Liver and bone

Polyene phosphatidylcholine promotes tibial fracture healing in rats by stimulating angiogenesis dominated by the VEGFA/VEGFR2 signaling pathway

One of the factors that predispose to fractures is liver damage. Interestingly, fractures are sometimes accompanied by abnormal liver function. Polyene phosphatidylcholine (PPC) is an important liver repair drug. We wondered if PPC had a role in promoting fracture healing. A rat model of tibial fracture was developed using the modified Einhorn model method. X-rays were used to detect the progression of fracture healing. Progress of ossification and angiogenesis at the fracture site were analyzed by Safranin O/fast green staining and CD31 immunohistochemistry. To investigate whether PPC has a direct angiogenesis effect, HUVECs were used. We performed MTT, wound healing, Transwell migration, and tube formation assays. Finally, RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis were used to study the underlying mechanism. The results showed that PPC significantly shortened the apparent recovery time of mobility in rats. PPC treatment significantly promoted the formation of cartilage callus, endochondral ossification, and angiogenesis at the fracture site. In vitro, PPC promoted the proliferative viability of HUVECs, their ability to heal wounds, and their ability to penetrate membranes in the Transwell apparatus and increased the tube formation of cells. The transcription of VEGFA, VEGFR2, PLCγ, RAS, ERK1/2 and MEK1/2 was significantly up regulated by PPC. Further, the protein level results demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of VEGFA, VEGFR2, MEK1/2, and ERK1/2 proteins. In conclusion, our findings suggest that PPC promotes angiogenesis by activating the VEGFA/VEGFR2 and downstream signaling pathway, thereby accelerating fracture healing.

Bone pattern changes in post liver transplant patients using bisphosphonates

OBJECTIVE

To identify radiographic findings suggestive of drug-induced osteonecrosis and evaluate radiomorphometric patterns indicative of changes in bone mineral density in individuals transplanted for liver disorders using bisphosphonates.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group included panoramic x-rays of liver transplant patients who are being monitored and who present a clinical status of osteoporosis and use bisphosphonates. The control group was made up of liver transplant patients who did not have osteoporosis. On panoramic radiographs, mental index (MI) and mandibular cortical index (MCI) and the presence of radiographic anomalies suggestive of osteonecrosis were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were significant statistical results when comparing the groups in relation to the decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) with MCI-C3 (p = 0.036), however, there were none in relation to MI (p = 0.14). There were no valid statistical results when relating MCI (p = 0.94) and MI (p = 0.66) with reduced BMD and use of bisphosphonates.

CONCLUSION

Liver transplant individuals using bisphosphonates present greater radiographic signs of bone sclerosis suggestive of a greater propensity to develop osteonecrosis of the jaw and an increased risk of presenting changes suggestive of reduced bone mineral density on panoramic radiographs when compared to liver transplant individuals not using bisphosphonates.

Mendelian-randomization study revealed causal relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and osteoporosis/fractures

BACKGROUND

Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are reported to have a higher risk of osteoporosis/fractures; however, the causal relationship remains unclear.

METHODS

Publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were used for Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. GWASs of NAFLD and fractures were obtained from the FinnGen Consortium. GWASs of bone mineral density (BMD) were derived from a meta-analysis. GWASs of obesity, diabetes, liver function, and serum lipid-related metrics were used to clarify whether the accompanying NAFLD symptoms contributed to fractures. Moreover, two additional GWASs of NAFLD were applied.

RESULTS

A causal association was not observed between NAFLD and BMD using GWASs from the FinnGen Consortium. However, a causal relationship between NAFLD and femoral neck-BMD (FN-BMD), a suggestive relationship between fibrosis and FN-BMD, and between NAFLD and osteoporosis were identified in replication GWASs. Genetically proxied body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and hip circumference increased the likelihood of lower limb fractures. The waist-to-hip ratio decreased, whereas glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-B) increased the risk of forearm fractures. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) reduced, whereas HbA1C increased the incidence of femoral fractures. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) raised the risk of foot fractures. However, after a multivariate MR analysis (adjusted for BMI), all the relationships became insignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

NAFLD caused reduced BMD, and genetically predicted HDL, LDL, HbA1C, HOMA-B, ALP, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio causally increased the risk of fractures. BMI may mediate causal relationships. Larger GWASs are required to verify this finding.

Reduced bone mineral density is associated to post-TIPS survival of female patients with decompensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in patients with cirrhosis, eventually leading to sarcopenia and loss of bone mass.

AIMS

The aims of this study was the assessment of body composition (BC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and the prognostic impact on survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) implantation.

METHODS

BMD and BC of 107 patients with cirrhosis undergoing TIPS implantation were prospectively analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The prevalence and predisposing risk factors for reduced BMD and sarcopenia were assessed. Impact on 12-month survival after TIPS implantation was evaluated.

RESULTS

Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 48.6 % of the patients with a predominance of male patients (58.7% vs. 25.0 %, p = 0.001). 67.2 % had reduced BMD. Low BMI was independently associated with sarcopenia (OR 0.751 (95 % CI: 0.662;0.852), p < 0.001) and reduced BMD (OR 0.851 (0.773;0.937), p = 0.001). Patients with reduced BMD, but not sarcopenia, had impaired 12-month survival after TIPS-implantation (61.2% vs. 82.9 %, p = 0.030). Subgroup analysis showed that this was especially valid for female patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia and reduced BMD are frequently observed in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Reduced BMD negatively affects post-TIPS survival. Since malnutrition is a leading cause, assessment of nutritional status and specific treatment should be included in clinical practice.

Bone Loss after Solid Organ Transplantation: A Review of Organ-Specific Considerations

This review article investigates solid organ transplantation-induced osteoporosis, a critical yet often overlooked issue, emphasizing its significance in post-transplant care. The initial sections provide a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and multifactorial pathogenesis of transplantation osteoporosis, including factors such as deteriorating post-transplantation health, hormonal changes, and the impact of immunosuppressive medications. Furthermore, the review is dedicated to organ-specific considerations in transplantation osteoporosis, with separate analyses for kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplantations. Each section elucidates the unique challenges and management strategies pertinent to transplantation osteoporosis in relation to each organ type, highlighting the necessity of an organ-specific approach to fully understand the diverse manifestations and implications of transplantation osteoporosis. This review underscores the importance of this topic in transplant medicine, aiming to enhance awareness and knowledge among clinicians and researchers. By comprehensively examining transplantation osteoporosis, this study contributes to the development of improved management and care strategies, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes in this vulnerable group. This detailed review serves as an essential resource for those involved in the complex multidisciplinary care of transplant recipients.

Clinical Indicators of Bone Deterioration in Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis and Chronic Alcohol Abuse: Looking beyond Bone Fracture Occurrence

Although previous studies indicated that chronic alcohol abuse (CAA) and alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) are associated with increased bone fragility, understanding bone fragility determinants is still modest in these individuals. We used a comprehensive individualized clinical fracture risk assessment approach (vertebral osteodensitometry, femoral osteodensitometry and geometry, and serum bone turnover biomarkers) to compare adult male patients with ALC who have not previously had femoral or vertebral fractures (n = 39), patients with CAA (without liver cirrhosis, n = 78) who have not previously had femoral or vertebral fractures and healthy age- and sex-matched controls (n = 43). Our data suggested that intertrochanteric bone mineral density was significantly lower in ALC and CAA patients than in controls. Also, the trabecular bone score was considerably lower in ALC patients compared with CAA and control individuals. The most significant inter-group differences in femoral geometry were noted on the femoral shaft. Patients with ALC and CAA have a higher 10-year risk of major osteoporotic fractures compared to the controls. Analysis of bone turnover biomarkers showed increased osteoprotegerin and beta-C-terminal telopeptide serum concentrations and decreased insulin growth factor-1 concentrations in patients with ALC compared to CAA and control groups. Our data revealed that bone alterations are present in patients with ALC and CAA even if they did not sustain a nontraumatic bone fracture, but it is also indicative that current bone-assessing clinical methods are not entirely reliable. Thus, future studies should focus on developing a reliable integrative clinical tool that can be used to accurately predict and prevent bone fracture occurrences in patients with ALC and CAA.

