Diagnosis of liver fibrosis by transient elastography (FibroScan) and non-invasive methods in Crohn's disease patients treated with methotrexate

Association between Transfusion-Related Iron Overload and Liver Fibrosis in Survivors of Pediatric Leukemia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

Patients who receive frequent blood transfusions are at an elevated risk of developing hepatic fibrosis due to iron overload in the liver. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of transient elastography (TE) (FibroScan®) for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with pediatric cancer.

Methods

We enrolled 106 consecutive cases of acute leukemia in individuals under 21 years of age. The participants were followed for 2 years. Based on their serum ferritin (SF) levels, the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (SF≥300 ng/mL) and group 2 (SF<300 ng/mL). A liver FibroScan® was performed, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Among the various parameters in the liver function test (LFT), alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in a subgroup of patients aged 5-8 years in group 2 compared to those in group 1. The indices of liver fibrosis determined by TE, including the FibroScan score, controlled attenuation parameter score, steatosis percentage, and meta-analysis of histological data in viral hepatitis score, as well as indirect serum markers of liver fibrosis such as the aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, Fibrosis 4 score, and AST to platelet ratio index, did not differ significantly between the two groups. The association between the TE results and LFT parameters was only significant for ALT.

Conclusion

Transfusion-associated iron overload does not have a significant correlation with severe liver fibrosis. FibroScan® is not a sensitive tool for detecting early stages of fibrosis in survivors of pediatric leukemia.

Decoding clinical and molecular pathways of liver dysfunction in Psoriatic Arthritis: Impact of cumulative methotrexate doses

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of liver abnormalities in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) has gained significant recognition. Identifying key factors at the clinical and molecular level can help to detect high-risk patients for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in PsA.

OBJECTIVES

to investigate the influence of PsA and cumulative doses of methotrexate on liver function through comprehensive in vivo and in vitro investigations.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving 387 subjects was conducted, 200 patients with PsA, 87 NAFLD-non-PsA patients, and 100 healthy donors (HDs), age and sex-matched. Additionally, a retrospective longitudinal study was carried out, including 83 PsA patients since initiation with methotrexate. Detailed clinical, and laboratory parameters along with liver disease risk were analyzed. In vitro, experiments with hepatocyte cell line (HEPG2) were conducted.

RESULTS

PsA patients present increased liver disease risk associated with the presence of cardiometabolic comorbidities, inflammatory markers, onychopathy, and psoriasis. The treatment with PsA serum on hepatocytes encompassed inflammatory, fibrotic, cell stress, and apoptotic processes. At the molecular level, methotrexate impacts liver biology, although the cumulative doses did not affect those alterations, causing any potential damage to liver function at the clinical level. Finally, anti-PDE-4 or anti-JAK decreased the inflammatory profile induced by PsA serum on hepatocytes.

CONCLUSION

1)This study identifies the complex link between liver disease risk, comorbidities, and disease-specific features in PsA patients. 2)Methotrexate dose in PsA patients had no significant effect on liver parameters, confirmed by hepatocyte in vitro studies. 3)Anti-PDE-4 and anti-JAK therapies show promise in reducing PsA serum-induced hepatocyte activation, potentially aiding liver complication management.

Correlation between Cumulative Methotrexate Dose, Metabolic Syndrome and Hepatic Fibrosis Detected by FibroScan in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Background and Objectives: Methotrexate (MTX) is routinely prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but high cumulative doses may lead to hepatic fibrosis. Additionally, a high proportion of RA patients suffer from metabolic syndrome, which also increases the risk of hepatic fibrosis. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the association between a cumulative MTX dose, metabolic syndrome, and hepatic fibrosis in patients diagnosed with RA. Materials and Methods: RA patients undergoing treatment with MTX were examined using transient elastography (TE). All patients, regardless of having hepatic fibrosis, were compared to identify the risk factors. Results: Two hundred and ninety-five rheumatoid arthritis patients were examined using FibroScan. One hundred and seven patients (36.27%) were found to have hepatic fibrosis (TE > 7 kPa). After multivariate analysis, only BMI (OR = 14.73; 95% CI 2.90-74.79; p = 0.001), insulin resistance (OR = 312.07; 95% CI 6.19-15732.13; p = 0.04), and cumulative MTX dosage (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.10; p = 0.002) were associated with hepatic fibrosis. Conclusions: While the cumulative MTX dose and metabolic syndrome are both the risk factors of hepatic fibrosis, metabolic syndrome, including a high BMI and insulin resistance, poses a greater risk. Therefore, MTX-prescribed RA patients with metabolic syndrome factors should be attentively monitored for signs of liver fibrosis.

What Do NAFLD, Liver Fibrosis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Have in Common? Review of the Current Literature

Liver disease is one of the most common extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Often the course of liver disease is associated with an exacerbation of the underlying disease (Crohn’s Disease/Ulcerative Colitis). Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis encompasses a wide spectrum of liver damage. The most common form is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (75–80%), and the less common but more dangerous form is nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFLD is now the most common cause of chronic liver disease in developed countries and the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States. Genetic, demographic, clinical, and environmental factors can play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD is associated with a widespread obesity epidemic, metabolic complications, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidaemia. Some of the most common manifestations of IBD are liver, biliary tract, and gallbladder diseases. The liver fibrosis process has a complex pathophysiology and is often dependent on exogenous factors such as the treatment used and endogenous factors such as the gut microbiome. However, the factors that link IBD and liver fibrosis are not yet clear. The main purpose of the review is to try to find links between IBD and selected liver diseases and to identify knowledge gaps that will inform further research.

Busting the myth of methotrexate chronic hepatotoxicity

Methotrexate is a key component of the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases and the mainstay of therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Hepatotoxicity has long been a concern for prescribers envisaging long-term treatment with methotrexate for their patients. However, the putative liver toxicity of methotrexate should be evaluated in the context of advances in our knowledge of the pathogenesis and natural history of liver disease, especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Notably, patients with NAFLD are at increased risk for methotrexate hepatotoxicity, and methotrexate can worsen the course of NAFLD. Understanding the mechanisms of acute hepatotoxicity can facilitate the interpretation of elevated concentrations of liver enzymes in this context. Liver fibrosis and the mechanisms of fibrogenesis also need to be considered in relation to chronic exposure to methotrexate. A number of non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis are available for use in patients with rheumatic disease, in addition to liver biopsy, which can be appropriate for particular individuals. On the basis of the available evidence, practical suggestions for pretreatment screening and long-term monitoring of methotrexate therapy can be made for patients who have (or are at risk for) chronic liver disease.

