EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on non-invasive tests for evaluation of liver disease severity and prognosis - 2021 update

Non-invasive tests are increasingly being used to improve the diagnosis and prognostication of chronic liver diseases across aetiologies. Herein, we provide the latest update to the EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on the use of non-invasive tests for the evaluation of liver disease severity and prognosis, focusing on the topics for which relevant evidence has been published in the last 5 years.

Recent Advances in the Management of Acute Variceal Hemorrhage

Gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the most relevant causes of death in patients with cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension, with gastroesophageal varices being the most frequent source of hemorrhage. Despite survival has improved thanks to the standardization on medical treatment aiming to decrease portal hypertension and prevent infections, mortality remains significant. In this review, our goal is to discuss the most recent advances in the management of esophageal variceal hemorrhage in cirrhosis with specific attention to the treatment algorithms involving the use of indirect measurement of portal pressure (HVPG) and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), which aim to further reduce mortality in high-risk patients after acute variceal hemorrhage and in the setting of secondary prophylaxis.

Association of lipid profile with decompensation, liver dysfunction, and mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Lipid metabolism is often disrupted in liver cirrhosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of lipid profile on decompensation events, severity of liver dysfunction, and death in patients with liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 778 patients with lipid profile data were enrolled, and then were divided into 240 and 538 patients with and without liver cirrhosis, respectively. In a cohort study, 314 cirrhotic patients with lipid profile data, who were prospectively followed, were enrolled. Lipid profile included total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), triglycerides (TG), and lipoprotein(a).

RESULTS

In the cross-sectional study, cirrhotic patients with decompensation events had significantly lower levels of TC and lipoprotein(a) than those without; and cirrhotic patients with Child-Pugh class B and C had significantly lower levels of TC, HDL-c, LDL-c, and lipoprotein(a) than those with Child-Pugh class A. In the cohort study, there was an inverse association of survival with TC, HDL-c, and lipoprotein(a) levels; after adjusting for MELD score, TC (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.703, P = 0.034) and HDL-c (HR = 2.036, P = 0.005), but not lipoprotein(a) (HR = 1.377, P = 0.191), remained a significant predictor of death; when TC, HDL-c, lipoprotein(a), and MELD score were included in the multivariate Cox regression analysis, HDL-c (HR = 1.844, P = 0.024) was the only independent predictor of death.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased levels in specific components of lipid profile indicate more decompensation events, worse liver function, and reduced survival in liver cirrhosis. MELD score combined with HDL-c should be promising for the assessment of outcomes of cirrhotic patients.

Histological sub-classification of cirrhosis using collagen proportionate area in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Collagen proportionate area (CPA, %) is used to quantify liver fibrosis. Here, we assessed CPA performance to sub-classify cirrhosis. CPA was measured in explanted livers from consecutively transplanted patients for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), Child-Pugh score and decompensating events (ascites, variceal bleeding, non-obstructive jaundice and encephalopathy) were recorded at the time of liver transplant. Of the 154 patients, 24%, 12%, 35%, 24% and 5% had zero, one, two, three and four previous decompensating events. Patients with decompensation had significantly higher CPA than those without (25.1 ± 8.4 vs 15.8 ± 5.5, P < .001). Decompensation was independently associated with CPA, bilirubin and albumin or with CPA and MELD score. CPA did not differ between patients with one, two, three or four decompensating events (22.2 ± 6.3 vs 26.6 ± 8.9 vs 24.5 ± 7.7 vs 24.4 ± 10.9, P = .242). Overall, CPA correlates with the clinical severity of cirrhosis until the advent of decompensation but not with subsequent decompensating events.

The Impact of Portal Vein Thrombosis on the Prognosis of Patients With Cirrhosis: A Retrospective Propensity-Score Matched Study

Objectives: To investigate the impact of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) on cirrhosis decompensation and survival of cirrhosis.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study between January 2012 and August 2020, 117 patients with cirrhotic PVT and 125 patients with cirrhosis were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to reduce the bias. The clinical characteristics of non-tumoral PVT in cirrhosis and its influence on cirrhosis decompensation and survival were analyzed.

