Canadian Liver Meeting

The Canadian Liver Meeting is a collaborative effort of the Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL), the Canadian Network on Hepatitis C (CANHEPC) and the Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses (CAHN).

The meeting program offers a forum for presentation and discussion of basic science, translational and clinical aspects of liver disease.

It will take place in Montreal, Quebec between May 24th and May 26th.

KNS Canada will be present at the meeting.

Role of CAP in Obese Patients

In a study published by Surg Obes Relat Dis, a journal for surgery for obesity and related diseases, the role of the Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in morbidly obese individuals was explored. The goal was to assess the utility of CAP for assessment of hepatic steatosis in morbidly obese individuals and evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery on hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.

Through the examination of 124 patients, it was determined that LSM and CAP are feasible and accurate at diagnosing advanced fibrosis and severe hepatic steatosis in morbidly obese individuals. Bariatric surgery is associated with significant improvement in LSM, CAP, steatohepatitis, and fibrosis.

 

You can read more here.

 

AFEF Guidelines

The latest Association Française pour l’Etude du Foie – French Association for Study of the Liver (AFEF) and European Association for Study of the Liver (AFEF) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) recommendations announce a change of paradigm, for the management of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).

As part of this announcement, AFEF proposes FibroScan® or complex fibrosis biological tests thresholds, to rule out the diagnosis of severe fibrosis and therefore to identify patients who will not require prolonged follow-up. This further re-establishes the validity and importance of the Fibroscan testing. As per their announcement: “FibroScan® (transient elastography) that measures liver stiffness in a non-invasive way is an educational and motivational tool for AFEF, qualities that were confirmed in several experiments available in addiction centers[911].”

You can read the full guidelines here.

Now Available in Canada: FibroScan 630 Expert

The latest Fibroscan, the 630 Expert has now been licensed by Health Canada. The new device offers all of the same diagnostic features of the previous models with many valuable enhancements.

The new device is the first model to offer a spleen stiffness module, allowing further measurement of cirrhosis.

It does this while increasing its ease of use with its interface and smart tools for easy examination.

More information will be made available upon request.