Risk of liver fibrosis associated with long-term methotrexate therapy may be overestimated

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The risk of significant liver fibrosis from prolonged methotrexate (MTX) exposure has been estimated at around 5%, prompting intensive monitoring strategies. However, the evidence is derived from retrospective studies that under-reported risk factors for liver disease. We evaluated the risk of long-term MTX therapy on liver fibrosis in a longitudinal cohort study using two non-invasive markers.

METHOD

Between 2014-2021, adult patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriasis for ≥2 years were recruited prospectively from six UK sites. The MTX group included patients who received MTX for ≥6 months, whereas the unexposed group included those who never received MTX. All patients underwent full liver profiling, with transient elastography (TE) and enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) marker measurements.

RESULTS

A total of 999 patients (mean age 60.8 ± 12 years, 62.3% females) were included. Of 976 with valid TE values, 149 (15.3%) had liver stiffness ≥7.9 kPa. Of 892 with a valid ELF, 262 (29.4%) had ELF ≥9.8. Age and BMI were independently associated with elevated liver stiffness and ELF. Neither MTX cumulative dose nor duration was associated with elevated liver stiffness. Diabetes was the most significant risk factor associated with liver stiffness ≥7.9 kPa (adjusted odds ratio = 3.19; 95% CI 1.95-5.20; p <0.001). Regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs showed the strongest association with ELF ≥9.8 (odds ratio = 1.76; 95% CI 1.20-2.56; p = 0.003), suggesting the degree of joint inflammation in RA may confound ELF as a non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

The risk of liver fibrosis attributed to MTX itself might have been previously overestimated; there is a need to consider modifying current monitoring guidelines for MTX.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

Current guidelines recommend intensive (2-3 monthly) monitoring strategies for patients on long-term methotrexate therapy due to the potential risk of liver fibrosis. Evaluation of the association using two validated non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis, liver stiffness and enhanced liver fibrosis score, in a large cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis shows that the reported risk has previously been overestimated. The clinical focus should be to improve patients' metabolic risk factors, diabetes and BMI, that are independently associated with liver stiffness. There is a need to consider modifying current treatment monitoring guidelines for methotrexate.

Risk of Liver Fibrosis in Methotrexate-Treated Patients: A Systematic Review

Methotrexate (MTX), an antifolate agent, is recommended as the first-line disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). In this systematic review, our goals were to assess liver fibrosis in methotrexate-treated patients, evaluate liver fibrosis in relation to treatment duration and cumulative dose, and identify differences based on the underlying disease. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to perform the systematic review. We thoroughly searched PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), and Cochrane library databases to identify relevant articles based on predefined selection criteria. Studies were selected based on the following predefined eligibility criteria: English language, papers from the last 20 years, systematic reviews, observational studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and clinical trials, which included papers on MTX playing roles in the development of liver fibrosis with the derived data transferred to a template. Following that, quality was assessed using the appropriate assessment tool for each study. The initial search yielded 512 results. Following a thorough review, 10 studies were chosen for final consideration: eight observational studies and two systematic reviews. Liver enzyme (LE) elevations during MTX therapy are a common but transient problem. Serial abnormal LE tests may be associated with liver pathology, but fibrosis development is uncommon. However, it is unclear from the literature how therapy should be adjusted in the case of elevated LE and to what extent MTX is linked to liver toxicity; definitive conclusions cannot be drawn because more research is needed.

Deep Learning in the Classification of Stage of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B with Magnetic Resonance ADC Images

Liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B is the pathological repair response of the liver to chronic injury, which is a key step in the development of various chronic liver diseases to cirrhosis and an important link affecting the prognosis of chronic liver diseases. The further development of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B can lead to the disorder of hepatic lobule structure, nodular regeneration of hepatocytes, formation of a pseudolobular structure, namely, cirrhosis, clinical manifestations of liver dysfunction, and portal hypertension. So far, the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B has been made manually by doctors. However, this is very subjective and boring for doctors. Doctors are likely to be interfered with by external factors, such as fatigue and lack of sleep. This paper proposed a 5-layer deep convolution neural network structure for the automatic classification of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. In the 5-layer deep convolution neural network structure, there were three convolution layers and two fully connected layers, and each convolution layer was connected with a pooling layer. 123 ADC images were collected, and the following results were obtained: the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1, MCC, and FMI were 88.13% ± 1.47%, 81.45% ± 3.69%, 91.12% ± 1.72%, 80.49% ± 2.94%, 80.90% ± 2.39%, 72.36% ± 3.39%, and 80.94% ± 2.37%, respectively.

Liver manifestations and complications in inflammatory bowel disease: A review

Hepatobiliary manifestations are common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with 30% of patients presenting abnormal liver tests and 5% developing chronic liver disease. They range from asymptomatic elevated liver tests to life-threatening disease and usually follow an independent course from IBD. The pathogenesis of liver manifestations or complications and IBD can be closely related by sharing a common auto-immune background (in primary sclerosing cholangitis, IgG4-related cholangitis, and autoimmune hepatitis), intestinal inflammation (in portal vein thrombosis and granulomatous hepatitis), metabolic impairment (in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or cholelithiasis), or drug toxicity (in drug induced liver injury or hepatitis B virus infection reactivation). Their evaluation should prompt a full diagnostic workup to identify and readily treat all complications, improving management and outcome.

A pragmatic non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease receiving methotrexate therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The reported hepatotoxicity of methotrexate underlines the need for a repeated non-invasive and reliable evaluation of liver fibrosis. We estimated, using a non-invasive strategy, the prevalence of significant liver fibrosis in patients treated by methotrexate and the predictors of significant fibrosis (fibrosis≥F2).

METHODS

Fibrosis was prospectively evaluated using 9 non-invasive tests in consecutive patients with psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or Crohn's disease. Significant fibrosis was assessed without liver biopsy by defining a "specific method" (result given by the majority of the tests) and a "sensitive method" (at least one test indicating a stage≥F2).

