Acute sickle cell hepatopathy represents a potential contraindication for percutaneous liver biopsy

The enigma of sickle cell hepatopathy: Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and therapy

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic disorders in the world predominantly affecting economically disadvantaged populations. There is a notable discrepancy between the growing adult SCD population and available diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for SCD. Sickle cell hepatopathy (SCH) is an all-inclusive term to describe the acute and chronic liver manifestations of SCD. The pathophysiology of SCH follows no defined pattern or sequence that poses challenges to clinicians and researchers alike. Evidence is lacking for this underreported disease at various levels from diagnostic to therapeutic options. This paper reviews the basic pathophysiology, clinical features, biochemical and radiological findings of various SCH manifestations and outlines the management of each condition. Old and new therapy options in SCD including hydroxyurea, red blood cell exchange transfusion, ursodeoxycholic acid, voxelotor, l-glutamine and crizanlizumab have been reviewed to investigate the role of these options in treating SCH. The role of liver transplant, haematopoietic stem cell transplant and gene therapy in SCH patients have been reviewed.

Jaundice in a Child with Sickle Cell Anemia: A Case Based Approach

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in beta globin gene. Hepatobiliary system is affected in 10-40% of patients with SCA and has a multifactorial etiology. The authors present a child with SCA and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to biliary obstruction. He underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and biliary stenting, had complications of post sphincterotomy bleed, retroperitoneal hematoma and post laparoscopic cholecystectomy sepsis with acute sickle hepatic crisis. He was managed successfully and is doing well on follow-up. Here authors discuss a stepwise approach in management of jaundice in a patient with SCA. Patients with SCA are prone to develop vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) during periods of stress. VOC affects the liver as acute sickle hepatic crisis, acute hepatic sequestration or sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis and is collectively termed as sickle cell hepatopathy. Hemolysis due to sickling results in cholelithiasis with its associated complications. These patients are vulnerable to viral hepatitis and hemochromatosis due to multiple blood transfusions. There may be a concomitant acute viral hepatitis, drug induced liver injury, Budd-Chiari syndrome or other chronic liver diseases. These conditions have considerable clinical overlap and may coexist, making the evaluation more challenging. Detailed history, examination and investigations are required for differentiation of etiology. Periods of stress must be tackled with proper hydration, oxygen supplementation, maintaining hemoglobin >10 g/dL, and a low hemoglobin S fraction. Patients with SCA and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia are "high-risk" and best managed by a multidisciplinary team. Preventive strategies like timely vaccinations, chelation, etc. must be practised.

The liver in sickle cell disease

Liver involvement in SCD patients is frequent but often misdiagnosed or underestimated, except in case of advanced liver diseases. Because of so far poorly recognized forms of chronic SCD-related vascular injury that can silently evolved towards end stages or facilitate ACLF, any persisting liver function tests abnormalities should be carefully investigated, following the above proposed algorithm. Work up and management must be considered multidisciplinary in relationship with a Hepatologist. Early SCD hepatopathy should prompt revision of SCD management to prevent further liver injury and decompensation, discussing transfusion exchanges and hydro urea when not yet initiated, and control for any cofactor of liver injury. The role of HSCT in early SCD hepatopathies also deserves evaluation. In advanced SCD hepatopathies, liver transplantation, which has been rarely performed so far, is the only therapeutic option associated with improved survival. It should definitely be discussed- either electively in case of decompensation in SCD cirrhosis or jaundice/recurrent cholangitis in cholestatic diseases, with excellent outcome, - or emergently in case of ALF or ACLF with more mitigate results. To improve knowledge and management of SCD liver diseases, creation of national and international registries, as well as longitudinal observational cohorts are encouraged.

