Hepatology CommunicationsPub Date : 2026-05-08eCollection Date: 2026-06-01DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000960
Marta Tejedor, Nazia Selzner, Marina Berenguer
{"title":"Reply to: Sex for the purposes of MELD 3.0 calculation: When this differs from birth sex and implications for policy.","authors":"Marta Tejedor, Nazia Selzner, Marina Berenguer","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000960","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000960","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13218671/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147928909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatology CommunicationsPub Date : 2026-05-08eCollection Date: 2026-06-01DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000937
Anne H van der Spek, Megan J Ritter, Izuki Amano, Lorraine Soares de Oliveira, Joseph E Kaserman, Isabella Salguero Cespedes, Taylor Vierling, Andrew A Wilson, Anthony N Hollenberg
{"title":"Thyroid hormone acts independently of the thyroid hormone receptor beta in hepatocytes to improve systemic insulin sensitivity.","authors":"Anne H van der Spek, Megan J Ritter, Izuki Amano, Lorraine Soares de Oliveira, Joseph E Kaserman, Isabella Salguero Cespedes, Taylor Vierling, Andrew A Wilson, Anthony N Hollenberg","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000937","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000937","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Insulin resistance plays a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes and predates the development of frank hyperglycemia. Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling plays a critical role in glucose homeostasis, as both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have been linked to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. The mechanism behind the effects of TH action on insulin sensitivity is incompletely understood, but the liver is thought to play a key role. Indeed, resmetirom, a selective thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRβ) agonist, has recently been approved for treatment of liver fibrosis, and more THRβ agonists are currently in phase 2-3 clinical trials for use in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. As insulin resistance is closely associated with this disease, it is crucial that we understand the role of hepatic THRβ in glucose homeostasis. Thus, we hypothesized that TH, acting via the THRβ, is a key regulator of hepatic glucose metabolism.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In wild-type (WT) and liver-specific THRβ knock-out (L-TRBKO) mice we analyzed the effect of changes in thyroid status and diet on glucose homeostasis and insulin signaling. Mice were assessed under basal conditions on a chow fed diet, under hypothyroid conditions using a propylthiouracil/low iodine diet with and without T3 treatment and following a high-fat diet. We measured glucose tolerance, hepatic insulin signaling, liver histology, energy expenditure and skeletal muscle metabolism. In high-fat diet fed WT and L-TRBKO mice we addidionally analyzed the effect of a single i.p. injection of T3. Finally we studied insulin signaling in human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated to hepatocytes (iHeps) both with and without THRβ expression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In contrast to our hypothesis, we found that insulin signaling in mice was not impacted by the selective deletion of THRβ only in hepatocytes. Both WT and L-TRBKO mice have similar glucose homeostasis under basal conditions and developed hyperglycemia on a high-fat diet. Further, a single dose of T3 administered to high-fat diet fed insulin-resistant mice improves insulin sensitivity to the levels of control chow-fed mice in both WT and L-TRBKO male mice. This single dose of T3 also increased glucose transporter expression in skeletal muscle. In iHeps, THRβ1 was not required to activate insulin signaling, and T3 treatment did not affect insulin signaling.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>T3 signaling impacts glucose homeostasis independently of its actions through the THRβ1 in hepatocytes in both a murine and human model.</p>","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13218675/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147928917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Choroid plexus cyst burden is associated with glymphatic dysfunction and cognitive impairment in hepatic encephalopathy.","authors":"Li Chen, Zhiqiang Zhang, Jian Fang, Lirong Cai, Zhiyu Zeng, Yuzhen Liu, Jiaolong Zheng, Liyuan Fu, Chengkun Hong, Yaling Chen, Xiaoyang Wang, Dongliang Li","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000950","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000950","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Choroid plexus cysts (CPCs) are often considered incidental imaging findings in adults, but their phenotype and clinical relevance in HE are unclear. Our study aims to evaluate CPCs and choroid plexus volume (CPV) in HE and examine their associations with glymphatic clearance estimated by diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index, brain structure, and cognition.