Five-year survival predictive factors in patients with excessive alcohol intake and cirrhosis. Effect of alcoholic hepatitis, smoking and abstinence

Alcohol use disorders and liver fibrosis: an update

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is currently, worldwide, the second most common cause of human fatalities every year. Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) lead to 80% of hepatotoxic deaths, and about 40% of cases of cirrhosis are alcohol-related. An acceptable daily intake (ADI) of ethanol is hard to establish and studies somewhat controversially recommend a variety of dosages of ADI, whilst others regard any intake as dangerous. Steatohepatitis should be viewed as "the rate limiting step": generally, it can be overcome by abstinence, although in some patients, abstinence has little effect, with the risk of fibrosis, leading in some cases to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Chronic alcoholism can also cause hypercortisolism, specifically pseudo-Cushing Syndrome, whose diagnosis is challenging. If fibrosis is spotted early, patients may be enrolled in detoxification programs to achieve abstinence. Treatment drugs include silybin, metadoxine and adenosyl methionine. Nutrition and the proper use of micronutrients are important, albeit often overlooked in ALD treatment. Other drugs, with promising antifibrotic effects, are now being studied. This review deals with the clinical and pathogenetic aspects of alcohol-related liver fibrosis and suggests possible future strategies to prevent cirrhosis.

Screening for Fibrosis Promotes Lifestyle Changes: A Prospective Cohort Study in 4796 Individuals

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Early detection of liver fibrosis is believed to promote lifestyle changes. We evaluated self-reported changes in alcohol intake, diet, exercise, and weight after participating in a screening study for liver fibrosis.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective screening study of individuals at risk of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). We provided lifestyle advice to all participants and evaluated lifestyle changes by questionnaires after 1 week and 6 months, with re-examination of a subgroup after 2 years.

RESULTS

A total of 1850 at risk of ALD and 2946 at risk of MASLD were included, of whom 383 (8%) were screening positive (transient elastography ≥8 kPa). A total of 84% replied to the 6-month questionnaire. In ALD participants, excessive drinking decreased from 46% to 32% after 6 months. Only 15% reported increased drinking, without differences between screening positive and negative individuals (P = .698). In high-risk drinkers, a positive screening test predicted abstinence or decreased alcohol use after 6 months (odds ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-4.57; P = .005). After 2 years, excessive drinking decreased from 52% to 41% in a subgroup of 752 individuals and a positive screening test predicted abstinence or decreased alcohol use after 2 years (odds ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-3.11, P = .023). MASLD participants showed similar improvements: 35% improved their diet, 22% exercised more, and 13% reported a weight loss ≥5% after 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening for liver fibrosis is associated with sustained improvements in alcohol consumption, diet, weight, and exercise in at-risk ALD and MASLD. The changes are most pronounced in screening positive participants but not limited to this group.

Liver stiffness and associated risk factors among people with a history of injecting drugs: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Persons with opioid use disorders (OUD) and persons with substance use disorders (SUD) who inject substances have a reduced life expectancy of up to 25 years compared with the general population. Chronic liver diseases are a substantial cause of this. Screening strategies based on liver stiffness measurements (LSM) may facilitate early detection, timely intervention, and treatment of liver disease. This study aims to investigate the extent of chronic liver disease measured with transient elastography and the association between LSM and various risk factors, including substance use patterns, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, alcohol use, body mass index, age, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol among people with OUD or with SUD who inject substances.

METHODS

Data was collected from May 2017 to March 2022 in a cohort of 676 persons from Western Norway. The cohort was recruited from two populations: Persons receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) (81% of the sample) or persons with SUD injecting substances but not receiving OAT. All participants were assessed at least once with transient elastography. A linear mixed model was performed to assess the impact of risk factors such as HCV infection, alcohol use, lifestyle-associated factors, and substance use on liver stiffness at baseline and over time. Baseline was defined as the time of the first liver stiffness measurement. The results are presented as coefficients (in kilopascal (kPa)) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

At baseline, 12% (n = 83) of the study sample had LSM suggestive of advanced chronic liver disease (LSM ≥ 10 kPa). Advanced age (1.0 kPa per 10 years increments, 95% CI: 0.68;1.3), at least weekly alcohol use (1.3, 0.47;2.1), HCV infection (1.2, 0.55;1.9), low HDL cholesterol level (1.4, 0.64;2.2), and higher body mass index (0.25 per increasing unit, 0.17;0.32) were all significantly associated with higher LSM at baseline. Compared with persistent chronic HCV infection, a resolved HCV infection predicted a yearly reduction of LSM (-0.73, -1.3;-0.21) from baseline to the following liver stiffness measurement.

CONCLUSIONS

More than one-tenth of the participants in this study had LSM suggestive of advanced chronic liver disease. It underscores the need for addressing HCV infection and reducing lifestyle-related liver risk factors, such as metabolic health factors and alcohol consumption, to prevent the advancement of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis in this particular population.

Meta-analysis: Prevalence and impact of alcohol abstinence in alcohol-associated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Although alcohol abstinence may be an effective intervention for alcohol-associated cirrhosis, its association with prognosis has not been systematically assessed or quantified.

AIMS

To determine the prevalence of alcohol abstinence, factors associated with alcohol abstinence and the impact of abstinence on morbidity and overall survival in people with alcohol-associated cirrhosis.

METHODS

We searched Medline and Embase from inception to 15 April 2023 for prospective and retrospective cohort studies describing alcohol abstinence in people with known alcohol-associated cirrhosis. Meta-analysis of proportions for pooled estimates was performed. The method of inverse variance, employing a random-effects model, was used to pool the hazard ratio (HR) comparing outcomes of abstinent against non-abstinent individuals with alcohol-associated cirrhosis.

RESULTS

We included 19 studies involving 18,833 people with alcohol-associated cirrhosis. The prevalence of alcohol abstinence was 53.8% (CI: 44.6%-62.7%). Over a mean follow-up duration of 48.6 months, individuals who continued to consume alcohol had significantly lower overall survival compared to those who were abstinent (HR: 0.611, 95% CI: 0.506-0.738). These findings remained consistent in sensitivity/subgroup analysis for the presence of decompensation, study design and studies that assessed abstinence throughout follow-up. Alcohol abstinence was associated with a significantly lower risk of hepatic decompensation (HR: 0.612, 95% CI: 0.473-0.792).

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol abstinence is associated with substantial improvement in overall survival in alcohol-associated cirrhosis. However, only half of the individuals with known alcohol-associated cirrhosis are abstinent.

Is There a Safe Alcohol Consumption Limit for the General Population and in Patients with Liver Disease?

Excessive alcohol consumption represents an important burden for health systems worldwide and is a major cause of liver- and cancer-related deaths. Alcohol consumption is mostly assessed by self-report that often underestimates the amount of drinking. While alcohol use disorders identification test - version C is the most widely used test for alcohol use screening, in patients with liver disease the use of alcohol biomarker could help an objective assessment. The amount of alcohol that leads to significant liver disease depends on gender, genetic background, and coexistence of comorbidities (i.e., metabolic syndrome factors). All patients with alcohol-associated liver disease are recommended to follow complete abstinence and they should be treated within multidisciplinary teams. Abstinence slows down and even reverses the progression of liver fibrosis and can help recompensate patients with complicated cirrhosis. Whether there is a safe amount of alcohol in the general population is a matter of intense debate. Large epidemiological studies showed that the safe amount of alcohol to avoid overall health-related risks is lower than expected even in the general population. Even one drink per day can increase cancer-related death. In patients with any kind of chronic liver disease, especially in those with metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease, no alcohol intake is recommended. This review article discusses the current evidence supporting the deleterious effects of small-to-moderate amounts of alcohol in the general population and in patients with underlying chronic liver disease.