Liver Disease and Sickle Cell Disease: Auto-Immune Hepatitis more than a Coincidence; A Systematic Review of the Literature

In patients with SCD, chronic liver damage is a common manifestation. More than 50% of SCD patients have elevated liver enzymes. Common underlying aetiologies include sickle cell hepatic crisis, viral hepatitis, sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis and hepatic sequestration in the acute setting, and cholelithiasis and iron overload in the chronic setting. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare disease that appears to occur more commonly in the sickle cell disease (SCD) population than in the general population. There are many schools of thought as to why this is the case, including the phosphatidylserine hypothesis, the heme inflammatory hypothesis, the complement generation hypothesis, and the transfusion alloimmunization hypothesis. Due to the natural history of the two illnesses, SCD is almost always diagnosed first in cases of dual pathology. Symptoms such as jaundice, fatigue, and abdominal pain are common in SCD, as are abnormal liver function tests (LFTs). These abnormalities, attributed to the other more frequent liver involvements in SCD, can lead to delays in AIH diagnosis in this population. Corticosteroids, sometimes with other immunosuppressive agents, such as azathioprine, are the cornerstone of acute AIH treatment. However, corticosteroid use in the SCD population has been shown to carry an increased risk of vaso-occlusive crises, providing a treatment dilemma. The following is a review of AIH in the SCD population, where we explore the pathophysiology behind the association between the two disorders, discuss an approach to investigating abnormal LFTs in SCD, and examine treatment options in this population with co-existing diseases.

Predisposing factors for advanced liver fibrosis in patients with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common monogenic disorders worldwide and liver complications are common in this group of patients. Our study aims to highlight the prevalence of chronic liver complications and the main predisposing factors for advanced liver fibrosis in SCD patients. For this purpose, 219 patients from eight Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Units across Greece enrolled in our study and history of liver related disease complications was recorded, as well as a full laboratory and imaging analysis concerning their liver function. 13.6% of the patients had advanced liver fibrosis. The presence of liver fibrosis was significantly correlated with advanced age, male gender, cholelithiasis and higher LDH, γ-GT, INR, direct and indirect bilirubin levels. These patients had exhibited significantly more episodes of liver crises and acute intrahepatic cholestasis. No correlation was observed with right heart failure or previous viral hepatitis. Patients with advanced liver fibrosis were receiving a more intensive transfusion therapy for a longer period of time and had higher Liver Iron Concentration levels. Our study shows that liver complications and cirrhosis is a significant cause of morbidity in patients with SCD and it is primarily associated with intravascular hemolysis and vaso-occlusive phenomena and secondarily with iron overload.

Sickle Cell Intrahepatic Cholestasis: Extremely Rare but Fatal Complication of Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis (SCIC) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), with high mortality, observed mainly in patients with homozygous sickle cell anemia. Herein, we have reported a case of severe SCIC with a poor outcome despite aggressive measures including exchange transfusion and use of vasopressors.

The patient was admitted with generalized weakness, confusion, rigors, chills, and signs of hepatic failure, such as hyperbilirubinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and coagulopathy. There was no evidence of viral hepatitis or biliary obstruction. The patient received two exchange transfusions, but he continued to deteriorate clinically despite exchange transfusion and developed hemorrhagic shock and multiorgan failure. The patient was made comfort care as per family wishes. This case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis of sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis and poor prognosis despite aggressive measures.

The Histopathologic Features of Sickle Cell Hepatopathy: A Multi-Institutional Study

OBJECTIVES

Recent data on hepatic histopathology in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are lacking.

METHODS

A total of 39 liver biopsies from SCD patients from 4 medical institutes were systematically evaluated.

RESULTS

The average age of patients was 27 years; 23 were female. The majority of the patients had hemoglobin SS (33), 3 had hemoglobin SC, and 3 sickle cell trait. Elevated liver functional tests and evaluation for cirrhosis were the main indications for biopsy. At the time of biopsy, most had elevated liver transaminases or hepatomegaly. The most common histopathologic abnormalities were Kupffer cell erythrophagocytosis (76.9%), hemosiderosis (74.4%), sinusoidal dilatation (71.8%), and intrasinusoidal sickled red cells (69.3%). Portal inflammation, lobular inflammation, and bile duct injury were mild to minimal and present in a minority of cases. Advanced fibrosis was present in 28.2% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The typical histopathologic features seen in patients with SCD include Kupffer cell erythrophagocytosis, hemosiderosis, sinusoidal dilatation, and intrasinusoidal sickled red cells in a pauci-inflammatory or uninflamed background. Necrosis is less common than reported in older literature. Pathologists should be aware that significant portal and lobular inflammation, interface activity, and bile duct injury are unusual and may be suggestive of other etiologies.

