Information about Dr. Erik Christensen (EC)

I live in Copenhagen, Denmark. Together with my deceased wife Vibeke Christensen I have two lovely daughters and one wonderful granddaughter.

Qualifications and Posts:

• Medical doctor (M.D.) from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. I have received my further medical education at the Copenhagen University hospitals.
• Dr.Med.Sci from the University of Copenhagen.
• For many years Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen.
• Specialist in Internal Medicine, Medical Gastroenterology, and Hepatology.
• For many years Chief Consultant Physician at Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen.
• Published more than 150 scientific articles in medical journals and books. Many of the publications have also been presented orally or as posters at conferences in Europe and U.S.A.
• Former Chairman of the Danish Association for the Study of the Liver (DASL)
• Former Statistical Consultant for the Journal of Hepatology (i.e. the European Liver Journal)

Interests:

• Health and Nutrition
• Music – for many years 1st clarinetist in a symphony orchestra for non-professionals
• Statistical methodology – have taught this in numerous courses
• Computer programming – have made numerous programs in FORTRAN and PowerBASIC
• Internet programming – making websites
• Being with family and friends – playing with granddaughter
• Enjoying life
• Traveling, skiing

Publications:

Liver disease

Randomized clinical trials in hepatology
How are negative controlled clinical studies interpreted? A 10-year randomized hepato-gastro-enterological study with insignificant results
The randomized controlled clinical trials in Gastroenterology: The Danish Contributions from 1970 to 1994
Chianciano consensus conference on prognostic studies in hepatology (Main responsible for the report) (full text)
A consensus conference on prognostic studies in hepatology
Erik Christensen, Peter Ott, Flemming Burcharth, Jens H. Henriksen, Søren Møller, Ulrik Tage-Jensen & Henrik Toft Sørensen (Bestyrelsen for Dansk Selskab for Hepatologi). Nylige og forestående frem- (og tilbage-)skridt inden for hepatologi. Ugeskr Læger 2001;163:1697-8.
Here are the PowerPoint slides of my three-hour course in liver diseases emphasizing the pathophysiology.