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-one patients (66 Psoriasis, 40 rheumatoid arthritis, and 25 Crohn's disease) were enrolled, including 83 receiving methotrexate. Seven tests were performed on average per patient, with a complete concordance in 75% of cases. Fibroscan® was interpretable in only 61% of patients. The best performances (AUROC>0.9) for predicting significant fibrosis were obtained by tests dedicated to steatohepatitis (FibroMeter NAFLD, NFS and FPI). The prevalence of fibrosis≥F2 according to the "specific" or the "sensitive" assessment of fibrosis was 10% and 28%, respectively. Methotrexate exposure did not influence the fibrosis stage. Factors independently associated with significant fibrosis according our "sensitive method" were age, male gender, and metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION

We provided a non-invasive approach for identifying liver fibrosis≥F2 by using 8 biochemical tests and Fibroscan®. In this population, the risk of significant fibrosis was related to age, male gender, and presence of metabolic syndrome, but was not influenced by methotrexate.

What is the impact of methotrexate on liver in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Results of liver SWE performed in a single centre

OBJECTIVES

Long-term therapy with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in treatment of rheumatic diseases, in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate liver elasticity in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who received MTX and compare the results with control group.

METHODS

Liver elasticity was evaluated with shear wave elastography (SWE) technique in 25 patients aged 3-17 years who were followed up with JIA and received MTX and compared with 25 healthy controls of the same age and weight. Factors that had an effect on liver elasticity were examined.

RESULTS

The mean SWE value of patients was 2.64 ± 2.13 m/s and 24.10 ± 18.50 kPa, whereas 1.83 ± 0.16 m/s and 10.09 ± 1.83 kPa in control group. There was a significant difference in liver elasticity in the patient and control groups. When the patients were evaluated as Group 1 (< 1000 mg) and Group 2 (≥ 1000 mg) according to the cumulative MTX dose, no significant difference was obtained. There was positive correlation between liver elasticity and weekly MTX dose and age.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that liver elasticity significantly decreased in patients who received MTX when compared with the control group. The elastography technique will be understood better over time and used safely in many areas.

Noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis in Crohn's disease patients exposed to methotrexate

BACKGROUND

Methotrexate is widely used to treat some inflammatory chronic disorders, though it is hampered by the risk of liver fibrosis. Many recommendations have been made to assess methotrexate-related hepatotoxicity, including liver biopsy. However, other noninvasive methods to assess liver fibrosis have been developed and could be implemented for patients treated with methotrexate.

AIM

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of liver fibrosis by means of noninvasive methods [aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) Forns index, and transient elastography] in patients with Crohn's disease exposed or not to methotrexate, and to identify risk factors for liver fibrosis.

METHODS

Prospective, cross-sectional study. All patients with Crohn's disease exposed to methotrexate were included and compared to an unselected cohort of outpatients with Crohn's disease never exposed to methotrexate.

RESULTS

A total of 84 patients with Crohn's disease, 56 exposed to methotrexate, and 28 controls, were included. Significant liver fibrosis was found in 7% of methotrexate-exposed patients with Crohn's disease and 10% of controls as measured by transient elastography, and in 7% of controls as measured by the Forns index. No cases of liver fibrosis were detected by APRI. Only alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, and age were associated with significant liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant liver fibrosis is uncommon among patients with Crohn's disease, even among those exposed to methotrexate. The risk of liver fibrosis in Crohn's disease seems to depend on common risk factors for liver disease.

Is methotrexate hepatotoxicity associated with cumulative dose? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in various medical specialties. However, hepatotoxicity is an ongoing concern and this is thought to be directly associated with cumulative dose. We sought to synthesise the published literature to evaluate the association between methotrexate hepatotoxicity and cumulative dose.

METHODS

A systematic review of Medline (PubMed) EMBASE, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library was performed. Full texts of articles were examined, and excluded articles were recorded with reasons for exclusion. A meta-analysis of correlation coefficients was performed using Fisher's z-transformation and a random effects model. Cochran's Q-test and the I² statistic were calculated to assess heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 35 studies met inclusion criteria. Measures of hepatotoxicity were highly varied and included liver biopsy, elastography, FibroTest, biochemical tests and scoring systems (Fib-4, APRI, AST:ALT). Some studies analysed for the association with MTX cumulative dose using more than one modality. Overall, 38 analyses found no significant association between MTX cumulative dose and hepatoxicity vs eight that identified a significant association. The pooled correlation coefficient from five studies which utilised elastography was 0.18 (95% CI, -0.09 to 0.42), with significant heterogeneity between studies (P < 0.0001), I²  = 92%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our synthesis of a large volume of studies in this review found no significant association between MTX cumulative dose and hepatotoxicity, both in terms of vote counting and with regard to the meta-analysis of correlation coefficients from studies that utilised elastography. This challenges the long-held belief that liver injury is a direct result of drug accumulation.

Chronic Viral Hepatitis in a Cohort of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients from Southern Italy: A Case-Control Study

We performed an epidemiologic study to assess the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to detect their possible relationships. Methods: It was a single centre cohort cross-sectional study, during October 2016 and October 2017. Consecutive IBD adult patients and a control group of non-IBD subjects were recruited. All patients underwent laboratory investigations to detect chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infection. Parameters of liver function, elastography and IBD features were collected. Univariate analysis was performed by Student's t or chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was performed by binomial logistic regression and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. We enrolled 807 IBD patients and 189 controls. Thirty-five (4.3%) had chronic viral hepatitis: 28 HCV (3.4%, versus 5.3% in controls, p = 0.24) and 7 HBV (0.9% versus 0.5% in controls, p = 0.64). More men were observed in the IBD-hepatitis group (71.2% versus 58.2%, p < 0.001). Patients with IBD and chronic viral hepatitis had a higher mean age and showed a higher frequency of diabetes, hypertension and wider waist circumference. They suffered more frequently from ulcerative colitis. Liver stiffness was greater in subjects with IBD and chronic viral hepatitis (7.0 ± 4.4 versus 5.0 ± 1.2 KPa; p < 0.001). At multivariate analysis, only old age directly correlated with viral hepatitis risk (OR = 1.05, 95%CI 1.02-1.08, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the prevalence of HBV/HCV in IBD is low in our region. Age may be the only independent factor of viral hepatitis-IBD association. Finally, this study firstly measured liver stiffness in a large scale, showing higher values in subjects with both diseases.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Individuals with HIV Mono-infection: A Growing Concern?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Liver disease is a leading cause of non-AIDS-related death in the HIV population since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Recent studies suggest that patients with HIV are at high risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and progressive liver fibrosis. Evidence for the prevalence, risk factors, and diagnostic methodologies of NAFLD in patients with HIV mono-infection is summarized here.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although limited, published studies suggest that the prevalence of NAFLD is higher (30-50%) and progresses at an increased rate in patients with HIV compared to the general population. Identifying those at risk for significant liver fibrosis is critical, preferably with non-invasive screening tests. While there is a paucity of evidence in this population, transient elastography (TE) appears to provide a sensitive, non-invasive screening modality. Identifying NAFLD early will allow for dietary and lifestyle interventions, as well as future drug therapies to decrease the risk of progressive liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in the high-risk HIV population. Clinicians should be aware of this risk and consider using TE for NAFLD diagnosis and surveillance.

