Incidence and prevalence of abnormal liver associated enzymes in patients with atrial fibrillation in a routine clinical care population

Transporter Genes and statin-induced Hepatotoxicity

PURPOSE

Hepatotoxicity has emerged as a major cause of statin treatment interruption. Although organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (SLCO1B1), multidrug resistance protein 1 (ABCB1), and breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2) have been identified as transporters of statins, knowledge of their role in statin-associated hepatotoxicity remains limited. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis to elucidate the association between hepatotoxicity and SLCO1B1, ABCB1, and ABCG2 polymorphisms.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected samples. We selected 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of SLCO1B1, 9 SNPs of ABCB1, and 12 SNPs of ABCG2. We developed two models for multivariable analyses (Model I: clinical factors only; Model II: both clinical and genetic factors), and the attributable risk (%) of variables in Model II was determined.

RESULTS

Among 851 patients, 66 (7.8%) developed hepatotoxicity. In Model I, lipophilic statins, atrial fibrillation (Afib), and diabetes mellitus showed a significant association with hepatotoxicity. In Model II, lipophilic statins and Afib, SLCO1B1 rs11045818 A allele, SLCO1B1 rs4149035 T allele, and ABCG2 rs2622629 TT genotype were associated with higher hepatotoxicity risk. Among them, the SLCO1B1 rs11045818 A allele exhibited the highest attributable risk (93.2%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in Model I was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.55-0.69), and it was increased to 0.71 in Model II (95% CI: 0.64-0.77).

CONCLUSION

This study investigated the correlation between hepatotoxicity and polymorphisms of transporter genes in patients taking statins. The findings could help improve personalized treatments for patients receiving statin therapy.

Consensus Guidelines: Best Practices for Detection, Assessment and Management of Suspected Acute Drug-Induced Liver Injury During Clinical Trials in Adults with Chronic Viral Hepatitis and Adults with Cirrhosis Secondary to Hepatitis B, C and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

With the widespread development of new drugs to treat chronic liver diseases (CLDs), including viral hepatitis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), more patients are entering trials with abnormal baseline liver tests and with advanced liver injury, including cirrhosis. The current regulatory guidelines addressing the monitoring, diagnosis, and management of suspected drug-induced liver injury (DILI) during clinical trials primarily address individuals entering with normal baseline liver tests. Using the same laboratory criteria cited as signals of potential DILI in studies involving patients with no underlying liver disease and normal baseline liver tests may result in premature and unnecessary cessation of a study drug in a clinical trial population whose abnormal and fluctuating liver tests are actually due to their underlying CLD. This position paper focuses on defining best practices for the detection, monitoring, diagnosis, and management of suspected acute DILI during clinical trials in patients with CLD, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), both with and without cirrhosis and NASH with cirrhosis. This is one of several position papers developed by the IQ DILI Initiative, comprising members from 16 pharmaceutical companies in collaboration with DILI experts from academia and regulatory agencies. It is based on an extensive literature review and discussions between industry members and experts from outside industry to achieve consensus regarding the recommendations. Key conclusions and recommendations include (1) the importance of establishing laboratory criteria that signal potential DILI events and that fit the disease indication being studied in the clinical trial based on knowledge of the natural history of test fluctuations in that disease; (2) establishing a pretreatment value that is based on more than one screening determination, and revising that baseline during the trial if a new nadir is achieved during treatment; (3) basing rules for increased monitoring and for stopping drug for potential DILI on multiples of baseline liver test values and/or a threshold value rather than multiples of the upper limit of normal (ULN) for that test; (4) making use of more sensitive tests of liver function, including direct bilirubin (DB) or combined parameters such as aspartate transaminase:alanine transaminase (AST:ALT) ratio or model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) to signal potential DILI, especially in studies of patients with cirrhosis; and (5) being aware of potential confounders related to complications of the disease being studied that may masquerade as DILI events.

