Approach to Liver Transplantation: Is There a Difference between East and West?

Liver transplantation (LT) remains the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease as well as acute liver failure. With the exponential increase in organ demand due to the increasing incidence and prevalence of liver diseases, the need to overcome the supply and demand mismatch has arisen. In this review, we discuss the current universal status of LT, emphasizing various LT practices worldwide.

Novel ensemble feature selection techniques applied to high-grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms for the prediction of survival

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Determining the most informative features for predicting the overall survival of patients diagnosed with high-grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms is crucial to improve individual treatment plans for patients, as well as the biological understanding of the disease. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the use of modern ensemble feature selection techniques for this purpose with respect to (a) quantitative performance measures such as predictive performance, (b) clinical interpretability, and (c) the effect of integrating prior expert knowledge.

METHODS

The Repeated Elastic Net Technique for Feature Selection (RENT) and the User-Guided Bayesian Framework for Feature Selection (UBayFS) are recently developed ensemble feature selectors investigated in this work. Both allow the user to identify informative features in datasets with low sample sizes and focus on model interpretability. While RENT is purely data-driven, UBayFS can integrate expert knowledge a priori in the feature selection process. In this work, we compare both feature selectors on a dataset comprising 63 patients and 110 features from multiple sources, including baseline patient characteristics, baseline blood values, tumor histology, imaging, and treatment information.

RESULTS

Our experiments involve data-driven and expert-driven setups, as well as combinations of both. In a five-fold cross-validated experiment without expert knowledge, our results demonstrate that both feature selectors allow accurate predictions: A reduction from 110 to approximately 20 features (around 82%) delivers near-optimal predictive performances with minor variations according to the choice of the feature selector, the predictive model, and the fold. Thereafter, we use findings from clinical literature as a source of expert knowledge. In addition, expert knowledge has a stabilizing effect on the feature set (an increase in stability of approximately 40%), while the impact on predictive performance is limited.

CONCLUSIONS

The features WHO Performance Status, Albumin, Platelets, Ki-67, Tumor Morphology, Total MTV, Total TLG, and SUVmax are the most stable and predictive features in our study. Overall, this study demonstrated the practical value of feature selection in medical applications not only to improve quantitative performance but also to deliver potentially new insights to experts.

Changing trends in the etiology of liver transplantation in Turkiye: A multicenter study

Background and Aim

This study aimed to identify the indications for liver transplantation (LT) based on underlying etiology and to characterize the patients who underwent LT.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional observational study across 11 tertiary centers in Turkiye from 2010 to 2020. The study included 5,080 adult patients.

Results

The mean age of patients was 50.3±15.2 years, with a predominance of female patients (70%). Chronic viral hepatitis (46%) was the leading etiological factor, with Hepatitis B virus infection at 35%, followed by cryptogenic cirrhosis (24%), Hepatitis C virus infection (8%), and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) (6%). Post-2015, there was a significant increase in both the number of liver transplants and the proportion of living donor liver transplants (p<0.001). A comparative analysis of patient characteristics before and after 2015 showed a significant decline in viral hepatitis-related LT (p<0.001), whereas fatty liver disease-related LT significantly increased (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Chronic viral hepatitis continues to be the primary indication for LT in Turkiye. However, the proportions of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and ALD-related LT have seen an upward trend over the years.

Type of donor liver transplant does not affect pregnancy outcomes-a systematic review and meta-analysis

Liver transplant (LT) has become increasingly common among reproductive-aged women. The effect of the type of liver donor, either a living donor LT (LDLT) or a deceased donor LT, on pregnancy outcomes is unknown. As such, we aim to review the available literature and assess obstetric, pregnancy, or delivery outcomes in LDLT. We conducted a comprehensive literature review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. Random-effect meta-regression assessed the association between the percentage of women who underwent LDLT (independent variable) and the proportion of outcomes. Meta-regression results were expressed as a regression coefficient, which transforms the proportion of outcomes of interest associated with a 1% increase in the percentage of LDLT patients. A value of 0 denotes no relationship between the outcomes and LDLT. A total of 6 articles (438 patients) were included, with a total of 806 pregnancies. Eighty-eight (20.09%) patients underwent LDLT. None of the studies segregated the data based on the type of donor LT. The median time from LT to pregnancy was 4.86 (4.62-5.03) years. Twelve (1.5%) stillbirths were reported. LDLT was statistically significantly associated with a higher rate of stillbirths (coefficient 0.002, p < 0.001; I 2 0%). The type of donor LT was not associated with an increased risk of other obstetric, pregnancy, or delivery complications. This is the first meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of the type of donor LT on pregnancy outcomes. This study highlights the lack of robust literature addressing this important topic. The results suggest that pregnancy outcomes after LDLT and deceased donor LT are comparable. Despite LDLT being statistically significantly associated with a higher rate of stillbirths, the association is weak and is unlikely to be clinically significant.

The assessment of Ki-67 for prognosis of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) is a group of rare tumors. Among which, gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm (GEP-NEN) is the most common group. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified these tumors into three different grades (G1, G2, and G3) based on Ki-67 and mitotic rate, and updated the classification in 2019. Several previous studies proved that Ki-67 was related to tumor prognosis, but others still reported that Ki-67 had no predictive value for tumor prognosis. There are different conclusions between studies regarding the correlation between Ki-67 and tumor prognosis, and there is a lack of studies about this correlation of GEP-NENs. Further analysis is still needed to evaluate the prognostic value of Ki-67 in GEP-NENs, to provide reference for clinical decisions.

Methods

A total of 303 studies were retrieved that included Ki-67, GEP-NENs, prognosis, survival, and other subject terms and keywords. We excluded studies that did not show complete Ki-67 index, number of patients and 5-year survival data available for meta-analysis, non-cohort studies, articles published before 2000 or not published in English. Fifteen studies were finally included to assess the value of Ki-67 in the prognosis of patients with GEP-NENs using a random-effects model.

Results

The cumulative 5-year survival rate for GEP-NEN G1 (Ki-67 ≤2%), G2 (Ki-67 2-20%) and G3 (Ki-67 >20%) was 86%, 65%, 25% respectively. The 5-year survival rate of GEP-NEN G1 (Ki-67 <3%, first revised in WHO classification 2017, redefined WHO classification 2019) and G1 (Ki-67 ≤2%, WHO classification 2010) was 97% and 84% respectively.

Conclusions

The overall prognosis of GEP-NENs patients showed a decreasing trend with the increase of Ki-67, which confirmed the significance of Ki-67 index as a prognostic marker for the prognosis of GEP-NENs. Increasing the cut-off value of Ki-67 index for G1 grade from ≤2% to <3% according to WHO classification 2019 did not significantly decrease the 5-year survival rate.

EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on hepatitis delta virus

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective virus that requires the hepatitis B virus to complete its life cycle and cause liver damage in humans. HDV is responsible for rare acute and chronic liver diseases and is considered the most aggressive hepatitis virus. Acute infection can cause acute liver failure, while persistent infection typically causes a severe form of chronic hepatitis which is associated with rapid and frequent progression to cirrhosis and its end-stage complications, hepatic decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma. Major diagnostic and therapeutic innovations prompted the EASL Governing Board to commission specific Clinical Practice Guidelines on the identification, virologic and clinical characterisation, prognostic assessment, and appropriate clinical and therapeutic management of HDV-infected individuals.

Evaluation of the Effects of Immunosuppressive Drugs Following Liver Transplantation on Pregnancy Outcomes: A Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantations can be safely performed in women of reproductive age. Women with chronic liver disease may have infertility for various reasons, although fertility returns after recovering >90% of sexual disorders following liver transplantation. The present study examined the effects of immunosuppressive drugs used by women of reproductive age undergoing liver transplantation in our clinic on pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes and evaluated mortality and morbidity in this patient population.

METHODS

Among the patients undergoing liver transplantation in our clinic between 1997 and 2020, those conceiving after liver transplantation were evaluated in the present study. Demographic data on maternal and newborn health, as well as mortality and morbidity, were recorded. Maternal transplant indications, graft type, the interval between transplantation and pregnancy, maternal age at pregnancy and the number of pregnancies, the number of living children, complications, delivery mode, immunosuppressive drugs, and blood levels were investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 615 liver transplantations (353 from a living donor, 262 from a cadaveric donor) were performed in our clinic. Furthermore, 33 pregnancies occurred in 22 women following transplantation (17 living donor liver transplantations, 5 deceased donor liver transplantations), and the data of these patients were recorded. Tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil were used as immunosuppressive therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver transplantations can be safely performed in women of reproductive age if indicated, and these patients can be safely followed up throughout the pregnancy and during labor by a multidisciplinary team.

Contribution of Turkey in Liver Transplant Research: A Scopus Database Search

OBJECTIVES

Liver transplantation is considered the most effective treatment modality for end-stage liver failure. The first deceased donor liver transplant in Turkey was performed by Haberal and colleagues in 1988; in 2019, a total of 1776 livertransplant procedures were performed in Turkey. While these are well-known and documented facts, the scientific output of publications on liver transplantation from Turkey is unknown.This study aimed to analyze the contribution of Turkey in liver transplant global research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Publications from Turkey on liver transplantation were analyzed using the bibliometric study method. The following research parameters were analyzed: year of publication, institutions and authors, funding, themes, sample population, and methods. We used the Scopus database to research key words containing "liver" or "hepatic"and"transplantation" in the titles, abstracts, and key words. Among duplications or multiple results, only 1 publication was included in the study. Data were analyzed by quantitative and qualitative methods.

RESULTS

We identified 45 763 publications on liver transplant. Most of the publications were in the field of medicine (93.48%). Turkey ranked fourteenth with 843 publications. The top productive affiliation was Başkent University, and the most productive author was Prof. Haberal.

CONCLUSIONS

Among countries, Turkey had the most living donor liver transplants in 2019 and could serve as a modelto European countries for donor shortages. Although the United States performs 5 times more liver transplants than Turkey, their publications rate was almost 22 times more. Combining a workload of performing research and publishing along with transplant surgery is together hard to master. Although Turkey has valuable experiences and has opened frontiers in transplantation, publications need to keep up with their hard work and innovations.

Role of lower dose hepatitis B immune globulin prophylaxis in liver transplantation: A single center perspective

Background and Aim

Prevention of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection is important for long-term outcomes following liver transplantation (LT). Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) is used among recipients who have (i) native HBV disease, (ii) hepatitis B core antibody positivity (HBcAb positivity), or (iii) received HBcAb positive organs. Nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) monotherapy is emerging for treating patients in this setting. There is no generalized consensus on the ideal dosage of HBIG. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose HBIG (1560 international unit [IU]) for post-LT HBV prevention.

Materials and Methods

HBcAb positive patients who received either HBcAb positive or hepatitis B core antibody negative (HBcAb negative) organs and HBcAb negative patients who received HBcAb positive organs between January 2016 and December 2020 were reviewed. Pre-LT HBV serologies were collected. HBV-prophylaxis strategy included NA with/without HBIG. HBV recurrence was defined as HBV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) positivity during the 1-year, post-LT follow-up. No HBV surface antibody titers were followed.

Results

A total of 103 patients with a median age of 60 years participated in the study. Hepatitis C virus was the most common etiology. Thirty-seven HBcAb negative recipients and 11 HBcAb positive recipients with undetectable HBV DNA received HBcAb positive organs and underwent prophylaxis with 4 doses of low-dose HBIG and NA. None of the recipients in our cohort had a recurrence of HBV at 1 year.

Conclusion

Low-dose HBIG (1560 IU) × 4 days and NA, for HBcAb positive recipients and HBcAb positive donors, appear to be effective in preventing HBV reinfection during the post-LT period. Further trials are needed to confirm this observation.

Predictors of Death in the Liver Transplantation Adult Candidates: An Artificial Neural Networks and Support Vector Machine Hybrid-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) is currently used for liver transplantation (LT) allocation, however, it is not a sufficient criterion.

OBJECTIVE

This current study aims to perform a hybrid neural network analysis of different data, make a decision tree and finally design a decision support system for improving LT prioritization.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this cohort follow-up-based study, baseline characteristics of 1947 adult patients, who were candidates for LT in Shiraz Organ Transplant Center, Iran, were assessed and followed for two years and those who died before LT due to the end-stage liver disease were considered as dead cases, while others considered as alive cases. A well-organized checklist was filled for each patient. Analysis of the data was performed using artificial neural networks (ANN) and support vector machines (SVM). Finally, a decision tree was illustrated and a user friendly decision support system was designed to assist physicians in LT prioritization.

RESULTS

Between all MELD types, MELD-Na was a stronger determinant of LT candidates' survival. Both ANN and SVM showed that besides MELD-Na, age and ALP (alkaline phosphatase) are the most important factors, resulting in death in LT candidates. It was cleared that MELD-Na <23, age <53 and ALP <257 IU/L were the best predictors of survival in LT candidates. An applicable decision support system was designed in this study using the above three factors.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, Meld-Na, age and ALP should be used for LT allocation. The presented decision support system in this study will be helpful in LT prioritization by LT allocators.

