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Dominik N, Scheiner B, Zanetto A, Balcar L, Semmler G, Campello E, Schwarz M, Paternostro R, Simbrunner B, Hofer BS, Stättermayer AF, Pinter M, Trauner M, Quehenberger P, Simioni P, Reiberger T, Mandorfer M. Von Willebrand factor for outcome prediction within different clinical stages of advanced chronic liver disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2024; 59:1376-1386. [PMID: 38482706 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The prognostic performance of von Willebrand factor (VWF) may vary across clinical stages of advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD). Therefore, we investigated the evolution of VWF and other biomarkers throughout the full ACLD spectrum and evaluated their stage-specific prognostic utility. METHODS We retrospectively included Viennese ACLD patients with available information on hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), C-reactive protein (CRP)/VWF levels and outcomes. ACLD stages were defined according to D'Amico et al. We included an external validation cohort from Padua. RESULTS We observed gradual increases in VWF throughout ACLD stages. In contrast, HVPG levelled off in decompensated ACLD (dACLD), whereas MELD showed only minor changes in the early stages and CRP did not increase until stage 3. VWF was associated with hepatic decompensation/liver-related death in compensated ACLD (cACLD) in a fully adjusted model, while it was not independently predictive of ACLF/liver-related death in dACLD. After backward selection, HVPG/CRP/VWF remained the main predictors of hepatic decompensation/liver-related death in cACLD. Notably, the performance of the non-invasive CRP/VWF-based model was comparable to invasive HVPG-based models (C-index:0.765 ± 0.034 vs. 0.756 ± 0.040). The discriminative ability of the CRP/VWF-based model was confirmed in an external validation cohort using another VWF assay which yielded systematically lower values. CONCLUSION VWF is the only biomarker that gradually increases across all ACLD stages. It is of particular prognostic value in cACLD, where a CRP/VWF-based model is equivalent to an invasive HVPG-based model. Systematic differences in VWF underline the importance of interlaboratory surveys. Moreover, our findings reinforce the notion that, already in cACLD, inflammation is a key disease-driving mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Dominik
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Scheiner
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alberto Zanetto
- Gastroenterology and Multivisceral Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Lorenz Balcar
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Semmler
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elena Campello
- General Internal Medicine Unit, Thrombotic and Haemorrhagic Disease Unit and Haemophilia Center, Department of Medicine (DIMED), Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Michael Schwarz
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rafael Paternostro
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Simbrunner
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Portal Hypertension and Liver Fibrosis, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt S Hofer
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Albert Friedrich Stättermayer
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Trauner
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Quehenberger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Paolo Simioni
- General Internal Medicine Unit, Thrombotic and Haemorrhagic Disease Unit and Haemophilia Center, Department of Medicine (DIMED), Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mattias Mandorfer
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Department of Medicine III, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Pearson M, Nobes J, Macpherson I, Gold L, Miller M, Dow E, Dillon JF. Enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) score predicts hepatic decompensation and mortality. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101062. [PMID: 38826498 PMCID: PMC11141136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims In community pathways for detection of liver disease the most common reason for referral is fibrosis assessment. We investigated the impact of adding the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score as a second-line test (subsequent to an indeterminate or high Fibrosis-4 index [FIB-4] and/or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score) to guide referral and prognostication in our multi-aetiology pathway. Methods Patients with ELF results from the intelligent Liver Function Testing (iLFT) pathway were recruited. Case note review was undertaken to compare ELF with endpoints of cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and mortality (liver-related and all-cause death). Results In total, 1,327 individuals were included with a median follow-up of 859 days and median ELF score of 10.2. Overall sensitivity for cirrhosis at the 9.8 threshold was 94% (100% for metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease, 89% for alcohol-related liver disease). Determination of the ELF score as a second-line test reduced the referral rate by 34%. ELF scores predicted hepatic outcomes; each unit change was associated with increased decompensation (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] 2.215, 95% CI: 1.934-2.537) and liver-related mortality (aHR 2.024, 95% CI: 1.674-2.446). ELF outperformed FIB-4 for risk of liver-related mortality, particularly in the short-term (area under the curve [AUC] 94.3% vs. 82.8% at six months). Where FIB-4 was indeterminate, ELF had higher AUC for all outcomes within at least 2 years. ELF ≥13 was associated with particularly high rates of decompensation (26% within 90 days) and all-cause mortality (38% at 1 year). Conclusions The addition of ELF reduced the number of