Safety and efficacy of dronedarone from clinical trials to real-world evidence: implications for its use in atrial fibrillation

Efficacy and safety of dronedarone was shown in the ATHENA trial for paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Further trials revealed safety concerns in patients with heart failure and permanent AF. This review summarizes insights from recent real-world studies and meta-analyses, including reports on efficacy, with focus on liver safety, mortality risk in patients with paroxysmal/persistent AF, and interactions of dronedarone with direct oral anticoagulants. Reports of rapidly progressing liver failure in dronedarone-prescribed patients in 2011 led to regulatory cautions about potential liver toxicity. Recent real-world evidence suggests dronedarone liver safety profile is similar to other antiarrhythmics and liver toxicity could be equally common with many Class III antiarrhythmics. Dronedarone safety concerns (increased mortality in patients with permanent AF) were raised based on randomized controlled trials (RCT) (ANDROMEDA and PALLAS), but comedication with digoxin may have increased the mortality rates in PALLAS, considering the dronedarone-digoxin pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction. Real-world data on apixaban-dronedarone interactions and edoxaban RCT observations suggest no significant safety risks for these drug combinations. Median trough plasma concentrations of dabigatran 110 mg during concomitant use with dronedarone are at acceptable levels, while PK data on the rivaroxaban-dronedarone interaction are unavailable. In RCTs and real-world studies, dronedarone significantly reduces AF burden and cardiovascular hospitalizations, and demonstrates a low risk for proarrhythmia in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. The concerns on liver safety must be balanced against the significant reduction in hospitalizations in patients with non-permanent AF and low risk for proarrhythmias following dronedarone treatment.

Incidence and causes of mildly to moderately elevated aminotransferase in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Objectives

To identify the association of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and liver disease with elevated ALT and factors associated with increased ALT in patients with and without T2DM.

Design and setting

We performed a retrospective study in adults with ≥ 2 claims for blood tests recorded in the Medical Data Vision claims database between 2010 and 2016.

Participants

Patients were entered into T2DM and non-DM groups based on diagnosis and medication claim codes.

Primary outcome measure

The primary endpoint was the first follow-up ALT elevation over three times the normal value, and etiologies were categorized by subsequent diagnoses. We estimated the ALT elevation incidence and association with T2DM using Poisson regression and Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

We identified 3161 cases of elevated ALT in 104,903 patients (follow-up, 280,659 patient-years). The age- and sex-adjusted incidence of elevated ALT in the T2DM group (13.47 per 1000 patient-years; 95% confidence interval (CI) 12.53-14.48) was significantly higher than that in the non-DM group (8.43 per 1000 patient-years; 95% CI 7.72-9.20, p < 0.0001). Compared to the non-DM group, the T2DM group had an approximately 3.5 times higher risk of fatty liver-related ALT elevation (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.54; 95% CI 1.90-6.58). T2DM was not associated with an increased incidence of jointly elevated ALT and total bilirubin (adjusted HR, 0.94; 95% CI 0.77-1.15).

Conclusion

T2DM is strongly associated with increased liver enzymes secondary to fatty liver. The causes of liver enzyme abnormalities were not fully characterized due to a high proportion of unexplained ALT elevation.

The association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and atrial fibrillation: a review

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent and causes an enormous burden to human health and health-care systems all over the world. A great proportion of this burden results from increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic heart arrhythmia globally and it increases the risk of embolic stroke and heart failure. Recent studies have explored the association between NAFLD and AF with somewhat conflicting results. However, ultrasound-verified prospective studies concur that NAFLD is associated with the incidence of AF. According to epidemiological evidence, the greater the prevalence of NALFD in a population, the stronger the association with AF incidence and prevalence. Specifically, diabetic individuals with NAFLD are at the greatest risk of AF. Additionally, the risk of AF may concentrate most in individuals with advanced NAFLD, particularly those with liver fibrosis. The possible mechanistic factors between NAFLD and AF, particularly obesity and systemic inflammation, are diverse and form a complex interplaying network. However, further studies are needed to elucidate whether NAFLD has a causative role in the development of AF. The purpose of this article is to review and discuss the epidemiologic evidence and possible mechanistic links between these two conditions. KEY MESSAGES Although epidemiologic studies have provided conflicting results on the association of NAFLD and AF, prospective studies with ultrasound-verified NAFLD concur that NAFLD is associated with about 2-fold greater incidence of AF among general population and about 6-fold greater incidence among subjects with type 2 diabetes. The risk of AF among individuals with NAFLD is increased by other cardiovascular risk factors, especially type 2 diabetes and advanced age. The possible mechanistic links between NALFD and AF are diverse, with obesity and systemic inflammation having a significant role, but further studies are needed until NAFLD can be established as a causal factor in the incidence of AF.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is Associated with Increased Atrial Fibrillation Risk in an Elderly Chinese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Atrial fibrillation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are two pathological conditions that are highly prevalent worldwide and share multiple CVD risk factors. There are rare researches performed among elderly adults.