A brief history of liver transplantation and transplant anesthesia

In this review, we describe the major milestones in the development of organ transplantation with a specific focus on hepatic transplantation. For many years, the barriers preventing successful organ transplantation in humans seemed insurmountable. Although advances in surgical technique provided the technical ability to perform organ transplantation, limited understanding of immunology prevented successful organ transplantation. The breakthrough to success was the result of several significant discoveries between 1950 and 1980 involving improved surgical techniques, the development of effective preservative solutions, and the suppression of cellular immunity to prevent graft rejection. After that, technical innovations and laboratory and clinical research developed rapidly. However, these advances alone could not have led to improved transplant outcomes without parallel advances in anesthesia and critical care. With increasing organ demand, it proved necessary to expand the donor pool, which has been achieved with the use of living donors, split grafts, extended criteria organs, and organs obtained through donation after cardiac death. Given this increased access to organs and organ resources, the number of transplantations performed every year has increased dramatically. New regulatory organizations and transplant societies provide critical oversight to ensure equitable organ distribution and a high standard of care and also perform outcome analyses. Establishing dedicated transplant anesthesia teams results in improved organ transplantation outcomes and provides a foundation for developing new standards for other subspecialties in anesthesiology, critical care, and medicine overall. Through a century of discovery, the success we enjoy at the present time is the result of the work of well-organized multidisciplinary teams following standardized protocols and thereby saving thousands of lives worldwide each year. With continuing innovation, the future is bright.

Regional and National Trends of Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation in the United States Over the Last Two Decades

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Liver organ shortage remains a major health burden in the US, with more patients being waitlisted than the number of liver transplants (LTs) performed. This study investigated US national and regional trends in living donor LT (LDLT) and identified factors associated with recipient survival.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed LDLT recipients and donors from the United Network Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement Transplant Network database from 1998 until 2019 for clinical characteristics, demographic differences, and survival rate. National and regional trends in LDLT, recipient outcomes, and predictors of survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 223,571 candidates listed for an LT, 57.5% received an organ, of which only 4.2% were LDLTs. Annual adult LDLTs first peaked at 412 in 2001 but experienced a significant decline to 168 by 2009. LDLTs then gradually increased to 445 in 2019. Region 2 had the highest LDLT numbers (n=919), while region 1 had the highest proportion (11.1%). Overall, post-LT mortality was 21.4% among LDLT recipients. Post-LDLT survival rates after 1-, 5-, and 10-years were 92%, 87%, and 70%, respectively. Interval analysis (2004-2019) showed that patients undergoing LDLT in recent years had lower mortality than in earlier years (hazard ratio=0.81, 95% confidence interval=0.75-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Following a substantial decline after a peak in 2001, the number of adult LDLTs steadily increased from 2011 to 2019. However, LDLTs still constitute the minority of the transplant pool in the US. Life-saving policies to increase the use of LDLTs, particularly in regions of high organ demand, should be implemented.

Association of Pre-S/S and Polymerase Mutations with Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infections in Patients from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Several hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related factors, including the viral load, genotype, and genomic mutations, have been linked to the development of liver diseases. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate the influence of HBV genetic variability during acute and chronic infection phases. A real-time nested PCR was used to detect HBV DNA in all samples (acute, n = 22; chronic, n = 49). All samples were sequenced for phylogenetic and mutation analyses. Genotype A, sub-genotype A1, was the most common genotype in the study population. A total of 190 mutations were found in the pre-S/S gene area and the acute profile revealed a greater number of nucleotide mutations (p < 0.05). However, both profiles contained nucleotide mutations linked to immune escape and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinomas (acute, A7T; chronic, A7Q). Furthermore, 17 amino acid substitutions were identified in the viral polymerase region, including the drug resistance mutations lamivudine and entecavir (rtL180M), with statistically significant differences between the mutant and wild type strains. Owing to the natural occurrence of these mutations, it is important to screen for resistance mutations before beginning therapy.

Clinical Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Patients Over 60 Years Old: A Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVES

Although advanced age is no longer considered an absolute contraindication for liver transplant, transplant in elderly patients with comorbid diseases remains debatable because of high risks with surgery. Here, we report patient outcomes in this population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 276 liver transplant recipients, grouped by age. Group 1 (≤59 years old) consisted of 247 recipients, and group 2 (≥60 years old) consisted of 29 recipients. Reviewed data included age, sex, cause of liver disease, presence of hepatocellular carcinoma, Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores, survival, and posttransplant complications.

RESULTS

In both groups, most patients (n = 108) required liver transplant for hepatitis B virus. Mean age was 40 ± 12.3 and 63 ± 2.3 years in groups 1 and 2, respectively, with more men than women in both group 1 (71.7% vs 28.3%) and group 2 (75.9% vs 24.1%). No significant differences were shown between groups for patient characteristics, except group 1 had significantly higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score. Group 1 mean survival time was 10.2 ± 0.6 years, with patient survival rates at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years of 65.5%, 53%, 46.3%, and 40%, respectively. In group 2, respective results were 10.6 ± 1.3 years and 75.9%, 68.6%, 61%, and 48.8% (no significant difference vs group 1).

CONCLUSIONS

Liver transplant recipients >60 years of age had survival rates, acute rejection rates, and complications similar to younger recipients. Liver transplant should not be withheld from older recipients on the basis of age alone. However, comprehensive screening for comorbidities should be performed.

Single-centre empirical analysis of double-balloon enteroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases: A retrospective study of 466 cases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases (SBDs) has always been a challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases.

METHOD

The clinical data of 466 patients who underwent double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in the Endoscope Center of Gastroenterology Department of the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province from Jan. 2015 to Dec. 2020 were analysed retrospectively. The factors included age, sex, indications, endoscopic treatment results, pathological results, discharge diagnosis and so on.

RESULTS

A total of 370 patients underwent 466 double-balloon enteroscopies, among whom 274 underwent one examination and 96 received two-way examinations (oral and transanal approaches). Abnormalities were detected in 299 cases, with a detection rate of 80.81% (299/370). The common indications were occult gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) (30.8%, 114/370) and abdominal pain (28.3%, 105/370). The diagnosis rates were 64.9% and 77.1%, respectively. The common positive findings included nonspecific inflammation/erosion (60 cases), ulcers (34 cases), diverticulum (32 cases), polyps (26 cases) and Crohn's disease (CD) (24 cases). The common tumours were lymphoma(12 cases), adenocarcinoma(11 cases) and stromal tumour(8 cases). Lymphoma was mostly located in the ileum, while stromal tumours and adenocarcinoma were mostly located in the duodenum and jejunum. The main endoscopic intervention measures were haemostasis and polypectomy, including haemostatic clip, argon plasma coagulation (APC), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic trap resection, endoscopic foreign body extraction and other operations, without serious complications.