Results: The median follow-up for the PVT group was 15 (8.0–23.0) months and for the non-thrombosis group 14 (8.0–23.5) months. The presence of PVT was related with esophageal varices, higher Child-Pugh score and MELD score (P < 0.05). Most PVTs were partial (106/117). Non-occlusive PVT disappeared on later examinations in 32/106 patients (30.19%), of which six patients reappeared. All the 11 patients with occlusive PVT remained occlusive, among which five patients (45.45%) developed portal cavernoma. There was no significant correlation between PVT and decompensation or survival before or after PSM. Multivariate analysis identified only Child-Pugh score (HR = 2.210, 95% CI: 1.332–3.667) and serum sodium level (HR = 0.818, 95% CI: 0.717–0.933) as independent factors for death.

Conclusion: Though PVT is associated with greater Child-Pugh score and MELD score, it has no significant impact on the progression of cirrhosis.

Effects of Presurgical Mandibular Incisor Decompensation on Long-Term Outcomes of Class III Surgical Orthodontic Treatment

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of presurgical mandibular incisor decompensation on long-term outcomes of Class III surgical orthodontic treatment. Thirty-five patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion who received conventional surgical orthodontic treatment were included. Mandibular incisor brackets with -6° of inclination were placed normally in 18 patients (NB group) and inversely in 17 patients (RB group). Between-group differences and relationships between incisal and skeletal variables were analyzed based on lateral cephalograms at pretreatment, presurgery, postsurgery, posttreatment, and retention. Mandibular incisors were more labially inclined in the RB group than in the NB group from presurgery to retention. No significant between-group differences were observed in presurgical and postsurgical skeletal relationships. The NB group exhibited a larger overjet with deficient interincisal contact at postsurgery than the RB group. Skeletal Class III relationship was also more severe in the NB group at retention. More lingually inclined mandibular incisors at presurgery and larger overjet at postsurgery were correlated with a more severe skeletal Class III relationship at retention. Thus, establishing appropriate postsurgical overjet by sufficient presurgical mandibular incisor decompensation may play a significant role in postsurgical stability of Class III surgical orthodontic treatment.

Personalized Analytics and a Wearable Biosensor Platform for Early Detection of COVID-19 Decompensation (DeCODe): Protocol for the Development of the COVID-19 Decompensation Index

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, novel digital health technologies have the potential to improve our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, improve care delivery, and produce better health outcomes. The National Institutes of Health called on digital health leaders to contribute to a high-quality data repository that will support researchers to make discoveries that are otherwise not possible with small, limited data sets.

OBJECTIVE

To this end, we seek to develop a COVID-19 digital biomarker for early detection of physiological exacerbation or decompensation. We propose the development and validation of a COVID-19 decompensation Index (CDI) in a 2-phase study that builds on existing wearable biosensor-derived analytics generated by physIQ's end-to-end cloud platform for continuous physiological monitoring with wearable biosensors. This effort serves to achieve two primary objectives: (1) to collect adequate data to help develop the CDI and (2) to collect rich deidentified clinical data correlating with outcomes and symptoms related to COVID-19 progression. Our secondary objectives include evaluation of the feasibility and usability of pinpointIQ, a digital platform through which data are gathered, analyzed, and displayed.

METHODS

This is a prospective, nonrandomized, open-label, 2-phase study. Phase I will involve data collection for the digital data hub of the National Institutes of Health as well as data to support the preliminary development of the CDI. Phase II will involve data collection for the hub and contribute to continued refinement and validation of the CDI. While this study will focus on the development of a CDI, the digital platform will also be evaluated for feasibility and usability while clinicians deliver care to continuously monitored patients enrolled in the study.

RESULTS

Our target CDI will be a binary classifier trained to distinguish participants with and those without decompensation. The primary performance metric for CDI will be the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve with a minimum performance criterion of ≥0.75 (α=.05; power [1-β]=0.80). Furthermore, we will determine the sex or gender and race or ethnicity of the participants, which would account for differences in the CDI performance, as well as the lead time-time to predict decompensation-and its relationship with the ultimate disease severity based on the World Health Organization COVID-19 ordinal scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Using machine learning techniques on a large data set of patients with COVID-19 could provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and a digital biomarker for COVID-19 decompensation. Through this study, we intend to develop a tool that can uniquely reflect physiological data of a diverse population and contribute to high-quality data that will help researchers better understand COVID-19.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04575532; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04575532.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/27271.