A Rare Cause of Chronic Liver Disease Diagnosed by Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Liver Biopsy

Patient: Male, 54-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Hepatic hemosiderosis

Symptoms: Elevated liver enzymes

Medication:—

Clinical Procedure: Liver biopsy

Specialty: Gastroenterology and Hepatology • Hematology

Acute Liver Failure in Sickle Cell Disease: A Perfect Storm

Sickle cell hepatopathy is a well-described but uncommonly seen complication of sickle cell disease and is usually caused by multiple overlapping processes. A more acute liver complication is hepatic sequestration which is important to recognize in order to initiate life-saving treatment. A 33-year-old woman with sickle cell disease complicated by painful crises, splenic infarction and significant alcohol abuse presented with gastrointestinal distress, pain crisis, acute-on-chronic anemia, and hyperbilirubinemia in the setting of greater than baseline alcohol consumption. She was found to have hepatomegaly, encephalopathy, severe jaundice, and severe hyperbilirubinemia. She was treated with red cell exchange and supportive care which resulted in an improvement in her symptoms as well as hyperbilirubinemia. She was discharged with plans for monthly red cell exchange, iron chelation therapy, and close monitoring of liver disease was planned upon discharge. This case illustrates that chronic liver disease can occur in sickle cell disease (Hgb SS) especially in the setting of acquired iron overload. More acutely, sequestration is a serious and life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease that can culminate in acute liver failure. Primary treatment for hepatic sequestration is red cell exchange along with management of contributing comorbidities, and symptomatic management of encephalopathy. In end-stage liver disease, transplantation may be considered in the context of the patient’s clinical status.

Pediatric Acute Liver Failure in Sickle Cell Disease

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis (SCIC) is one of the rarest and the most severe acute hepatic manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD) and it can rapidly progress to acute liver failure. It is associated with a high mortality rate, demanding prompt recognition and management. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> We report a case of a 7-year-old boy with a history of homozygous HbS SCD who presented to the emergency department with fever, increasing abdominal pain, and jaundice. His course was complicated by acute liver injury (AST 9,472 IU/L, ALT 2,683 IU/L, total bilirubin 15.4 mg/dL; conjugated bilirubin 8.69 mg/dL, hypoalbuminemia 2.6 g/dL, and persistent hypoglycemia), with acute liver failure (coagulopathy not corrected by vitamin K administration with INR 3.26, decreased factors V 10% and VII 28%, and West Haven grade I hepatic encephalopathy associated with mild hyperammonemia of 71 µmol/L). After excluding other causes of acute liver failure, the patient was diagnosed as having SCIC and was successfully treated with manual exchange transfusion. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This case reinforces that exchange transfusion is an effective treatment for SCIC and that it should be introduced promptly to prevent fulminant and potentially fatal liver failure.

Clinical management of sickle cell liver disease in children and young adults

Liver involvement in sickle cell disease (SCD) is often referred to as sickle cell hepatopathy (SCH) and is a complication of SCD which may be associated with significant mortality. This review is based on a round-table workshop between paediatric and adult hepatologists and haematologists and review of the literature. The discussion was prompted by the lack of substantial data and guidance in managing these sometimes very challenging cases. This review provides a structured approach for the diagnosis and management of SCH in children and young adults. The term SCH describes any hepatobiliary dysfunction in the context of SCD. Diagnosis and management of biliary complications, acute hepatic crisis, acute hepatic sequestration and other manifestations of SCH are discussed, as well as the role of liver transplantation and haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in the management of SCH.