CONCLUSION

DBE has a high success rate in the diagnosis and treatment of some SBDs, and it is a safe and effective management method.

Changes in the clinical characteristics of chronic hepatitis B patients at the initiation of treatment over a 15-year period

Background and Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the clinical characteristics of chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients at the initiation of treatment over a 15-years period.

Materials and Methods

The study included 659 treatment-naive CHB patients who started receiving nucleos(t)ide analogs between January 2006 and December 2020. The patients included in the study were divided into three groups of five years each, according to the start date of treatment.

Results

The mean age was 46.2±14.5 years and 445 (67.5%) were male. Two hundred and five (31.1%) patients had cirrhosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in forty-one patients (6.2%). Compared to patients in Group 1, Group 2 were younger and had lower decompensated cirrhosis, HCC and ascites, had higher Child A cirrhosis (all p<0.05). Cirrhosis and esophageal varices were higher in patients in Group 3 compared to patients in Group 2 (all p<0.05). Entecavir or tenofovir use increased from 66.5% in Group 1 to 99.2% in Group 3 (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The mean age at initiation of treatment for CHB patients increased. The patients had less cirrhosis. In the last 5 years, almost all patients were treated with entecavir or tenofovir.

C-reactive protein independently predicts survival in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNEN) are highly variable in their postresection survival. Determination of preoperative risk factors is essential for treatment strategies. C-reactive protein (CRP) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pNEN and shown to be associated with survival in different tumour entities. Patients undergoing surgery for pNEN were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to preoperative CRP serum levels. Clinicopathological features, overall and disease-free survival were assessed. Uni- and multivariable survival analyses were performed. 517 surgically resected pNEN patients were analysed. CRP levels were significantly associated with relevant clinicopathological parameters and prognosis and were able to stratify subgroups with significant and clinically relevant differences in overall and disease-free survival. In univariable sensitivity analyses CRP was confirmed as a prognostic factor for overall survival in subgroups with G2 differentiation, T1/T2 and T3/T4 tumour stages, patients with node positive disease and with and without distant metastases. By multivariable analysis, preoperative CRP was confirmed as an independent predictor of postresection survival together with patient age and the established postoperative pathological predictors grading, T-stage and metastases. Preoperative serum CRP is a strong predictive biomarker for both overall and disease free survival of surgically resected pNEN. CRP is associated with prognosis independently of grading and tumour stage and may be of additional use for treatment decisions.

The position of transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads and yttrium-90 transarterial radioembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Consensus statements from a Delphi-method expert panel in Turkey

PURPOSE

Clinical studies conducted in different geographic regions using different methods to compare transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and transarterial radioembolization (TARE) have demonstrated discordant results. Meta-analyses in this field indicate comparable overall survival (OS) with TACE and TARE, while reporting a longer time to progression and a higher downstaging effect with TARE treatment. In terms of isolated procedure costs, treatment with TARE is 2 to 3 times more, and in some countries even more, expensive than TACE. However, relevant literature indicates that TARE is more advantageous compared to TACE regarding the need for repeat procedures, costs of complication management, total hospital stay and quality of life. Heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients as well as the shortcomings of clinical classifications, randomized clinical trials and cost-effectiveness studies make it difficult to choose between treatment alternatives in this field. As in other countries, these challenges lead to differences in treatment choice across different centers in Turkey.

METHODS

The present expert panel used two round modified Delphi method to investigate the resources and clinical parameters referenced while selecting patients for drug-eluting beads (DEB)-TACE and TARE treatment modalities in Turkish clinical practice. The cost-effectiveness parameters and comparisons of these treatments have also been evaluated at a prediction level.

RESULTS

The panelists stated that they most commonly use the BCLC staging system for the management of HCC patients in Turkey. However, they did not find any of the staging systems or treatment guidelines sufficient enough for their clinical practice in terms of covering the down-staging intent of treatments. Since living donor transplant preference is higher in Turkey than the rest of the Western countries, down-staging treatments are thought to be more prioritized in Turkey than that in other Western countries. The panelists reached a consensus that TARE may provide improved OS and reduce the number of repeat procedures compared to DEB-TACE in intermediate-stage patients with a single tumor spanning a diameter above 5 cm who experience recurrence after previous treatment with TACE and most TACE-naïve patient groups in intermediate stage.

CONCLUSION

Based on the consensus on OS and the number of procedures, the panelists assumed that TARE would be more cost-effective than DEB-TACE in most groups of TACE-naïve patients in intermediate stage and in those with a single tumor spanning a diameter above 5 cm. It was also stated that the predicted cost-effectiveness advantage of TARE could be more pronounced in patients with a tumor diameter greater than 7 cm.

Usage of Tacrolimus and Mycophenolic Acid During Conception, Pregnancy, and Lactation, and Its Implications for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: A Systematic Critical Review

BACKGROUND

Conception, pregnancy, and lactation following solid organ transplantation require appropriate management. The most frequently used immunosuppressive drug combination after solid organ transplantation consists of tacrolimus (Tac) plus mycophenolic acid (MPA). Here, the effects of Tac and MPA on fertility, pregnancy, and lactation are systematically reviewed, and their implications for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) are discussed.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed (August 19, 2019) using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of controlled trials, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, and 102 studies were included. Another 60 were included from the reference list of the published articles.

RESULTS

As MPA is teratogenic, women who are trying to conceive are strongly recommended to switch from MPA to azathioprine. MPA treatment in men during conception seems to have no adverse effect on pregnancy outcomes. Nevertheless, in 2015, the drug label was updated with additional risk minimization measures in a pregnancy prevention program. Data on MPA pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and lactation are limited. Tac treatment during conception, pregnancy, and lactation seems to be safe in terms of the health of the mother, (unborn) child, and allograft. However, Tac may increase the risk of hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Infants will ingest very small amounts of Tac via breast milk from mothers treated with Tac. However, no adverse outcomes have been reported in children exposed to Tac during lactation. During pregnancy, changes in Tac pharmacokinetics result in increased unbound to whole-blood Tac concentration ratio. To maintain Tac concentrations within the target range, increased Tac dose and intensified TDM may be required. However, it is unclear if dose adjustments during pregnancy are necessary, considering the higher concentration of (active) unbound Tac.

