Nevirapine-induced stevens johnson-syndrome and fulminant hepatic failure requiring liver transplantation

[Role of Virtual Reality in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Training and Teaching]

Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscope is one of the instruments used extensively in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract disorders. China is confronted with a great demand for endoscopists working in grassroots healthcare facilities. Furthermore, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are becoming the prevailing methods of endoscopic treatment of digestive diseases. Therefore, there is a growing demand for senior endoscopists. Currently, an important focus of GI endoscopy training is the acceleration of standardized training for endoscopists working in grassroots health facilities and advanced training for senior endoscopists. Simulation devices based on virtual reality technology exhibit strengths in objectivity, authenticity, and an immersive experience. These devices show advantages in the training method, the number of participants, and assessment over traditional training programs for GI endoscopy. Their application provides a new approach to the training and teaching of GI endoscopy. Herein, we summarized the explorations and practices of using virtual reality technology in the training and teaching of GI endoscopy, analyzed its application status in China, and discussed its prospects for future application.

A pediatric case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome with acute liver failure, resulting in liver transplantation

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are fatal adverse skin reactions characterized by high fever, epidermal detachment, and mucositis. It is well known that SJS/TEN occasionally affects various organs, leading to permanent damage and death in some patients. Although acute liver dysfunction is a relatively common complication of SJS/TEN, severe acute liver dysfunction requiring liver transplantation is rare. We present the case of a 14-year-old girl with SJS complicated by severe and rapidly progressive liver dysfunction, specifically, acute liver failure (ALF) requiring liver transplantation. A lymphocyte transformation test showed positive results for acetaminophen and cefdinir. Furthermore, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping revealed the presence of the HLA-A*02:06 genotype, which is reported to be strongly associated with acetaminophen-related SJS/TEN with severe ocular complications. These results suggested that our patient may have presented with acetaminophen-induced SJS complicated by ALF, but no ocular complications. This is the first report of a pediatric patient with SJS who required liver transplantation. In rare instances, severe liver dysfunction requiring liver transplantation should be considered as a possible complication of SJS/TEN.

Pharmacogenomics of Antiretroviral Drug Metabolism and Transport

Antiretroviral therapy has markedly reduced morbidity and mortality for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Individual tailoring of antiretroviral regimens has the potential to further improve the long-term management of HIV through the mitigation of treatment failure and drug-induced toxicities. While the mechanisms underlying anti-HIV drug adverse outcomes are multifactorial, the application of drug-specific pharmacogenomic knowledge is required in order to move toward the personalization of HIV therapy. Thus, detailed understanding of the metabolism and transport of antiretrovirals and the influence of genetics on these pathways is important. To this end, this review provides an up-to-date overview of the metabolism of anti-HIV therapeutics and the impact of genetic variation in drug metabolism and transport on the treatment of HIV. Future perspectives on and current challenges in pursuing personalized HIV treatment are also discussed.

Twelfth-Position Deuteration of Nevirapine Reduces 12-Hydroxy-Nevirapine Formation and Nevirapine-Induced Hepatocyte Death

Cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of the anti-HIV drug nevirapine (NVP) to 12-hydroxy-NVP (12-OHNVP) has been implicated in NVP toxicities. We investigated the impact of twelfth-position trideuteration (12-D3NVP) on the hepatic metabolism of and response to NVP. Formation of 12-OHNVP decreased in human (10.6-fold) and mouse (4.6-fold) hepatocytes incubated with 10 μM 12-D3NVP vs NVP. An observed kinetic isotope effect of 10.1 was measured in human liver microsomes. During mouse hepatocyte treatment (400 μM) with NVP or 12-D3NVP, cell death was reduced 30% with 12-D3NVP vs NVP, while glucuronidated and glutathione-conjugated metabolites increased with 12-D3NVP vs NVP. Using mass spectrometry proteomics, changes in hepatocyte protein expression, including an increase in stress marker insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1), were observed with 12-D3NVP vs NVP. These results demonstrate that while deuteration can reduce P450 metabolite formation, impacts on phase II metabolism and hepatocyte protein expression should be considered when employing deuteration to reduce P450 metabolite-related hepatotoxicity.

Drug-induced liver injury with skin reactions: Drugs and host risk factors, clinical phenotypes and prognosis