Decompensated cirrhosis is the commonest presentation for NAFLD patients undergoing liver transplant assessment

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) accounts for 10-15% of orthotopic liver transplants (OLTs) in the UK. Index presentations with cirrhotic decompensation represent missed opportunities for preventive treatment leaving OLT or palliation as the only options.We retrospectively reviewed patient records for all NAFLD patients undergoing assessment for OLT between January 2003 and December 2017.Data were available for 81 patients with NAFLD as the primary diagnosis. Fifty-two patients had decompensated cirrhosis at first presentation; 91.7% presented to secondary care compared to 52.7% referred from primary care (p=0.001). Cirrhosis was not suspected at the time of referral to hospital in 24.7% of patients subsequently assessed for OLT. Most patients undergoing assessment for OLT for NAFLD had decompensated cirrhosis at their first diagnosis of chronic liver disease. These data highlight the plight of patients with NAFLD cirrhosis in whom chronic liver disease is diagnosed late.

Musculoskeletal Pathology in Cerebral Palsy: A Classification System and Reliability Study

This article presents a classification of lower limb musculoskeletal pathology (MSP) for ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP) to identify key features from infancy to adulthood. The classification aims to improve communication, and to guide referral for interventions, which if timed appropriately, may optimise long-term musculoskeletal health and function. Consensus was achieved by discussion between staff in a Motion Analysis Laboratory (MAL). A four-stage classification system was developed: Stage 1: Hypertonia: Abnormal postures are dynamic. Stage 2: Contracture: Fixed shortening of one or more muscle-tendon units. Stage 3: Bone and joint deformity: Torsional deformities and/or joint instability (e.g., hip displacement or pes valgus), usually accompanied by contractures. Stage 4: Decompensation: Severe pathology where restoration of optimal joint and muscle-tendon function is not possible. Reliability of the classification was tested using the presentation of 16 clinical cases to a group of experienced observers, on two occasions, two weeks apart. Reliability was found to be very good to excellent, with mean Fleiss' kappa ranging from 0.72 to 0.84. Four-stages are proposed to classify lower limb MSP in children with CP. The classification was reliable in a group of clinicians who work together. We emphasise the features of decompensated MSP in the lower limb, which may not always benefit from reconstructive surgery and which can be avoided by timely intervention.

Use of a novel implantable cardioverter-defibrillator multisensor algorithm for heart failure monitoring in a COVID-19 patient: A case report

We report the case of a patient implanted with an implantable defibrillator endowed with a multisensor algorithm for heart failure monitoring. Automatic measurement of multiple clinical variables allowed to detect impending heart failure decompensation and showed its ability to facilitate differential diagnosis in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The effects of concurrent oral paliperidone or risperidone use with paliperidone long-acting injection

Introduction

Dosing recommendations for paliperidone long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAIA) do not include oral antipsychotic (OAP) overlap; however, OAPs are often given concurrently despite limited evidence describing both the risks and benefits of this practice.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted in patients initiated on paliperidone palmitate (PP) during a psychiatric hospitalization to compare patients who received OAP overlap versus those who did not. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients who receive prescription claims for benztropine, a medication commonly prescribed for extrapyramidal symptoms, at the time of LAIA discontinuation and 6 months postdischarge. Secondary outcomes include prescription claims for beta blockers and diphenhydramine, number of psychiatric emergency visits and hospitalizations, length of stay of the index hospitalization, frequency of LAIA discontinuation and the time to LAIA discontinuation.

Results

There is a significant difference in the proportion of benztropine prescription claims in the OAP overlap group versus the no-overlap group at the time of LAIA discontinuation (30% vs 0%, P = .046) but not at 6 months postdischarge. There are also significant differences in the number of psychiatric emergency visits (0.7 vs 0.1, P = .02) and psychiatric hospitalizations (0.6 vs 0.1, P = .029) at the time of LAIA discontinuation. No other differences are observed in defined secondary outcomes.

Discussion

Patients who receive OAP overlap while receiving PP receive more benztropine and have more psychiatric emergency visits and hospitalizations than those treated without OAP. Larger studies with better control for confounding variables are needed to confirm these results.

