Hispanic Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder at Higher Risk for Liver Diseases

Hispanic patients hospitalized for alcohol use disorder were found to face greater odds for developing alcohol-associated hepatitis, decompensated cirrhosis, and related complications than their non-Hispanic white counterparts, according to published data. This highlights a significant health disparity that needs addressing.

In other news, the FDA has granted premarket approval to Sequana Medical’s alfapump implantable device for the treatment of recurrent or refractory ascites due to cirrhosis, marking a significant advancement in the management of this condition.

Additionally, the CDC has updated its recommendations to include Heplisav-B among the recommended HBV vaccine options for pregnant patients, following data from a postlicensure study that showed no increased risk for major birth defects or miscarriage.

On the legislative front, there is progress on a bill to expand financial support for living kidney donors, which has passed the House and been introduced in the Senate, aiming to ease the financial burden on donors.

In the realm of drug development, Lipocine’s LPCN 1148, an oral androgen receptor agonist, has received FDA fast track designation for the treatment of sarcopenia in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, offering hope for a new therapeutic option.

However, the FDA has issued a safety alert regarding Ocaliva (obeticholic acid), warning of an increased risk for serious liver injury among patients with primary biliary cholangitis, even in those without advanced cirrhosis, underscoring the need for careful patient selection and monitoring.