Key Points The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a small, parenterally transmitted RNA virus; today it is acquired almost exclusively by the use of unsterile needles. It occurs in six…

Key Points Everyone infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) should be screened for hepatitis B and hepatitis C as all three viruses share routes of infection. Anyone with liver disease…

Key Points Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic and relapsing, immune-mediated liver injury. No single diagnostic test exists for AIH and in the absence of alternative liver disease, diagnosis rests…

Key Points Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) encompasses a spectrum of injury, ranging from fatty liver to frank cirrhosis. Although alcoholic fatty liver secondary to excessive alcohol ingestion resolves with abstinence,…

Key Points All adult patients known or suspected to have cirrhosis require esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to check for the presence of varices. All adult cirrhotic patients with medium or large varices,…

Key Points: Adults Obesity rates are increasing worldwide. Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 (Caucasian) or more than 27 (Asian) are classified as obese and…

Key Points Ascites in a cirrhotic due to liver failure is a bad prognostic sign. MELD (see Chapters 2 and 4) should be calculated and liver transplantation should be considered….

Key Points Cirrhosis may be entirely asymptomatic with no clinical signs. Routine laboratory tests that may suggest underlying cirrhosis include: thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypoalbuminemia. Non-invasive tests (serum panels and transient…

Key Points Country of birth is the most important risk factor for HBV infection. Age at acquisition is strongly associated with the risk of chronic infection (95% of infants develop…