Precipitating factors of heart failure decompensation, short-term morbidity and mortality in patients attended in primary care

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the precipitating factors for heart failure decompensation in primary care and associations with short-term prognosis. Design Prospective cohort study with a 30-d follow-up from an index consultation. Regression models to determine independent factors associated with hospitalisation or death.

SETTING

Primary care in ten European countries. Patients Patients with diagnosis of heart failure attended in primary care for a heart failure decompensation (increase of dyspnoea, unexplained weight gain or peripheral oedema).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Potential precipitating factors for decompensation of heart failure and their association with the event of hospitalisation or mortality 30 d after a decompensation.

RESULTS

Of 692 patients 54% were women, mean age 81 (standard deviation [SD] 8.9) years; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 55% (SD 12%). Most frequently identified heart failure precipitation factors were respiratory infections in 194 patients (28%), non-compliance of dietary recommendations in 184 (27%) and non-compliance with pharmacological treatment in 157 (23%). The two strongest precipitating factors to predict 30 d hospitalisation or death were respiratory infections (odds ratio [OR] 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] (2.4-3.4)) and atrial fibrillation (AF) > 110 beats/min (OR 2.2, CI 1.5-3.2). Multivariate analysis confirmed the association between the following variables and hospitalisation/death: In relation to precipitating factors: respiratory infection (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.14-1.25) and AF with heart rate > 110 beats/min (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.35); and regarding patient characteristics: New York Heart Association (NYHA) III or IV (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.15-1.29); previous hospitalisation (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.11-1.19); and LVEF < 40% (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09-1.19).

CONCLUSIONS

In primary care, respiratory infections and rapid AF are the most important precipitating factors for hospitalisation and death within 30 d following an episode of heart failure decompensation. Key points Hospitalisation due to heart failure decompensation represents the highest share of healthcare costs for this disease. So far, no primary care studies have analysed the relationship between precipitating factors and short term prognosis of heart failure decompensation episodes. We found that in 692 patients with heart failure decompensation in primary care, the respiratory infection and rapid atrial fibrillation (AF) increased the risk of short-term hospital admission or death. Patients with a hospital admission the previous year and a decompensation episode caused by respiratory infection were even more likely to be hospitalized or die within 30 d.

Trends in surgical volume and in-hospital mortality among United States cirrhosis hospitalizations

Background

In the aging population of patients with cirrhosis in the United States, there is a potentially increased need for surgical procedures. However, individuals with cirrhosis have increased perioperative risk relative to patients without cirrhosis. We sought to quantify temporal trends in cirrhosis surgical procedures and in-hospital mortality in relation to surgical procedure type, elective admission status and compensated vs. decompensated status.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of cirrhosis hospitalizations between 2005 and 2014 using the National Inpatient Sample. Surgical procedures of interest included cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and major abdominal, orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery. We plotted trends in volume and in-hospital mortality by procedure type, and used linear regression to test the significance of trends.

Results

While the number of cirrhosis hospitalizations increased over time, the number of surgeries per 1000 admissions decreased (b=-1.454, P<0.001). When stratified by elective admission status, elective major orthopedic surgeries significantly increased over time (b=177.9; P<0.001). In-hospital mortality rates for most surgeries were significantly higher in the non-elective vs. elective setting (each P<0.001). In patients with compensated cirrhosis, there was a significant increase in the number of orthopedic (b=272.4; P<0.001) and hernia repair surgeries over time (b=191.1; P<0.001). Overall, there was significantly greater in-hospital mortality among patients with decompensated cirrhosis (each P<0.05). Q. Please mention the exact P-value unless <0.001

Conclusions

Despite an increasing number of cirrhosis hospitalizations, the decreasing relative number of cirrhosis surgeries may indicate progressive surgical risk aversion. Future cirrhosis surgical risk scores should consider surgical procedure type, elective/non-elective status, and decompensation status.

Hepascore predicts liver outcomes and all-cause mortality in long-term methotrexate users: A retrospective cohort study

Background and aim

Methotrexate (MTX) is routinely used for immunological disorders, and its long‐term use is associated with hepatotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a serum liver fibrosis test (Hepascore) predicted the risk of adverse liver‐related outcomes and mortality.