Increased Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis

INTRODUCTION

Few large-scale studies have been published regarding the association between autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and risk of osteoporotic fracture. This study aimed to determine the risk of developing an osteoporotic fracture in patients with AIH.

METHODS

We used claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2007 and 2020. Patients with AIH (n = 7,062) were matched with controls (n = 28,122) based on age, sex, and duration of follow-up using a ratio of 1:4. Osteoporotic fractures included fractures of the vertebrae, hip, distal radius, and proximal humerus. The incidence rate (IR) and IR ratio of osteoporotic fracture were compared between the 2 groups, and their associated factors were evaluated.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up period of 5.4 years, 712 osteoporotic fractures occurred in patients with AIH with an IR of 17.5 per 1,000 person-years. Patients with AIH had a significantly higher risk of osteoporotic fractures than matched controls, with an IR ratio of 1.24 (95% confidence intervals, 1.10-1.39, P < 0.01) in the multivariable analysis. Female sex, older age, history of stroke, presence of cirrhosis, and use of glucocorticoids were associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. In the 2-year landmark analysis, longer duration of glucocorticoid exposure was associated with an incremental increased risk of osteoporotic fracture.

DISCUSSION

Patients with AIH had an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture compared with controls. The presence of cirrhosis and long-term use of glucocorticoids further adversely affected osteoporotic fracture in patients with AIH.

Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: Usefulness of FRAX® as a Screening Tool

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and determine the associated risk factors, evaluating the usefulness of FRAX® as a screening method to identify patients at a higher risk of fracture.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical, and analytical data were collected in a randomized sample of LC patients attending the Hepatology Department of a university hospital. We assessed the absolute risk of fracture at 10 years (FRAX®) and based on the bone mineral density (BMD), the presence of morphometric vertebral fracture with a vertebral fracture assessment (VFA), or a thoracic and lumbar X-ray and bone microarchitecture with a trabecular bone score (TBS).

RESULTS

Ninety-two patients were included (71% male); the mean age was 63 ± 11.3 years. The main etiology of LC was alcoholism (52.2%), and most patients were Child-Pugh A (80.4%), with a mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score of 10.1 ± 3.6. Sixteen patients (17.4%) had osteoporosis, and fifty-four (58.7%) had osteopenia. Eight patients (8.7%) had suffered at least one fragility fracture. The absolute risk of a major fracture according to FRAX without the BMD was 5.7 ± 4.5%. Risk factors associated with osteoporosis were age and the female sex. BMI > 30 was a protective factor. A FRAX cut-off point for a major fracture > 6.6% had a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 85% for a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of osteoporosis and fractures in patients with LC is high, particularly in older women. FRAX® may be a useful method to identify candidates for bone densitometry. A FRAX value below 6.6% without the BMD can avoid unnecessary testing.

A Rare Case of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome Coexisting With Gilbert Syndrome

Gilbert syndrome (GS) is an autosomal recessive inherited bilirubin metabolism disorder characterized by chronic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in the absence of hemolysis and liver disease. Primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), mainly occurring in women, is a common connective tissue disease (CTD) wherein bilirubin levels are generally reduced. We report a rare case of pSS coexisting with GS. A 35-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with pSS and chronic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, for which low-dose methylprednisolone was ineffective. The patient's liver function test results were normal, serological tests for hepatitis virus were negative, and abdominal ultrasound did not indicate abnormal liver morphology. Bone mineral density determination showed that the Z scores of the left femoral neck and lumbar spine were -1.9 and -2.6, respectively, with T scores of -2.1 and -2.8, respectively. Full-exon sequencing revealed a homozygous TA insertion in the TATA box (A(TA)7TAA) and a heterozygous base substitution from C to A at nucleotide position 686 in exon 1 (c.686C>A) in the uridine glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with pSS, GS, and osteoporosis. The dose of methylprednisolone was then reduced and gradually stopped, and treatment for osteoporosis was strengthened. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pSS with GS. It is important to clarify the cause of hyperbilirubinemia in patients with CTD, including pSS, which affects the formulation of correct treatment plans.

Osteosarcopenia in autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases: Causes, management, and challenges

Primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are the most common cholestatic liver diseases (CLD) in adults and are both characterized by an immune pathogenesis. While primary biliary cholangitis is a model autoimmune disease, with over 90% of patients presenting very specific autoantibodies against mitochondrial antigens, PSC is considered an immune mediated disease. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in CLD, resulting in frequent fractures and leading to significant morbidity. Further, sarcopenia is emerging as a frequent complication of chronic liver diseases with a significant prognostic impact and severe implications on the quality of life of patients. The mechanisms underlying osteoporosis and sarcopenia in CLD are still largely unknown and the association between these clinical conditions remains to be dissected. Although timely diagnosis, prevention, and management of osteosarcopenia are crucial to limit the consequences, there are no specific guidelines for management of osteoporosis and sarcopenia in patients with CLD. International guidelines recommend screening for bone disease at the time of diagnosis of CLD. However, the optimal monitoring strategies and treatments have not been defined yet and vary among centers. We herein aim to comprehensively outline the pathogenic mechanisms and clinical implications of osteosarcopenia in CLD, and to summarize expert recommendations for appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FRACTURE OF THE LUMBOSACRAL SPINE AND ITS COMPROMISE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CIRRHOTICS

ABSTRACT Background Chronic hepatic disease is associated with osteoporosis, osteopenia or osteomalacia. Osteoporosis and fractures due to bone fragility present high prevalences and are more frequent in patients with liver cirrhosis than in the general population. The search for a diagnosis of osteopenia and osteoporosis in this population may allow early intervention and modify unfavorable outcomes. Objective To know the prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis and of fracture due to bone fragility in individuals with liver cirrhosis, the associated risk factors, and its compromise in their quality of life (QoL). Methods Observational, transversal study performed with 71 liver cirrhosis patients of the Hepatology Service of the Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasília, DF, Brazil, between July 2017 and December 2018. The patients were submitted to bone densitometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine and of the femoral neck, to x-ray of the lumbosacral spine and to the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) for the evaluation of quality of life (QoL). The Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) major was calculated for patients >50 years old. The analyses were performed for the evaluation of the risk factors associated with lumbosacral spine fracture. Results The majority (62%) of the 71 evaluated patients was diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia on DXA. Of the 44 patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis, 52.3% were female, with a mean age of 62.6±9.51 years old, with the majority (72.7%) being Child A, cirrhotics of alcoholic etiology (36.4%), and with an intermediate QoL according to the CLDQ (3.3). Regarding the patients with lumbosacral spine fracture, the mean age was 61.6±11.1 years old, 60% were female, most of them Child A (66.7%), of alcoholic etiology (46.7%), and with an intermediary QoL according to the CLDQ (3.5). The presence of osteopenia and/or osteoporosis was associated with lumbosacral fracture (P<0.001), without correlation with the other analyzed variables: age, body mass index, gender, presence and absence of ascites, Child-Pugh classification, vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus serum concentration, cirrhosis etiology and FRAX major. Conclusion The prevalence of hepatic osteodystrophy was high, and the occurrence of lumbosacral spine fracture was more associated with osteoporosis and/or osteopenia among the cirrhotic patients studied. The QoL was intermediate and with no differences between cirrhotics with and without fracture.