Sickle Hepatopathy

Sickle hepatopathy is an umbrella term describing various pattern of liver injury seen in patients with sickle cell disease. The disease is not uncommon in India; in terms of prevalence, India is second only to Sub-Saharan Africa where sickle cell disease is most prevalent. Hepatic involvement in sickle cell disease is not uncommon. Liver disease may result from viral hepatitis and iron overload due to multiple transfusions of blood products or due to disease activity causing varying changes in vasculature. The clinical spectrum of disease ranges from ischemic injury due to sickling of red blood cells in hepatic sinusoids, pigment gall stones, and acute/chronic sequestration syndromes. The sequestration syndromes are usually episodic and self-limiting requiring conservative management such as antibiotics and intravenous fluids or packed red cell transfusions. However, rarely these episodes may present with coagulopathy and encephalopathy like acute liver failure, which are life-threatening, requiring exchange transfusions or even liver transplantation. However, evidence for their benefits, optimal indications, and threshold to start exchange transfusion is limited. Similarly, there is paucity of the literature regarding the end point of exchange transfusion in this scenario. Liver transplantation may also be beneficial in end-stage liver disease. Hydroxyurea, the antitumor agent, which is popularly used to prevent life-threatening complications such as acute chest syndrome or stroke in these patients, has been used only sparingly in hepatic sequestrations. The purpose of this review is to provide insights into epidemiology of sickle cell disease in India and pathogenesis and classification of hepatobiliary involvement in sickle cell disease. Finally, various management options including exchange transfusion, liver transplantation, and hydroxyurea in hepatic sequestration syndromes will be discussed in brief.

The Liver in Sickle Cell Disease

Liver involvement is found in nearly 40% of children with sickle cell disease. The most frequent complication is cholelithiasis. The most severe complication is acute hepatic crisis, with symptoms ranging from increasing jaundice to multiple organ failure and death. The emergency and mostly efficient treatment is exchange transfusion. Chronic cholangiopathy is increasingly recognized, with autoimmune features in most cases, worsened by chronic ischemia. Transfusion-related iron overload is not yet a concern in children, and hepatotoxicity of iron chelators is rare. We propose recommendations to prevent, explore, and treat these complications. We emphasize the close collaboration required between hepatologists and specialists of sickle cell disease.

Incidence of Bleeding and Thrombosis in Patients with Liver Disease

Historically, liver disease has been associated with a bleeding tendency. Global hemostatic assays have demonstrated that hemostasis is overall rebalanced, in both acute liver failure and chronic liver disease. It is now recognized that many bleeding events in chronic liver disease are mediated by portal hypertension rather than an underlying hemostatic defect. This is acknowledged in recent guidelines, which recommend against coagulation testing prior to low risk procedures in this patient group, with avoidance also of attempts at correction of prolonged coagulation times. Over time, the incidence of bleeding events has decreased in both chronic liver disease and acute liver failure, with improved supportive care, targeted treatments for underlying cause of liver disease, and the advent of liver transplantation. Concurrently, there has been increased recognition of the risk of thrombosis in chronic liver disease, with a predilection for the splanchnic vasculature. This review describes the incidence of bleeding and thrombosis in chronic liver disease and acute liver failure, including the periprocedural and liver transplantation setting.

Liver Stiffness Measurement by Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography Does Not Correlate to Hepatic Iron Overload in Children With Sickle Cell Disease

BACKGROUND

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk of liver injury because of sickle cell hepatopathy and iron overload from chronic transfusions (CT). The authors examine the association between iron overload and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE), which has been shown to correlate with fibrosis.

METHODS

Patients 21 years of age and less with SCD had VCTE performed; those who received CT underwent magnetic resonance imaging T2* for iron quantification.

RESULTS

The authors enrolled 42 patients, 17 (40%) of whom received CT. There was no difference in LSM between patients who underwent CT (5.5±1.5 kPa) and those who did not (5.2±2.3 kPa) (P=0.923). There was no correlation between iron quantification and LSM (r=-0.077, P=0.769). However, children 12 years of age and older had abnormal LSM when compared with a reference range (P=0.013).