Methods

A total of 92 patients in Western Australia who had a long‐term MTX intake history,from 2004 to 2016, were recruited and followed up from the first Hepascore to death or end of the study. Clinical data, all deaths, and liver‐related outcomes (liver‐related death and decompensation) were obtained from hospital, PathWest, and WA Data Linkage Unit databases.

Results

Nine deaths and four adverse liver‐related outcomes occurred during the follow up of 354 person‐years. The 5‐year survival was 86.1%. The liver‐related outcome free survival was 95.6%. Baseline Hepascore ≥0.84 was associated with advanced fibrosis on liver biopsy (P = 0.025). A baseline Hepascore ≥0.84 was significantly associated with higher risks for adverse liver‐related outcomes (P < 0.001) and all‐cause mortality (P = 0.001). Cox regression demonstrated that only baseline Hepascore ≥0.84 was independently associated with the increased risk of all‐cause mortality (7.91 [1.52–41.29], P = 0.014). Moreover, any Hepascore ≥0.84 found during follow up was independently associated with the increased risk of all‐cause mortality (86.18 [4.03–1844.83], P = 0.007).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the potential importance of Hepascore monitoring in long‐term MTX users. Patients with a Hepascore higher than 0.84 at any stage had increased mortality, but further studies are required to confirm this finding.

Anemia and iron deficiency in compensated and decompensated cirrhosis: Prevalence and impact on clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA)is the leading cause of anemia worldwide. Data on prevalence and clinical impact of anemia in cirrhosis are scarce. Aim was to report on the following:(i) prevalence of anemia and IDA in cirrhosis and (ii) its possible impact on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Consecutive cirrhotic patients from a prospective registry study were included. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin concentration ≤ 12 g/dL. IDA was defined as Hb ≤ 12 g/dL + transferrin-saturation < 20%. Follow up for hepatic decompensation and mortality started with study inclusion and terminated in December 2017. A retrospective validation cohort of 1244 patients was used to validate our findings.

RESULTS

Two hundred forty-two patients with compensated (n = 53 [21.9%]) and decompensated (n = 189 [78.1%]) cirrhosis were included. Anemia was present in 128 patients (52.9%); of those, 63 (49.2%) had IDA. Prevalence of anemia increased with Child-Pugh Score (CPS; A: 26.5%, B: 59.2%, C: 69%; P < 0.001) and with decompensated cirrhosis(62.4% vs 18.8%, P < 0.001). Within anemic patients, a higher proportion of patients in CPS A/B vs C (73% vs 35%; P = 0.025) and in compensated cirrhosis (80% vs 46.6%; P = 0.043) were found with IDA. Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores were significantly lower in patients with IDA (14.4 vs 17.9 non-ID-anemia; P = 0.005). Similar results were found in the validation cohort: median MELD (16[8-28]non-IDA vs 12 [7-23] IDA; P < 0.001) and within anemic patients IDA was more common in patients with MELD <15 (58%) versus >15 (24%, P < 0.001). Anemia was associated with a significant risk for hepatic decompensation and/or mortality both in the validation (aSHR: 1.65, P = 0.008) and in the derivation cohort (aSHR: 2.11, P < 0.001) and an independent risk factor for hepatic decompensation and/or mortality in compensated patients (aHR: 4.91, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Anemia is highly prevalent in cirrhosis. In compensated cirrhosis, CPS A/B, and low MELD, IDA seems to be the most likely reason for anemia. Furthermore, anemia is associated with a significant risk for hepatic decompensation or mortality during long-term follow up.