Vitamin D supplementation for chronic liver diseases in adults

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is often reported in people with chronic liver diseases. Improving vitamin D status could therefore be beneficial for people with chronic liver diseases.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of vitamin D supplementation in adults with chronic liver diseases.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE Ovid, Embase Ovid, LILACS, Science Citation Index Expanded, and Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov  and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We scanned bibliographies of relevant publications and enquired experts and pharmaceutical companies as to additional trials. All searches were up to November 2020.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised clinical trials that compared vitamin D at any dose, duration, and route of administration versus placebo or no intervention in adults with chronic liver diseases. Vitamin D could have been administered as supplemental vitamin D (vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol) or vitamin D₂ (ergocalciferol)), or an active form of vitamin D (1α-hydroxyvitamin D (alfacalcidol), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol), or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol)).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 27 randomised clinical trials with 1979 adult participants. This review update added 12 trials with 945 participants. We assessed all trials as at high risk of bias. All trials had a parallel-group design. Eleven trials were conducted in high-income countries and 16 trials in middle-income countries. Ten trials included participants with chronic hepatitis C, five trials participants with liver cirrhosis, 11 trials participants with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and one trial liver transplant recipients. All of the included trials reported the baseline vitamin D status of participants. Participants in nine trials had baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels at or above vitamin D adequacy (20 ng/mL), whilst participants in the remaining 18 trials were vitamin D insufficient (less than 20 ng/mL). Twenty-four trials administered vitamin D orally, two trials intramuscularly, and one trial intramuscularly and orally. In all 27 trials, the mean duration of vitamin D supplementation was 6 months, and the mean follow-up of participants from randomisation was 7 months. Twenty trials (1592 participants; 44% women; mean age 48 years) tested vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol); three trials (156 participants; 28% women; mean age 54 years) tested vitamin D₂; four trials (291 participants; 60% women; mean age 52 years) tested 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D; and one trial (18 participants; 0% women; mean age 52 years) tested 25-hydroxyvitamin D. One trial did not report the form of vitamin D. Twelve trials used a placebo, whilst the other 15 trials used no intervention in the control group. Fourteen trials appeared to be free of vested interest. Eleven trials did not provide any information on clinical trial support or sponsorship. Two trials were funded by industry. We are very uncertain regarding the effect of vitamin D versus placebo or no intervention on all-cause mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51 to 1.45; 27 trials; 1979 participants). The mean follow-up was 7 months (range 1 to 18 months). We are very uncertain regarding the effect of vitamin D versus placebo or no intervention on liver-related mortality (RR 1.62, 95% CI 0.08 to 34.66; 1 trial; 18 participants) (follow-up: 12 months); serious adverse events such as hypercalcaemia (RR 5.00, 95% CI 0.25 to 100.8; 1 trial; 76 participants); myocardial infarction (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.08 to 6.81; 2 trials; 86 participants); thyroiditis (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.01 to 7.91; 1 trial; 68 participants); circular haemorrhoidal prolapse (RR 3.00, 95% CI 0.14 to 65.9; 1 trial; 20 participants); bronchopneumonia (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.02 to 7.32; 1 trial 20 participants); and non-serious adverse events. The certainty of evidence for all outcomes is very low. We found no data on liver-related morbidity such as gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, ascites, or liver cancer. There were also no data on health-related quality of life. The evidence is also very uncertain regarding the effect of vitamin D versus placebo or no intervention on rapid, early, and sustained virological response in people with chronic hepatitis C.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Given the high risk of bias and insufficient power of the included trials and the very low certainty of the available evidence, vitamin D supplementation versus placebo or no intervention may increase or reduce all-cause mortality, liver-related mortality, serious adverse events, or non-serious adverse events in adults with chronic liver diseases. There is a lack of data on liver-related morbidity and health-related quality of life. Further evidence on clinically important outcomes analysed in this review is needed.

Bone Disease and Liver Transplantation: A Review

Liver transplantation is currently the most effective and almost routine treatment for chronic and acute liver diseases. The survival of transplanted patients has increased exponentially, which has led to more knowledge of the long-term complications secondary to the underlying pathology or the various treatments that must be followed. Bone metabolic disease is a chronic complication of liver transplantation that inhibits quality of life. The factors that contribute to the development of bone disease are different according to the various etiologies of liver damage. All patients should be examined for osteoporosis risk factors because the incidence of new fractures in transplant patients is higher during the first year after transplantation, reflecting the greater bone loss during this time. This article outlines a proposal for a treatment algorithm; we propose that pharmacologic therapy in patients post liver transplant should first consider the diagnosis of osteoporosis by bone mineral density, the patient's personal and family history of spine and femoral neck fractures, and the use glucocorticoids (dose and time) until a tool is available that allows the best estimation of the fracture risk in this population of patients.

Increased incidence, morbidity, and mortality in cirrhotic patients with hip fractures: A nationwide population-based study

OBJECTIVES

Hip fractures mostly require surgical treatment and are associated with increased health-care costs and mortality rates. Patients with cirrhosis have low bone marrow density and inferior immune status which contribute to a higher fracture rate and higher surgical complication rate. This population-based study evaluated the prevalence, complication, and mortality rates due to hip fractures in cirrhotic patients.

METHODS

Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database data were used. The study group included 117,129 patients with hip fractures diagnosed from 2004 to 2010, including 4048 patients with cirrhosis. The overall prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rates of the cirrhosis group with hip fractures were compared with the rates of a general group with hip fractures.

RESULTS

The cirrhosis group patients were younger than the general group patients (71.2 vs. 73.96 years, p < 0.001). The annual incidence of hip fractures in the cirrhosis and general groups was 46-54 and 7-7.5 per 10,000 person-years, respectively, with an incidence rate ratio of 6.95 (95% confidence interval 6.74-7.18). The rates of infection, urinary tract infection, and peptic ulcer disease were higher in the cirrhosis group (3.46% vs. 1.91%, 9.56% vs. 9.11%, and 8.05% vs. 3.55%, respectively; all p < 0.001). The mortality rate after hip fracture was also higher in the cirrhosis group than in the general group (within 3 months: 8.76-12.64% vs. 4.96-5.30% and within 1 year: 29.72-37.99% vs. 12.84-14.57%). Conclusion: Cirrhotic patients with hip fractures were relatively younger; had a seven times higher annual hip fracture incidence; had higher complication rates of infection, urinary tract infection, and peptic ulcer disease; and had two to three times higher a mortality rate at 3 months and 1 year. Clinicians should pay particular attention to the possibility of osteoporosis and hip fractures in patients with liver cirrhosis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control study.