Monitoring methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis in patients with psoriasis: utility of transient elastography

Increasingly, existing evidence indicates that methotrexate-associated liver injury is related to comorbid risk factors such as diabetes, alcoholism, and obesity, rather than to methotrexate itself. Despite this fact, significant effort continues to be expended in the monitoring of low-dose methotrexate in patients with psoriasis. The gold standard investigation has been liver biopsy, but this is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. As methotrexate-induced liver injury is uncommon, the risk/benefit ratio of liver biopsy has been questioned. Fortunately, a number of new technologies have been developed for the diagnosis of chronic liver disease, including transient elastography (TE). TE is a type of shear wave ultrasound elastography, which measures the speed of shear waves used to estimate hepatic tissue stiffness. Several meta-analyses show very high pooled sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of hepatic cirrhosis (87% and 91%, respectively) in a variety of chronic liver disorders. It has a negative predictive value for cirrhosis of >90% and a positive predictive value of 75%. Recent European guidelines now advocate the use of TE as the first-line test for the assessment of fibrosis in alcohol- or hepatitis-related liver disease, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome, including NAFLD, is significantly elevated in patients with psoriasis, TE may be worth considering as a routine investigation for any patient with psoriasis. Although high-quality studies comparing TE with standard liver biopsy in the monitoring of psoriatics on low-dose methotrexate are lacking, the evidence from multiple small cohort studies and case series demonstrates its effectiveness. A recent Australasian position statement recommends that TE should be considered as a routine investigation for monitoring methotrexate therapy, repeated every 3 years if kPa <7.5 and yearly if kPa >7.5. Liver biopsy should be considered for patients with a kPa >9.5.

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, with increasing incidence worldwide. Crohn's disease might result from a complex interplay between genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and altered gut microbiota, leading to dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses. The typical clinical scenario is a young patient presenting with abdominal pain, chronic diarrhoea, weight loss, and fatigue. Assessment of disease extent and of prognostic factors for complications is paramount to guide therapeutic decisions. Current strategies aim for deep and long-lasting remission, with the goal of preventing complications, such as surgery, and blocking disease progression. Central to these strategies is the introduction of early immunosuppression or combination therapy with biologicals in high-risk patients, combined with a tight and frequent control of inflammation, and adjustment of therapy on the basis of that assessment (treat to target strategy). The therapeutic armamentarium for Crohn's disease is expanding, and therefore the need to develop biomarkers that can predict response to therapies will become increasingly important for personalised medicine decisions in the near future. In this Seminar, we provide a physician-oriented overview of Crohn's disease in adults, ranging from epidemiology and cause to clinical diagnosis, natural history, patient stratification and clinical management, and ending with an overview of emerging therapies and future directions for research.

Correlation of Transient Elastography With Severity of Cystic Fibrosis-related Liver Disease

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether liver stiffness measurement (LSM), determined by transient elastography, correlates with presence and severity of liver disease in children and young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).

METHODS

Subjects underwent LSM at routine CF visits. Presence and severity of cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD) was determined by clinical parameters. Subjects were classified as no CFLD, CFLD without portal hypertension (PHTN), and CFLD with PHTN. LSM was compared with aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI) as a correlate to severity of CFLD.

RESULTS

A total of 249 subjects (53% boys; mean age 14 ± 7 years; 7 [3%] <2 years and 74 [30%] 18-25 years) underwent LSM. Subjects were classified as 158 (64%) with no CFLD, 73 (29%) CFLD without PHTN, and 18 (7%) CFLD with PHTN. The median (interquartile range) LSM was different among the 3 groups: 4.4 (3.8-5.4), 5.1 (4.4-6.3), and 14.1 (8.8-24.8) kPa, respectively, with all pairwise comparisons different from one another (P < 0.0001). Similarly, median (interquartile range) APRI was different in groups 1 and 2 compared with CFLD with PHTN: 0.22 (0.17-0.27), 0.24 (0.17-0.33), and 0.53 (0.24-0.84), respectively (P < 0.01). Analysis of receiver operating characteristics for discriminating CFLD with PHTN from the other groups resulted in cut-points at 6.2 kPa (LSM) and 0.35 (APRI). LSM was superior to APRI in discriminating CFLD with PHTN from other groups, with areas under the curve 0.91 (LSM) versus 0.78 (APRI) (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Liver stiffness, as determined by transient elastography, correlates with the presence and severity of CFLD. Although APRI provided some information regarding severity of liver disease, LSM performed better than APRI in this population.

Hepatic manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases are associated with various hepatobiliary disorders, reported both in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They may occur at any moment in the natural course of the disease. The prevalence of liver dysfunction rises from 3% to 50% accordingly to definitions used in different studies. Fatty liver is considered as the most common hepatobiliary complication in inflammatory bowel diseases while primary sclerosing cholangitis is the most specific one. Less frequently, inflammatory bowel diseases-associated hepatobiliary disorders include: autoimmune hepatitis/ primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome, IgG4-associated cholangiopathy, primary biliary cholangitis, hepatic amyloidosis, granulomatous hepatitis, cholelithiasis, portal vein thrombosis and liver abscess. The spectrum of these manifestations varies according to the type of inflammatory bowel diseases. Treatments of inflammatory bowel diseases may cause liver toxicity, although incidence of serious complications remains low. However, early diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury is of major importance as it affects future clinical management. When facing abnormal liver tests, clinicians should undertake a full diagnostic work-up in order to determine whether the hepatic abnormalities are related to the inflammatory bowel diseases or not. Management of hepatic manifestations in inflammatory bowel diseases usually involves both hepatologists and gastroenterologists because of the complexity of some situations.

Use of Methotrexate in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Low-dose methotrexate (MTX) therapy is a well-recognized therapy for many inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis. More than 20 years ago, the clinical efficacy of MTX was also established for steroid dependent Crohn's disease, but it was never broadly adapted as a treatment modality. More recently, MTX is being increasingly used in the pediatric population with Crohn's disease, both as a single agent as well as a concomitant therapy with anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha treatment. This review outlines important pharmacological aspects for the therapeutic application of MTX and the current status of MTX as mono- or combination-therapy in both pediatric and adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease including new results of MTX monotherapy in steroid dependent ulcerative colitis.

Aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index is associated with liver cirrhosis in patients undergoing surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Among various preoperative evaluations of liver function, accurate assessment of liver cirrhosis (LC) is especially important in patients undergoing surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

OBJECTIVE

To explore the most significant laboratory parameter associated with LC in patients undergoing surgery for HCC.

METHODS

From among 588 HCC patients in our collected database who underwent liver surgery, 371 for whom sufficient laboratory data were evaluable, including direct serum fibrosis markers such as hyaluronic acid and type 3 procollagen peptide (P-3-P), were enrolled. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to define the ideal cutoff values of laboratory parameters, and the area under the ROC curve for LC was measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to clarify the laboratory parameter most significantly associated with LC.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis of 13 laboratory parameters that had been selected by univariate analysis showed that the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) (≤ 0.8/>0.8) (odds ratio, 2.687; 95% confidence interval 1.215-5.940; P = 0.015) was associated with LC, along with the aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio, the indocyanine green retention ratio at 15 min (ICG R15), and the level of hyaluronic acid. Among these four parameters associated with LC, ROC curve analysis revealed that APRI (0.757) had the largest area under the ROC (aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase 0.505, ICG R15 0.714, and hyaluronic acid 0.743).

CONCLUSIONS

APRI is closely associated with LC in patients undergoing surgery for HCC.

Detection of liver injury in IBD using transient elastography

BACKGROUND

Up to 5% of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are thought to have clinically significant liver disease due to multifactorial causes, however, this figure may be an underestimate due to reliance on abnormal liver tests (LTs) and/or liver biopsies.

AIMS

Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of clinically significant liver disease in IBD patients as defined by an increased liver stiffness measurement (LS) ≥8kPa using transient elastography (TE).

METHODS

110 IBD patients, and 55 non-IBD control subjects, had their LS recorded using FibroScan® (EchoSense, Paris, France) by a single blinded operator trained in TE.

RESULTS

71 Crohn's disease and 39 ulcerative colitis subjects were included. All demographic variables were similar between the IBD and control groups apart from a significantly higher proportion of IBD patients who smoked (17.3% vs 3.6%, P=0.013). Seven IBD patients (6.4%) had an LS over 8 kPa and 3 had persistently elevated LS 6 months later. One patient had compensated cirrhosis. No significant differences in overall LS were observed between the IBD and control groups. Increased BMI and age, however, were independently associated with a higher LS in the IBD but not in the control group (P<0.001 and 0.010 respectively).

CONCLUSION

Using TE, the prevalence of clinically significant liver disease in IBD patients is low. The association of increased BMI and age with increased LS in IBD suggests fatty liver disease being the prevailing aetiology in these patients.

The impact of obesity and metabolic syndrome on chronic hepatitis B and drug-induced liver disease

Steatosis and insulin resistance (IR) are no more frequent in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) than in the general population. Although experimental studies suggest that the HBx protein induces liver fat, human studies have shown that steatosis and IR are related to coexistent metabolic risk factors, thus epidemiologically linked rather than virally induced. Diabetes and obesity are associated with advanced fibrosis and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in CHB. Despite abundant experimental data showing that fatty liver is more susceptible to liver injury, drug-induced liver disease seems no more frequent in NAFLD patients, except, possibly, a higher incidence but not severity of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity.

Methotrexate in inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter retrospective study focused on long-term efficacy and safety. The Madrid experience

BACKGROUND

Methotrexate is useful in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but its role is secondary because of its limited experience and a supposedly unfavorable safety profile.

AIM

To describe the efficacy and safety of methotrexate in a long-term real clinical practice.

METHODS

Retrospectively reviewed records of IBD patients treated with methotrexate in eight hospitals of Madrid (Spain).

RESULTS

A total of 77 patients were included (80% Crohn's disease); 94% received methotrexate because of steroid dependency. Overall, 82% of the patients initially responded (28% remission). Eighty-eight percent of the patients followed maintenance treatment for a mean of 17 (range: 1-108) months. Forty percent of the patients lost response at a mean of 57 weeks after starting methotrexate. No statistically significant differences were found in the response rates in terms of the disease type, route of administration, or the Montreal Classification category. The mean methotrexate cumulative dose was 1108 mg (range: 25-6480). The main adverse events included 10 cases of gastrointestinal symptoms, four of myelotoxicity, and 10 of abnormal liver function tests, and led to methotrexate withdrawal in four (5%) patients. Transient elastography, performed in 46 patients, detected six additional cases with significant fibrosis and normal liver function tests.

CONCLUSION

Methotrexate is useful in inducing a response in IBD, although its efficacy decreases frequently through the follow-up. Although methotrexate seems safe in the long term, in addition to biochemical controls, a more accurate method to detect liver damage should be considered.

Clinical applications of transient elastography

Chronic liver disease represents a major public health problem, accounting for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. As prognosis and management depend mainly on the amount and progression of liver fibrosis, accurate quantification of liver fibrosis is essential for therapeutic decision-making and follow-up of chronic liver diseases. Even though liver biopsy is the gold standard for evaluation of liver fibrosis, non-invasive methods that could substitute for invasive procedures have been investigated during past decades. Transient elastography (TE, FibroScan®) is a novel non-invasive method for assessment of liver fibrosis with chronic liver disease. TE can be performed in the outpatient clinic with immediate results and excellent reproducibility. Its diagnostic accuracy for assessment of liver fibrosis has been demonstrated in patients with chronic viral hepatitis; as a result, unnecessary liver biopsy could be avoided in some patients. Moreover, due to its excellent patient acceptance, TE could be used for monitoring disease progression or predicting development of liver-related complications. This review aims at discussing the usefulness of TE in clinical practice.

Evaluation of liver fibrosis by transient elastography (Fibroscan®) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with methotrexate: a multicentric trial

BACKGROUND

Methotrexate is an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, long-term treatments have been associated with the development of liver fibrosis. FibroScan® is a noninvasive, safe, and effective technique to evaluate liver fibrosis.

