Management of adults with paediatric-onset chronic liver disease: strategic issues for transition care

Transition care to adolescent hepatology in a tertiary center for rare adult-child liver disease

AIMS

This study analyzed the results of a transition program in a patient population with a rare liver disease of pediatric onset.

METHOD

Data were collected on the clinical course of an adolescent population with a rare disease of pediatric onset and enrolled in a transition program between 1994 and 2022.

RESULTS

A total of 238 adolescents (including 34 having undergone a liver transplant on enrolling in the program) were included. Eight patients were lost to follow-up before the first transition consultation and 16 families requested follow-up in an adult hepatology department closer to their home. Overall, 214 initial transition consultations were carried out; 29 patients were subsequently lost to follow-up and 13 switched center. Overall, 15.4 % of the patients enrolled in our program were lost to follow-up. Five adult patients underwent a liver transplantation during this 28-year period. Overall mortality was 3.2 %, graft survival was 91.5 %, and posttransplant survival was 92 %. In total, the current active file represents 183 patients with a median age of 24.3 years (18-51) and a median follow-up period of 5.8 years (6 months to 28 years).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of a transition program to adult medicine for adolescents with a rare liver disease should follow the recommendations but must be adapted in line with local practice conditions. This process requires close collaboration between the pediatric and adult medicine teams based on a mutual desire to constantly improve practices and enhance knowledge.

Outcomes of paediatric patients with chronic liver disease in early adulthood: A heterogeneous, but representative, regional cohort study

AIM

Advances in paediatric hepatology have led to the increasing survival of patients with paediatric-onset chronic hepatobiliary disease into adulthood. Data are lacking with regard to the outcomes of this heterogeneous group of patients and current transition models may be insufficient. This retrospective regional cohort study examined the outcomes of these patients cared for in a paediatric gastroenterology centre following transfer to adult services.

METHODS

A prospective database of paediatric patients with liver disease identified those already transferred to adult services. Following exclusions, medical notes were examined and health parameters recorded including initial diagnoses, transplant status, fertility and mortality. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate follow-up data and transplant-free survival (TFS).

RESULTS

Overall, 63 patients (52% male) entered the final analyses with a median follow-up of 27.5 years. The most common diagnosis was biliary atresia (19%); 27 different diagnoses were apparent within the cohort highlighting the heterogeneity within a single centre. Transplant prevalence at adult transfer was 41%; 14% of patients were lost to follow-up including 10% of transplant patients. TFS for biliary atresia was 17% after 37.4 years follow-up and was 54% for the total cohort. There were seven documented pregnancies and the prevalence of any psychological or psychiatric input was 44%. Transplant complications occurred in 38% of patients; there were two cancer diagnoses and two deaths following transfer.

CONCLUSIONS

Although overall mortality was low, the health-care burden of patients with paediatric-onset chronic liver disease is high. This group is also very heterogeneous, making structured transition to adult services difficult.

Practical insights into chronic management of hepatic Wilson’s disease

Wilson’s disease (WD) is a rare inherited disorder of human copper metabolism, with an estimated prevalence of 1:30000-1:50000 and a broad spectrum of hepatic and neuropsychiatric manifestations. In healthy individuals, the bile is the main route of elimination of copper. In WD patients, copper accumulates in the liver, it is released into the bloodstream, and is excreted in urine. Copper can also be accumulated in the brain, kidneys, heart, and osseous matter and causes damage due to direct toxicity or oxidative stress. Hepatic WD is commonly but not exclusively diagnosed in childhood or young adulthood. Adherent, non-cirrhotic WD patients seem to have a normal life expectancy. Nevertheless, chronic management of patients with Wilson’s disease is challenging, as available biochemical tests have many limitations and do not allow a clear identification of non-compliance, overtreatment, or treatment goals. To provide optimal care, clinicians should have a complete understanding of these limitations and counterbalance them with a thorough clinical assessment. The aim of this review is to provide clinicians with practical tools and suggestions which may answer doubts that can arise during chronic management of patients with hepatic WD. In particular, it summarises current knowledge on Wilson’s disease clinical and biochemical monitoring and treatment. It also analyses available evidence on pregnancy and the role of low-copper diet in WD. Future research should focus on trying to provide new copper metabolism tests which could help to guide treatment adjustments.