Multidisciplinary Care of Alcohol-related Liver Disease and Alcohol Use Disorder: A Narrative Review for Hepatology and Addiction Clinicians

PURPOSE

Models of integrated, multidisciplinary care are optimal in the setting of complex, chronic diseases and in the overlap of medical and mental health disease, both of which apply to alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Alcohol use disorder (AUD) drives nearly all cases of ALD, and coexisting mental health disease is common. ALD is a complex condition with severe clinical manifestations and high mortality that can occasionally lead to liver transplantation. As a result, integrated care for ALD is an attractive proposition. The aim of this narrative review was to: (1) review the overlapping and concerning trends in the epidemiology of AUD and ALD; (2) use a theoretical framework for integrated care known as the "five-component model" as a basis to highlight the need for integrated care and the overlapping clinical manifestations and management of the 2 conditions; and (3) review the existing applications of integrated care in this area.

METHODS

We performed a narrative review of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and management strategies in AUD and ALD, with a particular focus on areas of overlap that are pertinent to clinicians who manage each disease. Previously published models were reviewed for integrating care in AUD and ALD, both in the general ALD population and in the setting of liver transplantation.

FINDINGS

The incidences of AUD and ALD are rising, with a pronounced acceleration driven by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. Hepatologists are underprepared to diagnose and treat AUD despite its high prevalence in patients with liver disease. A patient who presents with overlapping clinical manifestations of both AUD and ALD may not fit neatly into typical treatment paradigms for each individual disease but rather will require new management strategies that are appropriately adapted. As a result, the dimensions of integrated care, including collective ownership of shared goals, interdependence among providers, flexibility of roles, and newly created professional activities, are highly pertinent to the holistic management of both diseases.

IMPLICATIONS

Integrated care models have proliferated as recognition grows of the dual pathology of AUD and ALD. Ongoing coordination across disciplines and research in the fields of hepatology and addiction medicine are needed to further elucidate optimal mechanisms for collaboration and improved quality of care.

Abstinence is associated with better outcomes in patients with alcohol-related hepatocellular carcinoma: Results of an observational study

BACKGROUND

Patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may have reduced survival compared to those with HCC related to other causes. The impact of abstinence in alcohol-related HCC is unknown. We compared access to curative treatment and the prognosis of patients with HCC according to the cause of cirrhosis and evaluated the impact of abstinence on the prognosis of patients with alcohol-related HCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data for patients with cirrhosis and HCC were prospectively collected in a single center. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with access to curative treatment. Multivariate Fine and Gray proportional hazards models were used to identify factors associated with 5-year survival after adjustment for lead-time bias.

RESULTS

Two hundred patients were included, 114 (57 %) with non-alcohol-related HCC and 86 (43 %) with alcohol-related HCC (35 abstainers, 51 consumers). During follow-up, 21 patients were transplanted and 156 died. The proportion of patients who had access to curative treatment was 65 % in abstainers, 44 % in consumers, and 57 % in patients with non-alcohol-related cirrhosis (p = 0.06). In multivariate analyses, abstinence was not associated with better access to curative treatment. After adjustment for lead-time bias, the 5-year cumulative incidence of overall death was significantly lower in abstainers than in consumers and in patients with non-alcohol-related cirrhosis (52 % vs. 78 % vs. 81 %, respectively, p = 0.04). In multivariate analyses, abstainers had lower risk of death than consumers (SHR: 0.47, 95 % CI: 0.28-0.80, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Abstinence improves the outcome of patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis once HCC has occurred.

Hepatocyte-derived biomarkers predict liver-related events at 2 years in Child-Pugh class A alcohol-related cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In patients with compensated alcohol-related cirrhosis, reliable prognostic biomarkers are lacking. Keratin-18 and hepatocyte-derived large extracellular vesicle (lEV) concentrations reflect disease activity, but their ability to predict liver-related events is unknown.

METHODS

We measured plasma keratin-18 and hepatocyte lEV concentrations in 500 patients with Child-Pugh class A alcohol-related cirrhosis. The ability of these hepatocyte-derived biomarkers, alone or combined with model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and FibroTest scores, to predict liver-related events at 2 years was analyzed, taking into account the alcohol consumption at inclusion and during follow-up.

RESULTS

Keratin-18 and hepatocyte lEV concentrations increased with alcohol consumption. In patients without active alcohol consumption at enrollment (n = 419), keratin-18 concentration predicted liver-related events at 2 years, independently of FibroTest and MELD. Patients with both keratin-18 concentrations >285 U/L and FibroTest >0.74 had a 24% cumulative incidence of liver-related events at 2 years, vs. 5% to 14% in other groups of patients. Similar results were obtained when combining keratin-18 concentrations >285 U/L with MELD >10. In patients with active alcohol consumption at enrollment (n = 81), hepatocyte lEVs predicted liver-related events at 2 years, independently of FibroTest and MELD. Patients with both hepatocyte lEV concentrations >50 U/L and FibroTest >0.74 had a 62% cumulative incidence of liver-related events at 2 years, vs. 8% to 13% in other groups of patients. Combining hepatocyte lEV concentrations >50 U/L with MELD >10 had a lower discriminative ability. Similar results were obtained when using decompensation of cirrhosis, defined according to Baveno VII criteria, as an endpoint.

CONCLUSION

In patients with Child-Pugh class A alcohol-related cirrhosis, combining hepatocyte-derived biomarkers with FibroTest or MELD scores identifies patients at high risk of liver-related events, and could be used for risk stratification and patient selection in clinical trials.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

In patients with compensated alcohol-related cirrhosis, reliable predictors of outcome are lacking. In patients with Child-Pugh class A alcohol-related cirrhosis, combining hepatocyte-derived biomarkers (keratin-18 and hepatocyte-large extracellular vesicles) with FibroTest or MELD scores identifies those at high risk of liver-related events at 2 years. The identified patients at high risk of liver-related events are the target-of-choice population for intensive surveillance (e.g., referral to tertiary care centers; intensive control of risk factors) and inclusion in clinical trials.

Challenges and Solutions for Monitoring Alcohol Use in Patients With Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: Pilot Study of a Wearable Alcohol Biosensor

OBJECTIVES

Early alcohol use identification can prevent morbidity/mortality for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Innovative wearable alcohol biosensors (biosensors) that identify alcohol use through perspiration are an emerging technology with potential application for patients with ALD. Our primary aim was to determine biosensor acceptability and feasibility for patients with ALD. We describe participant acceptance and challenges using biosensor technology in a pilot study of biosensors with patients with ALD.

DESIGN

Participants had a recent diagnosis or hospitalization for decompensated ALD, had to be drinking within the past 3 months, and had to be followed at our center. Participants wore the biosensor daily for 3 months. Quantitative data using the Technology Acceptance Model 2 (TAM2) measure were collected at intake and study conclusion. The TAM2's 13 items cover four scales: perceived usefulness, ease of use, attitude toward technology, and intention to use on a 7-point Likert scale. Lower scores indicate higher acceptance. Participants were asked open-ended questions about issues wearing the biosensor.