AIM

To evaluate the presence of significant liver fibrosis by transient elastography (FibroScan®) in IBD patients treated with methotrexate.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study including IBD patients treated with methotrexate from different hospitals. Clinical and analytical data, duration of treatment, and cumulative dose of methotrexate were obtained. Liver stiffness was assessed by FibroScan®. The cutoff value for significant liver fibrosis (according to METAVIR) was F ≥ 2: 7.1 kPa. Results. In the study, 46 patients were included, 30 women (65%), with a mean age of 43 ± 10 years. 31 patients had Crohn's disease (67.4%), 13 ulcerative colitis (28.3%), and 2 indeterminate colitis (4.3%). The mean cumulative dose of methotrexate was 1242 ± 1349 mg, with a mean treatment duration of 21 ± 24 months. The mean value of liver stiffness was 4.7 ± 6.9 kPa. There were 35 patients (76.1%) with F01, 8 patients (17.4%) with F = 2, and 3 patients with F ≥ 3 (6.5%). There were no differences in liver stiffness depending on sex, age, type of IBD, or cumulative dose of methotrexate.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Development of advanced liver fibrosis in IBD patients treated with methotrexate is exceptional. (2) There were no differences in liver stiffness depending on the type of IBD or the cumulative dose of methotrexate. (3) FibroScan® may be potentially useful for evaluation and follow-up of liver fibrosis in methotrexate-treated patients.

Liver stiffness correlates with methotrexate cumulative dose in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Liver stiffness values were recently proposed to identify patients with methotrexate-induced liver fibrosis. Aim of this study was to assess the clinical and laboratory determinants of the association between liver stiffness, measured by transient elastography, and methotrexate treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the absence of other factors contributing to liver damage and fibrosis.

METHODS

100 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with a cumulative methotrexate dose ranging from 1530 to 13,000 mg over a mean period of 7.07±3.89 yrs, were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

The average liver stiffness value in the whole population was 4.93±1.8 kPa, excluding the presence of significant fibrosis. At univariate analysis, a significant correlation was found between liver stiffness and methotrexate cumulative dose, duration of treatment, alanine transaminases levels, body mass index, gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase and the presence of steatosis. At multivariate analysis, a significant association was detected only between liver stiffness and methotrexate cumulative dose. Out of 11 patients with liver stiffness >7.0 kPa, five were subjected to liver biopsy and mild or moderate perisinusoidal fibrosis was detected in two patients with a cumulative dose >4000 mg and liver stiffness >9 kPa.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic methotrexate treatment induces a progressive increase in liver stiffness corresponding to mild or moderate perisinusoidal fibrosis for values >9 kPa.

Prospective noninvasive analysis of hepatic fibrosis in patients with Crohn's disease: correlation of transient elastography and laboratory-based markers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hepatobiliary disorders, associated either with extraintestinal manifestations or with consequences of treatment, are prevalent among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to prospectively assess the potential of noninvasive markers for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODS

A total of 114 patients were recruited. Established markers of fibrosis, namely, aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrotest, Forns, sonography, and transient elastography were performed and correlated with disease parameters. In addition to descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficients were determined. The t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test were applied and univariate and multivariate data analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Ultrasound indicated hepatic steatosis in 33 patients, hepatomegaly in 10, and cirrhosis in two. Liver stiffness as quantified by transient elastography was determined to be 5.06±2.33 kPa (2.6-21.5). Results of noninvasive liver fibrosis markers were as follows: fibrotest,-1.65±0.94; APRI, 0.33±0.22; and Forns, 3.11±2.00. Correlation coefficients were found to be fibrotest/transient elastography: r=0.35291; APRI/transient elastography: r=0.38442; Forns/transient elastography: r=0.33949; fibrotest/APRI: r=0.52937; fibrotest/Forns: r=0.42413; and APRI/Forns: r=0.56491. Correlation of inflammatory markers and noninvasive liver fibrosis tests, respectively, was generally negative, whereas correlation of parameters indicating liver damage and liver fibrosis tests, respectively, was generally positive.

CONCLUSION

In a center-based, unselected cohort of patients with Crohn's disease, the positive correlations between laboratory-based markers of fibrosis and transient elastography were highly significant. A study correlating noninvasive and invasive tools for the assessment of liver fibrosis in IBD is reasonable.

Noninvasive tools to assess hepatic fibrosis: ready for prime time?

Often regarded as the gold standard for fibrosis assessment, liver biopsy carries associated risks; however, it is less than ideal. The need for noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis for disease staging, prognosis, progression, and treatment response is clear. Advances in serologic testing and conventional imaging techniques have reduced the need for liver biopsy. Areas of research include defining cutoff values for specific diseases, further head-to-head comparisons of noninvasive modalities, examination of algorithms using both serum markers and imaging, and the cost-effectiveness of these various tests for diagnostic as well as screening purposes.

Evaluation of liver fibrosis by transient elastography in methotrexate treated patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Methotrexate (MTX) safety is questioned by the risk of inducing liver fibrosis (LF). As transient elastography (FibroScan®) is an effective non-invasive technique to evaluate LF, our aims were to assess LF in MTX-treated patients, to evaluate LF regarding treatment duration and cumulative dose, and to determine differences depending on the underlying disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospective study including patients with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis treated with MTX. Hepatic stiffness was determined by FibroScan®. The LF cut-off values were established using METAVIR score.

RESULTS

Of 53 patients, 22 were men (41.5%), mean age was 55 (15) years, 17 (32%) had rheumatoid arthritis, 18 (34%) inflammatory bowel disease, and 18 (34%) psoriasis. Mean MTX cumulative dose was 1,805 (1,560) mg, and mean treatment duration was 178 weeks. Mean hepatic stiffness was 6.19 (2.43) KPa. In 49 patients (92.5%), absence/mild LF was found (F ≤ 2), and 4 patients (7.5%) had advanced LF (F ≥ 3). Treatment duration or cumulative doses of MTX were not associated with LF.

CONCLUSIONS

Regarding LF development, MTX therapy is safe. FibroScan® is useful for monitoring LF in MTX-treated patients.

Transient elastography for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis

Transient elastography (FibroScan(®)) is a noninvasive method proposed for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases by measuring liver stiffness. It can be easily performed at the bedside or in the outpatient clinic with immediate results and good reproducibility. FibroScan is validated for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C, in recurrence of hepatitis C after liver transplantation, in co-infected HIV-HCV patients, in chronic hepatitis B, in chronic cholestatic diseases, in alcoholic disease and in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. FibroScan is an excellent tool for the early detection of cirrhosis and for the evaluation of portal hypertension, and may have prognostic value in this setting. FibroScan evaluates liver stiffness, which is related to fibrosis, but also inflammation and portal hypertension. Therefore, FibroScan values have to be interpreted according to clinical, biological and morphological data.