Elderly onset congenital hepatic fibrosis with portal hypertension diagnosed after recurrent cholangitis: a case report

Congenital hepatic fibrosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by ductal plate malformation that can manifest as hepatic fibrosis alone or as a component in various fibropolycystic diseases including renal involvement. It is often diagnosed early in life, presenting with ascites and esophageal variceal bleeding due to non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Here, we report a rare case of congenital hepatic fibrosis with portal hypertension diagnosed at an advanced age. A 78-year-old woman with a 6 history of recurrent cholangitis experienced abdominal distension. Imaging revealed ascites and esophageal varices. Histopathologic analysis of the liver revealed the fibrous expansion of portal tracts accompanying increased bile ducts with irregular contours in the portal area. These characteristic findings are consistent with the diagnosis of congenital hepatic fibrosis. The present case showed an extremely unique clinical course, because she did not develop any associated renal abnormalities or any disease-related symptoms until old age. Because of the variability of this disease, the slowly progressive type may be difficult to diagnose and cause non-cirrhotic portal hypertension even in the elderly. Although an unusual clinical course may suggest the presence of the disease, timely histologic assessment is crucial for the definitive diagnosis of congenital hepatic fibrosis.

Need for transition medicine in pediatric surgery – health related quality of life in adolescents and young adults with congenital malformations

Survival rates of patients with visceral congenital malformations have increased considerably. However, long-term morbidity in these patients is high. In the last decades, these circumstances have led to a shift in goals of caretakers and researchers with a new focus on patients’ perspectives and long-term morbidity. Health-related quality of life (HrQoL) is the most commonly used patient-reported outcome measure to assess the impact of chronic symptoms on patients’ everyday lives. Most pediatric surgical conditions can cause a significantly decreased HrQoL in affected patients compared to the healthy population. In order to guarantee life-long care and to minimize the impact on HrQoL a regular interdisciplinary follow-up is obligatory. The period of transition from child-centered to adult-oriented medicine represents a critical phase in the long-term care of these complex patients. This scoping review aims to summarize relevant pediatric surgical conditions focusing on long-term-morbidity and HrQoL assessment in order to demonstrate the necessity for a well-structured and standardized transition for pediatric surgical patients.

How Parents of Adolescents and Young Adults with Biliary Atresia Surviving with Native Livers Transfer the Responsibility of Medical Treatment to Their Children in Japan

BACKGROUND

This study examines how the parents of adolescents and young adults with biliary atresia, surviving with their native livers, transfer medical treatment responsibility to their children, and how becoming a living liver transplant donor affects this process. The basis for the study was that becoming a living liver transplant donor may influence the transfer of responsibility.

METHODS

A qualitative, descriptive design was employed using a modified grounded theory approach. Data were collected from eight parents from November 2016 to August 2017 through semi-structured interviews conducted in two Japanese hospitals. Interpretive analysis from the viewpoint of the analytical theme and analytical focus person was conducted, resulting in a diagram and storyline explaining the process.

FINDINGS

Five categories were generated from one father and seven mothers (aged 40-60 years) of outpatients (aged 17-25 years): parental ability to cherish the child's "now" (live in the moment); put the brakes on their child's life; learn as they go; leave the child's life to the child; and openly express reservations about becoming a living liver transplant donor for their child.

DISCUSSION

Parental transfer of responsibility for treatment may be influenced by close-knit parent-child relationships, perception of the child's growth, and parental concern about becoming a living donor.

APPLICATION TO PRACTICE

Care providers should understand parent-child relationships and the parents' concerns about becoming living donors, thereby enabling them to recognize that medical treatment control must be relinquished to foster children's autonomy as adults.

Congenital hepatic fibrosis and its mimics: a clinicopathologic study of 19 cases at a single institution

Background

Congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is a rare inherited form of ductal plate malformation associated with polycystic kidney disease. The diagnosis requires histopathologic confirmation, but can be challenging to distinguish from other undefined fibrocystic liver diseases. We aimed to describe the clinicopathologic features of congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF), with comparisons to other entities that may clinically and/or histologically mimic CHF.

Methods

Nineteen cases that carried a clinical and/or histologic impression of CHF were identified at our institution, of which the histology was reassessed and reappraised into two categories: CHF (n=13) and mimics (n=6). The clinicopathologic features between the two groups were analyzed and compared.