Chronic Liver Disease – Cirrhosis

Individual therapy-dependent prognosis based on data from controlled clinical trials in chronic liver disease (Thesis) (full text)
A therapeutic index that predicts the individual effects of prednisone in patients with cirrhosis (full text)
Changes of laboratory variables with time in cirrhosis: Prognostic and therapeutic significance (full text)
Aspects of the natural history of gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis and the effect of prednisone (full text)
Main causes of death in cirrhosis
Prophylaxis of the first hemorrhage from esophageal varices by sclerotherapy, propranolol, or both in cirrhotic patients: A Randomized multicenter trial (full text)
Treatment of ascites in liver cirrhosis
Gramkow M, Christensen E. Ascitesbehandling. Ugeskr Læg 1994;156:7383-4. (letter)
Prognostic variables in patients with cirrhosis and oesophageal varices without prior bleedings
Prediction of bleeding risks and death in cirrhosis based on hemodynamic and metabolic variables. A study of patients with esophageal varices without previous bleeding
Christensen E, Schunck MR. Scores in different diseases: A critical review and evaluation of different surrogate markers for assessing treatments in chronic liver disease. In: Surrogate markers to assess the efficacy of treatments in chronic liver diseases, p. 46-59.
Prognostic models in chronic liver disease: validity, usefulness and future role (Review article) (full text)
Continuous blood pressure monitoring in cirrhosis
Prognostic factors in cirrhosis identified by Cox’s regression model (full text)
Prognostic value of Child-Turcotte criteria in medically treated cirrhosis (full text)
Updating prognosis and therapeutic effect evaluation in cirrhosis using Cox’s multiple regression model for time-dependent variables (full text)
Tygstrup N, Christensen E. Prognostic estimates in cirrhosis. In: Cirrhosis of the liver. Methods and fields of research, p. 385-401.
Here are PowerPoint slides of a lecture I made on Prognostic Models in Cirrhosis in Birmingham, U.K.
Plasma catecholamine level and portal venous pressure as guides to prognosis in patients with cirrhosis
Prognosis after the first episode of gastrointestinal bleeding or coma in cirrhosis. Survival and prognostic factors
Arterial hypoxemia in cirrhosis: fact or fiction? (full text)
Effect on outcome of the lengthening waiting list for liver transplantation (full text)
Christensen E. Den kronisk leversyge patient. Månedsskr Prakt Lægegern 2001;79:49-57.
Arterial compliance in patients with cirrhosis: stroke volume-pulse pressure ratio as a simplified index (full text)
Dyssynchronous electrical and mechanical systole in patients with cirrhosis
Long-term survival and cause-specific mortality in patients with cirrhosis of the liver: a nationwide cohort study in Denmark
Increased circulating pro-brain natriuretic peptide (proBNP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in patients with cirrhosis: relation to cardiovascular dysfunction and severity of disease (full text)
Ascites fluid and plasma calprotectin concentrations in liver disease
Garcia-Tsao, G, D’Amico G, Abraldes JG, Schepis F, Merli M, Kim WR, Christensen E. Predictive Models in Portal Hypertension. In: Portal Hypertension IV. Proceedings of the Fourth Baveno International Consensus Workshop p. 47-100.
D’Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, Abraldes JG, Christensen E, Ginés P, Kim WR, Merli M, Schepis F. Baveno IV Consensus Statements: Predictive Models in Portal Hypertension. In: Portal Hypertension IV. Proceedings of the Fourth Baveno International Consensus Workshop p. 101-102.
Dansk Selskab for Hepatologi (DASL: Erik Christensen (formand), Flemming Burcharth, Jens H. Henriksen, Bent A. Jacobsen, Susanne Keiding, Søren Møller, Peter Ott). Sengstakensonde. I: Kliniske procedurer. En opslagsbog side 286-290.
Dansk Selskab for Hepatologi (DASL: Erik Christensen (formand), Flemming Burcharth, Jens H. Henriksen, Bent A. Jacobsen, Susanne Keiding, Søren Møller, Peter Ott). Ascitespunktur. Ugeskr Læg 2003;165:4658-9. (full text)  Også trykt i Kliniske procedurer. En opslagsbog side 319-323.
Terlipressin for hepatorenal syndrome 1 (full text)
A systematic review of randomized trials on vasoconstrictor drugs for the hepatorenal syndrome (full text)
Terlipressin for hepatorenal syndrome 2 (full text)
Rehabilitation for cirrhotic patients discharged after hepatic encephalopathy improves survival (full text)
Determinants of the hyperdynamic circulation and central hypovolaemia in cirrhosis
– Here are the PowerPoint slides of a lecture on the same subject
Cardiac and proinflammatory markers predict prognosis in cirrhosis (full text)
Cirrhosis and liver fibrosis are potentially reversible
Here are the slides of a short PowerPoint presentation I did in Copenhagen in 2013 on the reversibility of liver cirrhosis.
The hepato-pulmonary syndrome
The gut microbiome is important in chronic liver disease
Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment Score is a strong predictor of survival in acute-on-chronic liver failure (full text)

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Zinc supplementation in alcoholic cirrhosis. A double-blind trial (full text)
Acquired zinc deficiency in alcoholic liver cirrhosis: Report of two cases
Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive treatment of alcoholic liver disease
Variables predicting elevated portal pressure in alcoholic liver disease: Results of a multivariate analysis
Serum levels of YKL-40 and PIIINP as prognostic markers in patients with alcoholic liver disease (full text)

Lecture on gender differences in alcoholic liver disease – PowerPoint slides

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)

Clinical pattern and course of disease in primary biliary cirrhosis based on an analysis of 236 patients (full text)
Azathioprine in primary biliary cirrhosis: A preliminary report of an international trial (full text)
Primary biliary cirrhosis. The prevalence of hypothyroidism and its relationship to thyroid autoantibodies and sicca syndrome
Early features of primary biliary cirrhosis: an analysis of 85 patients
Ciclosporin (CyA) in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC): A Multicentre, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Long-term Therapeutic Study. The Study Design
Double-blind controlled trial of d-penicillamine in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (full text)
The beneficial effect of azathioprine and prediction of prognosis in primary biliary cirrhosis. Final results of an international controlled clinical trial (full text)
Use of a prognostic index in the evaluation of liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis
Lichen planus in primary biliary cirrhosis treated with penicillamine
Azathioprine and prognosis in primary biliary cirrhosis (full text)
Prognostication in primary biliary cirrhosis: Relevance to the individual patient (invited Editorial) (full text)
Christensen E. Prognostic indicators in primary biliary cirrhosis. (invited article) Proceedings of 6th International Meeting on “Current issues in Gastroenterology” Bologna, Italy, 1990.
Sex hormones in postmenopausal women with primary biliary cirrhosis (full text)
Updating prognosis in primary biliary cirrhosis using a time-dependent Cox regression model (full text)
Optimal timing of liver transplantation for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis: use of prognostic modeling (full text)
Erik Christensen: Prognostic modeling in primary biliary cirrhosis. In: Primary biliary cirrhosis p. 93-99.
Ursodeoxycholic acid for primary biliary cirrhosis: lesson for the future? (full text)
Ursodeoxycholic acid for primary biliary cirrhosis (full text)
Analysis of marginal donor parameters in liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis (full text)
Glucocorticosteroids for primary biliary cirrhosis (full text)
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Ursodeoxycholic acid for patients with primary biliary cirrhosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials using Bayesian approach as sensitivity analyses (full text)
Ursodeoxycholic acid for primary biliary cirrhosis (full text)