RESULTS

Among 27 participants, 60% were women with an average age of 45 (10) years, and 89% were White. TAM2 subscales indicated initially high acceptance (mean scores = 1.2-2.2) and remained high (mean scores = 1.3-2.3) without a statistically significant decline at study conclusion. From open-ended questions, several themes regarding problems with device wear emerged a) uncomfortable or cumbersome to wear, b) problems with biosensor appearance, and c) issues with usability. Challenges to biosensor usage included data being lost when devices were damaged and devices being lost during the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol biosensors seem to be acceptable to ALD participants. However, improving the appearance, comfort, durability, and functionality of biosensor devices is critical to clinical deployment.Trial Registration:Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03533660: Alcohol biosensor monitoring for alcohol liver disease.

Systematic review and meta-analysis: Efficacy and safety of baclofen in patients with alcohol use disorder co-morbid liver diseases

Baclofen is the only drug that has been investigated in randomized controlled studies for anti-craving in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and liver disease. However, the results of its efficacy are controversial due to limited case numbers; therefore, a meta-analysis of all available studies is needed to verify efficacy and safety in this population. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021284439) clauses. PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane, and Clinical Trials. Gov were searched for patients with AUD co-morbid liver diseases who used baclofen to maintain abstinence. The primary outcome was maintaining abstinence. Baclofen safety was evaluated by adverse reaction occurrence during treatment. A total of 322 patients with AUD co-morbid liver diseases (alcohol-related liver disease, hepatitis C, or cirrhosis) from five studies were included. The total abstinence rate was 53% (95% CI: 0.23-0.84). Specifically, the abstinence rate in patients with alcohol-related liver disease and cirrhosis was 63% and 55%, respectively. We further analyzed the two included randomized controlled studies to compare the efficacy between baclofen and a placebo. There was no significant difference in abstinence rates between baclofen and the placebo (RR: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.41-4.92). One serious adverse event was reported, and no cases of baclofen addiction were found. The abstinence rate in patients with AUD co-morbid liver diseases was 53%; however, the efficacy of baclofen for maintaining abstinence in this population still needs to be validated with further studies.

Low alcohol consumption influences outcomes in individuals with alcohol-related compensated cirrhosis in a French multicenter cohort

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The harmful impact of heavy alcohol consumption and recurrence in patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis is long-established, although this is based on old studies. However, the drivers of long-term outcome still need to be clearly investigated.

METHOD

All patients with biopsy-proven compensated alcohol-related cirrhosis included in the CIRRAL cohort (22 centers) were prospectively studied. Prognostic variables of survival and liver event-free survival were assessed using multivariable Cox models with stepwise selection. The prognostic impact of alcohol recurrence during follow-up (computed in glass-years in the same way as pack-years for tobacco) was assessed using a time-dependent covariable.

RESULTS

From 2010 to 2016, 650 patients were included. The median age at baseline was 58.4 years, 67.4% were men and the median BMI was 27.8 kg/m², 63.8% had a history of liver decompensation, and 70.2% had discontinued alcohol. At 5 years, recurrence occurred in 30.9% of abstinent patients and this risk was higher in patients with a history of drug abuse and in those with shorter alcohol discontinuation times. Median survival was 97 months. Age, alcohol consumption at baseline, platelet count and Child-Pugh score >5 were associated with overall and liver event-free survival on multivariate analysis. Alcohol consumption of more than 25 glass-years during follow-up was independently associated with lower survival and with a trend toward lower liver event-free survival, with the risk increasing from 1 glass-year, though not significantly. Simon & Makuch plots confirm the benefit of no alcohol consumption (<1 glass/week) on both outcomes and the dose-dependent impact of alcohol over time.

CONCLUSION

This prospective study in patients with compensated alcohol-related cirrhosis identifies factors predictive of alcohol recurrence during follow-up and shows that moderate alcohol consumption during follow-up negatively impacts outcomes. Patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis should be advised to completely stop drinking alcohol.

REGISTRATION

CIRRAL (NCT01213927) cohort was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and the full protocol is available at the following link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01213927.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

In patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis, data are lacking about the impact of the amount of alcohol consumed on both survival and liver-related events. The present study based on the CIRRAL cohort demonstrates that alcohol recurrence occurs in more than 30% of patients with compensated cirrhosis and that even a moderate recurrence strongly influences outcomes. Patients with compensated alcohol-related cirrhosis should be advised to completely discontinue alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, as the present study shows that no alcohol consumption can be regarded as safe when cirrhosis has developed.

Clinical and Safety Evaluation of Liv.52 in Alcoholic Liver Disease: A Review

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has been a growing concern in developed and developing nations. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation are the most common cause of the development and progression of ALD. Due to paucity in the number and efficacy of hepatoprotective drugs currently available, and with the easy availability of natural therapy and herbal medicines, ALD is managed using a combination of pharmaceutical interventions and herbal medications. However, the effectiveness of these hepatoprotectives is controversial. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that Liv.52 modulates the lipotropic activity of hepatocytes, reduces inflammation, enhances alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism, and protects the hepatic parenchyma by restoring the antioxidant levels of hepatocytes. Clinical studies further support that there is improvement in the subjective symptoms of patients as well as improvements in liver function test parameters. Studies suggest that Liv.52 is well tolerated and has no reported side effects.

Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Biopsy-proven Alcohol-related Liver Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) frequently have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but their long-term risk of CVD is not well-known, especially considering the competing risk of death from liver-related causes. It is further unknown if any excess risk varies across histological subgroups.

METHODS

We investigated the risk of CVD outcomes in 3488 persons with ALD and an available liver biopsy in Sweden between 1969 and 2016, compared with a matched reference population (n = 15,461). Administrative coding from national diagnostic and histopathology registers were used to define exposures and outcomes. Competing risk regression, taking non-CVD death into account and adjusting for potential confounders, was used to estimate subdistribution hazard ratios for incident CVD up until Dec 31, 2019.

RESULTS

At baseline, patients with ALD had a median age of 58 years, 64% were men, and 2039 (58%) had cirrhosis on histology. The incidence rate of CVD was 35.6 per 1000 person-years in ALD compared with 19.0 per 1000 person-years in reference individuals. ALD was associated with a 2-fold increased short-term risk for CVD compared with matched reference individuals (subdistribution hazard ratio during the first year after diagnosis, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.79-2.95), but this risk decreased with time. Incidence rates of CVD were comparable across histological subgroups (ranging from 27.4 CVD cases per 1000 person-years in those with normal histology to 39.2 cases per 1000 person-years in those with cirrhosis).

CONCLUSIONS

Persons with biopsy-proven ALD have increased rates of CVD across histological subgroups compared with matched reference individuals, particularly just after ALD diagnosis. Active surveillance of modifiable CVD risk factors should be considered by clinicians treating patients with ALD.

Effects of electroacupuncture on liver function in mice with chronic alcoholic liver injury: visual display by in vivo fluorescence imaging

OBJECTIVE

Acupuncture can improve the symptoms of alcohol-induced bodily injury and has been accepted by the World Health Organization. In this study, in vivo fluorescence imaging (IVFI) was applied to display and evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on liver function (LF) in mice with chronic alcoholic liver injury (cALI).

METHODS

IVFI of the Cy5.5-galactosylated polylysine (Cy5.5-GP) probe targeting the liver asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) and liver indocyanine green (ICG) clearance was performed to visually evaluate the effect of EA at ST36 and BL18 on liver reserve function and hepatic metabolism in mice with cALI. In addition, changes in ASGPR expression, serum indexes of LF, and hepatic morphology were observed.