CONCLUSIONS

Tac treatment during conception, pregnancy and lactation seems to be relatively safe. Due to pharmacokinetic changes during pregnancy, a higher Tac dose might be indicated to maintain target concentrations. However, more evidence is needed to make recommendations on both Tac dose adjustments and alternative matrices than whole-blood for TDM of Tac during pregnancy. MPA treatment in men during conception seems to have no adverse effect on pregnancy outcomes, whereas MPA use in women during conception and pregnancy is strongly discouraged.

Small bowel enteroscopy - A joint clinical guideline by the Spanish and Portuguese small-bowel study groups

The present evidence-based guidelines are focused on the use of device-assisted enteroscopy in the management of small-bowel diseases. A panel of experts selected by the Spanish and Portuguese small-bowel study groups reviewed the available evidence focusing on the main indications of this technique, its role in the management algorithm of each indication, and its diagnostic and therapeutic yield. A set of recommendations was issued accordingly.

High Prevalence of Preexisting HBV Polymerase Mutations in Pregnant Women Does Not Limit the Antiviral Therapy Efficacy

Background

HBV-resistant mutants in treatment-naïve patients may lead to antiviral treatment failure. It is not clear if HBV mutants are present in pregnant women and about the influence of the preexisting mutants on the short-term antiviral therapy during pregnancy.

Method

We enrolled 73 pregnant women with high HBV DNA load and telbivudine (TBV) treatment during pregnancy in this retrospective study. The UDPS was used to detect the HBV mutations before and after the TBV treatment.

Results

Before TBV treatment, the complexity of HBV quasispecies of all subjects was 0.40 ± 0.09; 41.1% (30/73) and 53.4% (39/73) subjects had rtM204I/V and rtN236 T/A detected, respectively; and 9.6% (7/73) patients had more than 20% frequency mutation of rtM204I/V, which was also similar with high frequency of rtN236 T/A mutation (41.1% vs. 53.4%, P=0.136; frequencies >20%: 9.6% vs. 5.5%, P=0.347). After TBV treatment, 71.2% (52/73) subjects had HBV DNA load ≥ 10³ IU/mL at delivery. Among them, 75.0% of patients with rtM204I positive had HBV DNA load ≥10³ IU/mL at delivery, which was comparable with the subjects without rtM204I (75.0% vs. 70.8%, P=0.710). No changes were found in the frequencies and the complexity of HBV quasispecies of rtM204I mutation after the TVB treatment.

Conclusion

The prevalence of preexisting drug-resistant mutations among pregnant women was high using UPDS. However, the preexisting HBV mutation had limited influence on the efficacy of short-term TBV treatment, and TBV treatment during late pregnancy seemed not to increase the risk of emerging HBV-resistant mutants.

Pregnancy Outcomes After Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Liver transplantation (LT) remains the gold standard for treatment of end-stage liver disease. Given the increasing number of liver transplantation in females of reproductive age, our aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating pregnancy outcomes after LT.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched for relevant studies. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were conducted independently by 2 reviewers. Estimates of pregnancy-related outcomes in LT recipients were generated and pooled across studies using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

A comprehensive search identified 1,430 potential studies. Thirty-eight studies with 1,131 pregnancies among 838 LT recipients were included in the analysis. Mean maternal age at pregnancy was 27.8 years, with a mean interval from LT to pregnancy of 59.7 months. The live birth rate was 80.4%, with a mean gestational age of 36.5 weeks. The rate of miscarriages (16.7%) was similar to the general population (10%-20%). The rates of preterm birth, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery (32.1%, 12.5%, and 42.2%, respectively) among LT recipients were all higher than the rates for the general US population (9.9%, 4%, and 32%, respectively). Most analyses were associated with substantial heterogeneity.

DISCUSSION

Pregnancy outcomes after LT are favorable, but the risk of maternal and fetal complications is increased. Large studies along with consistent reporting to national registries are necessary for appropriate patient counseling and to guide clinical management of LT recipients during pregnancy.

FLUOROSCOPY-GUIDED BILIARY PROCEDURES IN A PREGNANT, LIVER TRANSPLANT PATIENT: FETUS RADIATION PROTECTION

We report three cases of clinically necessary, fluoroscopy-guided, percutaneous biliary procedures performed safely in a pregnant, liver transplant recipient using three different angiography suites. The uterine cumulative equivalent dose was 0.25 mSv, a value obtained by adding the doses of the three procedures described above, and which is relatively low when compared with the naturally occurring background radiation exposure for a 9-month pregnancy (~0.5-1 mSv). Our experience shows that staff knowledge, awareness and liaison promote the application of all dose reduction strategies possible while still achieving the clinical aim despite using different angiographic equipment.

Utility and safety of balloon-assisted enteroscopy in patients with left ventricular assist devices: a retrospective multicenter study

Objective and study aims  Patients with left-ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, especially from the small bowel, often necessitating evaluation with balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE). Our study aimed to assess the periprocedural safety and utility of BAE for gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with LVADs. Patients and methods  This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of adults with LVADs who underwent BAE between January 2007 to December 2018. Results  Thirty-four patients underwent a total of 46 BAEs (9 were single-balloon enteroscopies [SBEs] and 37 were double-balloon enteroscopies [DBEs]). Mean age of patients was 66.4 ± 8.3 years. Patients tolerated anesthesia well, without complications. There were no complications from the BAE itself. One patient required repeat BAE due to a progressive drop in hemoglobin and another patient developed paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. One patient died within 72 hours of the procedure due to worsening of LVAD thrombosis. Diagnostic yields were 69.6 % for all procedures, 73.0 % for DBE and 55.6 % for SBE ( P  = 0.309). Therapeutic yields were 67.4 % overall: 73.0 % for DBE and 44.4 % for SBE ( P  = 0.102). In those that presented with overt gastrointestinal bleeding, DBE had a higher diagnostic yield compared to SBE (84.2 % vs. 42.9 %; P  = 0.057) and a significantly higher therapeutic yield (84.2 % vs. 28.6 %; p = 0.014). Conclusions  This is the largest multicenter study of patients with LVADs who underwent DBE. BAE appears to be a safe and useful modality for the evaluation of gastrointestinal bleeding in these patients.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors G3 and pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas: Differences in basic biology and treatment

In 2017 the World Health Organization revised the criteria for classification of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) after a consensus conference at the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The major change in the new classification was to subclassify the original G3 group into well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors G3 (pNETs G3) and poorly differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (pNECs), which have been gradually proven to be completely different in biological behavior and clinical manifestations in recent years. In 2019 this major change subsequently extended to NENs involving the entire digestive tract. The updated version of the pNENs grading system marks a growing awareness of these heterogeneous tumors. This review discusses the clinicopathological, genetic and therapeutic features of poorly differentiated pNECs and compare them to those of well-differentiated pNETs G3. For pNETs G3 and pNECs (due to their lower incidence), there are still many problems to be investigated. Previous studies under the new grading classification also need to be reinterpreted. This review summarizes the relevant literature from the perspective of the differences between pNETs G3 and pNECs in order to deepen understanding of these diseases and discuss future research directions.