While dermatologic manifestations of adverse drug reactions are frequent, drug-induced liver injury is rare. Numerous drugs are implicated in either Drug-Induced Liver Injury or Drug-Induced Skin Injury. However, concomitant Drug-Induced Liver Injury and Drug-Induced Skin Injury are uncommon, not well characterized and appear to be caused by a limited number of drugs. These are often associated with immuno-allergic or hypersensitivity features such as fever, skin rash, blisters or peeling of skin, eosinophilia, lymphadenopathy and mucositis. Liver injury can range from asymptomatic elevation of liver biochemical tests to severe hepatitis and acute liver failure needing liver transplantation. Severe cutaneous adverse reaction, particularly drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms is commonly associated with internal organ involvement, the liver being the most frequently involved in approximately 90% of the cases. In Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, abnormalities in liver biochemistry tests are common but severe liver disease is rare. There is a strong association of Human Leukocyte Antigen genotype with both drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. It is likely that the delayed immune-mediated reaction triggering skin reaction is also responsible for hepatitis. Drug-specific lymphocytes are found in the organs involved and also in circulating blood, which along with the cytokines and chemokines play a role in pathogenesis. Anti-epileptic drugs, allopurinol, sulfonamides, antibiotics and nevirapine are the top five causes of concomitant liver and skin injury. This review will focus on drug and host factors causing concomitant Drug-Induced Skin Injury and Drug-Induced Liver Injury and discuss the characteristics of liver involvement in patients with severe cutaneous adverse reaction.

Clinical features of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

BACKGROUND

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare, but these conditions are associated with high mortality. There have been few reports of SJS and TEN in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of SJS and TEN in a group of Japanese children.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed pediatric cases of SJS and TEN, from 2000 to 2015.

RESULTS

We identified 12 pediatric cases of SJS and three of TEN. Six (all SJS) were caused by infection, and eight of the cases (SJS, n = 5; TEN, n = 3) were drug induced. Respiratory complications were the most common in terms of organ involvement, followed by hepatitis and gastrointestinal symptoms. Thirteen patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids, and two patients were treated with supportive therapy only. Concomitant with corticosteroid, four patients were given i.v. immunoglobulin. One patient with severe TEN was treated with systemic corticosteroids combined with plasmapheresis and cyclosporine. None of the present patients died. One patient with TEN had severe sequelae, with bronchiolitis obliterans and ocular involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

SJS/TEN are rare, but are associated with severe complications. General pediatricians need to have up-to-date information regarding these conditions. The present study provides insights into the confirmation of the risk of SJS/TEN as well as the treatment of these diseases.

Drug-induced liver injury associated with Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: Patient characteristics, causes, and outcome in 36 cases

The liver and skin are the organs most commonly involved in serious adverse drug reactions. Rarely a drug reaction can affect both organs concurrently. The association of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN) is even rarer and not well studied. We describe our experience of DILI occurring in association with SJS/TEN including the etiologic agents, clinical and biochemical characteristics, and outcome. We identified patients who developed DILI in association with SJS/TEN from a registry of DILI patients from a single center. Causality assessment for DILI and SJS/TEN was carried out with the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method and the Algorithm for Drug Causality for Epidermal Necrolysis, respectively. Among 748 consecutive patients with DILI from 1997 to March 2015, 36 (4.8%) had associated features of SJS/TEN. The mean age was 32 years (females 19). Children and patients with human immunodeficiency virus constituted 25% (n = 9) and 22% (n = 8), respectively. Only a small number of "high-risk" drugs such as antiepileptic agents, sulfonamides, and antiretroviral drugs accounted for the majority of cases. Overall mortality was 36% (n = 13), which rose to 45.5% in the presence of jaundice. Mortality was less in children 11% (n = 1) and human immunodeficiency virus patients 12.5% (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

DILI associated with SJS/TEN is rare and associated with a high death rate, particularly in those with jaundice; however, children and human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals have a favorable outcome; a small group of drugs contributed to a disproportionate number of cases, and causality with Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method and the Algorithm for Drug Causality for Epidermal Necrolysis was highly probable or probable in all cases.

Liver retransplantation in HIV-infected patients: a prospective cohort study

Information regarding liver retransplantation in HIV-infected patients is scant. Data from 14 HIV-infected patients retransplanted between 2002 and 2011 in Spain (6% retransplantation rate) were analyzed and compared with those from 157 matched HIV-negative retransplanted patients. In HIV-infected patients, early (≤30 days) retransplantation was more frequently indicated (57% vs. 29%; p = 0.057), and retransplantation for HCV recurrence was less frequently indicated (7% vs. 37%; p = 0.036). Survival probability after retransplantation in HIV-positive patients was lower than in HIV-negative patients, 42% versus 64% at 3 years, although not significantly (p = 0.160). Among HIV-infected patients, those with undetectable HCV RNA at retransplantation and those with late (>30 days) retransplantation showed better 3-year survival probability (80% and 67%, respectively), similar to that in their respective HIV-negative counterparts (72% and 70%). In HIV-infected and HIV-negative patients, 3-year survival probability in those with positive HCV RNA at retransplantation was 22% versus 65% (p = 0.008); in those with early retransplantation, 3-year survival probability was 25% versus 56% (p = 0.282). HIV infection was controlled with antiretroviral therapy after retransplantation. In conclusion, HIV-infected patients taken as a whole have unsatisfactory survival after liver retransplantation, although patients with undetectable HCV RNA at retransplantation or undergoing late retransplantation show a more favorable outcome.