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this cross-sectional study, 3T MRI was performed in 3 groups: HE, cirrhosis without hepatic encephalopathy (NHE), and healthy controls (HCs). We assessed CPC burden, CPV, the DTI-ALPS index, structural brain measures and cognitive performance. Group differences were tested with ANCOVA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CPCs were detected in 100% of participants with HE versus 60% in NHE and 26.7% in HCs. Normalized CPC mean diameter and CPV were higher in HE than in NHE and HCs (all p values <0.05). The DTI-ALPS index decreased stepwise from HCs to NHE to HE. Cirrhosis was associated with widespread subcortical atrophy and cortical thinning, more extensive in HE. CPC burden and CPV correlated inversely with cognitive and structural metrics, whereas the DTI-ALPS index correlated positively. Mediation analyses suggested that CP phenotypes may be associated with cognitive impairment through glymphatic dysfunction accompanied by structural brain alterations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HE is characterized by increased CPC burden and enlarged CPV, accompanied by a lower DTI-ALPS index, structural brain alterations, and cognitive impairment. CPC burden and CPV are potential auxiliary choroid plexus-related MRI phenotypes of HE.</p>","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13218649/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147928896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatology CommunicationsPub Date : 2026-05-08eCollection Date: 2026-06-01DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000940
Ambrose Hon-Lam Chung, Jarell Jie-Rae Tan, Roe Xin Jacqueline Yap, Jing Hong Loo, Wei Xuan Tay, Corrine Lee Singh, Shi Jie Ong, Aidan Yuan Jie Low, Yikun Lin, Ellina Lytvyak, Andrew Mason, Aldo J Montano-Loza, Yu Jun Wong
{"title":"Symptom burden and treatment patterns in primary biliary cholangitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Ambrose Hon-Lam Chung, Jarell Jie-Rae Tan, Roe Xin Jacqueline Yap, Jing Hong Loo, Wei Xuan Tay, Corrine Lee Singh, Shi Jie Ong, Aidan Yuan Jie Low, Yikun Lin, Ellina Lytvyak, Andrew Mason, Aldo J Montano-Loza, Yu Jun Wong","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000940","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000940","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) often suffer from debilitating symptoms, yet the overall symptom burden has not been systematically quantified. This study aims to systematically review the prevalence and severity of the symptom burden in PBC patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a systematic search of 3 electronic databases to include studies that reported the prevalence and severity of PBC symptoms. Subgroup analyses were performed based on study type, publication year, risk of bias, study location, sex, and latitude.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 25 studies involving 13,178 patients were included. Fatigue was the most common symptom, affecting 51% of patients, followed by pruritus at 33%. Severe fatigue and severe pruritus were reported in 23% and 10% of patients, respectively. The prevalence of fatigue was significantly higher in more recent studies, those with smaller sample sizes, and studies published as abstracts. Fatigue score was significantly higher in female patients compared with males. Severe fatigue was more prevalent in studies conducted in North America/Europe than those from Asia (26% vs. 8%, p=0.0005), and in studies with a higher proportion of patients with cirrhosis (28% vs. 8%, p=0.0005). Despite the high burden, only 36% of PBC patients with pruritus received anti-pruritic treatment, with antihistamines being the most frequently prescribed medication.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Over half of PBC patients experience significant symptom burden, with substantial ethnic disparities identified. The proportion and quality of appropriate symptom management in PBC are suboptimal. There remains an unmet need for standardized assessment, consistent reporting, and improved management strategies for PBC-related symptoms in future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13218664/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147928931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatology CommunicationsPub Date : 2026-05-08eCollection Date: 2026-06-01DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000946
John M Vierling, Sarah Proehl, Gideon M Hirschfield, Robert P Kustra, Daria B Crittenden
{"title":"Reply: Fracture risk under selective and non-selective PPAR agonists in primary biliary cholangitis.","authors":"John M Vierling, Sarah Proehl, Gideon M Hirschfield, Robert P Kustra, Daria B Crittenden","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000946","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000946","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13218672/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147928959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatology CommunicationsPub Date : 2026-04-24eCollection Date: 2026-05-01DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000954
Haoye Zhang, Juan Wang, Hui Yang, Yu Yan, Jiafeng Zou, Zhenguo Liu
