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Key Clinical Message: At 22 weeks post‐transplantation for HBV‐related cirrhosis, an adult woman developed neutropenia which was aggravated by COVID‐19 (ANC 0.4 × 109/L). Covid resolution and all "conventional" modifications were ineffective. Success within 2 weeks was achieved by switching entecavir to tenofovir alafenamide. A step‐by‐step judicious approach to post‐transplant neutropenia is vital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hepcidin is a peptide that acts as a hormone that provides iron homeostasis in the body and has antimicrobial activity. The synthesis of hepcidin is stimulated during inflammation and causes inflammation anemia. For this purpose, we aimed to determine the role of (pro)hepcidin in anemia in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and its correlation with clinical and biochemical findings. Materials and Methods: A total of 61 patients, 19 (31.1%) of whom were diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD), 42 (68.9%) with ulcerative colitis (UC), and a control group of 23 were included. Hepcidin and biochemical parameters which are related to anemia were measured. Results: There was a significant difference between the CD group and vs control group in terms of hepcidin level. As the disease activity increases, the hepcidin level decreases with a probability of 83%. Hepcidin levels were found to be significantly lower in the CD group. Although hepcidin levels were lower in the UC group than in the control group, the result was not statistically significant. Conclusion: We didn't detect a statistically significant difference in the level of hepcidin between IBD and the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: A liver biopsy is required for the reimbursement of antiviral therapy in Hepatitis B eantigen (HBe-Ag) negative chronic hepatitis B patients. Liver biopsy is an invasive procedure with potential complications, such as bleeding, pain, pneumothorax, and even death. The study aimed to evaluate simple and non-invasive parameters that may help predict histological criteria that would be eligible for antiviral treatment reimbursement. Methods: HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients with alanine transaminase (ALT) levels > upper normal limit (40 IU/L) and HBV DNA viral load > 2000 IU/ml who underwent liver biopsy were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) values, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels, platelet count, and hepato-steatosis grade based on ultrasonography were used to predict the eligibility for antiviral therapy reimbursement. Eligibility for reimbursement of antiviral treatment regarding histological criteria defined by National Social Security Institution is based on the hepatitis activity index (HAI) score = 6 and/or fibrosis score = 2 according to Ishak's scoring system. Results: One hundred and fifteen patients were included in the study; 79 patients (68.7%) were male. The mean age of patients was 46.51 (11.39). Sixty-two patients (53.9%) had a fibrosis score = 2, and 80 (69.6%) patients had an HAI score = 6. Ninety-two (80%) of the patients fulfilled histological criteria for antiviral treatment reimbursement. Multivariate analysis revealed that age and platelet count were independent predictors of eligibility for antiviral treatment reimbursement. The platelet count cut-off point was 198 x 109/L for predicting eligibility for antiviral treatment reimbursement. Conclusion: Most patients (92/115, 80%) with high ALT and DNA viral load were eligible for antiviral treatment reimbursement. Platelet count and age may be used as simple non-invasive parameters for predicting the eligibility for antiviral treatment reimbursement in terms of histological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]