Bone Diseases in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

Osteoporosis is a frequently observed complication in patients with chronic liver disease, particularly liver cirrhosis and cholestatic liver diseases. In addition, osteoporosis is critical in patients receiving a liver transplant. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated bone diseases in patients with more frequently observed chronic liver disease, such as chronic viral hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease. Osteoporosis is a disease caused by an imbalance in the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Over the last few decades, many advances have improved our knowledge of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Importantly, activated immune cells affect the progression of osteoporosis, and chronic inflammation may exert an additional effect on the existing pathophysiology of osteoporosis. The microbiota of the intestinal tract may also affect the progression of bone loss in patients with chronic liver disease. Recently, studies regarding the effects of chronic inflammation on dysbiosis in bone diseases have been conducted. However, mechanisms underlying osteoporosis in patients with chronic liver disease are complex and precise mechanisms remain unknown. The following special considerations in patients with chronic liver disease are reviewed: bone diseases in patients who underwent a liver transplant, the association between chronic hepatitis B virus infection treatment and bone diseases, the association between sarcopenia and bone diseases in patients with chronic liver disease, and the association between chronic liver disease and avascular necrosis of the hip. Few guidelines are currently available for the management of low bone mineral density or bone diseases in patients with chronic liver disease. Due to increased life expectancy and therapeutic advances in chronic liver disease, the importance of managing osteoporosis and other bone diseases in patients with chronic liver disease is expected to increase. Consequently, specific guidelines need to be established in the near future.

Erythrocytosis and fatigue fractures associated with hepatoblastoma in a 3-year-old gelding

Hepatoblastoma was diagnosed in a 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented with forelimb lameness with bilateral fatigue fractures of the proximal third metacarpal bones. An abdominal mass was detected on ultrasound examination of the abdomen. Absolute erythrocytosis was diagnosed after clinical and haematological evaluation. The fractured metacarpal bones were surgically removed but complications after surgery were fatal. The liver mass was diagnosed as a hepatoblastoma based on histology and immunochemical staining. The combination of hepatoblastoma and fatigue fractures has not been described previously in horses. A potential link between the hepatic and orthopaedic pathologies is hypothesised.

EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines on nutrition in chronic liver disease

A frequent complication in liver cirrhosis is malnutrition, which is associated with the progression of liver failure, and with a higher rate of complications including infections, hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. In recent years, the rising prevalence of obesity has led to an increase in the number of cirrhosis cases related to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Malnutrition, obesity and sarcopenic obesity may worsen the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis and lower their survival. Nutritional monitoring and intervention is therefore crucial in chronic liver disease. These Clinical Practice Guidelines review the present knowledge in the field of nutrition in chronic liver disease and promote further research on this topic. Screening, assessment and principles of nutritional management are examined, with recommendations provided in specific settings such as hepatic encephalopathy, cirrhotic patients with bone disease, patients undergoing liver surgery or transplantation and critically ill cirrhotic patients.

Suboptimal Level of Bone-Forming Cells in Advanced Cirrhosis are Associated with Hepatic Osteodystrophy

Bone loss is common in advanced cirrhosis, although the precise mechanisms underlying bone loss in cirrhosis are unknown. We studied the profile and functionality of bone-forming cells and bone-building proteins in bone marrow (BM) of individuals with cirrhosis (n = 61) and individuals without cirrhosis as normal controls (n = 50). We also performed dual energy X-ray absorptiometry for clinical correlation. BM mesenchymal cells (MSCs) were analyzed for colony-forming units-fibroblasts and their osteogenic (fibronectin-1 [FN1], insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 [IGFBP3], collagen type 1 alpha 1 chain [COL1A1], runt-related transcription factor 2 [RUNX2], and alkaline phosphatase, liver [ALPL]) and adipogenic ( adiponectin, C1Q, and collagen domain containing [ADIPOQ], peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma [PPARγ], and fatty acid binding protein 4 [FABP4]) potentials. Colony-forming units-fibroblasts were lower in patients with cirrhosis (P = 0.002) than in controls. Cirrhotic BM-MSCs showed >2-fold decrease in osteogenic markers. Compared to controls, patients with cirrhosis showed fewer osteocytes (P = 0.05), osteoblasts, chondroblasts, osteocalcin-positive (osteocalcin+) area, clusters of differentiation (CD)169+ macrophages (P < 0.001, each), and nestin+ MSCs (P = 0.001); this was more apparent in Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class C than A (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed low nestin+ MSCs (P = 0.004) as a predictor of bone loss. Bone-resolving osteoclasts were comparable among CTP groups, but >2-fold decreased anti-osteoclastic and increased pro-osteoclastic factors were noted in patients with CTP C compared to CTP A. Bone-building proteins (osteocalcin [P = 0.008], osteonectin [P < 0.001], and bone morphogenic protein 2 [P = 0.001]) were decreased while anti-bone repair factors (fibroblast growth factor 23 [P = 0.015] and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 [P < 0.001]) were increased in BM and peripheral blood; this was more apparent in advanced cirrhosis. The dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan T score significantly correlated with the population of osteoblasts, osteocytes, MSCs, and CD169+ macrophages. Conclusion: Osteoprogenitor cells are substantially reduced in patients with cirrhosis and more so in advanced disease. Additionally, increased anti-bone repair proteins enhance the ineffective bone repair and development of osteoporosis in cirrhosis. Hepatology Communications 2018;0:0-0).

Primary biliary cholangitis and bone disease

Osteoporosis, characterized by compromised bone strength leading to fragility fractures, is a common event in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Osteomalacia, defined by poor bone mineralization is very uncommon. The pathogenesis of osteoporosis is not well clarified, but it mainly results from low bone formation. Few reports have revealed increased bone resorption, particularly in end-stage disease. The prevalence of osteoporosis is about 35% in the most significant studies, and it depends on the diagnostic criteria and severity of liver damage. Osteoporosis is associated with age, postmenopausal status, duration of PBC and advanced histological stage. Bone densitometry is the common method for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and should be performed in all patients with PBC. Lateral X-rays of the dorsal and lumbar spine should also be carried out to disclose vertebral fractures. There is no specific treatment but bisphosphonates, especially alendronate and ibandronate, efficiently increases bone mass and prevents bone loss. Despite these positive effects on bone mass no clear results on decreasing the fracture rate have been demonstrated, probably because the low number of patients included in the trials. The potential value of new agents requires further evaluation.

Interventions to improve physical function and prevent adverse events in cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is associated with debilitating complications that significantly impact on a patient’s physical function and reduce quality of life. Owing to highly prevalent sarcopenia, malnutrition and hepatic encephalopathy, functional impairment or frailty is a common complication of cirrhosis. Frailty in turn increases the patient’s risk of hospitalization, accidental falls and fractures, and death. The management of frailty and its associated adverse effects is imperative in improving the overall prognosis of patients with advanced liver disease. The cornerstone of therapy revolves around optimizing physical function with appropriate nutrition and exercise. Nutritional therapy with protein supplementation has shown significant benefit, while studies on exercise have been controversial. However, newly emerging studies trend towards a beneficial effect of physical exercise with improvement in quality of life. The implementation of technology in liver disease management shows future promise. Fitbits and other wearable devices can be used to help monitor a patient’s personal progress in physical exercise and nutritional optimization. Additionally, the progressive development of new smartphone applications to help aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of complications of cirrhosis provides a sophisticated avenue for improving care of patients with cirrhosis.