Body Weight Parameters are Related to Morbidity and Mortality After Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Weight gain and obesity are well-known clinical issues in liver transplantation (LTx). However, their impacts on patient outcomes remain unclear, as only the impact of pre-LTx body mass index (BMI) on survival has been meta-analyzed. We summarized and synthesized the evidence on pre- and post-LTx body weight parameters' relations with post-LTx outcomes such as survival, metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities, and healthcare utilization.

METHODS

We followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions' recommendations. Quality was assessed via a 19-item instrument. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for outcomes investigated in ≥5 studies.

RESULTS

Our meta-analysis included 37 studies. Patients with pre-LTx BMI ≥ 30 kg/m and BMI ≥ 35 kg/m had lower overall survival rates than those with pre-LTx normal weight (72.6% and 69.8% versus 84.2%; P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively). Those with pre-LTx BMI ≥ 30 kg/m had worse overall graft survival than normal weight patients (75.8% and 85.4%; P = 0.003). Pre-LTx BMI and pre-LTx overweight were associated with new-onset diabetes (P < 0.001 and P = 0.015, respectively), but post-LTx BMI showed no relationship. No associations were evident with healthcare utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with BMI values ≥30 kg/m had worse patient and graft survival than those with normal weight. Few of the reviewed studies examined post-LTx body weight parameters or other relevant outcomes such as cardiovascular comorbidities. High heterogeneity as well as diverse definitions and operationalizations of measurement and outcomes severely impeded comparability.

A Preoperative Clinical Risk Score Including C-Reactive Protein Predicts Histological Tumor Characteristics and Patient Survival after Surgery for Sporadic Non-Functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: An International Multicenter Cohort Study

Background: Oncological survival after resection of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (panNEN) is highly variable depending on various factors. Risk stratification with preoperatively available parameters could guide decision-making in multidisciplinary treatment concepts. C-reactive Protein (CRP) is linked to inferior survival in several malignancies. This study assesses CRP within a novel risk score predicting histology and outcome after surgery for sporadic non-functional panNENs. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study with national exploration and international validation. CRP and other factors associated with overall survival (OS) were evaluated by multivariable cox-regression to create a clinical risk score (CRS). Predictive values regarding OS, disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were assessed by time-dependent receiver-operating characteristics. Results: Overall, 364 patients were included. Median CRP was significantly higher in patients >60 years, G3, and large tumors. In multivariable analysis, CRP was the strongest preoperative factor for OS in both cohorts. In the combined cohort, CRP (cut-off ≥0.2 mg/dL; hazard-ratio (HR):3.87), metastases (HR:2.80), and primary tumor size ≥3.0 cm (HR:1.83) showed a significant association with OS. A CRS incorporating these variables was associated with postoperative histological grading, T category, nodal positivity, and 90-day morbidity/mortality. Time-dependent area-under-the-curve at 60 months for OS, DSS, and RFS was 69%, 77%, and 67%, respectively (all p < 0.001), and the inclusion of grading further improved the predictive potential (75%, 84%, and 78%, respectively). Conclusions: CRP is a significant marker of unfavorable oncological characteristics in panNENs. The proposed internationally validated CRS predicts histological features and patient survival.

Small Bowel Enteroscopy - A Joint Clinical Guideline from the Spanish and Portuguese Small Bowel Study Groups

The present evidence-based guidelines are focused on the use of device-assisted enteroscopy in the management of small-bowel diseases. A panel of experts selected by the Spanish and Portuguese small bowel study groups reviewed the available evidence focusing on the main indications of this technique, its role in the management algorithm of each indication and on its diagnostic and therapeutic yields. A set of recommendations were issued accordingly.

Quality indicators in enteroscopy. Enteroscopy procedure

Within the project "Quality Indicators in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy," under the leadership of the Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva (SEPD), our goal is to propose the procedures and the structure, process, and outcome indicators required for the application and assessment of quality in enteroscopy. To this end a search was performed for quality indicators in enteroscopy. Quality of evidence was measured by using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system, and classified as high, moderate, low, and very low. A total of 10 process indicators (one preprocedure, eight procedure, one postprocedure) were identified for enteroscopy, with appropriate indication and choice of most efficient route being most significant.

Pregnancy after liver transplantation: a case series and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant women after liver transplantation with a case series and literature systematic review.

METHODS

This was a single-center case-series study performed at University of Naples Federico II. All consecutive women with liver transplantation who reported pregnancy at our institution were included in a dedicated database. In addition, a systematic literature review was performed, including case series, population-based studies, and national registries, including maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women with liver transplant. Studies with fewer than 10 cases and surveys were excluded. The primary outcome was perinatal death, defined as either stillbirth (defined as intrauterine fetal death after 20 weeks of gestation) or neonatal death (death of a live-born infant within the first 28 d of life).

RESULTS

During the study period, two women who underwent liver transplantation had a pregnancy in our Institution. Both of them underwent liver transplantation for biliary atresia at 1 year of age. One of them received cyclosporin as immunosuppressive regime during pregnancy, while the other one received tacrolimus. Both of them had a pregnancy with no major complications and delivered by cesarean section at term a baby with normal weight. One of them developed thrombocytopenia. Seventeen articles were included in this systematic review. Preterm birth at less than 37 weeks of gestations occurred in 279 women (33.6%). One-hundred women (14.9%) experienced preeclampsia, and 206 women (49.2%) delivered by cesarean delivery. Graft rejection related to pregnancy occurred in 73 women (8.3%). 117 women (12.9%) experienced miscarriage, and 22 (2.3%) IUFD. Fifty-two women (9.52%) underwent elective I-TOP. 195 fetuses (33.4%) were LBW. Eight neonatal deaths were recorded (1.3%).

CONCLUSION

The maternal and perinatal outcome is usually favorable, but with an increased risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth, and perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, appropriate counseling about risks and complications is essential but women shouldn't be advised against pregnancy.