Results

The CHF group was further sub-classified into those with clinical suspicion (CHF-c, n=8) and those as incidental histology findings (CHF-i, n=5). Patients of CHF-i were much older than CHF-c or mimics (P<0.05). Male and female were equally affected. Six of 8 CHF-c (66.7%) had concurrent kidney diseases, including 5 polycystic kidney diseases. Five of 6 mimics (83.3%) had various kidney diseases, including nephronophthisis, Alport syndrome, renal agenesis, and nephrolithiasis. None of the CHF-i patients had kidney disease, but 3 were associated with hepatic carcinomas. Histology analysis demonstrated characteristic triads (bile duct abnormalities, portal vein hypoplasia, and fibrosis) in all CHF cases. One mimic had paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts, while the other 5 mimics showed abnormal portal veins and nodular regenerative hyperplasia consistent with hepatoportal sclerosis (HPS).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates classic histology triad of CHF despite a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. HPS is unexpectedly a clinical mimicker of CHF, which can be distinguished histologically.

Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis in Children and Adults: Clinical Manifestations, Management, and Outcome-Case Series and Literature Review

Background

Congenital hepatic fibrosis is a hereditary fibropolycystic disease caused by ductal plate malformation. It is characterized by portal hypertension, but the manifestations, management, and outcome vary in children and adults. To raise awareness of medical staff, we have comprehensively compared the clinical features of congenital hepatic fibrosis between children and adults.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled all patients diagnosed with congenital hepatic fibrosis at the Huashan Hospital from August 2015 to August 2017 and analyzed their familial, clinical, laboratory, imaging, treatment, and follow-up data in detail. In addition, we reviewed cases with congenital hepatic fibrosis reported in the past 20 years in China and analyzed them according to the patients' age.

Results

A total of eight patients were diagnosed with congenital hepatic fibrosis in the study, including four children and four adults. The onset age of the children, who suffered from severe complications of portal hypertension and needed liver transplantation, ranged from 1 to 15 years old. The disorder developed in adults aged 26 to 60 years old. Three adults complained of recurrent abnormal liver function at the onset of illness, and they mainly received conservative treatments. The literature review included 30 children and 33 adults. In comparison, hepatomegaly was more common in children than in adults (57% vs. 21%, p = 0.004). Malformation of kidneys and bile duct abnormalities were common, and multisystem involvement included eyes, other digestive organs, and genital and central nervous systems.

Conclusions

Serious complications of portal hypertension developed in children requiring liver transplantation, while adults often had mild-to-moderate liver injuries upon onset. Adults with CHF varied a lot in clinical manifestations. Multiorgan involvement and unusual course are helpful to make a diagnosis. Timely histological assessment by liver biopsy and multidisciplinary cooperation are crucial for definitive diagnosis and early intervention.

Positive airway pressure in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by snoring, recurrent obstruction (apneas) of the upper airway which disrupts normal ventilation during sleep. In the last decade, there has been a increase in children diagnosed with persistent, severe OSA attributed to (1) the obesity epidemic as 25-60% of obese children will have obesity related OSA (2) advances in medical technology that have increased life expectancy of medically complex children (3) improved diagnostics and (4) increased awareness. Positive airway pressure (PAP) is commonly used to treat persistent, severe OSA. PAP devices deliver pressurized air via nasal or oronasal interfaces to distend the upper airway and ameliorate OSA. Although effective in treating OSA, PAP adherence is suboptimal. This review article provides an overview of (1) PAP use in pediatric OSA (2) PAP devices (3) PAP adherence, (4) strategies and interventions to improve adherence and (5) Optimizing PAP delivery during pediatric to adult transition.

Short-term outcomes of paediatric liver transplant recipients after transition to Adult Healthcare Service

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Survival rates after liver transplantation (LT) in paediatric recipients have significantly improved over time. However, data regarding outcomes after transition from Paediatric to Adult Healthcare Service (AHS) are still lacking. Therefore, we aimed to prospectively evaluate the outcome of LT recipients after transition, to access patients' non-adherence and identify potential risk factors for non-adherence.

METHODS

All consecutive adolescent LT recipients moving to the AHS at Padua University Hospital were evaluated between 2010 and 2015. Demographic data, liver function tests, incidence of acute or chronic rejection episodes and adherence to medical prescription, were prospectively evaluated. An educational pilot study was implemented since 2015 to foster adherence during transition.

RESULTS

In all, 32 patients (M/F 16/16, median age: 23 years) were evaluated. Median interval time between LT and transition was 15 years (range: 1-26 years). The main indication for LT was biliary atresia (31%), whereas immunosuppression regimen was tacrolimus-based in 75%. After a median follow-up of 29 months (range: 12-83), no significant modifications of liver function tests were observed. Biopsy-proven chronic rejection was diagnosed in 6/32 (18%) of patients, who had higher standard deviation of tacrolimus trough level than patients without (1.5 vs 1, P = .03). Non-adherence was reported in 8/32 (25%) of patients and was significantly associated with alcohol consumption (P = .003). Patient and graft survival were 96% and 93%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent LT patients who undergo transition to the AHS have good long-term outcomes. However, a multidisciplinary approach aiming at fostering adherence should be used.