Vitamin D supplementation for chronic liver diseases in adults

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is often reported in people with chronic liver diseases. Therefore, improving vitamin D status could have a beneficial effect on people with chronic liver diseases.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of vitamin D supplementation in people with chronic liver diseases.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, Science Citation Index Expanded, and Conference Proceedings Citation Index - Science. We also searched databases of ongoing trials and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We scanned bibliographies of relevant publications and asked experts and pharmaceutical companies for additional trials. All searches were up to January 2017.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised clinical trials that compared vitamin D at any dose, duration, and route of administration versus placebo or no intervention in adults with chronic liver diseases. Vitamin D could have been administered as supplemental vitamin D (vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)), or an active form of vitamin D (1α-hydroxyvitamin D (alfacalcidol), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol), or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcitriol)).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. We contacted authors of the trials to ask for missing information. We conducted random-effects and fixed-effect meta-analyses. For dichotomous outcomes, we calculated risk ratios (RRs), and for continuous outcomes, we calculated mean differences (MD), both with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and Trial Sequential Analyses-adjusted CIs. We calculated Peto odds ratio (OR) for rare events. We considered risk of bias in domains to assess the risk of systematic errors. We conducted Trial Sequential Analyses to control the risk of random errors. We assessed the quality of the evidence with GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 15 randomised clinical trials with 1034 participants randomised. All trials had a parallel group design. Nine trials were conducted in high-income countries and six trials in middle-income countries. All trials were at high risk of bias. Six trials included participants with chronic hepatitis C, four trials included participants with liver cirrhosis, four trials included participants with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and one trial included liver transplant recipients. All included trials reported the baseline vitamin D status of participants. Participants in six trials had baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels at or above vitamin D adequacy (20 ng/mL), while participants in the remaining nine trials were vitamin D insufficient (less than 20 ng/mL). All trials administered vitamin D orally. Mean duration of vitamin D supplementation was 0.5 years and follow-up was 0.6 years. Eleven trials (831 participants; 40% women; mean age 52 years) tested vitamin D3, one trial (18 men; mean age 61 years) with three intervention groups tested vitamin D2 and 25-dihydroxyvitamin D in separate groups, and three trials (185 participants; 55% women; mean age 55 years) tested 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Seven trials used placebo, and eight trials used no intervention in the control group.The effect of vitamin D on all-cause mortality at the end of follow-up is uncertain because the results were imprecise (Peto OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.09 to 5.38; I2 = 32%; 15 trials; 1034 participants; very low quality evidence). Trial Sequential Analysis on all-cause mortality was performed based on a mortality rate in the control group of 10%, a relative risk reduction of 28% in the experimental intervention group, a type I error of 2.5%, and type II error of 10% (90% power). There was no diversity. The required information size was 6396 participants. The cumulative Z-curve did not cross the trial sequential monitoring boundary for benefit or harm after the 15th trial, and the Trial Sequential Analyses-adjusted CI was 0.00 to 2534.The effect of vitamin D on liver-related mortality (RR 1.62, 95% CI 0.08 to 34.66; 1 trial; 18 participants) and on serious adverse events such as hypercalcaemia (RR 5.00, 95% CI 0.25 to 100.8; 1 trial; 76 participants), myocardial infarction (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.08 to 6.81; 2 trials; 86 participants), and thyroiditis (RR 0.33 95% CI 0.01 to 7.91; 1 trial; 68 participants) is uncertain because the results were imprecise. The evidence on all these outcomes is of very low quality. The effect of vitamin D3 on non-serious adverse events such as glossitis (RR 3.70, 95% CI 0.16 to 87.6; 1 trial; 65 participants; very low quality of evidence) is uncertain because the result was imprecise.Due to few data, we did not conduct Trial Sequential Analysis on liver-related mortality, and serious and non-serious adverse events.We found no data on liver-related morbidity and health-related quality of life in the randomised trials included in this review.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We are uncertain as to whether vitamin D supplements in the form of vitamin D3, vitamin D2, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, or 25-dihydroxyvitamin D have important effect on all-cause mortality, liver-related mortality, or on serious or non-serious adverse events because the results were imprecise. There is no evidence on the effect of vitamin D supplementation on liver-related morbidity and health-related quality of life. Our conclusions are based on few trials with an insufficient number of participants and on lack of data on clinically important outcomes. In addition, the analysed trials are at high risk of bias with significant intertrial heterogeneity. The overall quality of evidence is very low.

Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis display moderate bone microarchitecture abnormalities: data from high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography

We investigated whether bone microstructure assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative tomography (HR-pQCT) could be altered in children and teenagers with cystic fibrosis (CF). In comparison to their healthy counterparts, bone microstructure was mildly affected at the tibial level only.

INTRODUCTION

Cystic fibrosis-related bone disease (CFBD) may alter bone health, ultimately predisposing patients to bone fractures. Our aim was to assess bone microstructure using high-resolution peripheral quantitative tomography (HR-pQCT) in a cohort of children and teenagers with CF in comparison to age-, puberty-, and gender-matched healthy volunteers (HVs).

METHODS

In this single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study, we evaluated the HR-pQCT bone parameters of CF patients and compared them to those of the healthy volunteers.

RESULTS

At a median age of 15.4 [range, 10.5-17.9] years, 37 CF patients (21 boys) with 91% [range, 46-138%] median forced expiratory volume in 1 s were included. At the ultradistal tibia, CF patients had a smaller bone cross-sectional area (579 [range, 399-1087] mm²) than HVs (655 [range, 445-981] mm²) (p = 0.027), related to a decreased trabecular area, without any significant differences for height. No other differences were found (trabecular number, separation, thickness, or distribution) at the radial or tibial levels. Bone structure was different in patients receiving ursodeoxycholic acid and those bearing two F508del mutations.

CONCLUSION

In our cohort of children and teenagers with good nutritional and lung function status, bone microstructure evaluated with HR-pQCT was not severely affected. Minimal microstructure abnormalities observed at the tibial level may be related to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator defect alone; the long-term consequences of such impairment will require further evaluation.

Diagnosis and Management of Cirrhosis-Related Osteoporosis

Management of cirrhosis complications has greatly improved, increasing survival and quality of life of the patients. Despite that, some of these complications are still overlooked and scarcely treated, particularly those that are not related to the liver. This is the case of osteoporosis, the only cirrhosis complication that is not solved after liver transplantation, because bone loss often increases after immunosuppressant therapy. In this review, the definitions of bone conditions in cirrhotic patients are analyzed, focusing on the more common ones and on those that have the largest impact on this population. Risk factors, physiopathology, diagnosis, screening strategies, and treatment of osteoporosis in cirrhotic patients are discussed, presenting the more striking data on this issue. Therapies used for particular conditions, such as primary biliary cirrhosis and liver transplantation, are also presented.

Sclerostin Expression in Bile Ducts of Patients With Chronic Cholestasis May Influence the Bone Disease in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Sclerostin is involved in the regulation of osteoblastogenesis and little is known about its role in the development of bone disease in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), characterized by low bone formation. Therefore, we have assessed the circulating levels and the liver expression of sclerostin in this cholestatic disease. Serum sclerostin levels were measured in 79 women with PBC (mean age 60.6 ± 1.2 years) and in 80 control women. Lumbar and femoral bone mineral density (BMD), as well as parameters of mineral metabolism and bone remodeling, were measured. Moreover, sclerostin gene (SOST) expression in the liver was assessed by real-time PCR in samples of liver tissue taken by biopsy in 11 PBC patients and in 5 normal liver specimens. Presence and distribution of sclerostin was evaluated in liver slices from 11 patients by immunohistochemistry. The severity of histologic lesions was assessed semiquantitatively in the same liver samples. PBC patients had higher sclerostin levels than controls (75.6 ± 3.9 versus 31.7 ± 1.6 pmol/L, p < 0.001). Serum sclerostin correlated inversely with markers of bone formation and resorption. Sclerostin mRNA in the liver was overexpressed compared with control samples (2.7-fold versus healthy liver). Sclerostin was detected by immunohistochemistry in 7 of the 11 liver samples, mainly located in the bile ducts. Liver sclerostin was associated with the severity of cholangitis (p = 0.02) and indirectly with the degree of lobular inflammation (p = 0.03). Sclerostin mRNA expression was higher in samples that tested positive by immunohistochemistry and particularly in those with lobular granuloma (p = 0.02). The increased expression of sclerostin in the liver and the association with histologic cholangitis may explain the high serum levels of this protein in patients with PBC, thus suggesting that sclerostin may influence the decreased bone formation in this cholestatic disease. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Current Status of Research on Osteoporosis after Solid Organ Transplantation: Pathogenesis and Management

Improved survival following organ transplantation has brought to the forefront some long-term complications, among which osteoporosis and associated fractures are the major ones that adversely affect the quality of life in recipients. The pathogenesis of osteoporosis in transplant recipients is complex and multifactorial which may be related to increased bone resorption, decreased bone formation, or both. Studies have shown that the preexisting underlying metabolic bone disorders and the use of immunosuppressive agents are the major risk factors for osteoporosis and fractures after organ transplantation. And rapid bone loss usually occurs in the first 6–12 months with a significant increase in fracture risk. This paper will provide an updated review on the possible pathogenesis of posttransplant osteoporosis and fractures, the natural history, and the current prevention and treatment strategies concerning different types of organ transplantation.