THE COST OF ADULT LIVER TRANSPLANTATION IN A REFERRAL CENTER IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation (LTx) is the primary and definitive treatment of acute or chronic cases of advanced or end-stage liver disease. Few studies have assessed the actual cost of LTx categorized by hospital unit.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cost of LTx categorized by unit specialty within a referral center in southern Brazil.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 109 patients undergoing LTx between April 2013 and December 2014. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, etiology of liver disease, and severity of liver disease according to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores at the time of LTx. The hospital bill was transformed into cost using the full absorption costing method, and the costs were grouped into five categories: Immediate Pretransplant Kit; Specialized Units; Surgical Unit; Intensive Care Unit; and Inpatient Unit.

RESULTS

The mean total LTx cost was US$ 17,367. Surgical Unit, Specialized Units, and Intensive Care Unit accounted for 31.9%, 26.4% and 25.3% of the costs, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that total LTx cost was significantly associated with CTP class C (P=0.001) and occurrence of complications (P=0.002). The following complications contributed to significantly increase the total LTx cost: septic shock (P=0.006), massive blood transfusion (P=0.007), and acute renal failure associated with renal replacement therapy (dialysis) (P=0.005).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that the total cost of LTx is closely related to liver disease severity scores and the development of complications.

Deficiencies in reproductive health counseling in liver transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

In liver transplant (LT) recipients of childbearing age, there is often rapid return of fertility post-transplant. Our aim was to determine whether healthcare providers are documenting reproductive health counseling in LT recipients.

METHODS

We performed a review of 365 LT recipients (164 female, 201 male) of childbearing age transplanted between 1994 and 2015 at a single center. We evaluated documentation of reproductive health counseling, content of the counseling and its provider.

RESULTS

Reproductive health counseling was documented in 7% of LT recipients (14% of females, 0.5% of males). The transplant team provided the counseling in 56%, obstetrics/gynecology in 35%, and primary care in 9%. Twenty-four post-LT pregnancies occurred; these were unplanned in 13%. Miscarriage/stillbirth occurred in 7/24 pregnancies (29%). Mycophenolic acid was used by 20% of female recipients at conception. Only age at transplant (P = 0.001) and post-LT pregnancy was associated with documentation of reproductive health counseling in female recipients (P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Despite rapid return of fertility in reproductive-aged LT recipients, documentation of reproductive health counseling in this population is rare in men and women. This increases the potential for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in this high-risk population.

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus mutants associated with vaccine escape, drug resistance and diagnosis failure

The massive implementation of the vaccine and antiviral agents against hepatitis B virus (HBV), targeting the envelope and viral polymerase genes, induces a selection pressure that might lead to the emergence of variants that impair the effectiveness of the vaccine, diagnostic methods and antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HBV vaccine escape mutants (VEMs), diagnostic failure mutants (DFMs) and treatment resistance mutants (ARMs) among individuals from Buenos Aires, Argentina. HBV surface antigen and polymerase sequences obtained from serum samples of 530 HBV-infected individuals were analysed. Samples belonged to genotypes A (28.1%), D (13.6%) and F (58.3%). VEMs, DMFs and ARMs were present in 40 (7.5%), 57 (10.7%) and 27 (5.1%) samples within the studied population. Additionally, eight nonpreviously reported VEMs and nine DFMs were identified. VEMs and DFMs were biased by genotype, being higher in genotype D (33.3% and 33.3%) compared to genotype A (6% and 17.4%) and genotype F (2.3% and 2.3%) (P > 0.001). On the contrary, there was no association between the presence of ARMs and HBV genotype (P = 0.324). VEMs, DFMs and ARMs create public health concerns. The current study provided valuable information about mutants in surface antigen and polymerase in HBV-infected patients from Argentina where HBV-F is the most prevalent genotype. Consequently, it constitutes an important reference for Latin American clinicians in order to optimize the management of HBV-infected patients.

Double-balloon enteroscopy: Experience with an innovative endoscopic technique at the Hospital Universitario de la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Double-balloon enteroscopy is a recently introduced endoscopic method that enables complete visualization of the small bowel, as well as biopsy sampling and therapeutic interventions in that part of the intestine. The aim of the present study was to describe the experience acquired at our hospital to determine the characteristics of the patients that underwent the procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on all patients above 18 years of age admitted to the Hospital Universitario de la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá for double-balloon enteroscopy, within the time frame of January 2013 to December 2017.

RESULTS

The study sample included 93 procedures in 73 patients. Mean patient age was 57.91 years, with a similar number of men and women. There were no severe complications. The most frequent indication for the enteroscopy was gastrointestinal bleeding (overt or occult), presenting in 49.46% of the patients, followed by chronic diarrhea (16.13%). Video capsule endoscopy was the previous study most frequently performed (53.76%). Anterograde double-balloon enteroscopy was carried out in 49 patients and 44 patients underwent the retrograde procedure. A total of 86.02% of the enteroscopies were diagnostic procedures and 13.98% were therapeutic. Normal enteroscopy was the most frequent finding (59.68%), followed by the presence of ulcers (15.05%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results were similar to those reported worldwide, with respect to indications, insertion route, and insertion depth, and there were no severe complications.

Fasting Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Before Liver Transplantation Predicts Post-Transplant Survival

BACKGROUND The disordered metabolism of liver function in liver cancer patients can affect postoperative survival after liver transplantation. We assessed whether the levels of various chemicals in liver metabolism prior to receiving a liver transplant were prognostic factors and metabolism markers in predicting survival rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS Seventy-seven patients received a donor liver transplant between June 2012 and April 2016. The basic level of fasting serum GLU, Crea, TBil, TC, TG, HDL, LDL, ApoA1, ApoB100, INR, and MELD scores of 77 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Each patient's survival was monitored to evaluate prognosis and long-term survival. RESULTS The overall survival rates of all patients post-transplant at 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up were 90.9%, 79.2%, 68.8%, and 64.9% respectively. Fasting serum levels of GLU (P=0.004), HDL (P=0.010), LDL (P=0.008), ApoA1 (P=0.028), and MELD scores (P=0.013) prior to liver transplantation were closely associated with the cumulative survival post-transplant in univariate analyses. Controlled fasting GLU of ≤5.12 mmol/L (P=0.019), LDL of ≤2.62 mmol/L (P=0.031), and MELD scores of ≤9 (P=0.013) before LT were significantly and independently associated with increased cumulative survival in the multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS Decreased fasting serum GLU, LDL, and MELD scores as independent risk factors prior to liver transplantation markedly increase cumulative survival.