CONCLUSION

VCTE is a noninvasive technology that is feasible in children with SCD. LSM values were elevated in older children but did not correlate with iron overload, suggesting that fibrosis may not be affected by iron overload alone. Though additional data are needed, LSM may be a useful test for the progression of liver disease in SCD regardless of iron burden.

Asymptomatic Hepatic Sequestration with Extreme Hyperbilirubinemia in an Adult Homozygous Sickle Cell Patient

It has been estimated that there are greater than 100,000 individuals in the US with sickle cell disease. Hepatic sequestration is a known sequelae of sickle cell disease that rarely leads to extreme hyperbilirubinemia (total serum bilirubin greater than 20 mg/dl). Our 26-year-old male patient, though compliant with regular transfusion exchanges, presented with hepatic sequestration, with minimal symptoms and hyperbilirubinemia up to approximately 40 mg/dl. The severity of asymptomatic hepatic sequestration seen in our patient has never been reported in the literature. This mandates a low threshold to screen for sickle cell complications and promptly treating these patients admitted to the hospital with exchange transfusions.

Management of liver complications in sickle cell disease

Liver disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite this, the natural history of liver disease is not well characterized and the evidence basis for specific therapeutic intervention is not robust. The spectrum of clinical liver disease encountered includes asymptomatic abnormalities of liver function; acute deteriorations in liver function, sometimes with a dramatic clinical phenotype; and decompensated chronic liver disease. In this paper, the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of patients with acute and chronic liver disease will be outlined. Advice will be given regarding initial assessment and investigation. The evidence for specific medical and surgical interventions will be reviewed, and management recommendations made for each specific clinical presentation. The potential role for liver transplantation will be considered in detail.

Hepatobiliary Complications in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Retrospective Review of Medical Records from 616 Patients

Hepatobiliary complications in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are rarely reported but can be life-threatening. We retrospectively assessed their prevalence in a cohort of 616 children followed in a French university-hospital SCD reference center. Eligibility criteria were the following: age <18 years, seen at least twice with an interval of more than 6 months from January 2008 to December 2017, with all genotypes of SCD. Patients with hepatobiliary complications were identified via the local data warehouse and medical files were thoroughly reviewed. At least one hepatobiliary complication was reported in 37% of the children. The most frequent was cholelithiasis, in 25% of cases, which led to systematic screening and elective cholecystectomy in the case of gallstones. Overall, 6% of the children experienced acute sickle cell hepatic crisis, sickle cell intra-hepatic cholestasis, or acute hepatic sequestration, with severity ranging from mild liver pain and increased jaundice to multiple organ failure and death. Emergency treatment was exchange transfusion, which led to normalization of liver tests in most cases. Five children had chronic cholangiopathy, associated with auto-immune hepatitis in two cases. One needed liver transplantation, having a good outcome but with many complications. Transfusion iron load and infectious hepatitis cases were mild. Hepatotoxicity of an iron chelator was suspected to contribute to abnormal liver test results in five patients. We propose recommendations to prevent, explore, and treat hepatobiliary complications in SCD children. We underline the need for emergency exchange transfusion when acute liver failure develops and warn against liver biopsy and transplantation in this condition.

Management of Sickle Cell Intrahepatic Cholestasis: An Argument in Favor of Automated Exchange Transfusion

Sickle cell disease patients are commonly treated at transfusion medicine services, and understanding of the hepatic manifestations of the disease is key for optimal management, specifically, in individuals presenting with sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis (SCIC). SCIC represents a rare, severe hepatic crisis wherein sinusoidal red cell sickling leads to massive hepatocyte dysfunction and cholestatic laboratory findings. Acute SCIC is defined by abdominal pain with progressive hepatic injury associated with hyperbilirubinemia, renal failure, encephalopathy, and coagulopathy. Patients are generally managed with red blood cell exchange transfusion (RBCEx), when available, as this is a potentially fatal condition. Simple transfusion may be utilized in resource-poor environment or when patients refuse RBCEx. As less than 50 adult cases have been described in the literature, many of them with limited follow-up, randomized clinical trials comparing RBCEx with other treatments are currently unfeasible. Likewise, a chronic form exists, but is less well characterized, and is associated with persistent bilirubinemia and a variable course in terms of progressive hepatic disease. We undertake a brief review of the literature and discuss two cases of SCIC managed with RBCEx at our institution.

Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography (Fibroscan®) in sickle cell liver disease - could we strike while the liver is hard?

Vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is validated for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis in different liver diseases. Sickle cell liver disease (SCLD) results from a cumulative hepatic injury and its lifelong and progressive nature raises the need for a non-invasive tool for fibrosis evaluation. Fifty patients, aged between 23 and 59 years with sickle cell disease and suspected SCLD underwent a VCTE followed by a liver biopsy. Biopsies were evaluated for various scores of liver disease that were then correlated to VCTE score. 90% of our patients had an Ishak Fibrosis (IF) score between 0-2 (Group A-minimal to no fibrosis) and 10% of the patients had IF score between 3-6 (Group B-advanced fibrosis). The median Transient Elastography (TE) for patients in Groups A and B was 4·8 kilopascals (kPa) and 17·6 kPa, respectively. A positive correlation was shown between TE and IF score, R = 0·0·68 (P = <0·0001); a positive correlation was also shown with Histology Activity Index fibrosis score, R = 0·64 (P = <0·0001). This study emphasises the need for further studies of non-invasive tools and their utility in liver fibrosis evaluation of patients with SCLD.

Sickle cell disease: Clinical presentation and management of a global health challenge

Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive, multisystem disorder, characterised by chronic haemolytic anaemia, painful episodes of vaso-occlusion, progressive organ failure and a reduced life expectancy. Sickle cell disease is the most common monogenetic disease, with millions affected worldwide. In well-resourced countries, comprehensive care programs have increased life expectancy of sickle cell disease patients, with almost all infants surviving into adulthood. Therapeutic options for sickle cell disease patients are however, still scarce. Predictors of sickle cell disease severity and a better understanding of pathophysiology and (epi)genetic modifiers are warranted and could lead to more precise management and treatment. This review provides an extensive summary of the pathophysiology and management of sickle cell disease and encompasses the characteristics, complications and current and future treatment options of the disease.

The Liver in Sickle Cell Disease

Patients with sickle cell disease can develop liver disease as a result of intrahepatic sickling of erythrocytes, viral hepatitis and iron overload secondary to multiple blood transfusions, and gallstone disease as a result of chronic hemolysis. The spectrum of clinical liver disease is wide and often multifactorial. Some patients develop cirrhosis that may progress to end-stage liver failure. Limited evidence exists for medical treatments. Exchange blood transfusions may improve outcomes in the acute liver syndromes. Liver transplantation may be an option for chronic liver disease. The role for prophylactic cholecystectomy in preventing complications of gallstone disease is controversial.

Autoimmune Liver Disease in Children with Sickle Cell Disease

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence, clinical features, and outcome of autoimmune liver disease (AILD) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).

STUDY DESIGN

Single center retrospective review of patients with SCD with AILD referred between 1999 and 2015.

RESULTS

Thirteen of 77 (17%) patients with SCD with hepatic dysfunction were diagnosed with AILD (median age 11, range, 3.4-16 years) with a female preponderance (77%). Acute hepatitis and insidious onset were the commonest presentations. Two patients (15%) presented with acute liver failure. In 2 patients (15%), parvovirus B19-induced transient red cell aplasia preceded the diagnosis of AILD. All patients were positive for antinuclear and/or smooth muscle autoantibodies. Six of 12 patients (50%) had cholangiopathy on cholangiogram suggesting autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC). Liver biopsy, performed in 11 patients without complications, showed interface hepatitis in 90%. Patients with AILD were treated with standard immunosuppression. After a median follow-up of 3.8 years (range, 0.2-14.3), 10 patients are alive (1 was transplanted 6.4 years after diagnosis); 2 are lost to follow-up; 1 died of subdural hemorrhage before starting treatment for AILD. Five (42%) achieved full and 4 (33%) partial biochemical remission. Ulcerative colitis, present in 4 patients (2 male patients, 3 with ASC) was diagnosed in 2 patients before and in 2 patients after the diagnosis of AILD.