{"title":"CRISPLD2 protects against liver inflammation and fibrosis via GRP78 to repress HMGB1/TLR4 axis-mediated STING palmitoylation.","authors":"Haoye Zhang, Juan Wang, Hui Yang, Yu Yan, Jiafeng Zou, Zhenguo Liu","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000954","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000954","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Liver fibrosis caused by chronic inflammation remains the major driver of various liver diseases. However, limited effective therapies have been identified for liver fibrosis. Herein, we elucidated the complicated molecular mechanisms underlying liver fibrosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Primary hepatocytes were co-cultured with JS-1 cells. Inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed by ELISA. Liver fibrosis markers and target molecular levels were detected by western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Molecular mechanisms were analyzed by Acyl-biotin exchange (ABE) assay, Co-IP, proximity ligation assay, biotin pull-down, and GST pull-down assays. Co-localization and subcellular localization of molecules were observed by immunofluorescent staining. Liver fibrosis was induced by CCl4 in mice and determined by Masson Trichrome and Sirius Red staining. Liver injury was evaluated by HE staining, serum ALT, and AST levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) bound to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) to facilitate palmitoylation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING), which led to hepatocyte inflammation and JS-1 cell activation in vitro. Furthermore, cysteine-rich secreted protein LCCL domain protein 2 (CRISPLD2) blocked HMGB1/TLR4 axis-mediated palmitoylation of STING, and subsequent liver fibrosis. Mechanistically, CRISPLD2 recruited 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) to trigger TLR4 degradation via an autophagic-lysosomal pathway. CRISPLD2 treatment alleviated CCl4-induced inflammation and liver fibrosis in mice via inactivation of the HMGB1/TLR4/STING pathway.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CRISPLD2 mitigated hepatocyte inflammatory response and fibrosis via interaction with GRP78 to inactivate the HMGB1/TLR4 pathway and consequently restrain STING palmitoylation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13120513/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatology CommunicationsPub Date : 2026-04-24eCollection Date: 2026-05-01DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000947
Pojsakorn Danpanichkul, Francisco Idalsoaga, Frank Murray, Juan Pablo Arab, Luis Antonio Díaz
{"title":"The global epidemiology of alcohol-associated liver disease.","authors":"Pojsakorn Danpanichkul, Francisco Idalsoaga, Frank Murray, Juan Pablo Arab, Luis Antonio Díaz","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000947","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000947","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alcohol-associated harm remains a major, largely preventable driver of global morbidity, mortality, and societal costs, and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a major consequence of long-term exposure. According to the World Health Organization, average consumption was 5.0 L of pure alcohol per person aged ≥15 years in 2022, with 21% unrecorded consumption and substantial regional variation. Per-capita intake declined from 5.7 L in 2010 to 5.0 L in 2022, yet current models forecast an increase to 5.7 L by 2030. In 2023, an estimated 3.15 million people were living with alcohol-associated cirrhosis, and 419,429 new cases occurred; while crude burden has risen, age-standardized prevalence was 34.6 per 100,000, reflecting demographic shifts. Age-standardized mortality due to ALD cirrhosis was highest in the European Region (5.8 per 100,000) and the Americas (5.0 per 100,000), and projections suggest crude ALD mortality will increase by 76% from 2021 to 2050 (354,200-624,150). Because alcohol exposure is frequently underreported, ascertainment using validated questionnaires and biomarkers is critical for surveillance and research. Scalable models linking alcohol-use detection with staged fibrosis assessment and triage pathways can narrow diagnostic gaps and support health system planning. Coupling these pathways with the implementation of high-impact \"best-buy\" alcohol control policies is essential to reduce the global ALD burden.</p>","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13120514/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147769968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatology CommunicationsPub Date : 2026-04-24eCollection Date: 2026-05-01DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000953
Shuiqing Chi, Jinshi Huang, Pu Yu, Huizhong Niu, Zebing Zheng, Yun Zhou, Dayan Sun, Congli Cai, Junqing Hua, Pan Chen, Mengxin Zhang, Xi Zhang, Guoqing Cao, Shuai Li, Liying Rong, Yan Chen, Paul Kwong-Hang Tam, Shao-Tao Tang