Propofol alone prevents worsening hepatic encephalopathy rather than midazolam alone or combined sedation after esophagogastroduodenoscopy in compensated or decompensated cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND

This study was conducted to determine which type and dose of sedative drugs should be given to cirrhotic patients with compensation or decompensation during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to prevent hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after sedation.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of cirrhotic patients consecutively admitted to the hospital and conducted a number connection test (NCT) before and 2 h after EGD with moderate sedation. Sedation was performed using either propofol alone, midazolam alone, or combined propofol + midazolam.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients were admitted for a screening EGD. The NCT before and after sedation were not significantly different in the propofol alone (pre-NCT = 47.3 ± 19.71 seconds vs. post-NCT = 49.4 ± 21.79 seconds, P = 0.6389). In the midazolam alone (pre-NCT = 50.3 ± 20.56 vs. post-NCT = 63.7 ± 33.17, P = 0.0021) and in the combined propofol + midazolam (pre-NCT = 47.4 ± 20.99 vs. post-NCT = 60.0 ± 30.79, P = 0.0002), NCT were significantly delayed. The propofol alone group received 52.3 ± 16.31 mg (0.82 ± 0.29 mg/kg). In 45 (67.2%) decompensated patients, only the propofol alone was not significantly different between pre-NCT (49.2 ± 22.92) and post-NCT (52.3 ± 24.90) (P = 0.4548). Serum sodium level was significantly correlated with delta-NCT (r = 0.3594, P = 0.0028).

CONCLUSION

Propofol alone could be the best sedation strategy for cirrhotic patients with compensation or decompensation without aggravation of covert or overt HE. Hyponatremia could be a risk factor for developing or worsening HE after EGD with sedation.

Telomere Length Increase in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients with Cirrhosis after HCV Eradication with Direct-Acting Antivirals

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and cirrhosis are associated with a senescent phenotype that decreases telomere length. We evaluated the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination on telomere length in patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis after sustained virological response (SVR), with all-oral direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs). Methods: Prospective study of 60 HIV/HCV-coinfected and 30 HCV-monoinfected patients with advanced HCV cirrhosis (liver decompensation or liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥ 25 kPa, hepatic liver pressure gradient (HVPG) ≥ 10 mmHg, or Child–Pugh–Turcotte (CPT) ≥ 7). The relative telomere length (RTL) was quantified by real-time multiplex PCR (MMqPCR) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and 48 weeks after HCV treatment. Generalized linear models (GLMs) adjusted for the most relevant clinical and epidemiological variables and mixed GLMs were used. Results: In comparison with HCV-monoinfected patients, HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were younger (p < 0.001), had lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.002), and had been exposed less frequently to interferons (p = 0.011). In addition, they were more frequently men (p = 0.011), smokers (p = 0.005), prior intravenous drug users (IVDUs) (p < 0.001), and alcohol abusers (p = 0.005). RTL was significantly lower in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients than in HCV-monoinfected patients, both at baseline (p < 0.001), and at the end of follow-up (p = 0.032). A significant RTL increase over time was found only for HIV/HCV-coinfected patients (p < 0.001), especially in those patients with compensated cirrhosis (p < 0.001). Conclusion: HCV eradication with all-oral DAAs was associated with an increase in telomere length in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with advanced cirrhosis, particularly in compensated patients. This finding suggests that HCV clearance may have implications in age-related conditions in this population group.

Impact of Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment on Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Despite the significant medical and economic consequences of coexisting alcohol use disorder (AUD) in patients with cirrhosis, little is known about AUD treatment patterns and their impact on clinical outcomes in this population. We aimed to characterize the use of and outcomes associated with AUD treatment in patients with cirrhosis.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

This retrospective cohort study included Veterans with cirrhosis who received Veterans Health Administration care and had an index diagnosis of AUD between 2011 and 2015. We assessed the baseline factors associated with AUD treatment (pharmacotherapy or behavioral therapy) and clinical outcomes for 180 days following the first AUD diagnosis code within the study time frame. Among 93,612 Veterans with cirrhosis, we identified 35,682 with AUD, after excluding 2,671 who had prior diagnoses of AUD and recent treatment. Over 180 days following the index diagnosis of AUD, 5,088 (14%) received AUD treatment, including 4,461 (12%) who received behavioral therapy alone, 159 (0.4%) who received pharmacotherapy alone, and 468 (1%) who received both behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. In adjusted analyses, behavioral and/or pharmacotherapy-based AUD treatment was associated with a significant reduction in incident hepatic decompensation (6.5% vs. 11.6%, adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52, 0.76), a nonsignificant decrease in short-term all-cause mortality (2.6% vs. 3.9%, AOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.57, 1.08), and a significant decrease in long-term all-cause mortality (51% vs. 58%, AOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.80, 0.96).