individuals referred for fibrosis assessment following iLFT pathway testing and provided useful prognostic information. Individuals with ELF scores ≥13 were considered at high-risk of negative outcomes warranting urgent clinical assessment. Impact and implications Primary care pathways for suspected liver disease are increasingly common and often lead to increased specialist hepatology referrals for fibrosis assessment. This study, using clinical follow-up for liver-related outcomes, provides further evidence supporting ELF testing to safely reduce referrals in a two-step approach when combined with other simple fibrosis markers. Additionally, ELF scores predict liver-related morbidity and mortality, with ELF scores ≥13 indicating particularly high-risk patients. This study may help inform the implementation of diagnostic pathways for early detection of liver disease and highlights the need for urgent review of individuals with very high ELF scores.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Nobes
- Department of Blood Sciences, NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Iain Macpherson
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Lucy Gold
- School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Michael Miller
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Ellie Dow
- Department of Blood Sciences, NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - John F. Dillon
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK
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Venkatesh P, Bennett J, Halkidis K. Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in the Setting of Cirrhosis and Baseline Thrombocytopenia. Cureus 2024; 16:e59839. [PMID: 38846184 PMCID: PMC11156490 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The management of immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) has evolved significantly over the past several years. However, despite recent advances, there are limited tools available for patients with comorbidities that preclude either the utilization of available treatment modalities or evidence-based laboratory target levels. Literature to guide the management of such patients is sparse at best, and many complications associated with pre-existing comorbidities in the context of iTTP have not been reported. Here we describe the case of a patient with severe thrombocytopenia at baseline due to liver cirrhosis who developed iTTP. The challenges of the case in terms of pursuing disease-directed treatment, defining laboratory parameters to guide treatment, and mitigating the risks of bleeding and disease exacerbation are discussed. We offer our perspective in treating iTTP in the setting of severe baseline thrombocytopenia and high bleeding risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Venkatesh
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA
| | - Joseph Bennett
- Department of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA
| | - Konstantine Halkidis
- Department of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, USA
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Giri S, Anand AC. Non-cirrhotic intrahepatic portal hypertension: Is the gun loaded? Indian J Gastroenterol 2024; 43:285-287. [PMID: 37940774 DOI: 10.1007/s12664-023-01466-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Suprabhat Giri
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Patia, Bhubaneswar, 751 024, India
| | - Anil Chandra Anand
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Patia, Bhubaneswar, 751 024, India.
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Asada S, Namisaki T, Kaji K, Takaya H, Kubo T, Akahane T, Kawaratani H, Nishimura N, Takeda S, Masuda H, Shibamoto A, Inoue T, Iwai S, Tomooka F, Tsuji Y, Fujinaga Y, Kitagawa K, Mitoro A, Sato S, Matsumoto M, Yoshiji H. VWF/ADAMTS13 Ratio as a Potential Predictive Biomarker for Acute Kidney Injury Onset in Cirrhosis. Dig Dis Sci 2024; 69:851-869. [PMID: 38244124 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-023-08257-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
AIM We investigated the von Willebrand factor to ADAMTS13 ratio (von Willebrand factor [VWF]:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC) as a potential biomarker for the outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in liver cirrhosis (LC). METHODS This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients with LC who developed AKI (AKI group: n = 91) and patients with LC who did not develop AKI [non-AKI (NAKI) group, n = 91] as a control group. Plasma levels of the von Willebrand factor antigen (Ag) and ADAMTS13 activity (AC) were measured in patients with AKI or NAKI. Moreover, risk factors for onset of AKI, AKI-associated 90-day mortality, and poor AKI treatment response were identified. RESULTS The AKI group had a significantly higher VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC than the NAKI group. Values of VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC ≥ 5.7 were identified as risk factors for AKI onset in patients with LC (odds ratio [OR] 2.56; 95% CI 1.26-4.99; p < 0.001). Among patients with AKI, values of VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC ≥ 9.0 were identified as risk factors for 90-day mortality (OR 6.83; 95% CI 2.32-20.10; p < 0.001). Cumulative survival was significantly lower in those with high (≥ 9.0) than in those with low (< 9.0) VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC. Furthermore, values of VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC ≥ 7.4 were identified as risk factors for poor treatment response (OR 4.2; 95% CI 1.39-12.70; p < 0.001). The treatment response rates were significantly higher in those with low (< 7.4) VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC than in those with high (≥ 7.4) VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC. CONCLUSION VWF:Ag/ADAMTS13:AC potentially predicts the onset, prognosis, and treatment response of AKI in patients with LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Asada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Tadashi Namisaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