Lecture on the insignificant effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cirrhosis – PowerPoint slides
Lecture on medical therapies for primary biliary cirrhosis – PowerPoint slides

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)

Pretransplant prediction of prognosis after liver transplantation in primary sclerosing cholangitis using a Cox regression model (full text)
Christensen E. Prognosis of untreated primary sclerosing cholangitis. (full text) In: Cholestatic Liver Diseases: Therapeutic Options and Perspectives: In honor of Hans Popper’s 100th birthday (Falk Symposium) (2004-06-30), p. 231-40. Here are the PowerPoint slides of the lecture I did on the same subject.

Chronic Active Hepatitis (CAH)

Tygstrup N, Christensen E, Juhl E, Fauerholdt L, Schlichting P, Poulsen H, Copenhagen Study Group for Liver Diseases. Clinical classification of chronic active liver disease. In: Update on acute and chronic hepatitis. Edited by Gentilini P, Surrenti C, Tygstrup N. Societa Editrice Universo, Roma, 1981, p 243-250.
Juhl E, Christensen E, Schlichting P, Fauerholdt L, Poulsen H, Tygstrup N and the Copenhagen Study Group for Liver Diseases. Immunosuppressive treatment of chronic active hepatitis. In: Die entzündete Leber, p 187-190.
Prednisone treatment of chronic liver disease. I. Chronic aggressive hepatitis as a therapeutic marker
Prednisone and chronic liver disease. II. Clinical versus morphological criteria for selection of patients for prednisone treatment

Viral Hepatitis

Survival and prognostic factors in 366 patients with compensated cirrhosis type B: a multicenter study (full text)
The treatment effect of alpha interferon in chronic hepatitis B is independent of pre-treatment variables. Results based on individual patient data from 10 clinical controlled trials
Occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensation in Western European patients with cirrhosis type B (full text)
Relation between treatment efficacy and cumulative dose of alpha interferon in chronic hepatitis B (full text)
The long-term effect of treatment with interferon-alpha 2a in chronic hepatitis B (member of the executive team)
Influence of hepatitis delta virus infection on morbidity and mortality in compensated cirrhosis type B (full text)
Effect of hepatitis B and C virus infections on the natural history of compensated cirrhosis: a cohort study of 297 patients (full text)
Treatment and prevention of hepatitis C–progress and challenges
Hepatitis E in Denmark

Alcoholic Hepatitis

Glucocorticorticoids are ineffective in alcoholic hepatitis: A meta-analysis adjusting for confounding variables (full text)
Glucocorticosteroids are not effective in alcoholic hepatitis (Comment) (full text)
Alcoholic hepatitis–glucocorticosteroids or not? (full text)
Systematic review: glucocorticosteroids for alcoholic hepatitis–a Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group systematic review with meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses of randomized clinical trials (full text)
Glucocorticosteroids in acute alcoholic hepatitis: the evidence of a beneficial effect is getting even weaker (full text)

Acute Liver Failure

Cholic acid conjugation test and quantitative liver function in acute liver failure
Prediction of fatality in fulminant hepatic failure (full text)
Prediction of hepatic encephalopathy in paracetamol overdose: a prospective and validated study
The value of plasma acetaminophen half-life in antidote-treated acetaminophen overdosage (full text)
Influence of acute and chronic alcohol intake on the clinical course and outcome in acetaminophen overdose (full text)
Acute Liver Failure Study Group. The outcome of acute liver failure in the elderly (full text)