CONCLUSIONS

Most Veterans with cirrhosis and coexisting AUD did not receive behavioral therapy or pharmacotherapy treatment for AUD over a 6-month follow-up. The reductions in hepatic decompensation and mortality suggest that future studies should focus on delivering evidence-based AUD treatments to patients with coexisting AUD and cirrhosis.

Simeprevir, daclatasvir, and sofosbuvir for hepatitis C virus-infected patients: Long-term follow-up results from the open-label, Phase II IMPACT study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have resulted in high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) following 8 to 24 weeks of treatment. However, difficult-to-cure/cirrhotic patients typically require a longer treatment duration and less is known regarding the long-term durability of SVR or effect on liver disease progression; to assess this, the IMPACT study followed patients for a 3-year period after end of treatment.

METHODS

The Phase II, open-label, nonrandomized IMPACT study assessed the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of the combination of three DAAs (simeprevir, sofosbuvir, and daclatasvir) in HCV genotype 1/4-infected, treatment-naïve/-experienced cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension or decompensated liver disease. Patients from a single site in the United States were assigned to one of two groups by Child-Pugh (CP) score: CP A, CP score less than 7 and evidence of portal hypertension; CP B, CP score of 7 to 9. All patients received simeprevir 150 mg, daclatasvir 60 mg, and sofosbuvir 400 mg once-daily for 12 weeks between September 2014 and August 2015. All 40 patients included in the study (male, 63%; median age, 58.5 years) achieved SVR 12 and 24 weeks after end of treatment, and the combination was well tolerated.

RESULTS

All patients who reached the 3-year follow-up timepoint maintained SVR (CP A, 15/15; CP B, 18/18). CP scores and Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores remained relatively stable, and mean FibroScan and FibroTest scores declined. No new safety signals were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

In the IMPACT study, virologic response to simeprevir, sofosbuvir, and daclatasvir was durable over 3 years (http://ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02262728).

Prospective evaluation of the multisensor HeartLogic algorithm for heart failure monitoring

Background

The HeartLogic algorithm measures data from multiple implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator‐based sensors and combines them into a single index. The associated alert has proved to be a sensitive and timely predictor of impending heart failure (HF) decompensation.

Hypothesis

We describe a multicenter experience of remote HF management by means of HeartLogic and appraise the value of an alert‐based follow‐up strategy.

Methods

The alert was activated in 104 patients. All patients were followed up according to a standardized protocol that included remote data reviews and patient phone contacts every month and at the time of alerts. In‐office examinations were performed every 6 months or when deemed necessary.

Results

During a median follow‐up of 13 (10–16) months, the overall number of HF hospitalizations was 16 (rate 0.15 hospitalizations/patient‐year) and 100 alerts were reported in 53 patients. Sixty alerts were judged clinically meaningful, and were associated with multiple HF‐related conditions. In 48 of the 60 alerts, the clinician was not previously aware of the condition. Of these 48 alerts, 43 triggered clinical actions. The rate of alerts judged nonclinically meaningful was 0.37/patient‐year, and the rate of hospitalizations not associated with an alert was 0.05/patient‐year. Centers performed remote follow‐up assessments of 1113 scheduled monthly transmissions (10.3/patient‐year) and 100 alerts (0.93/patient‐year). Monthly remote data review allowed to detect 11 (1%) HF events requiring clinical actions (vs 43% actionable alerts, P < .001).

Conclusions

HeartLogic allowed relevant HF‐related clinical conditions to be identified remotely and enabled effective clinical actions to be taken; the rates of unexplained alerts and undetected HF events were low. An alert‐based management strategy seemed more efficient than a scheduled monthly remote follow‐up scheme.

Opioid prescriptions are associated with hepatic encephalopathy in a national cohort of patients with compensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Opioids are often prescribed for pain in cirrhosis and may increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

AIM

To assess the association between opioids and HE in patients with well-compensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

We used the IQVIA PharMetrics (Durham, NC) database to identify patients aged 18-64 years with cirrhosis. We excluded patients with any decompensation event from 1 year before cirrhosis diagnosis to 6 months after cirrhosis diagnosis. Over the 6 months after cirrhosis diagnosis, we determined the duration of continuous opioid use and classified use into short term (1-89 days) and chronic (90-180 days). We assessed whether patients developed HE over the subsequent year (ie 6-18 months after cirrhosis diagnosis). We used a landmark analysis and performed multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to assess associations between opioid use and HE, adjusting for relevant confounders.

