DBE van Wessel et al. Hepatology 2021; 74: 892-906. Open Access: Impact of Genotype, Serum Bile Acids, and Surgical Biliary Diversion on Native Liver Survival in FIC1 Deficiency

This huge collaborative study with 130 patients provides a great deal of information about familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 1 (FIC1). Key findings:

• Survival analysis showed an overall native liver survival (NLS) of 44% at age 18 years. NLS was comparable among FIC1-A, FIC1-B, and FIC1-C (% NLS at age 10 years: 67%, 41%, and 59%, respectively; P = 0.12)
• The number of predicted protein truncating mutations did not correlate with natural history or prognosis

H Toyoda et al. Hepatology 2021; 74: 656-666. Treatment and Renal Outcomes Up to 96 Weeks After Tenofovir Alafenamide Switch From Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Routine Practice

In this study, the researchers 834 patients with CHB previously treated with TDF for ≥12 months who were switched to TAF in routine practice at 13 US and Asian center. Key findings:

• “Overall, we observed continued improvement in virologic response, ALT normalization, and no significant changes in eGFR following switch to TAF from TDF.”
• HBV DNA suppression increased from 88% to 92% at 48 weeks post-switch, and then 95% at 96 weeks postswitch
• Improved renal function: “By week 96, 21% (55/267) of patients with CKD stage 2 at switch improved to stage 1 and 35% (30/85) of CKD stage 3-5 patients improved to stage 2 and 1.2% (1/85) to stage 1.”

SW Biggins et al. Hepatology 2021; 74: 1014-1048. Open Access. Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management of Ascites, Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis and Hepatorenal Syndrome: 2021 Practice Guidance by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

This practice guidance (with 276 references) is an update from similar guidelines published in 2012.

Key Points For Children:

• Children with cirrhosis and ascites should be referred for evaluation for LT
• Children undergoing LVP should receive 25% albumin infusion of 0.5-1.0 g/kg, or 6-8 g per liter of ascites removed.
• Diagnostic paracentesis should be performed in children with ascites and fever, abdominal pain, or clinical deterioration. The risks and benefits of this procedure for use in all children with new ascites but without these symptoms have not been defined.