Liver Disease - Testing & Treatment

Welcome to a new season of podcasts from Dr. Robert Gish! In this latest podcast, Dr. Robert Gish discusses bepirovirsen (BEPI) , an antisense oligonucleotide in development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. He explains how BEPI targets hepatitis B viral RNA and why this emerging therapy could represent an important step beyond long-term nucleos(t)ide therapy. Dr. Gish reviews key results...

With the recent renaming of NASH to MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) and the evolving landscape of treatment, when is the right time to use resmetirom? In this episode, we explore how this thyroid hormone receptor-β agonist is changing the management of MASLD, particularly in patients with significant fibrosis. We also break down non-invasive testing methods—for ins...

In this episode, Dr. Robert Gish, a leading expert in liver diseases, dives deep into second-line therapies for Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), a chronic autoimmune liver disease. Dr. Gish explores key treatment options, including Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA/"Urso" first-line), obeticholic acid (OCA/Ocaliva), elafibranor, and eeladelpar, discussing their mechanisms, benefits, and how they can be...

Join Dr. Robert Gish, a leading expert in liver health and diagnostics, in this deep dive into HepQuant DuO, a groundbreaking tool for assessing liver function. Dr. Gish will discuss how HepQuant DuO works, its significance in clinical practice, and the impact it has on patient care. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a student, or simply curious about liver health, this podcast promises to...

In this episode, Dr. Robert Gish explores liver function tests (bilirubin, albumin and INR), with a focus on total and more importantly on direct bilirubin. He explains how these tests help doctors assess liver health and clarifies the difference between liver function tests and liver enzyme tests. Many providers and patients are very confused when we use the term "liver function test" in our conv...

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Robert Gish, a renowned expert in hepatology, explores the complexities of Hepatitis Delta (HDV), a deadly form of viral hepatitis. Dr. Gish emphasizes why all Hepatitis B (HBV) patients must be tested for HDV total antibodies, and if positive, further tested for HDV RNA quantification. He explains the significant risks HDV poses to liver health, its interaction w...

In this episode Dr. Gish takes a deep dive into statins —one of the most widely prescribed medications for managing cholesterol and preventing heart disease. Dr. Gish breaks down the risks and benefits of statins for chronic liver disease , offering clear, evidence-based insights on how to effectively incorporate them into patient care. Statins historically (more than 20 years ago) carried some ba...

Join Dr. Robert Gish in this insightful episode as he discusses the latest breakthrough in Wilson disease treatment: Cuvrior . This innovative medication offers a new option for patients with Wilson disease, featuring a remarkable safety profile, the convenience of no refrigeration, and future possibility of  once-a-day dosing (research in progress). Dr. Gish explores how Cuvrior is revolutionizin...

In this episode, Dr. Robert Gish discussed the evolving world of  Noninvasive Testing (NITs) for liver disease, focusing on their critical role in diagnosing and staging liver conditions. Dr. Gish breaks down the latest Noninvasive Liver Disease Assessment (NILDA) , with an emphasis on fibrosis staging, and explores how these cutting-edge tools can also assess liver fat, inflammation, and disease...

In this episode, Dr. Robert Gish, a renowned expert in hepatology, examines the critical role of the Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) test in assessing liver health. Dr. Gish explains why GGT is an essential part of the liver enzyme panel and how it provides vital insights into a patient's inflammatory status, especially when alkaline phosphatase (ALP) alone may not be sufficient due to its limite...

In this latest episode of "Everything Liver," Dr. Robert Gish delves into the intricacies of thromboelastography (TEG) and its pivotal role in patient care. Join Dr. Gish as he breaks down how to interpret TEG test results, emphasizing its importance in the clinical setting. With an engaging analogy, he compares TEG to the cutting-edge F-35 jet, showcasing its precision and versatility, while like...

Join Dr. Gish, a leading expert in infectious diseases, as he delves into the complexities of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and the innovative "Treat All" approach. In this episode, Dr. Gish explores the 10 important reasons w hy we propose to treat all patient with HBV who are HBV DNA+         HBV DNA+ correlates with risk: risk of HCC, cirrhosis, liver transplant and death         Treatment decreases...

In this episode, Dr. Gish delves into the crucial role of phosphatidylethanol (PETH) testing in detecting alcohol use among patients in your general clinic, for those who have undergone liver transplants or individuals being evaluated for liver transplantation. Understanding alcohol consumption quantity is vital for patient safety and optimal outcomes, and PETH serves as an invaluable tool in this...

Welcome back to Dr. Robert Gish's podcast series! In this episode, he's diving deep into the world of Cholestasis with a focus on Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis, or PFIC. Dr. Gish will unravel the complexities of this rare and challenging liver condition, exploring its genetic underpinnings and the latest advancements in genetic testing for many other forms of cholestasis as well. P...

In his first podcast, Dr. Robert Gish discusses  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Screening And Surveillance Risk Biomarkers, how to use and what to order. Learn more about Dr. Gish at his website www.robertgish.com and send any questions or feedback to him at rgish@robertgish.com Dr. Gish will be releasing new podcasts every other week so tune in for more. Thank you for listening!