Link between LUNG and inflammatory bowel diseases and chronic liver diseases

Dear Respiratory Friends we are happy to present you new article on hot topic Lung and  inflammatory bowel diseases and chronic liver diseases from ERJ 2016!

This review is devoted to the distinct associations of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and chronic liver disorders with chronic airway diseases, namely chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma, and other chronic respiratory disorders in the adult population. While there is strong evidence for the association of chronic airway diseases with IBD, the data are much weaker for the interplay between lung and liver multimorbidities. The association of IBD, encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, with pulmonary disorders is underlined by their heterogeneous respiratory manifestations and impact on chronic airway diseases. 

The potential relationship between the two most prevalent liver-induced pulmonary vascular entities, i.e. portopulmonary hypertension and hepatopulmonary syndrome, and also between liver disease and other chronic respiratory diseases is also approached. Abnormal lung function tests in liver diseases are described and the role of increased serum bilirubin levels on chronic respiratory problems are considered.

link to article:

http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/47/2/638

World Hepatitis Day 2014: Respiratory manifestations of hepatitis

World Hepatitis Day is an annual event on the 28^th July that provides international focus for patient groups and people living with viral hepatitis. It is an opportunity to raise awareness and influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing and treatment.

Every year World Hepatitis Day gets bigger and bigger, with more countries and organisations taking part. Since its launch in 2008, thousands of events have taken place, from rock concerts and press briefings to ministerial meetings and fundraising events. In 2012 the World Hepatitis Alliance organised a Guinness World Record attempt for the most people performing the ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’ actions within 24 hours.

World Hepatitis Day is recognised every year on the 28th July. This date was chosen to mark the birthday of Professor Baruch Blumberg, awarded the Nobel Prize for his work in discovering the hepatitis B virus. He said: ‘It's good to know that my birthday will be remembered in this unusual and unexpected way.  We never thought this would happen when we were studying a strange protein from Australia.’

There are many links between hepatitis and different Respiratory conditions. Over the last decade, an increasing number of reports have suggested that chronic HCV infection is also associated with both direct and indirect effects on pulmonary tissue. While not all of these effects have been tightly linked to HCV infection, there are now sufficient studies available that warrant a review of the major pulmonary sequelae associated with chronic HCV infection

 

For more details, read excellent review: Moorman J, Saad M, Kosseifi S, Krishnaswamy G. Hepatitis c virus and the lung*: implications for therapy. Chest. 2005;128(4):2882-2892