Association between nutritional screening via the Controlling Nutritional Status index and bone mineral density in chronic liver disease of various etiologies

AIM

Bone density disorders are prevalent in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), who commonly present with hepatic osteodystrophy. However, the relationship between nutritional status and bone mineral density (BMD) has been scarcely studied in CLD.

METHODS

This single-center, cross-sectional study included outpatients consecutively diagnosed with CLD during a 1.5-year period. The nutritional status was assessed with the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) index; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans and parameters of bone mineral metabolism were carried out. Bone fracture risk was estimated with the World Health Organization FRAX tool.

RESULTS

Among the 126 patients recruited (58.7% male), osteopenia and osteoporosis were present in 31.1% and 10.7%, respectively. The 10-year fracture risk was significantly higher among women. Malnutrition estimated with the CONUT index was present in 29.9% of patients and was significantly more frequent in cirrhotic patients, 63.4% of whom were malnourished. Malnutrition stage directly correlated with hepatic function as expressed by the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease index. A non-significant relationship between CONUT-assessed nutritional status and BMD was documented. 25-Hydroxyvitamin-D3 (25[OH]-D3) and fracture risk correlated positively with the CONUT stage, and total cholesterol had an inverse relationship with BMD.

CONCLUSION

Malnutrition assessed by the CONUT was very frequent in patients with liver cirrhosis. The CONUT score inversely correlated with liver function, while malnutrition stage directly correlated with BMD, fracture risk and 25(OH)-D3. Total cholesterol showed a negative association with BMD in this population.

The factors affecting bone density in cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Bone loss is common in cirrhosis. However, the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis has been heterogeneous in different reports. Reduction in bone formation with or without increase in bone resorption appears to be responsible for bone loss in these patients.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate bone loss in patients with cirrhosis at different anatomical sites and key factors that might affect it.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 97 patients with cirrhosis who were referred to Razi Hospital, Rasht, Iran, from 2008 to 2010, were studied. Cirrhosis was diagnosed using biopsy and/or clinical and paraclinical findings. Bone mineral densitometry was done in L2 through L4 lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN), using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) (QDR 1000, Hologic DEXA Inc, Waltham, Massachusetts, the United States). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 97 patients with cirrhosis (55.7% male) and the mean age of 51 ± 13 years and median body mass index (BMI) of 22.7 kg/m(2) were recruited over a two-year period. Etiologies of cirrhosis were hepatitis C (40.2%), hepatitis B (26.8%), cryptogenic (21.6%), and other causes (11.4%). Child A, B, and C, were seen in 16.5%, 47.4%, and 36.1% of patients, respectively. The DEXA results were abnormal in 78.4% of our participants (osteopenia, 45.4%; osteoporosis, 33%). BMI and calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFRc) had moderate positive and Child score had moderate negative significant correlation with T score in both anatomical sites. There was no significant association between abnormal DEXA and the causes of cirrhosis. The univariate analysis showed that the risk of abnormal results in DEXA was significantly higher in those with low BMI, current smoking, higher Child score, and low GFRc; however, in multivariate analysis, the abnormal results were more frequent in those with lower vitamin D, higher Child score, and less GFRc.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal DEXA was highly prevalent among patients with cirrhosis. The risk of this finding was increased by lower vitamin D levels, advanced disease, and impaired renal function.

Pros and cons of fatty acids in bone biology

Despite the growing interest in deciphering the causes and consequences of obesity-related disorders, the mechanisms linking fat intake to bone behaviour remain unclear. Since bone fractures are widely associated with increased morbidity and mortality, most notably in elderly and obese people, bone health has become a major social and economic issue. Consistently, public health system guidelines have encouraged low-fat diets in order to reduce associated complications. However, from a bone point of view, mechanisms linking fat intake to bone alteration remain quite controversial. Thus, after more than a decade of dedicated studies, this timely review offers a comprehensive overview of the relationships between bone and fatty acids. Using clinical evidences as a starting-point to more complex molecular elucidation, this work highlights the complexity of the system and reveals that bone alteration that cannot be solved simply by taking ω-3 pills. Fatty acid effects on bone metabolism can be both direct and indirect and require integrated investigations. Furthermore, even at the level of a single cell, one fatty acid is able to trigger several different independent pathways (receptors, metabolites…) which may all have a say in the final cellular metabolic response.

Randomized trial comparing monthly ibandronate and weekly alendronate for osteoporosis in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Osteoporosis resulting in bone fractures is a complication in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Once-weekly alendronate improves bone mass and is well tolerated in these patients, but there is a concern because of poor compliance. Therefore, the efficacy, adherence, and safety of monthly ibandronate (150 mg) with weekly alendronate (70 mg) were compared in a randomized, 2-year study in 42 postmenopausal women with PBC and osteoporosis. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur (by DXA), liver function, and bone markers were measured at entry and every 6 months over 2 years. Adherence to therapy was assessed by the Morisky-Green score. At enrollment, the two groups were similar with respect to age, BMD, severity of cholestasis, previous fractures, and bone markers. Thirty-three patients, 14 in the ibandronate group and 19 in the alendronate group, completed the trial. At 2 years both treatments resulted in a significant increase in BMD at the lumbar spine (from 0.875 ± 0.025 to 0.913 ± 0.026 g/cm(2), P < 0.001 with alendronate, and from 0.898 ± 0.024 to 0.949 ± 0.027 g/cm(2), P < 0.001 with ibandronate). The mean percentage change was 4.5% and 5.7%, respectively (P = not significant). BMD increased at the total hip by 2.0% and 1.2%, respectively. Changes in bone markers were similar in both groups and one patient with alendronate developed a new vertebral fracture. Adherence to therapy was higher with ibandronate (P = 0.009). Neither treatment impaired liver function or cholestasis.

CONCLUSION

Both regimens, weekly alendronate and monthly ibandronate, improve bone mass and are comparable in safety for osteoporosis therapy in patients with PBC, although adherence is higher with the monthly regimen. Further larger studies are needed to assess fracture prevention.