RESULTS

After EA at ST36 and BL18, the ASGPR-targeted fluorescence signals (FS) in the liver increased significantly in cALI mice (p < 0.05) and exhibited relationships with liver ASGPR expression, liver ICG clearance, liver histology, and serum marker levels of LF in cALI mice undergoing EA intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

As displayed by IVFI, EA at ST36 and BL18 appears to improve liver reserve function and inhibit the development of liver injury in mice with cALI. EA may have potential as a treatment strategy to protect against ALI.

Advanced Endoscopic Resection Techniques in Cirrhosis-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes

BACKGROUND/AIMS

While safety and effectiveness of advanced endoscopic resection techniques such as endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been well established in general population, data regarding their utility in patients with cirrhosis is limited.

METHODS

We searched multiple databases from inception through July 2021 to identify studies that reported on outcomes of EMR and/or ESD in patients with cirrhosis. Meta-analysis was performed to determine pooled rates of immediate and delayed bleeding, perforation, death as well as rates of successful en bloc and R0 resection. Pooled relative risk (RR) was calculated for each outcome between patients with and without cirrhosis.

RESULTS

Ten studies with a total of 3244 patients were included in the final analysis. Pooled rates of immediate & delayed bleeding, perforation, and death during EMR and/or ESD in patients with cirrhosis were 9.5% (CI 4.0-21.1), 6.6% (CI 4.2-10.3), 2.1% (CI 1.1-3.9) and 0.6% (CI 0.2-1.7), respectively. Pooled rates of successful en bloc and R0 resection were 93% (CI 85.9-96.7) and 90.8% (CI 86.5-93.8), respectively. While incidence of immediate bleeding was higher in patients with cirrhosis, there was no statistically significant difference in any of the other outcomes between the patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that performing EMR and ESD for gastrointestinal lesions in patients with cirrhosis is both safe and effective. The risks of procedural complications parallel those reported in general population.

Pharmacological effects of Chinese medicine modulating NLRP3 inflammasomes in fatty liver treatment

Inflammation is a key contributing factor in the pathogenesis of fatty liver diseases (FLD), such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-associated liver diseases (ALDs). The NLRP3 inflammasome is widely present in the hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, which are assembled and activated by sensing intracellular and extracellular danger signals resulting in the matures of IL-1β/IL-18 and pyroptosis. Moreover, the aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is considered the main factor to drives immune outbreaks in relation to hepatic injury, inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis. Therefore, inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome may be a promising therapeutic target for FLD. Currently, accumulating evidence has revealed that a number of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) exert beneficial effects on liver injury via inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Here, we summarized the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the progression of FLD, and TCM exerts beneficial effects on FLD via positive modulation of inflammation. We describe that TCM is a promising valuable resource for the prevention and treatment agents against FLD and has the potential to be developed into clinical drugs.

Oroxylin A: A Promising Flavonoid for Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases

There have been magnificent advancements in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of chronic diseases over the past several years, but these diseases continue to be a considerable cause of death worldwide. Most of the approved medications available for the prevention and treatment of these diseases target only a single gene/protein/pathway and are known to cause severe side effects and are less effective than they are anticipated. Consequently, the development of finer therapeutics that outshine the existing ones is far-reaching. Natural compounds have enormous applications in curbing several disastrous and fatal diseases. Oroxylin A (OA) is a flavonoid obtained from the plants Oroxylum indicum, Scutellaria baicalensis, and S. lateriflora, which have distinctive pharmacological properties. OA modulates the important signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, ERK1/2, Wnt/β-catenin, PTEN/PI3K/Akt, and signaling molecules, such as TNF-α, TGF-β, MMPs, VEGF, interleukins, Bcl-2, caspases, HIF-1α, EMT proteins, Nrf-2, etc., which play a pivotal role in the molecular mechanism of chronic diseases. Overwhelming pieces of evidence expound on the anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-cancer potentials of this flavonoid, which makes it an engrossing compound for research. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies also displayed the promising potential of OA against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, neurological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc. Therefore, the current review focuses on delineating the role of OA in combating different chronic diseases and highlighting the intrinsic molecular mechanisms of its action.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Oyster Peptide on Alcohol-Induced Liver Disease in Mice

Alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD) has become one of the major global health problems, and the aim of this study was to investigate the characterization of the structure as well as the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of oyster peptide (OP, MW < 3500 Da) on ALD in a mouse model. The results demonstrate that ethanol administration could increase the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), γ-Glutamyl transferase (GGT), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and triglycerides (TG), as well as increase the interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) levels (p < 0.01), and reduce the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the concentration of glutathione (GSH). Those changes were significantly reversed by the application of different doses of OP. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor elythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1) were significantly up-regulated in OP groups, and the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of B cells (NF-κB), TNF-α, and IL-6 were markedly reduced in OP groups compared to that of the model group. Thus, OP had a significant protective effect on ALD through the enhancement of the in vivo antioxidant ability and the inhibition of the inflammatory response as possible mechanisms of action, which therefore suggests that OP might be useful as a natural source to protect the liver from alcohol damage.

Beneficial Shifts in Gut Microbiota by Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 in Alcoholic Hepatitis

Gut microbiota performs indispensable functions in the pathophysiology of alcoholic hepatitis (AH). We investigated the effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus helveticus for gut microbial restoration toward eubiosis in patients with AH. A multicenter, double-blind, and randomized trial was conducted. Probiotics (n = 44) and placebo (n = 45) groups received, during 7 days, L. rhamnosus R0011/L. helveticus R0052 at 120 mg/day and placebo. All patients were hospitalized to ensure abstinence. Liver function, lipopolysaccharide level, and stool analysis were evaluated in patients before and after 7 days of treatment. At baseline, the dominant bacteria were Gram-negative in both groups which decreased after the probiotics treatment and exhibited a significant reduction in lipopolysaccharide level (p < 0.001). The probiotics ameliorated the Child−Pugh scores (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the probiotics group showed a decline in the levels of alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (p < 0.05). The probiotics changed the gut microbial composition at various taxonomical levels. The proportion of Bacteroidetes (147%) was increased after 7 days of probiotics supplementation while Proteobacteria (30%) and Fusobacteria (0%) were decreased. Administration of L. rhamnosus R0011 and L. helveticus R0052 conceivably associated with restoration of gut microbiome in AH patients and improved AH by modulating the gut−liver axis.

Transient Elastography Accurately Screens for Compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease in Patients With Ongoing or Recent Alcohol Withdrawal

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography (TE) is a promising method for staging fibrosis in alcohol-related liver disease, but uncertainties remain regarding the influence of alcohol consumption and thus the ideal timing for TE performance. We evaluated the performance of TE compared with liver biopsy to exclude compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) in patients hospitalized for alcohol detoxification.

METHODS

Patients were recruited prospectively at 6 in-patient addiction centers in France. Eligible patients had increased aspartate aminotransferase levels, and no history or signs of overt cirrhosis. TE, histology, and biochemistry measurements were obtained within a median of 6 days after alcohol withdrawal. TE and biochemistry were repeated 1 and 2 months later.

RESULTS

The study included 259 patients for per-protocol analysis, of whom 45 (17%) had cACLD. TE identified patients with high accuracy at inclusion and at the 1- and 2-month follow-up evaluation, with area under the curve values of 0.96 (95% CIs, 0.94-0.99), 0.96 (95% CIs, 0.92-0.99), and 0.93 (95% CIs, 0.85-1.00), respectively. In 84% of patients, cACLD was ruled out when liver stiffness was less than 10 kPa (negative predictive value, 99% (95% CIs, 98%-100%)) or ruled in when greater than 25 kPa (positive predictive value, 93% (95% CI, 83%-102%)). Algorithms based on aminotransferase levels and/or bilirubin did not add to the diagnostic performance of TE in this period. Among patients with initial liver stiffness of 10 to 25 kPa, more than half of those with no cACLD showed liver stiffness of less than 10 at 1- and 2-month follow-up testing.