RESULTS

The cohort included 6451 patients with compensated cirrhosis, of whom 23.3% and 4.7% had short-term and chronic opioid prescriptions respectively. Over the subsequent year, HE occurred in 6.3% patients with chronic opioid prescriptions, 5.0% with short-term opioid prescriptions and 3.3% with no opioid prescriptions. In the multivariable model, an increased risk of HE was observed with short-term (adjusted hazard ratio, HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.07-1.94) and chronic opioid prescriptions (adjusted HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.07-3.12) compared to no opioid prescriptions.

CONCLUSION

In this national cohort of privately insured patients with cirrhosis, opioid prescriptions were associated with the risk of incident HE. Opioid use should be minimised in those with cirrhosis and, when required, limited to short duration.

Heart failure and acute renal dysfunction in the cardiorenal syndrome

Just under 1 million people in the UK have symptomatic heart failure. Decompensated heart failure is associated with a particularly poor prognosis with in-hospital mortality at around 10%. Over the last 30 years renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system antagonists have been shown to have incremental benefit on improved quality of life, reduced hospitalisation and mortality rates in those with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Concomitant chronic kidney disease and 'acute kidney injury' are common and associated with adverse outcomes.In patients with decompensated heart failure, congestion is a key driver of deterioration in renal function. Decongestion is fundamental to successful management. Yet it is not uncommon to see prognostically important medication (such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and mineralocorticoid antagonists) inappropriately stopped, along with under-diuresis of the patient. This leaves the patient still in a state of congestion without the prognostic medication at discharge, with resultant adverse outcome. The British Society for Heart Failure and the Renal Association have produced consensus guidance to help guide management in a more consistent fashion based on heart failure classification, whether the patient is congested and the degree of renal impairment. Early heart failure specialist review is associated with improved patient outcomes.

Two Hearts at Risk: Emergency Alcohol Septal Ablation in a Pregnant Woman With Decompensated HOCM

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) increases the risk for mother and fetus during pregnancy. Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is an established procedure in nonpregnant patients with HOCM. In this report, we present a case of a 29-year-old woman in her 29th gestational week with decompensated HOCM undergoing a successful ASA. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Functional Status at Liver Transplant Waitlisting Correlates With Greater Odds of Encephalopathy, Ascites, and Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Whether higher liver transplant (LT) waitlist mortality in patients with poor functional status (FS) is mediated by higher prevalence of cirrhosis complications is not clear. We aim to evaluate the impact of FS on risk of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), ascites, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) among adults listed for LT.

METHODS

Using 2005-2018 United Network for Organ Sharing LT data, we retrospectively evaluated the impact of FS on prevalence of ascites, HE, and SBP among adults listed for LT using Karnofsky Performance Status Score categories (KPSS-1: FS 80-100%, KPSS-2: 60-70%, KPSS-3: 40-50%, KPSS-4: 10-30%), stratified by underlying liver disease etiology. Between-group comparisons used chi-squared methods and adjusted multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 100,618 adults listed for LT (68.8% male, 72.4% non-Hispanic white) 35.2% were KPSS-1, 36.6% KPSS-2, 15.7% KPSS-3, and 12.6% KPSS-4 at time of LT waitlist registration. Patients with worse FS were significantly more likely to have ascites, HE, and SBP at time of waitlist registration (KPSS-1 vs. KPSS-4: ascites, 66% vs. 93%; HE, 81% vs. 49%; SBP, 4% vs. 16%, p < 0.001 for all). On multivariate regression, compared with patients with KPSS-1, those with KPSS-4 had significantly higher odds of ascites (odds ratio [OR]: 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-1.62, p < 0.01), HE (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.59-1.80, p < 0.01), and SBP (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.98-2.38, p < 0.01), which was observed across all liver disease etiologies.

CONCLUSION

Worse FS is associated with higher odds of cirrhosis complications including ascites, HE, and SBP, which was observed across all liver disease etiologies.