| | - Kosuke Kaji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Takaya
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kubo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Takemi Akahane
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Hideto Kawaratani
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Norihisa Nishimura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Soichi Takeda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Masuda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Akihiko Shibamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Takashi Inoue
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Satoshi Iwai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Fumimasa Tomooka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Yuki Tsuji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Yukihisa Fujinaga
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Koh Kitagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Akira Mitoro
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Shinya Sato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Masanori Matsumoto
- Department of Hematology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Yoshiji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
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Suzuki J, Namisaki T, Takya H, Kaji K, Nishimura N, Shibamoto A, Asada S, Kubo T, Iwai S, Tomooka F, Takeda S, Koizumi A, Tanaka M, Matsuda T, Inoue T, Fujimoto Y, Tsuji Y, Fujinaga Y, Sato S, Kitagawa K, Kawaratani H, Akahane T, Mitoro A, Matsumoto M, Asada K, Yoshiji H. ADAMTS-13: A Prognostic Biomarker for Portal Vein Thrombosis in Japanese Patients with Liver Cirrhosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2678. [PMID: 38473925 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Portal vein thrombosis (PVT), one of the most prevalent hepatic vascular conditions in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), is associated with high mortality rates. An imbalance between a disintegrin-like metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type-1 motifs 13 (ADAMTS-13) enzyme and von Willebrand factor (VWF) is responsible for hypercoagulability, including spontaneous thrombus formation in blood vessels. Herein, we aimed to identify potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers in Japanese patients with LC and PVT. In total, 345 patients were divided into two groups: 40 patients who developed PVT (PVT group) and 305 who did not develop PVT (NPVT group). Among the 345 patients with LC, 81% (279/345) were deemed ineligible due to the presence of preventive comorbidities, active or recent malignancies, and organ dysfunction. The remaining 66 patients were divided into two groups: the PVT group (n = 33) and the NPVT group (n = 33). Plasma ADAMTS-13 activity (ADAMTS-13:AC) and the vWF antigen (VWF:Ag) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Contrast-enhanced, three-dimensional helical computed tomography (CT) was used to detect and characterize PVT. ADAMTS-13:AC was significantly lower in the PVT group than in the NPVT group. No significant differences in plasma vWF:Ag or liver stiffness were observed between the two groups. ADAMTS-13:AC of <18.8 was an independent risk factor for PVT on multivariate analyses (odds ratio: 1.67, 95% confidence interval: 1.21-3.00, p < 0.002). The receiver operating characteristic analysis of ADAMTS-13:AC revealed an area under the curve of 0.913 in PVT detection. Patients with PVT having ADAMTS-13:AC ≥18.8 (n = 17) had higher albumin levels and better prognoses than those with ADAMTS-13:AC <18.8 (n = 16). No significant correlations of ADAMTS-13:AC levels with either fibrin degradation product or D-dimer levels were observed. ADAMTS-13:AC levels could be potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for PVT in Japanese patients with LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junya Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Tadashi Namisaki
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Takya
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Kosuke Kaji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Norihisa Nishimura
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Akihiko Shibamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Shohei Asada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kubo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Satoshi Iwai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Fumimasa Tomooka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Soichi Takeda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Aritoshi Koizumi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Misako Tanaka
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Takuya Matsuda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Takashi Inoue
- Department of Evidence-Based Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Yuki Fujimoto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Yuki Tsuji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Yukihisa Fujinaga
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Shinya Sato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Koh Kitagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Hideto Kawaratani
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Takemi Akahane
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Akira Mitoro
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Masanori Matsumoto
- Department of Hematology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Asada
- Clinical Research Center, Nara Medical University, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Yoshiji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara 634-8522, Nara, Japan
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