CONCLUSIONS

TE performed during the first 2 months after alcohol cessation is an excellent method for excluding alcohol-related cACLD.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

NCT01789008.

Cigarette smoking and liver diseases

Cigarette smoking is a preventable risk factor for premature morbidity and mortality. A history of smoking is observed in approximately 40% of patients with liver disease, while a growing number of studies are investigating the potential impact of smoking in chronic liver diseases. This review discusses the effects of smoking on liver diseases, at multiple levels, with a focus on its potential causal role. Clinical evidence indicates that cigarette smoking negatively impacts the incidence and severity of fatty liver disease, fibrosis progression, hepatocellular carcinoma development, and the outcomes of patients with advanced liver disease. The underlying mechanisms are complex and involve different pathophysiological pathways including oxidative stress and oncogenic signals. Importantly, smoking promotes cardiovascular disease and extrahepatic cancers in patients with steatohepatitis and in transplant recipients. We discuss how promoting smoking cessation could improve the rates of treatment response (in clinical trials) and fibrosis regression, while reducing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and improving liver transplant outcomes. Finally, we discuss current challenges such as the referral of smokers to specialised units for smoking cessation.

Management of alcohol-related liver disease: the French Association for the Study of the Liver and the French Alcohol Society clinical guidelines

Excessive alcohol consumption is the leading cause of liver diseases in Western countries, especially in France. Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) is an extremely broad context and there remains much to accomplish in terms of identifying patients, improving prognosis and treatment, and standardising practices. The French Association for the Study of the Liver wished to organise guidelines together with the French Alcohol Society in order to summarise the best evidence available about several key clinical points in ARLD. These guidelines have been elaborated based on the level of evidence available in the literature and each recommendation has been analysed, discussed and voted by the panel of experts. They describe how patients with ARLD should be managed nowadays and discuss the main unsettled issues in the field.

Real‐world long‐term analysis of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

Background and Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Risk of Cancer in Biopsy-Proven Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study of 3410 Persons

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Persons with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) are at an increased risk of death and liver-related endpoints, but the association with incident cancer is not well understood, and whether it differs across histopathological subgroups is undefined.

METHODS

We investigated the risk of cancer in 3,410 persons with a diagnosis of ALD and an available liver biopsy in Sweden between 1969-2016, compared to a matched reference population. Administrative coding from national registers and liver biopsy data were used to define exposure and outcome status. Competing risk regression, adjusted for available confounders and using non-cancer mortality as the competing risk, was used to estimate subdistribution hazard ratios (sHRs) for incident cancer.

RESULTS

At baseline, persons with ALD had a median age of 58.2 years, 67% were men, and 2,042 (60%) had cirrhosis. ALD was not associated with cancer in general (sHR = 1.01, 95%CI = 0.92-1.11), although the risk was increased in persons surviving ≥1 year (sHR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.08-1.32). The risk of liver cancer was elevated sHR = 12.80, 95%CI = 9.38-17.45). HCC incidence among ALD persons with cirrhosis was 8.6 cases/1,000 person-years, corresponding to a cumulative incidence after 10 years of 5.0%.

CONCLUSIONS

Persons with biopsy-proven ALD that survive the initial time after diagnosis are at an elevated risk for cancer, in particular HCC compared with the general population. Although the risk for HCC was elevated, data do not suggest that routine surveillance for HCC in ALD cirrhosis is cost-effective.

The prognostic impact of different stages of acute kidney injury in patients with decompensated cirrhosis: a prospective cohort study

AIM

To assess the impact of the different stages of acute kidney injury (AKI) on the prognosis of patients hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients admitted in two tertiary hospitals in southern Brazil. Participants were considered eligible if they were admitted for acute decompensation of cirrhosis. The main exposure factor was the onset of AKI. AKI stages were defined according the European recommendations. The outcomes evaluated were survival time and death rates at 28 and 90 days from hospital admission. A χ2 test was used to compare mortality between groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were undertaken assessing time to event as days from AKI diagnosis to death or liver transplant.

RESULTS

Two hundred and five patients were included in the study, and 121 met the criteria for AKI. Patients with AKI 1b, AKI 2 and AKI 3 had higher 90-day mortality than patients without AKI (P = 0.008, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). However, there was no difference in 90-day mortality when patients with AKI 1a were compared with those without AKI (P = 0.742). The mean survival of patients without AKI was higher than that of patients with AKI 1b (591.4 and 305.4 days, respectively, P = 0.015), while there was no significant difference between the mean survival of patients without AKI and that of patients with AKI 1a (591.4 and 373.6 days, respectively, P = 0.198).

CONCLUSION

Only AKI ≥1b seems to substantially impact mortality of patients hospitalized for acute decompensation of cirrhosis.

Alcoholic liver disease: Current insights into cellular mechanisms

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) due to chronic alcohol consumption is a significant global disease burden and a leading cause of mortality. Alcohol abuse induces a myriad of aberrant changes in hepatocytes at both the cellular and molecular level. Although the disease spectrum of ALD is widely recognized, the precise triggers for disease progression are still to be fully elucidated. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis and altered immune system response plays an important role in disease pathogenesis, triggering the activation of inflammatory pathways and apoptosis. Despite many recent clinical studies treatment options for ALD are limited, especially at the alcoholic hepatitis stage. We have therefore reviewed some of the key pathways involved in the pathogenesis of ALD and highlighted current trials for treating patients.

Nomogram to Predict the Survival of Chinese Patients with Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

OBJECTIVES

Alcohol-related liver disease is an increasing public health burden in China, but there is a lack of models to predict its prognosis. This study established a nomogram for predicting the survival of Chinese patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD).

METHODS

Hospitalized alcohol-related liver disease patients were retrospectively enrolled from 2015 to 2018 and followed up for 24 months to evaluate survival profiles. A total of 379 patients were divided into a training cohort (n = 265) and validation cohort (n = 114). Cox proportional hazard survival analysis identified survival factors of the patients in the training cohort. A nomogram was built and internally validated.

RESULTS

The 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month survival rates for the training cohort were 82.6%, 81.1%, 74.3%, and 64.5%, respectively. The Cox analysis showed relapse (P=0.001), cirrhosis (P=0.044), liver cancer (P < 0.001), and a model for end-stage liver diseases score of ≥21 (P=0.041) as independent prognostic factors. A nomogram was built, which predicted the survival of patients in the training cohort with a concordance index of 0.749 and in the internal validation cohort with a concordance index of 0.756.

CONCLUSION

The long-term survival of Chinese alcohol-related liver disease patients was poor with a 24-month survival rate of 64.5%. Relapse, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and a model for end-stage liver disease score of ≥21 were independent risk factors for those patients. A nomogram was developed and internally validated for predicting the probability of their survival at different time points.

Outcomes of Young Patients With Alcoholic Cirrhosis After First Hospitalization for Cirrhosis: A Carilion Clinic Experience

Background 

Alcoholic cirrhosis though uncommon in young patients is being reported more frequently and related mortality is also increasing. 

Study aim 

To evaluate risk factors associated with mortality among young patients (<40 years) with alcoholic cirrhosis and older patients (> 40 years old) after their first hospitalization in a tertiary referral academic center. 