The Health Care Transition of Youth With Liver Disease Into the Adult Health System: Position Paper From ESPGHAN and EASL

BACKGROUND

Medical advances have dramatically improved the long-term prognosis of children and adolescents with once-fatal hepatobiliary diseases. However, there is no generally accepted optimal pathway of care for the transition from paediatric care to the adult health system.

AIM

The purpose of this position paper is to propose a transition process for young people with paediatric onset hepatobiliary diseases from child-centred to adult-centred healthcare services.

METHODS

Seventeen ESPGHAN/EASL physicians from 13 countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom) formulated and answered questions after examining the currently published literature on transition from childhood to adulthood. PubMed and Google Scholar were systematically searched between 1980 and January 2018. Quality of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Expert opinions were used to support recommendations whenever the evidence was graded weak. All authors voted on each recommendation, using the nominal voting technique.

RESULTS

We reviewed the literature regarding the optimal timing for the initiation of the transition process and the transfer of the patient to adult services, principal documents, transition multi-professional team components, main barriers, and goals of the general transition process. A transition plan based on available evidence was agreed focusing on the individual young people's readiness and on coordinated teamwork, with transition monitoring continuing until the first year of adult services.We further agreed on selected features of transitioning processes inherent to the most frequent paediatric-onset hepatobiliary diseases. The discussion highlights specific clinical issues that will probably present to adult gastrointestinal specialists and that should be considered, according to published evidence, in the long-term tracking of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Transfer of medical care of individuals with paediatric onset hepatobiliary chronic diseases to adult facilities is a complex task requiring multiple involvements of patients and both paediatric and adult care providers.

[Impact of transition readiness on quality of life in children with chronic diseases]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the current quality of life in children with chronic diseases, and to explore the impact of transition readiness on quality of life.

METHODS

A total of 332 children with chronic diseases from two children's hospitals in Shanghai, China were enrolled. A self-designed demographic questionnaire, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL^TM 4.0), and Self-Management and Transition to Adulthood with Rx=Treatment (STARx) Questionnaire were used to evaluate transition readiness and quality of life.

RESULTS

The children with chronic diseases had a significantly lower total quality of life score than the national norm (74.66±15.85 vs 81.81±12.03; P<0.001). Doctor-patient communication and health care responsibilities (the child's abilities to take care of himself/herself and adaptation to the process of diagnosis and treatment from childhood to adulthood) were positively correlated with the scores on each dimension of quality of life (P<0.05). Duration of disease, time of absence from school within six months, and the number of types of drugs taken orally were negatively correlated with the total quality of life score (r_s=-0.172, -0.236, and -0.280; P<0.05). The residence (urban or rural area), monthly family income, parents' educational level, and father's occupation had significant influence on children's quality of life (P<0.05). The hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that doctor-patient communication and health care responsibilities led to a 14.3% increase in the explanation of the total variation in quality of life (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Quality of life is not satisfactory in children with chronic diseases. Two domains of transition readiness, namely the abilities to communicate with health providers and health care responsibilities, are major factors influencing quality of life in these children.

High Risk of Liver Allograft Failure During Late Adolescence and Young Adulthood

BACKGROUND

Graft failure risk is highest during emerging adulthood (17-24 years) in kidney and heart transplant. It is unknown whether a similar association exists in liver transplant recipients.

METHODS

We sought to estimate the relative hazards of graft failure at different current ages, compared with those aged 21 to 24 years. We evaluated 17 181 patients recorded in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients who received a first isolated liver transplant at 40 years or younger (1988-2013) and had 6 months or longer of graft function. We used time-dependent Cox models to estimate the association between current age and failure risk, defined as retransplant or death after graft failure; observation was censored at death with graft function.

RESULTS

There were 2540 failures. Absolute graft failure rates were highest in ages 25 to 29 years (3.0/100 person-years). Compared with individuals with the same time since transplantation, those aged 21 to 24 years had significantly higher failure rates than those younger than 17 years and older than 34 years; hazards did not differ for those aged 25 to 29 years (1.03 [0.86, 1.24]) and were lower, but not significantly, for those aged 17 to 20 years (hazards ratio, 0.83; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-1.01) and ages 30 to 34 years (hazards ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.70-1.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Among young first isolated liver transplant recipients, graft failure risks are highest in the period from 21 to 29 years of age.