Aims

We conducted this cross-sectional analysis of elderly adults (≥65 years) to investigate the association between atrial fibrillation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Methods

We analyzed clinical data of the elderly adults (≥ 65 years) who had health examination in Zhenhai Lianhua Hospital, Ningbo, China, in 2014.

Results

522 of the 1688 participants were diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and 39 participants were diagnosed as having atrial fibrillation. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was associated with risk factors for AF in the elderly Chinese population (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.03-3.69). Adjustments for age, gender, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, total cholesterol and albumin, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and prevalent atrial fibrillation remained statistically significant (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.32-5.77).

Conclusions

Our results show that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Chinese population.

CSH guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of drug-induced liver injury

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an important clinical problem, which has received more attention in recent decades. It can be induced by small chemical molecules, biological agents, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), natural medicines (NM), health products (HP), and dietary supplements (DS). Idiosyncratic DILI is far more common than intrinsic DILI clinically and can be classified into hepatocellular injury, cholestatic injury, hepatocellular-cholestatic mixed injury, and vascular injury based on the types of injured target cells. The CSH guidelines summarized the epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathology, and clinical manifestation and gives 16 evidence-based recommendations on diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of DILI.

Doppler Tissue Evaluation of Atrial Conduction Properties in Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty-liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in clinical practice, and there is an increasing trend in its prevalence in the general population. Recent studies have demonstrated increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in NAFLD. However, information on the mechanism of increased risk of AF in NAFLD is lacking. Impaired atrial conduction is an important factor in the pathophysiology of AF. We aimed to investigate atrial conduction properties in patients with NAFLD by tissue Doppler echocardiography. Fifty-nine ultrasound diagnosed NAFLD patients without clinical diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or cardiac disease and 22 normal subjects as controls were included in this study. Atrial conduction properties were assessed by electromechanical delay (EMD) derived from Doppler tissue echocardiography examination and P-wave dispersion (PWD) calculated from the 12-lead electrocardiogram. Inter-atrial and intra-atrial EMD intervals were significantly longer in NAFLD patients than in controls (inter-atrial EMD, 31.9 ± 8.5 ms vs. 23.4 ± 4.6 ms,p= 0.0001, and intra-atrial EMD, 14.3 ± 5.2 vs. 10.2 ± 4.0 ms,p= 0.001). Similarly, PWD was significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared with controls (49.2 ± 6.3 ms vs. 43.3 ± 4.2 ms,p= 0.0001). Maximum left atrial volume was also significantly higher in the NAFLD group than in controls (51 ± 11 mL vs. 34 ± 9 mL,p< 0.0001). This study demonstrated that atrial conduction is impaired in patients with NAFLD. Also, in a patient population of NAFLD without any clinical diagnosis of cardiac disease, diabetes, or hypertension, left atrial volume was increased compared with controls. These findings suggest impaired atrial conduction as a factor in increased risk of AF in NAFLD.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes

NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and AF (atrial fibrillation) are two pathological conditions that are highly prevalent in developed countries and share multiple risk factors. The relationship between NAFLD and AF in Type 2 diabetes is currently unknown. We studied a hospital-based sample of 702 patients with Type 2 diabetes discharged from our Division of Endocrinology during 2007-2011. The diagnosis of AF was confirmed in affected participants on the basis of ECGs and medical history by experienced cardiologists. NAFLD was defined by ultrasonographic detection of hepatic steatosis in the absence of other liver diseases. Of the 702 hospitalized patients included in the study, 514 (73.2%) of them had NAFLD and 85 (12.1%) had persistent or permanent AF. NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of prevalent AF {OR (odds ratio), 3.04 [95% CI (confidence interval), 1.54-6.02]; P<0.001}. Adjustments for age, sex, systolic BP (blood pressure), HbA1c, (glycated haemoglobin), estimated GFR (glomerular filtration rate), total cholesterol, electrocardiographic LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and prior history of HF (heart failure), VHD (valvular heart disease) or hyperthyroidism did not attenuate the association between NAFLD and AF [adjusted OR, 5.88 (95% CI, 2.72-12.7); P<0.001]. In conclusion, our results show that ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD is strongly associated with an increased prevalence of persistent or permanent AF in patients with Type 2 diabetes, independently of several clinical risk factors for AF. The potential impact of NAFLD on AF deserves particular attention, especially with respect to the implications for screening and surveillance strategies in the growing number of patients with NAFLD.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background

The relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in type 2 diabetes is currently unknown. We examined the relationship between NAFLD and risk of incident AF in people with type 2 diabetes.