Methods

Carilion clinic’s electronic medical record (EPIC) was queried to identify all alcoholic patients hospitalized for the first time with either a new diagnosis of alcoholic cirrhosis or a prior diagnosis of this from 2008 to 2016 with follow-up through June 2018. Information on demographics, comorbidities, lab values, procedures, and mortality was extracted. The cumulative risks of long-term mortality after the first hospitalization were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared between the two groups; those < 40 years of age and those > 40 years of age. Demographic data, lab values, and comorbidities associated with cirrhosis were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis to determine risk factors associated with long-term mortality. 

Results

We identified 65 young patients out of a total of 325 patients admitted for the first time for alcoholic cirrhosis (mean age: 34.6 ± 4.7 yrs, 72.3% males, 74.4% current alcohol users, 52.3% current smokers, 12.6% current illicit drugs users). The one, three, and five-year cumulative mortality after the first hospitalization was 21.1 %, 31.1%, and 49.7% respectively. The median survival for young patients was longer as compared to the older patients (p<0.001); likely related to high early mortality in older patients who had many other comorbidities. On multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, increased age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.05], neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) at first hospital discharge (HR 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04), the presence of encephalopathy (HR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.06-3.55), and initial MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) score (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.19) were associated with increased risk of mortality. Though the majority of patients endorsed current alcohol and tobacco use before the admission, it was not significantly associated with mortality. 

Conclusions 

Five-year cumulative mortality for patients < 40 years of age with alcoholic cirrhosis after their first hospitalization is 49.7%. Old age, most recent NLR, hepatic encephalopathy, and MELD score on admission were associated with increased late mortality. 

Moderate Alcoholic Hepatitis

The natural history of moderate alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is not well known. It is a frequent disease with a probable underestimated incidence compared with its severe form. Among the different prognostic scores predicting short-term mortality in AH, MELD seems to be the most accurate. The mortality of moderate AH is 3% to 7% in the short to medium term and 13% to 20% at 1 year, mainly because of liver-related complications, including severe infections. Long-term abstinence is the main goal of the treatment. There is still need for the development of new therapies for AH, including the less severe forms.

Impact of alcohol abstinence on survival after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with alcohol-related liver disease

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of alcohol abstinence on survival after hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD).

Patients and methods

In total, 92 patients with ALD-HCC who underwent initial and curative hepatic resection were identified, including 56 and 36 patients with and without alcohol abstinence, respectively.

Results

The 3-, 5-, and 7-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 46%, 43%, and 37% in the abstinence group, and 61%, 36%, and 36% in the non-abstinence group, respectively (p = 0.71). The 3-, 5-, and 7-year overall survival (OS) were 91%, 76%, and 66% in the abstinence group, and 87%, 57%, and 44% in the non-abstinence group, respectively (p = 0.023). Multivariate analysis revealed that non-abstinence was an independent prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.026). The incidence rate of liver-related death including HCC-specific death, liver failure, and renal failure in cirrhosis (hepatorenal syndrome) between the non-abstinence and abstinence groups were 41.7% vs. 19.6% (p = 0.032). Worsening of the Child–Pugh grade at intrahepatic recurrence was more frequently observed in the non-abstinence (33.3%) than that in the abstinence group (6.5%) (p = 0.039).

Conclusions

Alcohol abstinence might improve the long-term survival of patients with ALD-HCC undergoing hepatic resection.

•

Non-abstinence after surgery was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival with a 2.2-fold increased risk.

•

Worsening of Child–Pugh grade at intrahepatic recurrence was less frequently observed in the abstinent patients.

•

Hepatic resection tended to be more frequently performed for the treatment of HCC recurrence in the abstinent patients.

•

The incidence rate of liver-related death was significantly lower in the abstinent patients.

[Medical Treatment of Alcoholic Liver Disease]

Alcoholic liver disease is a major cause of liver disease that results in significant morbidity and mortality in Korea. Abstinence is the most important strategy to prevent disease progression. Corticosteroids improve the one-month survival in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, but it was not effective on long-term survival. An N-acetylcysteine treatment combined with corticosteroids may provide a short-term survival benefit than corticosteroids alone. Pentoxifylline is unlikely to affect short-term survival. Hence, studies on new therapies, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and fecal microbiota transplantation, are ongoing. This paper briefly reviews the current knowledge of the medical treatment of alcoholic liver disease.

Metabolomic Analysis Uncovers Energy Supply Disturbance as an Underlying Mechanism of the Development of Alcohol-Associated Liver Cirrhosis

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is caused by alcohol metabolism's effects on the liver. The underlying mechanisms from a metabolic view in the development of alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis (ALC) are still elusive. We performed an untargeted serum metabolomic analysis in 14 controls, 16 patients with ALD without cirrhosis (NC), 27 patients with compensated cirrhosis, and 79 patients with decompensated ALC. We identified two metabolic fingerprints associated with ALC development (38 metabolites) and those associated with hepatic decompensation (64 metabolites) in ALC. The cirrhosis-associated fingerprint (eigenmetabolite) showed a better capability to differentiate ALC from NC than the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index score. The eigenmetabolite associated with hepatic decompensation showed an increasing trend during the disease progression and was positively correlated with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score. These metabolic fingerprints belong to the metabolites in lipid metabolism, amino acid pathway, and intermediary metabolites in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Conclusion: The metabolomic fingerprints suggest the disturbance of the metabolites associated with cellular energy supply as an underlying mechanism in the development and progression of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Insulin-like growth factor 1/Child-Turcotte-Pugh composite score as a predictor of treatment outcomes in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib

Background: Sorafenib was the first systemic therapy approved for the treatment of Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class A patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there are no biomarkers to predict survival and treatment outcomes and guide HCC systemic therapy. Type 1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1)/CTP composite score has emerged as a potential hepatic reserve assessment tool. Our study investigated the association of the IGF/CTP score with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of HCC patients treated with sorafenib.

Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients with HCC were treated with sorafenib and followed up until progression/death. We calculated the IGF/CTP score and used the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test to estimate and compare the time-to-event outcomes between patient subgroups.

Results: 171 patients were included, 116 of whom were CTP class A. Median PFS for IGF/CTP score AA and AB patients were 6.88 and 4.28 months, respectively (p = 0.1359). Median OS for IGF/CTP score AA and AB patients were 14.54 and 7.60 months, respectively (p = 0.1378). The PFS and OS was superior in AA patients, but the difference was not significant, likely due to the sample size. However, there was a significant difference in early OS and PFS curves between AA and AB (p = 0.0383 and p = 0.0099), respectively.

Conclusions: In CTP class A patients, IGF/CTP score B was associated with shorter PFS and OS, however, study was underpowered to reach statistical significance. If validated in larger cohorts, IGF/CTP score may serve as stratification tool in clinical trials, a hepatic reserve assessment tool for HCC outcomes prediction and to assist in therapy decisions.

Endpoints and design of clinical trials in patients with decompensated cirrhosis: Position paper of the LiverHope Consortium

Management of decompensated cirrhosis is currently geared towards the treatment of complications once they occur. To date there is no established disease-modifying therapy aimed at halting progression of the disease and preventing the development of complications in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The design of clinical trials to investigate new therapies for patients with decompensated cirrhosis is complex. The population of patients with decompensated cirrhosis is heterogeneous (i.e., different etiologies, comorbidities and disease severity), leading to the inclusion of diverse populations in clinical trials. In addition, primary endpoints selected for trials that include patients with decompensated cirrhosis are not homogeneous and at times may not be appropriate. This leads to difficulties in comparing results obtained from different trials. Against this background, the LiverHope Consortium organized a meeting of experts, the goal of which was to develop recommendations for the design of clinical trials and to define appropriate endpoints, both for trials aimed at modifying the natural history and preventing progression of decompensated cirrhosis, as well as for trials aimed at managing the individual complications of cirrhosis.

Hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in the era of antiviral therapy: The emerging role of non-viral risk factors

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the major malignant lethal tumours, is most prevalent in Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Both viral and non-viral factors contribute to the development of HCC. It is established that viral factors associated with HBV DNA level, HBV genotype, designated gene mutation, HBV DNA integration, HBx protein, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) and HBV RNA are correlated with hepatocarcinogenesis. Before the introduction of antiviral therapy, viral factors once attracted more attention during the development of HCC. With the widespread use of antiviral therapy, predominantly nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), most patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have achieved sustained viral control. The role of non-viral factors, especially modifiable factors, is anticipated to be reinforced in the future. Herein, we reviewed the modifiable non-viral risk factors of HBV-related HCC, in the hope of providing substantial evidence for further development of novel precautionary measures for HCC. In addition, the therapeutic interventions for reducing the risk of HCC, like potential conventional pharmaceutical interventions and lifestyle modification are also discussed in this review. Future studies that would explore the specific mechanism of HBV-related HCC development in patients with satisfactory viral control and related precision treatment are warranted.

Ferroptosis is involved in alcohol-induced cell death in vivo and in vitro

A critical pathogenic factor in the development of lethal liver failure is cell death induced by the accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species. In this study, we discovered and illuminated a new mechanism that led to alcoholic liver disease via ferroptosis, an iron-dependent regulated cell death. Study in vitro showed that both necroptosis inhibitor and ferroptosis inhibitors performed significantly protective effect on alcohol-induced cell death, while apoptosis inhibitor and autophagy inhibitor had no such effect. Our data also indicated that alcohol caused the accumulation of lipid peroxides and the mRNA expression of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, reduced the protein expression of the specific light-chain subunit of the cystine/glutamate antiporter and glutathione peroxidase 4. Importantly, ferrostatin-1 significantly ameliorated liver injury that was induced by overdosed alcohol both in vitro and in vivo. These findings highlight that targeting ferroptosis serves as a hepatoprotective strategy for alcoholic liver disease treatment.

Clinical presentation of alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: spectrum and diagnosis

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are commonest causes of chronic liver disease in developing as well as developed countries. Their incidence has increased due to widespread easy availability of alcohol and sedentary life style of people. NAFLD is a spectrum which includes fatty liver (NAFL) which is considered benign disease, steatohepatitis (NASH) which indicates ongoing injury to liver and cirrhosis of liver. Similarly, ALD spectrum comprises simple steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis and its complications. Most of the time there is significant overlap between these diseases and clinical presentation depends upon the stage of liver disease. Most of the NAFLD patients are asymptomatic and diagnosed to have fatty liver while undergoing routine health check up. ALD requires significant history of alcohol intake which is supportive by radiological and biochemical tests. In both NAFLD and ALD patients, liver enzymes are seldom raised beyond five times the upper limit of normal. Liver biopsy is required for diagnosis of NASH as it is a histological diagnosis and sometimes in alcoholic hepatitis for confirmation if diagnosis is in doubt. Non-invasive markers and prognostic scores have been developed for avoiding liver biopsy in assessment and treatment response of NASH and alcoholic hepatitis patients.

Epidemiology of non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver diseases

Liver diseases are fast emerging as global health priorities. Fatty liver is described in the setting of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as well as alcoholic liver disease (ALD), the pathogenesis of excess fat being different in the two conditions while both are important components of the changing face of burden of liver diseases worldwide. They are intimately associated with a globalized economy and an increasingly homogenous socio- cultural order with a westernized lifestyle. The accompanying adoption of a progressively sedentary life, consumption of diet dense in calories facilitate development of NAFLD while a spiraling upward trend in alcohol use along with earlier age of drinking as well as increased amount of per capita alcohol consumption increases the prevalence of ALD globally. Adverse health outcomes in NAFLD as well as ALD are caused not only by progressive liver fibrosis that is the most significant factor for liver related and all-cause mortality in both but also by non-liver (cardiovascular, cancer, accidents, neurological) clinical outcomes that calls for a multidisciplinary and social approach to these conditions. We present here an outline of facets of epidemiology of both NAFLD as well as ALD along with its' public health implications. A broad-based integrated approach that incorporates social, behavioral as well as biological targets need to be undertaken at a health system level in a planned manner for these evolving liver health priorities that disproportionately challenges the low- and middle-income countries of Asia, South America and Africa.

Abstinence from alcohol and alcohol rehabilitation therapy in alcoholic liver disease: a population-based study

Objective: Abstinence from alcohol is recommended in patients diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and alcoholic cirrhosis (AC). We aimed to determine the impact of alcohol abstinence on prognosis of patients with AC and AH.Methods: All incident AC and AH patients in Iceland 2001-2016 were identified. Cirrhosis was confirmed clinically, biochemically, with imaging and histologically. Abstinence, alcohol rehabilitation and survival were analyzed.Results: Overall, 169 patients with AC and/or AH were identified. Eleven died during index hospitalization, leaving 158 patients for final analysis, median (IQR) age 56 years (48-65), 72% males. Over all 61 patients (39%) had AC, 40 (25%) AH and 57 (36%) features of both. Thirty-nine percent of patients remained abstinent during follow-up and 63% underwent alcohol rehabilitation. Moderate to severe ascites at diagnosis (odds ratio (OR): 3.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37-7.02) and lack of alcoholic rehabilitation (OR: 5.28, 95% CI: 2.24- 14.11) were independent predictors of abstinence. Abstinence at one year of follow-up was not related to increased survival. Patients surviving one year, abstinence during follow-up was related to increased survival for both groups.Conclusion: Abstinence from alcohol following AC/AH diagnosis was achieved in 39% of patients. Abstinence was not related to increased survival for alcoholic liver disease patients at one-year, which might partly indicate that this might be a marker that some patients were 'too sick to drink'. AC and AH patients who survived one year and remained abstinent had a favorable long-term prognosis.

Long-term outcomes in patients with decompensated alcohol-related liver disease, steatohepatitis and Maddrey's discriminant function <32

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with alcoholic hepatitis and a modified Maddrey's discriminant function (mDF) <32 have a low risk of short-term mortality. However, few data exist concerning long-term outcomes. The aims of this study were to evaluate 5-year survival rates and to identify predictive factors for long-term prognosis in this patient population.

METHODS

We studied patients from 2 centers who were admitted for hepatic decompensation (ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or jaundice) and who had histological findings of steatohepatitis and an mDF <32. Clinical and biological parameters were recorded at the time of liver biopsy and alcohol consumption was recorded during follow-up. We performed Cox proportional hazard survival analysis to identify factors associated with 5-year survival.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-one patients were included (male: 64%, mean age: 51.5 ± 10.3 years, presence of cirrhosis: 84%). The median model for end-stage liver disease and mDF scores were 14 (IQR 11.7-16.1) and 19 (IQR 11.1-24), respectively. During follow-up, 30% of the patients remained abstinent. Survival rates at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 60 months were 96.7 ± 1.6%, 90.1 ± 2.7%, 80.8 ± 3.6%, 69.9 ± 4.3%, and 50.7 ± 4.9%, respectively. The majority of deaths (80%) were liver related. In multivariable analysis, encephalopathy at baseline and alcohol abstinence were predictive of 5-year survival. The 5-year survival rates of patients without and with encephalopathy at baseline were 60.5 ± 5.8% and 29.7 ± 8.0%, respectively, and the 5-year survival rates of abstinent and non-abstinent patients were 74.0 ± 8.0% and 40.9 ± 5.8%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The mortality rate of patients with alcoholic hepatitis and an mDF <32 is around 50% at 5 years. Hepatic encephalopathy at baseline and lack of alcohol abstinence impair long-term prognosis. New treatment strategies, including measures to ensure abstinence, are required.