A Guide to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Childhood and Adolescence

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is now the most prevalent form of chronic liver disease, affecting 10%–20% of the general paediatric population. Within the next 10 years it is expected to become the leading cause of liver pathology, liver failure and indication for liver transplantation in childhood and adolescence in the Western world. While our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this disease remains limited, it is thought to be the hepatic manifestation of more widespread metabolic dysfunction and is strongly associated with a number of metabolic risk factors, including insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia, cardiovascular disease and, most significantly, obesity. Despite this, ”paediatric” NAFLD remains under-studied, under-recognised and, potentially, undermanaged. This article will explore and evaluate our current understanding of NAFLD in childhood and adolescence and how it differs from adult NAFLD, in terms of its epidemiology, pathophysiology, natural history, diagnosis and clinical management. Given the current absence of definitive radiological and histopathological diagnostic tests, maintenance of a high clinical suspicion by all members of the multidisciplinary team in primary and specialist care settings remains the most potent of diagnostic tools, enabling early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic intervention.

Caring for children with NAFLD and navigating their care into adulthood

NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease in children and adults, with its prevalence closely associated with obesity and other features of the metabolic syndrome. As young adults with NAFLD transition from the paediatric care environment to adult services, establishing a coordinated model of transition to ensure ongoing and appropriate care is critical. Enabling a smooth transfer begins with an understanding of the key differences between paediatric and adult NAFLD as well as the psychosocial factors that affect older adolescents. This Review summarizes the literature on paediatric NAFLD from the past two decades with a focus on the differences in epidemiology, pathology, pathophysiology and treatment that are relevant to clinicians who transition paediatric patients to adult care. An integrated model, which employs a team of adult and paediatric providers who can address the psychosocial, cognitive and logistical challenges of transition, provides the best opportunity for a seamless and coordinated transfer to adult care.

Transition of gastroenterological patients from paediatric to adult care: A position statement by the Italian Societies of Gastroenterology

In 2013, four Italian Gastroenterological Societies (the Italian Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, the Italian Society of Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists, the Italian Society of Endoscopy, and the Italian Society of Gastroenterology) formed a joint panel of experts with the aim of preparing an official statement on transition medicine in Gastroenterology. The transition of adolescents from paediatric to adult care is a crucial moment in managing chronic diseases such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease and liver transplantation. Improved medical treatment and availability of new drugs and surgical techniques have improved the prognosis of many paediatric disorders, prolonging survival, thus making the transition to adulthood possible and necessary. An inappropriate transition or the incomplete transmission of data from the paediatrician to the adult Gastroenterologist can dramatically decrease compliance to treatment and prognosis of a young patient, particularly in the case of severe disorders. For these reasons, the Italian gastroenterological societies decided to develop an official shared transition protocol. The resulting document discusses the factors influencing the transition process and highlights the main points to accomplish to optimize compliance and prognosis of gastroenterological patients during the difficult transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood.

Growing Up: Not an Easy Transition-Perspectives of Patients and Parents regarding Transfer from a Pediatric Liver Transplant Center to Adult Care

The transition from pediatric to adult care is a critical time when children with chronic illness sustain high morbidity and mortality. Transition services need to be focused on the adolescents' needs, which may differ from those perceived by healthcare providers. In this study, a survey of 31 patients with chronic liver disease and/or liver transplant who were "transferred" to adult services within the last 3 years was conducted. Patients were asked about their current health status and their perceptions of the overall transfer process. The mean age at transfer was 19.81 (18-21) years. Almost half the patients (47%) were not seen at the adult facility until 2-6 months after leaving the Children's hospital and 20% were not seen until 6-12 months. About 20% had their first contact with adult services through an emergency room visit. About 19% reported being out of medication during transition. Of the transplanted patients, 19% were being evaluated for a retransplant. The majority (82%) felt that an increased emphasis on promoting independence and "letting go" both by parents and by pediatric care providers was critical in their transition to independence and adult care services. This study provides thought-provoking insights, which are critical in designing the ideal transition program for children with chronic diseases.

Tips and hints for the transition: What adult hepatologists should know when accept teens with a pediatric hepatobiliary disease

The number of children with chronic hepatobiliary disease surviving into adulthood is more and more increasing, but no established model of transition does exist in this category of patients. Here, we summarize medical problems expected at the time of their transition, and any impacts on morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Information provided would turn useful to adult hepatologists and practitioners responsible for ensuring continuity of care for young adults affected by diseases they are not usually accustomed to.