Naturally occurring hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase mutations related to potential antiviral drug resistance and liver disease progression

The annual number of deaths caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is estimated as 887000. The reported prevalence of HBV reverse transcriptase (RT) mutation prior to treatment is varied and the impact of preexisting mutations on the treatment of naïve patients remains controversial, and primarily depends on geographic factors, HBV genotypes, HBeAg serostatus, HBV viral loads, disease progression, intergenotypic recombination and co-infection with HIV. Different sensitivity of detection methodology used could also affect their prevalence results. Several genotype-dependent HBV RT positions that can affect the emergence of drug resistance have also been reported. Eight mutations in RT (rtL80I, rtD134N, rtN139K/T/H, rtY141F, rtM204I/V, rtF221Y, rtI224V, and rtM309K) are significantly associated with HCC progression. HBeAg-negative status, low viral load, and genotype C infection are significantly related to a higher frequency and prevalence of preexisting RT mutations. Preexisting mutations are most frequently found in the A-B interdomain of RT which overlaps with the HBsAg “a” determinant region, mutations of which can lead to simultaneous viral immune escape. In conclusion, the presence of baseline RT mutations can affect drug treatment outcomes and disease progression in HBV-infected populations via modulation of viral fitness and host-immune responses.

Predictors of micro-costing components in liver transplantation

OBJECTIVES:

Although liver transplantation procedures are common and highly expensive, their cost structure is still poorly understood. This study aimed to develop models of micro-costs among patients undergoing liver transplantation procedures while comparing the role of individual clinical predictors using tree regression models.

METHODS:

We prospectively collected micro-cost data from patients undergoing liver transplantation in a tertiary academic center. Data collection was conducted using an Intranet registry integrated into the institution's database for the storing of financial and clinical data for transplantation cases.

RESULTS:

A total of 278 patients were included and accounted for 300 procedures. When evaluating specific costs for the operating room, intensive care unit and ward, we found that in all of the sectors but the ward, human resources were responsible for the highest costs. High cost supplies were important drivers for the operating room, whereas drugs were among the top four drivers for all sectors. When evaluating the predictors of total cost, a MELD score greater than 30 was the most important predictor of high cost, followed by a Donor Risk Index greater than 1.8.

CONCLUSION:

By focusing on the highest cost drivers and predictors, hospitals can initiate programs to reduce cost while maintaining high quality care standards.

Double-balloon enteroscopy: Indications, approaches, diagnostic and therapeutic yield, and safety. Early experience at a single center

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Double-balloon enteroscopy has been improving the visualization of the entire intestine for more than a decade. It is a complementary method in the study of intestinal diseases that enables biopsies to be taken and treatments to be administered. Our aim was to describe its main indications, insertion routes, diagnostic/therapeutic yield, and complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients referred to our unit with suspected small bowel pathology were included. The insertion route (oral/anal) was determined through diagnostic suspicion. The variables measured were: insertion route, small bowel examination extent, endoscopic diagnosis/treatment, biopsy/histopathology report, complications, and surgical findings.

RESULTS

The study included 28 double-balloon enteroscopies performed on 23 patients, of which 10 were women and 13 were men (mean age of 52.95 years). The oral approach was the most widely used (n=21), the main indication was overt small bowel bleeding (n=16), and the general diagnostic yield was 65.21%. The therapeutic intervention rate was 39.1% and the procedure was effective in all the cases. The most widely used treatment was argon plasma therapy (n=7). The complication rate was 8.6%; one patient presented with low blood pressure due to active bleeding and another had deep mucosal laceration caused by the argon plasma.

CONCLUSIONS

Double-balloon enteroscopy is a safe and efficacious method for the study and management of small bowel diseases, with an elevated diagnostic and therapeutic yield.

Double-Balloon Endoscopy in Overt and Occult Small Bowel Bleeding: Results, Complications, and Correlation with Prior Videocapsule Endoscopy in a Tertiary Referral Center

Background/Aims

Videocapsule endoscopy (VCE) and double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) allow deep exploration in patients with suspected small bowel pathology. VCE is often performed as an initial small bowel examination to explore whether an intervention by DBE is indicated and to determine insertion route. The study aim was to evaluate the correlation between DBE and VCE in patients with obscure or overt bleeding or anemia, as well as intervention frequency, and complications.

Methods

Retrospective observational study.

Results

DBE procedures (n=205) showed small bowel lesions in 64% cases. Antegrade DBE showed positive results in 79% cases, mostly angiodysplasias (63%). Retrograde DBE showed positive results in 22% cases. An intervention was performed in 64% of DBE procedures. The major complication rate was 0.5%, which was one case of perforation. Pancreatitis did not occur. The overall diagnostic agreement was 66% among the 134 DBEs with preceded VCE.

Conclusions

In cases of overt or occult bleeding or anemia, DBE was positive in 64%, with only a few complications. Positive correlation was 66% among initially performed VCEs and DBEs. Owing to the time-consuming and invasive character of DBE, performing VCE before DBE might still be clinically relevant.

Systematic review: Safety of balloon assisted enteroscopy in Crohn's disease

AIM

To determine the overall and comparative risk of procedure related perforation of balloon assisted enteroscopy (BAE) in Crohn's disease (CD).

METHODS

Systematic review (PROSPERO #CRD42015016381) of studies reporting on CD patients undergoing BAE. Seventy-three studies reporting on 1812 patients undergoing 2340 BAEs were included. Primary outcome of interest was the overall and comparative risk of procedure related perforation of diagnostic BAE in CD. Secondary outcomes of interest were risk of procedure related perforation of diagnostic double balloon enteroscopy (DBE), risk of procedure related perforation of therapeutic BAE, efficacy of stricture dilation, and clinical utility of endoscopically assessing small bowel disease activity.

RESULTS

Per procedure perforation rate of diagnostic BAE in CD was 0.15% (95%CI: 0.05-0.45), which was similar to diagnostic BAE for all indications (0.11%; IRR = 1.41, 95%CI: 0.28-4.50). Per procedure perforation rate of diagnostic DBE in CD was 0.12% (95%CI: 0.03-0.44), which was similar to diagnostic DBE for all indications (0.22%; IRR = 0.54, 95%CI: 0.06-0.24). Per procedure perforation rate of therapeutic BAE in CD was 1.74% (95%CI: 0.85-3.55). Eighty-six percent of therapeutic perforations were secondary to stricture dilation. Dilation was attempted in 207 patients and 30% required surgery during median follow-up of 18 months. When diagnostic BAE assessed small bowel disease activity, changes in medical therapy resulted in endoscopic improvement in 77% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Diagnostic BAE in CD has a similar rate of perforation as diagnostic BAE for all indications and can be safely performed in assessment of mucosal healing.