LAY SUMMARY

Patients with alcoholic hepatitis that is of intermediate severity have a low risk of short-term mortality but not much is known regarding long-term outcomes for these patients. This study clearly indicates that patients with intermediate disease characteristics have poor long-term outcomes. The presence of hepatic encephalopathy at the time of diagnosis and the absence of alcohol abstinence during follow-up are factors that predict poor long-term mortality.

Long-Term Mortality and Hospital Resource Use in ICU Patients With Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

OBJECTIVES

Data describing long-term outcomes following ICU for patients with alcohol-related liver disease are scarce. We aimed to report long-term mortality and emergency hospital resource use for patients with alcohol-related liver disease and compare this with two comparator cohorts.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study linking population registry data.

SETTING

All adult general Scottish ICUs (2005-2010) serving 5 million population.

PATIENTS

ICU patients with alcohol-related liver disease were compared with an unmatched cohort with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation defined diagnoses of severe cardiovascular, respiratory, or renal comorbidity and a matched general ICU cohort.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Outcomes were 5-year mortality, emergency hospital resource use, and emergency hospital readmission. Multivariable regression was used to identify risk factors and adjust for confounders. Of 47,779 ICU admissions, 2,463 patients with alcohol-related liver disease and 3,590 patients with severe comorbidities were identified; 2,391(97.1%) were matched to a general ICU cohort. The alcohol-related liver disease cohort had greater 5-year mortality than comorbid (79.2% vs 75.3%; p < 0.001) and matched general (79.8% vs 63.3%; p < 0.001) cohorts. High liver Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and three-organ support were associated with 90% 5-year mortality in alcohol-related liver disease patients. After confounder adjustment, alcohol-related liver disease patients had 31% higher hazard of death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.17-1.47; p < 0.001) and used greater resource than the severe comorbid comparator group. Findings were similar compared with the matched cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

ICU patients with alcohol-related liver disease have higher 5-year mortality and emergency readmission rates than ICU patients with other severe comorbidities and matched general ICU patients. These data can contribute to shared decision-making for alcohol-related liver disease patients.

Natural compounds in the chemoprevention of alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Much effort has been expended to explore the pathogenesis of ALD. Hepatic cell injury, oxidative stress, inflammation, regeneration, and bacterial translocation are all involved in the pathogenesis of ALD. Immediate abstinence is the most important therapeutic treatment for affected individuals. However, the medical treatment for ALD had not advanced in a long period. Intriguingly, an increasing body of research indicates the potential of natural compounds in the targeted therapy of ALD. A plethora of dietary natural products such as flavonoids, resveratrol, saponins, and β-carotene are found to exert protective effects on ALD. This occurs through various mechanisms composed of antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, iron chelation, pro-apoptosis, and/or antiproliferation of hepatic stellate cells and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In this review, we will summarize current knowledge about the pathogenesis and treatments of ALD and focus on the potential of natural compounds in ALD therapies and underlying mechanisms.

Alcohol Consumption Influences Clinical Outcome in Patients Admitted to a Referral Center for Liver Disease

INTRODUCTION AND AIM

Excessive alcohol consumption is a public health concern worldwide and has been associated with high mortality rates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of alcohol consumption and its influence on the prognosis of hospitalized cirrhotic patients in a tertiary care hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of all patients with hepatic cirrosis admitted between January 2009 and December 2014, in a referral center for liver disease in southern Brazil. Data on clinical outcomes, associated conditions, infections, and mortality were collected and compared between alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 388 patients; 259 (66.7%) were men. One hundred fifty-two (39.2%) were classified as heavy use of alcohol. Most alcoholic patients were men (n = 144; 94.7%). Mean age was 55.6 ± 8.9 years. Hepatic decompensations and infections were more prevalent in alcoholic patient. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and respiratory tract infection accounted for most of the infections. Excessive alcohol consumption was associated with mortality (P = 0.009) in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

On the present study, the prevalence of heavy use of alcohol was high and associated with a poorer prognosis in hospitalized cirrhotic patients, increasing the risk of infection and death.

Early and late mortality following unscheduled admissions for severe liver disease across England and Wales

BACKGROUND

There is a known shortfall in hepatology service resources across England and Wales.

AIM

To investigate early and late mortality following unscheduled admissions for severe liver disease, overall and by cause of death, and to determine how mortality is related to admissions to transplant centres, transplant surgery, hospital size, consultant specialty, patient socio-demographics, seasonal and geographical factors.

METHODS

Cohorts of people with a first unscheduled admission for severe liver disease across England and Wales from 2004, based on record linkage of national inpatient and mortality data.

FINDINGS

Mortality for alcoholic liver disease and hepatic failure was 23.4% and 35.4% respectively at 60 days and 61.8% and 57.1% at 5 years. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were extremely high at 60 days (184 and 117 respectively) and remained highly increased at 5 years (16.7 and 6.3). Mortality at 5 years was most elevated from liver disease, viral hepatitis and varices. The 60-day mortality was significantly lower for patients seen by consultant hepatologists and gastroenterologists. Both early and late mortality were significantly reduced for patients admitted to transplant centres or larger hospitals, who received a liver transplant, or were resident in London. Early mortality was significantly higher for patients admitted in winter and autumn, while elevated mortality among the most vs least deprived quintile increased with longer follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows a very poor prognosis for people with unscheduled hospitalisation for severe liver disease. The findings suggest that access to specialist expertise and services improves survival, both in the short and long term.

Fibrosis and alcohol-related liver disease

Histological fibrosis stage is one of the most important prognostic factors in compensated and decompensated alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Morphological assessment of fibrosis is useful for patient stratification, enabling individualised management, and for evaluation of treatment effects in clinical studies. In contrast to most chronic liver diseases where fibrosis is portal-based, fatty liver disease (FLD) of alcoholic or non-alcoholic aetiology (NAFLD) is associated with a centrilobular pattern of injury which leads to perivenular fibrosis and/or pericellular fibrosis. Progression of FLD drives expansive pericellular fibrosis, linking vascular structures and paving the way for the development of cirrhosis. At the cirrhotic stage, ongoing tissue damage leads to increasing fibrosis severity due to parenchymal loss and proliferation of fibrous scars. Histologic fibrosis staging systems have been devised, based on topography and the extent of fibrosis, for most chronic liver diseases. The utility of histological staging is reflected in different risks associated with individual fibrosis stages which cannot be reliably distinguished by non-invasive fibrosis assessment. In contrast to NAFLD, ALD-specific staging systems that enable the standardised prognostication required for clinical management and trials are lacking. Although morphological similarities between NAFLD and ALD exist, differences in clinical and histological features may substantially limit the utility of established NAFLD-specific staging systems for prognostication in ALD. This review summarises morphological features of fibrosis in ALD and compares them to other chronic liver diseases, particularly NAFLD. ALD-related fibrosis is examined in the context of pathogenetic mechanisms of fibrosis progression, regression and clinical settings that need to be considered in future prognostically relevant ALD staging approaches.