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Clinical management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusions of the Barcelona-2000 EASL conference (full text)
Cost-effectiveness of adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma during the waiting list for liver transplantation (full text)
Portal hypertension and development of hepatocellular carcinoma: factors influencing significance in prognostic models (full text)
Hepatocellular carcinoma in Danish patients a single Copenhagen center experience (full text)

Liver Histology in Cirrhosis

Clinical relevance of restrictive morphological criteria for the diagnosis of cirrhosis in liver biopsies
Conversion of micronodular cirrhosis into macronodular cirrhosis (full text)

Gastroenterology

Anticholinergics in peptic ulcer
The epidemiology of the gastrointestinal randomized clinical trial (full text)
Treatment of duodenal ulcer. Randomized clinical trials of a decade (1964-1974) (full text)
Treatment of gastric ulcer. The randomized clinical trials from 1964 to 1974 and their impact (full text)
Prediction of outcome of pancreaticogastrostomy for pain in chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis and extrahepatic cancer. A retrospective study among 181 patients with chronic pancreatitis
Prognostic value of insulin-like growth factor I and its binding protein in patients with alcohol-induced liver disease (full text)
Bile acid therapy versus placebo before and after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy of gallbladder stones (Responsible for statistical analysis)
Classification of dyspepsia. Identification of independent symptom components in 7270 consecutive, unselected dyspepsia patients from general practice (full text)
Preoperative prediction model of outcome after cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones (Responsible for statistical analysis)
Which dyspepsia patients will benefit from omeprazole treatment? Analysis of a Danish multicenter trial (full text)
– Here are the PowerPoint slides from a short lecture I made on the same subject
Factors associated with long-term mortality in acute pancreatitis (full text)
Randomized clinical trial: identification of responders to short-term treatment with esomeprazole for dyspepsia in primary care – a randomized, placebo-controlled study (full text)
– Here are the PowerPoint slides of the lecture I made on the same subject
Work productivity improvement after acid suppression in patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia (full text)
Epidemiologic and therapeutic aspects of refractory coeliac disease – a systematic review (full text)

Kidney Disease

Enhancement of enzymatic activity in Fabry’s disease
The elimination of diatrizoate by peritoneal dialysis in renal failure.
IgE-containing plasma cells in acute tubulointerstitial nephropathy.
Cutaneous pustulosis and acute renal insufficiency following treatment with phthalysulfathiazole
Clinical listeriosis in renal allotransplantation (full text)
Involution of polycystic kidneys during active treatment of terminal uremia (full text)
Hydrothorax during peritoneal dialysis
Serum zinc and urinary zinc excretion after renal allotransplantation (full text)

Methodology

Editorial: Is the physician’s prescription affected by randomized clinical trials?
Christensen E. Kontrollerede kliniske undersøgelser. Ugeskr Læg 1976;138:2169. (letter)
Are we giving the best possible care to the patient?
Hilden J, Keiding N, Christensen E, Juhl E, Tygstrup N. Negative randomiserede kliniske undersøgelser og fortolkningen af sikkerhedsintervaller. Ugeskr Læg 1983;145:2443-2445.
Hilden J, Keiding N, Christensen E, Juhl E, Tygstrup N. Sikkerhedsinterval for synd? Ugeskr Læg 1983;145:2768-2769. (letter)
Christensen E, Sørensen TIA, Andersen PK. Overlev med Cox-modellen. Ugeskr Læg 1985;47:4219-4220. (Editorial)
Dirksen A, Christensen E, Jørgensen T, Kampmann JP, Kjær P. Klinisk Forskningsmetode. En grundbog, 1. udg.
Kampmann JP, Christensen E. Den randomiserede kliniske undersøgelse. Kapitel 2 i Klinisk Forskningsmetode. En grundbog, 1. udg. s. 17-29.
Christensen E, Dirksen A. Statistik. Kapitel 8 i Klinisk Forskningsmetode. En grundbog, 1. udg. s. 111-156.
Quality of reporting of meta-analyses: the QUOROM statement. Will it help? (full text)
Jørgensen T, Christensen E, Kampmann JP. Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog, 2. udg.
Jørgensen T, Christensen E, Kampmann JP. Indledning om forskningsprocessen. S. 11-17, I Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog, 2. udg.
Kampmann JP, Christensen E. Den randomiserede kliniske undersøgelse. S.19-32. I Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog, 2. udg.
Christensen E, Lauritsen J. Databehandling. S.127-148. I Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog, 2. udg.
Christensen E, Kampmann JP. Statistik. S.149-193. I Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog, 2. udg
Choosing the best endpoint (full text)
Jørgensen T, Christensen E, Kampmann JP. Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 3. udg.
Jørgensen T, Christensen E, Kampmann JP. Indledning om forskningsprocessen. S. 13-19, I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 3. udg.
Kampmann JP, Christensen E. Den randomiserede kliniske undersøgelse. S.21-35. , I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 3. udg.
Christensen E, Lauritsen J. Databehandling. S.131-152. , I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 3. udg.
Christensen E, Kampmann JP. Statistik. S.153-197. , I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 3. udg.
Jørgensen T, Christensen E, Linneberg A. Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 4. udg.
Jørgensen T, Christensen E, Linneberg A. Indledning om forskningsprocessen. S. 13-18, I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 4. udg.
Jørgensen T, Christensen E, Linneberg A. Praktisk gennemførelse af et projekt. S. 19-27, I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 4. udg.
Linneberg A, Christensen E, Jørgensen T. Den randomiserede kliniske undersøgelse. S.65-83. , I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 4. udg.
Christensen E, Lauritsen J. Databehandling. S.175-196. , I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 4. udg.
Christensen E, Jørgensen T. Statistik. S.197-246. , I: Klinisk forskningsmetode. En grundbog 4. udg.