Methods and Results

We prospectively followed for 10 years a random sample of 400 patients with type 2 diabetes, who were free from AF at baseline. A standard 12-lead electrocardiogram was undertaken annually and a diagnosis of incident AF was confirmed in affected participants by a single cardiologist. At baseline, NAFLD was defined by ultrasonographic detection of hepatic steatosis in the absence of other liver diseases. During the 10 years of follow-up, there were 42 (10.5%) incident AF cases. NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of incident AF (odds ratio [OR] 4.49, 95% CI 1.6–12.9, p<0.005). Adjustments for age, sex, hypertension and electrocardiographic features (left ventricular hypertrophy and PR interval) did not attenuate the association between NAFLD and incident AF (adjusted-OR 6.38, 95% CI 1.7–24.2, p = 0.005). Further adjustment for variables that were included in the 10-year Framingham Heart Study-derived AF risk score did not appreciably weaken this association. Other independent predictors of AF were older age, longer PR interval and left ventricular hypertrophy.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD is strongly associated with an increased incidence of AF in patients with type 2 diabetes even after adjustment for important clinical risk factors for AF.

Relation of circulating liver transaminase concentrations to risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation

Heart failure, a strong risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), is often accompanied by elevated liver transaminases. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that elevated transaminases are associated with the risk for incident AF in the community. A total of 3,744 participants (mean age 65 ± 10 years, 56.8% women) from the Framingham Heart Study Original and Offspring cohorts, free of clinical heart failure, were studied. Cox proportional-hazards models adjusted for standard AF risk factors (age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, electrocardiographic PR interval, antihypertensive treatment, smoking, diabetes, valvular heart disease, and alcohol consumption) were examined to investigate associations between baseline serum transaminase levels (alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase) and the incidence of AF over up to 10 years (29,099 person-years) of follow-up. During follow-up, 383 subjects developed AF. The 2 transaminases were significantly associated with greater risk for incident AF (hazard ratio expressed per SD of natural logarithmically transformed biomarker: alanine transaminase hazard ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 1.32, p = 0.002; aspartate transaminase hazard ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval 1.01 to 1.24, p = 0.03). The associations between transaminases and AF remained consistent after the exclusion of participants with moderate to severe alcohol consumption. However, when added to known risk factors for AF, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase only subtly improved the prediction of AF. In conclusion, elevated transaminase concentrations are associated with increased AF incidence. The mechanisms by which higher mean transaminase concentrations are associated with incident AF remain to be determined.

Completion of guideline-recommended initial evaluation of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Guidelines recommend evaluation of cardiac function, valvular and ischemic heart disease, and thyroid, kidney, and liver function on initial diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF).

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that initial workup of patients with newly identified AF would vary by age, sex, and burden of comorbid illness.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis of a large sample of commercially insured patients 18 to 64 years old (n = 40 245) and a nationally representative 5% cohort of Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older (n = 204 676), we measured claims for guideline-recommended services for initial evaluation of AF among patients with a new diagnosis between 2000 and 2008.

RESULTS

From 30 days before through 90 days after AF diagnosis, basic evaluation, including physician visit, electrocardiogram, and echocardiography, was completed in up to 66.6% of patients. Completion rates for all guideline-recommended evaluations were 17.4% in the commercially insured sample and 18.5% in the Medicare cohort in 2007. Evaluation rates increased over time. Blood tests assessing thyroid function were documented for approximately one-third of patients in each cohort. Increasing the observation period to 1 year before through 3 months after the AF diagnosis markedly increased completion rates, but rates of thyroid function testing remained low (50%-60%). There were minor differences in evaluation completeness by sex, race, and geographic region.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in guideline-recommended evaluation rates by demographic characteristics after a new diagnosis of AF were of minor clinical importance. Basic evaluation had satisfactory completion rates; however, rates of laboratory testing were low.

