HCV treatment, the simplified treatment algorithm for most patients, the management of special populations, and future directions for HCV interventions.

Recent Findings: Pan genotypic DAA regimens have high cure rates and can be managed by nonspecialist providers, and the simplified treatment approach provides a clear algorithm for workup and treatment decisions among treatment-naive patients without decompensated cirrhosis.

Microbial translocation and gut damage is associated with hepatic fibrosis but not steatosis in women with and without HIV.

Objective: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PWH). Gut microbial translocation and gut damage may play a role in MASLD pathogenesis. We determined associations of circulating biomarkers of translocation and gut damage with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in a large U.

Facilitating access to direct-acting antivirals in a community-based point-of-diagnosis model for hepatitis C treatment: The role of the pharmacy team in the no one waits (NOW) study.

Background: Despite simplified hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment algorithms, insurance-related barriers prevent same-day HCV treatment upon diagnosis in the US. We assessed how direct partnerships with a pharmacy team facilitated HCV treatment initiation among socially marginalized populations in a community setting.

Methods: The No One Waits (NOW) Study, a single-arm trial conducted between July 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021, in San Francisco, CA, targeted individuals experiencing homelessness, injecting drugs, and eligible for simplified HCV treatment.

Non-invasive markers of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis following INSTI initiation in women with HIV.

Background: The impact of integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) on steatotic liver disease in women with HIV (WWH) is unknown.

Methods: Using data collected in the Women's Interagency HIV Study from 2007-2020, change in Fibrosis-4 index (FIB4), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS) over 5 years was compared between virologically-suppressed WWH who switched to or added an INSTI to their antiretroviral therapy (ART) and WWH remaining on non-INSTI ART. In participants with transient elastography (TE) measures, estimates of hepatic steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter, CAP), fibrosis (liver stiffness, LS), and steatohepatitis (FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase scores, FAST) were compared by group.

A single-site randomized controlled trial of partner navigation to HCV treatment for people who inject drugs: a study protocol for the You're Empowered for Treatment Initiation (YETI) partner trial.

Background: Disparities persist in testing and treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV), leaving socially marginalized populations, including people who inject drugs (PWID), less likely to benefit from curative treatment. Linkage services are often insufficient to overcome barriers to navigating the medical system and contextual factors.

Methods: The You're Empowered for Treatment Initiation (YETI) Partner trial is a single-site randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of a two-session behavioral intervention that engages injecting partners as peer navigators for HCV treatment.

Primary Care Screening for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among People With HIV in the United States: A Real-World Provider Survey.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent in people with HIV (PWH) and increases the risk of hepatic fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We sent an online survey to providers of the American Academy of HIV Medicine. Of respondents ( n = 214, 8% response rate), 65% reported screening for NAFLD in PWH, with 28% routinely screening all patients.

Relationships Between Hepatic Steatosis and Frailty Differ by HIV Serostatus.

Background: Frailty is associated with obesity-related comorbidities, but the relationship with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in people with HIV has been incompletely described. Our objective was to assess the associations between NAFLD and frailty.

Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

MASLD in people with HIV exhibits higher fibrosis stage despite lower disease activity than in matched controls.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is common in people with HIV (PWH). The morphological spectrum of MASLD compared to matched controls and of the correlation between the NAFLD activity score (NAS) and fibrosis stage in PWH remains unknown.

Methods: Overall, 107 liver biopsies from PWH with MASLD (MASLD-PWH) were matched to 107 biopsies from individuals with MASLD and without HIV (MASLD controls) on age at biopsy, race/ethnicity, sex, type 2 diabetes, body mass index (BMI) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level.

Best practices for hepatitis C linkage to care in pregnant and postpartum women: perspectives from the Treatment In Pregnancy for Hepatitis C Community of Practice.

There is an increasing burden of hepatitis C virus among persons of reproductive age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, in many regions worldwide. Routine health services during pregnancy present a critical window of opportunity to diagnose and link women with hepatitis C virus infection for care and treatment to decrease hepatitis C virus-related morbidity and early mortality. Effective treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in women diagnosed during pregnancy also prevents hepatitis C virus-related adverse events in pregnancy and hepatitis C virus vertical transmission in future pregnancies.

Microbial Translocation and Gut Damage Are Associated With an Elevated Fast Score in Women Living With and Without HIV.

Background: Steatohepatitis is common in persons living with HIV and may be associated with gut microbial translocation (MT). However, few studies have evaluated the gut-liver axis in persons living with HIV. In the Women's Interagency HIV Study, we examined the associations of HIV and circulating biomarkers linked to MT and gut damage using the FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase (FAST) score, a noninvasive surrogate for steatohepatitis with advanced fibrosis.

Screening for social determinants of health among populations at risk for MASLD: a scoping review.

Background: Social determinants of health (SDoH) have been associated with disparate outcomes among those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its risk factors. To address SDoH among this population, real-time SDoH screening in clinical settings is required, yet optimal screening methods are unclear. We performed a scoping review to describe the current literature on SDoH screening conducted in the clinical setting among individuals with MASLD and MASLD risk factors.

Staff-Facilitated Telemedicine Care Delivery for Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection among People Who Inject Drugs.

Background: Telemedicine offers the opportunity to provide clinical services remotely, thereby bridging geographic distances for people engaged in the medical system. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread adoption of telemedicine in clinical practices has persisted, highlighting its continued relevance for post-pandemic healthcare. Little is known about telemedicine use among people from socially marginalized groups.

Food insecurity is a risk factor for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in Latinx children.

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease among US children. Studies have associated food insecurity with MASLD in adults, but there are few studies of pediatric MASLD, particularly in high-risk populations. We assessed the impact of household food insecurity at 4 years of age on MASLD in Latinx children.

High prevalence of hepatitis B virus susceptibility among persons undergoing community-based hepatitis C virus treatment.

Background: Due to shared modes of transmission, coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common, and HBV vaccination is recommended for all persons with HCV who remain susceptible to HBV. To identify potential gaps in HBV vaccination among this high-risk population, we aimed to determine the patterns of HBV susceptibility in persons undergoing community-based HCV treatment.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study within two community-based HCV treatment programs in an urban US setting.