[Guidelines on the use of methotrexate in psoriasis]

Psoriasis, a chronic multifactorial inflammatory disease that develops in genetically predisposed individuals, affects approximately 1.5% of the Spanish population. This disease has a negative impact on patients' quality of life, and long-term therapy is often required to control the symptoms. In addition to the classical systemic treatments (methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine, and ultraviolet light), the group of drugs known as biologics (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, and ustekinumab) provides the dermatologist with an expanded therapeutic armamentarium, thereby improving the likelihood of controlling psoriasis in patients with severe and/or extensive disease. Methotrexate, a classic antipsoriatic drug, is still very useful either as single-drug therapy or in combination with other systemic drugs, particularly as a rescue therapy or combined with biologics. This article aims to establish the role of methotrexate in the treatment of psoriasis. We considered it of interest to develop guidelines for using methotrexate in the management of psoriasis with a view to ensuring the safe and proper use of this drug in the management of psoriasis. This document was developed by consensus among members of the Psoriasis Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Combined approach with infliximab, surgery, and methotrexate in severe fistulizing anoperineal Crohn's disease: results from a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Infliximab is the only medical therapy that has been proven to be effective in fistulizing Crohn's disease (CD), but the recurrence rate of fistulas is high despite maintenance therapy. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy of a combined schedule with infliximab, methotrexate, and sphincter-sparing surgery in patients with severe fistulizing anoperineal CD.

METHODS

From January 2006 to November 2007, all consecutive patients in three referral centers with severe fistulizing anoperineal CD were prospectively included after primary drainage. At inclusion, patients received three infliximab infusions at weeks 0, 2, and 6, and maintenance therapy with methotrexate. A second optimized surgical step consisting of at least removal of setons was performed between the second and the third infliximab infusions.

RESULTS

Thirty-four CD patients (26 women; median age 38.5 years) with complex anoperineal fistula were enrolled (including 9 with recto-vaginal fistulas, and 10 with anorectal stenosis). At week 14 the response rate was 85% with 74% complete responders. At 1 year, 50% were still responders; luminal CD worsening was the major cause of relapse. Median Perineal Disease Activity Index (PDAI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scores significantly decreased from baseline to week 50.

CONCLUSIONS

A combined approach with infliximab induction, two surgical sphincter-sparing steps and methotrexate is effective in achieving short-term response in severe fistulizing anoperineal CD. The best maintenance regimen remains to be determined.

Prediction of compensated liver cirrhosis by ultrasonography and routine blood tests in patients with chronic viral hepatitis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Liver biopsy is a standard method for diagnosis of liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis. Because liver biopsy is an invasive method, non-invasive methods have been used for diagnosis of compensated liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis. The current study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography and routine blood tests for diagnosis of compensated liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

METHODS

Two hundred three patients with chronic viral hepatitis who underwent liver biopsy were included in this study and ultrasonography and routine blood tests were analyzed retrospectively. Ultrasonographic findings, including surface nodularity, parenchyma echogenecity, and spleen size, were evaluated. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography and routine blood tests were examined.

RESULTS

Discriminant analysis with forward stepwise selection of variables showed that liver surface nodularity, platelet count, and albumin level were independently associated with compensated liver cirrhosis (p<0.05). Cross-tabulation revealed that the following 4 variables had >95% specificity: platelet count <100,000 /uL; albumin level <3.5 g/dL; INR >1.3; and surface nodularity. If at least one of the four variables exists in a patient with chronic viral hepatitis, we can predict liver cirrhosis with 90% specificity and 61% sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that four variables (platelet count <100,000 /uL, albumin level <3.5 g/dL, INR >1.3, and surface nodularity) can be used for identification of liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis with high specificity.

Assessment of liver fibrosis with transient elastography and FibroTest in patients treated with methotrexate for chronic inflammatory diseases: a case-control study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although methotrexate (MTX) is used in the effective treatment of inflammatory disorders, its use is hampered by the risk of liver fibrosis. Non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis, such as transient elastography (FibroScan) and FibroTest could be useful for monitoring MTX-liver toxicity. The aim of this case-control study was to determine factors associated with liver fibrosis in a large cohort of patients requiring MTX.

METHODS

Consecutive adults with various benign inflammatory diseases were prospectively assessed using FibroScan and FibroTest when they were treated with MTX (cases) or before beginning treatment (controls).

RESULTS

Among 518 included patients, 44 patients (8.5%) had FibroScan and/or FibroTest results suggesting severe liver fibrosis. In a multivariate analysis, factors associated with abnormal markers of liver fibrosis were the body mass index >28 kg/m(2) and high alcohol consumption. Neither long MTX duration nor cumulative doses were associated with elevated FibroScan or FibroTest results.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe liver fibrosis is a rare event in patients treated with MTX and is probably unrelated to the total dose. Patients with other risk factors for liver disease should be closely monitored with non-invasive methods before and during MTX treatment.

Methotrexate for maintenance of remission in chronic active Crohn's disease: long-term single-center experience and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

According to current guidelines methotrexate (MTX) should be considered as a second-line immunomodulator in patients with chronic active Crohn's disease (CD) if purine analogs are not tolerated or there is a lack of efficacy. However, its therapeutic role remains controversial to the present day.

METHODS

Medical records of all eligible patients treated in the outpatient clinic of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Hospital between December 2000 and January 2009 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Sixty-three patients were identified. The mean duration of treatment was 100 weeks (range, 2-364 weeks) with a mean cumulative dose of MTX of 2130 mg (range, 40-9005 mg). In 50 (79%) patients started on MTX clinical remission could be achieved within 3 months of treatment. The cumulative probability of these patients to maintain remission was 95.3%, 89.5%, 70.6%, and 62.8% at 6 months, 1, 2, and 3 years of treatment, respectively. The respective figures of the meta-analysis were 94%, 86%, 75%, 53%, and 43. Drug-related side effects were reported in 50 patients (79%), leading to withdrawal of MTX in 21 cases (33%).

CONCLUSIONS

Along with previous observations our data demonstrate the efficacy of MTX as a second-line immunomodulator in chronic active CD. However, its use is limited due to intolerable side effects in a large proportion of patients. The results should encourage further research in order to establish the definite significance of MTX in chronic active CD.