Insulin therapy and colorectal adenomas in patients with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk for colorectal adenomas and cancer because of endogenous hyperinsulinemia. Exogenous insulin therapy has been associated with higher colorectal cancer incidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between exogenous insulin therapy and adenoma formation, accounting for duration of therapy and location and stage of the adenoma.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes between the ages of 50 and 80 years who completed full colonoscopies. Cases were patients with any adenoma on index colonoscopy. Patients without any adenoma composed the control group. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and associated confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, case patients (n = 196) did not have a significantly increased odds of insulin exposure, when exposure was defined as 12 months or more of insulin use compared with no insulin. However, the odds of insulin exposure among the cases was significantly increased when exposure was defined as 18 months or more (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.5), 24 months or more (OR 1.7, CI 1.1-2.6), and 36 months or more (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.4) of insulin use (test for trend P = 0.05). A similar trend in insulin exposure was seen among type 2 diabetics with advanced adenomas. Adenoma location was not significantly affected by insulin therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic insulin therapy is associated with increased risk of colorectal adenomas in patients with type 2 diabetes.

IMPACT

Diabetes patients receiving insulin may need more stringent colon cancer screening.

Case definition and phenotype standardization in drug-induced liver injury

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most frequent reason cited for the withdrawal of approved drugs from the market and accounts for up to 15% of the cases of acute liver failure. Investigators around the globe have begun to identify and study patients with DILI; several large registries and tissue banks are being established. In order to gain the maximum scientific benefit from these efforts, the definitions and terminology related to the clinical phenotypes of DILI must be harmonized. For this purpose, an international DILI Expert Working Group of clinicians and scientists reviewed current DILI terminology and diagnostic criteria so as to develop more uniform criteria that would define and characterize the spectrum of clinical syndromes that constitute DILI. Consensus was established with respect to the threshold criteria for definition of a case as being DILI, the pattern of liver injury, causality assessment, severity, and chronicity. Consensus was also reached on approaches to characterizing DILI in the setting of chronic liver diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Microscopic colitis and Medication Use

BACKGROUND: The incidence of microscopic colitis (MC) is increasing, but its etiology remains unknown. Case reports and limited controlled data suggest that commonly prescribed drugs may be triggers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of selected medication use [Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), and Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)] in patients with MC compared to 'random controls' and 'diarrhea controls.' METHODS: All patients were selected from primary care practices of a university health system during 2002 to 2007. Patients with biopsy proven lymphocytic or collagenous colitis were identified as cases. Diarrhea controls consisted of a 10:1 random sample of patients with chronic diarrhea and normal colon biopsies. Ten random controls were matched to each case on sex and index date (date of biopsy proven diagnosis). Drugs prescribed within the year prior to the index date were collected from the electronic medical record system. RESULTS: 26 cases (median age 68.9 yrs), 259 random, and 259 diarrhea controls were identified. The adjusted ORs for PPI, SSRI, and statin prescription within 12 months of diagnosis of MC between cases and diarrhea controls were 0.28 (0.07-1.07), 0.87 (0.28-2.64), 1.12 (0.34-3.71) respectively. Use of PPI and statins was less common in MC patients than in random controls (p<0.05 for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: While prior data suggest that PPIs, statins, and SSRIs may be etiologically related to MC, our study found no increased association with these drugs.

Current awareness: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety

In order to keep subscribers up‐to‐date with the latest developments in their field, John Wiley & Sons are providing a current awareness service in each issue of the journal. The bibliography contains newly published material in the field of pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety. Each bibliography is divided into 20 sections: 1 Reviews; 2 General; 3 Anti‐infective Agents; 4 Cardiovascular System Agents; 5 CNS Depressive Agents; 6 Non‐steroidal Anti‐inflammatory Agents; 7 CNS Agents; 8 Anti‐neoplastic Agents; 9 Haematological Agents; 10 Neuroregulator‐Blocking Agents; 11 Dermatological Agents; 12 Immunosuppressive Agents; 13 Autonomic Agents; 14 Respiratory System Agents; 15 Neuromuscular Agents; 16 Reproductive System Agents; 17 Gastrointestinal System Agents; 18 Anti‐inflammatory Agents ‐ Steroidal; 19 Teratogens/fetal exposure; 20 Others. Within each section, articles are listed in alphabetical order with respect to author. If, in the preceding period, no publications are located relevant to any one of these headings, that section will be omitted.