Modeling hepatic osteodystrophy in Abcb4 deficient mice

Hepatic osteodystrophy (HOD) denotes the alterations in bone morphology and metabolism frequently observed in patients with chronic liver diseases, in particular in case of cholestatic conditions. The molecular mechanisms underlying HOD are only partially understood. In the present study, we characterized the bone phenotypes of the ATP-binding cassette transporter B4 knockout mouse (Abcb4(-/-)), a well-established mouse model of chronic cholestatic liver disease, with the aim of identifying and characterizing a mouse model for HOD. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of vitamin D on bone quality in this model. The bone morphology analyses revealed reduced bone mineral contents as well as changes in trabecular bone architecture and decreased cortical bone densities in Abcb4(-/-) mice with severe liver fibrosis. We observed dysregulation of genes involved in bone remodeling (osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, osteopontin) and vitamin D metabolism (7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, Gc-globulin, Cyp2r1, Cyp27a1) as well as alterations in calcium and vitamin D homeostasis. In addition, serum RANKL and TGF-β levels were increased in Abcb4(-/-) mice. Vitamin D dietary intervention did not restore the bone phenotypes of Abcb4(-/-) animals. We conclude that the Abcb4(-/-) mouse provides an experimental framework and a preclinical model to gain further insights into the molecular pathobiology of HOD and to study the systemic effects of therapeutic interventions.

Relationship between vitamin D and chronic liver diseases

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin with multiple biological effects that is predominantly synthetized in the liver. Various kinds of chronic liver diseases are associated with vitamin D deficiency, and vitamin D supplementation may influence treatment outcome. This article summarizes the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and treatment of chronic liver diseases to provide new insight into the treatment of these diseases.

Increased incidence of orthopedic fractures in cirrhotic patients: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a reversible neuropsychiatric disorder in cirrhotic patients. The cognitive dysfunction and increased accidental falls in HE and osteodystrophy in cirrhotic patients may contribute to orthopedic fractures. This study investigated the fracture incidence and risk factors in cirrhotic patients with HE.

METHODS

In total, 3764 cirrhotic patients with HE were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database between 2000 and 2009. The fracture incidence of the HE patients was compared with that of 3764 age-, sex-, and comorbidity-matched cirrhotic patients without HE and non-cirrhotic controls. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk of fracture in the HE patients.

RESULTS

Cirrhotic patients with and without HE had comparable increased risks of fracture (p <0.05) and cumulative incidences of fracture than controls (log-rank p <0.001). The estimated fracture rates were 7.09% for the HE group, 7.72% for the cirrhosis without HE group, and 4.05% for the controls, during the 18-month follow-up. The HE group had a higher incidence rate of skull fractures (IRR=2.61, 95% CI 1.04-6.57), but a lower rate of upper limb fractures (IRR=0.45, 95% CI 0.29-0.70) than the cirrhosis without HE group. Alcoholism, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disease were associated with increased risk of fracture in HE patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Cirrhotic patients, with or without HE, are at an increased risk of orthopedic fractures. Skull fractures, rather than fractures in weight-bearing bones, are more frequently observed in HE patients, particularly those with comorbidities.

Influence of age and gender before and after liver transplantation

Women constitute a particular group among patients with chronic liver disease and in the post-liver transplantation (LT) setting: they are set apart not only by traditional differences with respect to men (ie, body mass index, different etiologies of liver disease, and accessibility to transplantation) but also in increasingly evident ways related to hormonal changes that characterize first the fertile age and subsequently the postmenopausal period (eg, disease course variability and responses to therapy). The aim of this review is, therefore, to evaluate the role of the interplay of factors such as age, gender, and hormones in influencing the natural history of chronic liver disease before and after LT and their importance in determining outcomes after LT. As the population requiring LT ages and the mean age at transplantation increases, older females are being considered for transplantation. Older patients are at greater risk for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, osteoporosis, and a worse response to antiviral therapy. Female gender per se is associated with a greater risk for osteoporosis because of metabolic changes after menopause, the bodily structure of females, and, in the population of patients with chronic liver disease, the greater prevalence of cholestatic and autoimmune liver diseases. With menopause, the fall of protective estrogen levels can lead to increased fibrosis progression, and this represents a negative turning point for women with chronic liver disease and especially for patients with hepatitis C. Therefore, the notion of gender as a binary female/male factor is now giving way to the awareness of more complex disease processes within the female gender that follow hormonal, social, and age patterns and need to be addressed directly and specifically.

Serum sclerostin in alcoholics: a pilot study

AIMS

Sclerostin is an endogenous inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway secreted by osteocytes, which inhibits osteoblast function, differentiation and survival. As a consequence, sclerostin tends to decrease bone mass. Alcoholics frequently present osteoporosis, mainly due to decreased bone synthesis. The behaviour of sclerostin in these patients is unknown. The aim of this work was to analyse the relationship between serum sclerostin levels and bone mineral density (BMD), ethanol consumption, nutritional status, liver function derangement and biomarkers of bone homeostasis in alcoholic patients.

METHODS

We included 31 alcoholic patients, of whom 11 were infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 7 age and sex-matched controls. All underwent densitometry, and serum sclerostin, osteocalcin, collagen telopeptide, parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, cortisol and testosterone were determined.

RESULTS

Sclerostin levels were significantly higher in patients (30.95 ± 18.91 pmol/l) than controls (t = 4.4; P < 0.001), especially in non-HCV patients; they showed an inverse correlation with osteocalcin, prothrombin activity and serum albumin, and a direct correlation with bilirubin and telopeptide, but not with BMD, nutritional status or ethanol intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum sclerostin was raised in alcoholic patients, and it correlated with decreased markers of bone synthesis and increased markers of bone breakdown. The elevation in sclerostin levels was clearly related with liver function, but not with ethanol intake, nutritional status or concomitant HCV infection.

Bone alterations in hepatitis C virus infected patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Most studies have shown that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are affected by osteoporosis. However, liver function impairment and deranged nutrition may both play a role in the bone alterations observed. In some works no osteoporosis was found, and some cases of osteosclerosis have been reported. The aim of the study is to assess bone alterations in treatment-naïve, well-nourished HCV patients, in order to discern whether or not HCV infection causes osteoporosis.

METHODS

Whole-body bone densitometry and assessment of T-score at lumbar spine and hip were performed to 40 patients and 40 age- and sex-matched controls, with a Lunar Prodigy Advance (General Electric, Piscataway, NJ, USA). All the patients underwent liver biopsy. Nutritional evaluation was performed by subjective nutritional assessment, body mass index (BMI), and densitometric assessment of total lean mass and total fat mass. Serum osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, RANKL, PTH, crosslaps, vitamin D3, testosterone, IGF-1, and estradiol were determined.

RESULTS

Patients did not show differences in total bone mineral density (BMD) or T-score with controls. On the contrary, about a third of them showed positive T scores. Patients showed lower IGF-1, vitamin D3 and testosterone, but higher telopeptide levels, and a trend to higher osteoprotegerin levels. Multivariate analyses disclosed that age, sex, and total lean mass were the only parameters independently related with BMD.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, chronic HCV infection in well nourished patients with preserved liver function does not cause osteoporosis.

Proton pump inhibitors increase the incidence of bone fractures in hepatitis C patients

BACKGROUND

While proton pump inhibitors (PPI) may increase the risk of bone fractures, the incidence of new bone fractures in a chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected cohort, with or without PPI exposure, has not been explored.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of the incidence of bone fractures over 10 years in 9,437 HCV antibody positive patients in the Dallas VA Hepatitis C Registry was performed. The study endpoint was the incidence of verified new bone fractures per patient-years (pt-yrs) in PPI users compared to non-PPI users. PPI use was defined as those taking a PPI for ≥360 days. Pt-yrs of exposure for PPI users began on the first PPI prescription date, and pt-yrs of exposure for non-PPI users began with first date of any non-PPI prescription. For both HCV groups, the final date of patients' study duration was defined by end of PPI exposure, bone fracture occurrence, death or end of study evaluation period. Exclusion criteria included use of bone health modifying medications ≥30 days. Statistical differences in fracture incidence between groups were determined by multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among the total study population analyzed (n = 2,573), 109 bone fractures occurred. Unadjusted bone fracture incidences were 13.99/1,000 pt-yrs vs. 5.86/1,000 pt-yrs in PPI and non-PPI users, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio for new bone fractures was 3.87 (95 % CI 2.46-6.08) (p < 0.001) in PPI users.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with chronic HCV, use of PPI for >1 year increased the risk of new bone fractures by more than threefold.