Assessment of liver fibrosis by transient elastography in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to assess the degree of liver fibrosis with transient elastography and noninvasive biochemical methods in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with methotrexate.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of rheumatoid arthritis patients who were administered methotrexate for more than 3 years. Transient elastography was performed and serological markers of liver fibrosis were evaluated by prospectively and was compared with the result of healthy control group. A correlation of the cumulative dose of methotrexate with the elastography value (kPa) or the level of serological markers was assessed. Two subgroups of patients were compared; patients who received a cumulative dose of methotrexate of less than 4000 mg (group 1) and more than 4000 mg (group 2). A total of 177 consecutive rheumatoid arthritis patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean cumulative dose of methotrexate was 3988 ± 1566 mg with doses ranging from 652.5 to 10,415 mg. The mean elastography value of all patients was 4.01 ± 0.77 kPa. The kilopascal values and levels of biochemical markers did not correlate with the cumulative dose of methotrexate, but did correlate with the AST to ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, haptoglobin level. Mean kilopascal values were not statistically different for group 1 and group 2 patients. For rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with a high cumulative dose of methotrexate, significant liver fibrosis is rare and is not accurately detected in patients with liver enzyme abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

Taking into account the risk and benefit of a liver biopsy, transient elastography can be recommended as an additional diagnostic option.

A meta-analysis of transient elastography for the detection of hepatic fibrosis

OBJECTIVES

The use of transient elastography to assess liver stiffness measurement (LSM) has now become widely available for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis as a rapid, noninvasive test (it is still not approved for use in the United States). It has previously been showed as an accurate method of representing the state of liver fibrosis with concomitant evaluation of liver biopsy and the histologic scoring system METAVIR. We performed a meta-analysis to further assess its use in comparison with liver biopsy.

METHODS

Studies from the literature were analyzed with a median liver stiffness value in kilopascal given for fibrosis stages according to histopathologic findings on biopsy and best discriminant cutoff levels in kilopascals for significant fibrosis (>or=F2) and cirrhosis (F4).

RESULTS

A total of 22 studies were selected comprising 4,430 patients; chronic hepatitis C infection was the most common etiology of fibrosis. The pooled estimates for significant fibrosis (>or=F2) measured 7.71 kPa (LSM cutoff value) with a sensitivity of 71.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 71.4%-72.4%] and specificity of 82.4% (95% CI: 81.9-82.9%), whereas for cirrhosis (F4) the results showed a cutoff of 15.08 kPa with a sensitivity of 84.45% (95% CI: 84.2-84.7%) and specificity of 94.69% (95% CI: 94.3%-95%).

CONCLUSIONS

Further evaluation of transient elastography to assess LSM is required in prospective studies to potentially increase the sensitivity and establish its clinical utility.

Recent advances in the use of Fibroscan for diagnosis of liver fibrosis

In recent years, non-invasive methods for assessment of liver fibrosis have attracted worldwide attention. However, although many biochemical markers and imaging examinations have been used for evaluation of liver fibrosis, their sensitivity and specificity are low. Fibroscan (transient elastography) is a new non-invasive technology to assess the degree of liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness. Although Fibroscan has been extensively used to evaluate chronic hepatitis C and its complications in other countries, its use is uncommon in China. In this article, we will review its working principle, diagnostic value, and application status.

Transient elastography (FibroScan)

Transient elastography (FibroScan) is a non-invasive method proposed for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease by measuring liver stiffness. It can be easily performed at the bedside or in the outpatients clinic with immediate results and good reproducibility. Limitations include failure (no value) in around 5% of cases, mainly in patients with substantial thoracic fat. In France, FibroScan or FibroTest are recommended for the initial evaluation of liver fibrosis in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C and no concomitant health disorders. FibroScan is validated for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C, recurrence of hepatitis C after liver transplantation, co-infections in HIV-HCV patients and chronic cholestatic diseases, but needs further evaluation in other chronic liver diseases. FibroScan is an excellent tool for early detection of cirrhosis and evaluation of portal hypertension, for which it may have prognostic value as well. Studies are needed using FibroScan for the follow-up of patients with and without treatment, and for the screening of patients at risk of liver disease. However, although FibroScan is a good method for the evaluation of fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease, it has to be borne in mind that FibroScan evaluates liver stiffness. Therefore, FibroScan values have to be interpreted according to clinical, biological and morphological data.

[Value of transient elastography in noninvasive assessment in children's hepatic fibrosis]

AIM

Transient elastography (FibroScan) is a novel, noninvasive, rapid bedside method to assess liver fibrosis by measuring liver stiffness. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and reliability of liver stiffness measurement in children with liver diseases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Liver stiffness measurements were carried out on 72 children, from 4 to 18 years of age, with potential hepatic fibrosis disease. The clinical, biological, ultrasonographic, and endoscopic parameters were noted to identify children with portal hypertension syndrome. The APRI (ASAT-to-platelet ratio index) test was calculated according to the standard formula. An APRI test score higher than 1.5 indicates significant hepatic fibrosis. METAVIR scoring from 14 liver biopsies was compared to the liver stiffness using the Kappa statistic.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients had viral hepatitis, 20 cystic fibrosis, 16 chronic liver cholestasis, 5 autoimmune hepatitis, and 3 patients had liver fibrosis with uncertain etiology. FibroScan measurements were available in all children. There was good agreement between FibroScan and pathological studies (weighted kappa=0.814). Only 9 children had portal hypertension syndrome with an average measurement of liver stiffness significantly higher than children without portal hypertension (26.5kPa vs 6.4kPa; p<0.01). The APRI test for 6 out of 9 patients scored higher than 1.5.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that liver stiffness measurement is feasible in children and seems to be related to liver fibrosis. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate this FibroScan method.

Transient elastography for the prediction of oxaliplatin-associated liver injury in colon cancer patients: a preliminary analysis

OBJECTIVE

The prognosis of advanced colon cancer has improved significantly over the last decade since new chemotherapy regimens including oxaliplatin have been developed. However, oxaliplatin-induced liver injury and characterized hepatic hemostatic status can occur after chemotherapy. The assessment of this type of liver injury is often difficult.

METHODS

Elastography (Fibroscan) was used to evaluate liver injury in five cases before and after 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin combination (FOLFOX) treatment.

RESULTS

A clear change was observed in the stiffness of liver after chemotherapy within 48 h, and the hepatic stiffness was normalized in most cases after 2 weeks. Among the five patients, one patient showed aberrant elevation after a FOLFOX treatment, and the patient showed liver injury pathologically.

CONCLUSION

Elastography is a good tool for evaluating hepatic injury after FOLFOX treatment.