{"title":"Differentiation of biliary atresia using a rapid point-of-care matrix metalloproteinase-7 assay: A multicenter diagnostic study.","authors":"Shuiqing Chi, Jinshi Huang, Pu Yu, Huizhong Niu, Zebing Zheng, Yun Zhou, Dayan Sun, Congli Cai, Junqing Hua, Pan Chen, Mengxin Zhang, Xi Zhang, Guoqing Cao, Shuai Li, Liying Rong, Yan Chen, Paul Kwong-Hang Tam, Shao-Tao Tang","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000953","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000953","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Delayed diagnosis and surgery are the main causes of poor prognosis in biliary atresia (BA). This delay is frequently attributed to the complexity of current outpatient evaluation methods. While serum MMP-7 analysis via currently available methods, such as ELISA, offers high diagnostic accuracy, its utility in outpatient settings is often limited by turnaround time. To address this challenge, we developed and evaluated the MMP-7 Quick Test for accurately differentiating BA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This multicenter prospective diagnostic study was conducted between November 2021 and December 2024 at the pediatric surgery outpatient departments of 5 tertiary centers. A total of 423 patients aged <6 months who presented with persistent jaundice were included. Samples collected from November 2021 to May 2023 were analyzed by ELISA (n=221) in batches once or twice weekly. From June 2023 to December 2024, samples were measured using the MMP-7 Quick Test (n=202), in which residual serum was tested individually with routine liver function tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 202 infants evaluated using the rapid test, 98 were diagnosed with BA. The rapid test demonstrated a sensitivity of 91.84% (95% CI, 86.42%-97.26%), and a negative predictive value of 92.00% (95% CI, 86.68%-97.32%). These diagnostic parameters were comparable to the ELISA method, with a sensitivity of 90.82% and a negative predictive value of 91.74%. The rapid test provided results in 15 minutes at a cost of $14 per test, whereas the ELISA workflow required batch processing, taking an average of 3 days with a higher cost ($70).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The MMP-7 Quick Test serves as a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective screening tool suitable for outpatient settings, thus facilitating the early diagnosis of BA.</p>","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13120636/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatology CommunicationsPub Date : 2026-04-24eCollection Date: 2026-05-01DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000938
Swarup Sasidharan, Cyriac Abby Philips, Ajit Tharakan, Rizwan Ahamed, Tharun Tom Oommen, John Menachery, Rosh Varghese, Philip Augustine
{"title":"A randomized controlled trial of L-taurine for fatigue in decompensated cirrhosis.","authors":"Swarup Sasidharan, Cyriac Abby Philips, Ajit Tharakan, Rizwan Ahamed, Tharun Tom Oommen, John Menachery, Rosh Varghese, Philip Augustine","doi":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000938","DOIUrl":"10.1097/HC9.0000000000000938","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fatigue affects 60%-80% of patients with cirrhosis, yet no universally effective pharmacologic therapy exists. Taurine, an amino sulfonic acid with antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing properties, may address metabolic mechanisms underlying fatigue. We hypothesized that L-taurine supplementation would significantly reduce fatigue severity compared to standard care in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center, parallel-arm, open-label randomized controlled trial enrolled adults with decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Turcotte-Pugh score 7-13) and clinically significant fatigue (Fatigue Assessment Scale score >22) at a tertiary care center in South India. Participants were randomized via block randomization to L-taurine (1000 mg/d) plus standard care or standard care alone for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the Fatigue Assessment Scale score. Analysis of covariance examined treatment-by-anaemia interactions. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 220 randomized patients, 202 completed the study (standard care: n=100; taurine: n=102). The mean FAS change was -6.83±8.70 (standard care) versus -8.08±7.95 (taurine), with no significant difference (mean difference -1.25; 95% CI: -3.55 to 1.05; p=0.288; Cohen's d=-0.15). However, a significant treatment-by-anemia interaction was observed (p=0.009). In patients without anemia (n=41), taurine produced a large treatment effect (-11.90±4.04 vs. -4.57±9.23; p=0.002; Cohen's d=-1.02), whereas patients with anemia (n=161) showed no benefit (p=0.832). Adverse events occurred in 11.8% of patients treated with taurine, all of which were mild.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>L-taurine did not improve fatigue in unselected patients with decompensated cirrhosis. A post hoc subgroup analysis suggested potential benefit in patients without anemia; however, given the open-label design, small subgroup size, post hoc nature of the analysis, and the inherent limitations of unblinded patient-reported outcomes, this finding should be considered hypothesis-generating. A confirmatory, placebo-controlled trial enrolling patients without anemia is warranted (Clinical Trials Registry India number CTRI/2023/06/054455).</p>","PeriodicalId":12978,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology Communications","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13120592/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}