Patients with cirrhosis and ascites have false values of bone density: implications for the diagnosis of osteoporosis

The effect of ascites on bone densitometry has been assessed in 25 patients with advanced cirrhosis, and it was concluded that ascites over 4 l causes inaccuracy of BMD measurements, particularly at the lumbar spine. This fact must be considered when assessing bone mass in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

INTRODUCTION

Bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the best procedure for assessment of osteoporosis and fracture risk, but BMD values at the central skeleton may be influenced by changes in soft tissues. Therefore, we have studied the effect of ascites on BMD.

METHODS

BMD was measured by DXA at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip, just before and shortly after therapeutic paracentesis in 25 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Changes in BMD, lean and fat mass, abdominal diameter and weight, as well as the amount of removed ascites were measured.

RESULTS

The amount of drained ascites was 6.6 ± 0.5 l (range: 3.0 to 12.7 l). After paracentesis, BMD increased at the lumbar spine (from 0.944 ± 0.035 to 0.997 ± 0.038 g/cm(2), p < 0.001) and at the total hip (from 0.913 ± 0.036 to 0.926 ± 0.036 g/cm(2), p < 0.01). Patients with a volume of drained ascites higher than 4 l showed a significant increase in lumbar BMD (7.0%), compared with patients with a lower amount (1.5%) (p < 0.03). The decrease in total soft tissue mass correlated with the amount of removed ascites (r = 0.951, p < 0.001). Diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia changed after paracentesis in 12% of patients.

CONCLUSION

Ascites over 4 l causes inaccuracy of BMD measurements, particularly at the lumbar spine. This fact must be considered when assessing bone mass in patients with advanced cirrhosis.

Effects of bilirubin and sera from jaundiced patients on osteoblasts: contribution to the development of osteoporosis in liver diseases

Low bone formation is considered to be the main feature in osteoporosis associated with cholestatic and end-stage liver diseases, although the consequences of retained substances in chronic cholestasis on bone cells have scarcely been studied. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of bilirubin and serum from jaundiced patients on viability, differentiation, mineralization, and gene expression in the cells involved in bone formation. The experiments were performed in human primary osteoblasts and SAOS-2 human osteosarcoma cells. Unconjugated bilirubin or serum from jaundiced patients resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in osteoblast viability. Concentrations of bilirubin or jaundiced serum without effects on cell survival significantly diminished osteoblast differentiation. Mineralization was significantly reduced by exposure to 50 μM bilirubin at all time points (from -32% to -55%) and jaundiced sera resulted in a significant decrease on cell mineralization as well. Furthermore, bilirubin down-regulated RUNX2 (runt-related transcription factor 2) gene expression, a basic osteogenic factor involved in osteoblast differentiation, and serum from jaundiced patients significantly up-regulated the RANKL/OPG (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand/osteoprotegerin) gene expression ratio, a system closely involved in osteoblast-induced osteoclastogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Besides decreased cell viability, unconjugated bilirubin and serum from jaundiced patients led to defective consequences on osteoblasts. Moreover, jaundiced serum up-regulates the system involved in osteoblast-induced osteoclastogenesis. These results support the deleterious consequences of increased bilirubin in advanced chronic cholestasis and in end-stage liver diseases, resulting in disturbed bone formation related to osteoblast dysfunction.

Medical management of the liver transplant recipient

Long-term survival of liver transplant recipients has become the rule rather than the exception. As a result, the medical complications of long-term survival, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, metabolic bone disease, and de novo malignancy, have accounted for an increasing proportion of late morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for these complications begin before transplant and are potentially modifiable but are exacerbated by the requirement for immunosuppressive medications after transplantation. Surveillance and early intervention programs administered by transplant hepatologists and other medical subspecialists may improve long-term outcomes in liver transplant recipients by ameliorating risk factors for atherosclerosis, bone fractures, and cancer.

Management of osteoporosis in liver disease

Osteoporosis resulting in a high risk for fracture is a common complication in patients with liver disease, particularly in those with chronic cholestasis and with end-stage cirrhosis. The pathogenesis of bone loss in liver patients is poorly understood but it mainly results from low bone formation as a consequence of cholestasis or the harmful effects of alcohol or iron on osteoblasts. Increased bone resorption has also been described in cholestatic women with advanced disease. The management of bone disease in liver patients is addressed to reduce or avoid the risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture. Bisphosphonates associated with supplements of calcium and vitamin D are safe and effective for increasing bone mass in patients with chronic cholestasis and after liver transplantation, though no clear achievements in descreasing the incidence of fractures have been described, probably because of the low number of patients included in the therapeutic trials. Randomized studies assessing bisphosphonates in larger series of patients, the development of new drugs for osteoporosis and the improvement in the management of liver transplant recipients may change the future.

Effect of vitamin K2 on cortical and cancellous bone mass and hepatic lipids in rats with combined methionine-choline deficiency

The present study examined changes of cancellous and cortical bone in rats with combined methionine-choline deficiency (MCD). In addition, the effects of vitamin K2 on cortical and cancellous bone mass and hepatic lipids were investigated in rats with MCD. Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups of ten, including an age-matched control (standard diet) group, an MCD diet group, and an MCD diet+vitamin K2 (menatetrenone at 30mg/kg/d orally, 5 times a week) group. After the one-month experimental period, histomorphometric analysis was performed on cortical and cancellous bone from the tibial diaphysis and proximal metaphysis, respectively, while histological examination of the liver was performed after staining with hematoxylin and eosin and Oil Red O. MCD rats displayed weight loss, diffuse and centrilobular fatty changes of the liver, and a decrease of the cancellous bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV) and percent cortical area (Ct Ar) as a result of decreased trabecular, periosteal, and endocortical bone formation along with increased trabecular and endocortical bone resorption. Administration of vitamin K2 to rats with MCD attenuated weight loss, accelerated the decrease of cancellous BV/TV due to an increase of bone remodeling, and ameliorated the decrease of percent Ct Ar by increasing periosteal and endocortical bone formation. Vitamin K2 administration also prevented MCD-induced diffuse fatty change of the liver. These findings suggest a beneficial effect of vitamin K2 on cortical bone mass and hepatic lipid metabolism in rats with MCD. The loss of cancellous bone mass could possibly have been due to re-distribution of minerals to cortical bone.

Bone disorders in chronic liver diseases

Bone disease is a major complication of chronic liver disease. Osteomalacia is quite uncommon despite low vitamin D levels in the majority of patients with cirrhosis. In contrast, osteoporosis is quite common, occurring in up to 50% of patients. Osteoporosis can result in spontaneous or low-impact fractures in patients with chronic liver diseases, adversely affecting morbidity, quality of life, and survival. The general biology of osteoporosis, including its pathogenesis, diagnostic tools, and rationale for treatment, have been determined largely empirically from studies of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Treatment regimens with modification of risk factors, use of vitamin D, and supplementation with calcium and bisphosphonates have been shown to be effective in select groups of patients with chronic liver diseases.