Statistics

Measuring prognosis using the proportional hazards model
Evaluating prognosis based on the proportional hazards model
Andersen PK, Christensen E, CSL. Komplikationsforløb i randomiserede kliniske forsøg. I: Symposium i anvendt statistik (ed. A Hoskuldson) Neucc, Recau, Recku, 1985.
Multivariate survival analysis using Cox’s regression model (full text)
Multilevel models for longitudinal variables prognostic for survival
Christensen E. Effective randomized clinical trial design: sequential analysis. J Hepatol 2003;38:550-551. (full text)
Prognostic models including the Child-Pugh, MELD, and Mayo risk scores—where are we and where should we go? (full text)
Methodology of superiority vs. equivalence trials and non-inferiority trials (full text)
Methods in equivalence and non-inferiority trials
Methodology of diagnostic tests in hepatology (full text) Here you can see the PowerPoint slides I made on the same subject.

Lecture on Clinical Endpoints to be used in controlled clinical trials – PowerPoint slides

Miscellaneous

Glucose tolerance in patients with oral lichen planus (full text)
Arterial blood pressure in patients with oral lichen planus (full text)
A comparison of 2 new rapid methods for determination of HbA1C concentration in patients with diabetes mellitus
Jarløv AE, Christensen E, Hegedüs L, Kristensen LØ, Nygaard B, Hansen JM. Factors associated with recurrence of hyperthyroidism after ¹³¹I treatment: the inadvertent influence of antithyroid drug administration after ¹³¹I treatment of hyperthyroidism. Thyroidol Clin Exp 1997;9:55-9. (full text)
Deteriorating ischaemic stroke. cytokines, soluble cytokine receptors, ferritin, systemic blood pressure, body temperature, blood glucose, diabetes, stroke severity, and CT infarction volume as predictors of deteriorating ischaemic stroke
Plasma cytokines in acute stroke
Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: increased circulating pro-brain natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide in cirrhosis
Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: prolonged QTc-interval and dyssynchronic electrical and mechanical systole in cirrhosis
A meta-analysis of the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on functional capacity in patients with symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction (full text)
Christensen E. Is liver biopsy necessary during low-dose methotrexate therapy? A hepatologist’s view. Forum for Nord Derm Ven 2005;10:9-12. (full text)
Effect of beta-blocker therapy on functional status in patients with heart failure–a meta-analysis (full text)
Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on functional class in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction–a meta-analysis (full text)
A systematic review: effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction in patients with myocardial infarction and in patients with left ventricular dysfunction (full text)
64-multislice detector computed tomography coronary angiography as a potential alternative to conventional coronary angiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis (full text)
Impact of obesity as a mortality predictor in high-risk patients with myocardial infarction or chronic heart failure: a pooled analysis of five registries (full text)
Here are PowerPoint slides of a lecture on losing weight on a protein-rich diet
Evaluation of aortic valve stenosis by cardiac multislice computed tomography compared with echocardiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Vegetarians are at high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency
Laustsen C, Rungby J, Christensen E, Christrup L, Jensen NJ. Identification of risk markers for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus: A retrospective cross-sectional study with a focus on quality assurance based on real-world data. J Diabetes Clin Res 2020;2:30-36. (full text)