CONCLUSIONS

AILD is not uncommon in patients with SCD, affecting mainly female patients and responding satisfactorily to immunosuppressive treatment. Liver biopsy is helpful in confirming the diagnosis and can be safely performed in the absence of acute vaso-occlusive sickling episodes. Ulcerative colitis is common in the presence of ASC.

Interim assessment of liver damage in patients with sickle cell disease using new non-invasive techniques

We explored transient elastography (TE) and enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF^™ ) score with standard markers of liver function to assess liver damage in 193 well patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Patients with HbSS or HbSβ⁰ thalassaemia (sickle cell anaemia, SCA; N = 134), had significantly higher TE results and ELF scores than those with HbSC (N = 49) disease (TE, 6·8 vs. 5·3, P < 0·0001 and ELF, 9·2 vs. 8·6 P < 0·0001). In SCA patients, TE and ELF correlated significantly with age and all serum liver function tests (LFTs). Additionally, (weak) positive correlation was found with lactate dehydrogenase (TE: r = 0·24, P = 0·004; ELF: r = 0·26 P = 0·002), and (weak) negative correlation with haemoglobin (TE: r = -0·25, P = 0·002; ELF: r = -0·25 P = 0·004). In HbSC patients, correlations were weaker or not significant between TE or ELF, and serum LFTs. All markers of iron loading correlated with TE values when corrected for sickle genotype (serum ferritin, β = 0·25, P < 0·0001, total blood transfusion units, β = 0·25, P < 0·0001 and LIC β = 0·32, P = 0·046). The exploratory study suggests that, while TE could have a role, the utility of ELF score in monitoring liver damage in SCD, needs further longitudinal studies.

Sofosbuvir and Simeprevir Treatment of a Stem Cell Transplanted Teenager With Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

There have been no previous reports on the use of interferon-free combinations in pediatric patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. An infected adolescent with severe sickle cell disease underwent stem cell transplantation and subsequent treatment with sofosbuvir and simeprevir during ongoing immunosuppression. Despite the emergence of peripheral edema as a side effect, treatment was continued with sustained antiviral response.

Marked Direct Hyperbilirubinemia due to Ceftriaxone in an Adult with Sickle Cell Disease

Drugs are a significant cause of liver injury. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) can cause acute hepatitis, cholestasis, or a mixed pattern. Ceftriaxone is a commonly used antibiotic and has been associated with reversible biliary sludge, pseudolithiasis, and cholestasis. A 32-year-old male with sickle cell disease was admitted to the hospital for acute sickle cell crisis. On the second day of hospitalization, he developed cough and rhonchi with chest X-ray revealing right middle lobe infiltrates. Ceftriaxone and azithromycin were initiated. Subsequently, he developed conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and mild transaminitis. His total bilirubin trended upwards from 3.3 mg/dL on admission to 17 mg/dL. It was predominantly conjugated bilirubin, with preadmission bilirubin levels of 3-4 mg/dL. His transaminases were mildly elevated as well compared to previous levels. Extensive workup for bilirubin elevation was unremarkable. Ceftriaxone was switched to levofloxacin and the hyperbilirubinemia improved. On ambulatory follow-up, his bilirubin remained below 4 mg/dL. Ceftriaxone may be associated with marked direct hyperbilirubinemia particularly in sickle cell patients with chronic liver chemistry abnormalities. In the case of elevated bilirubin with concomitant ceftriaxone use, elimination of the offending agent should be considered.

Cirrhosis: an unusual presentation of sickle cell disease

Hepatobiliary complications of sickle cell disease are relatively rare but well recognised in literature. Clinical syndromes range from mild intrahepatic cholestasis and gallstones to life threatening sequestration crisis. Most patients, homozygous for sickle cell anaemia, present before adolescence. We report a case of an adult man with no prior symptoms who presented for the first time with decompensated cirrhosis, which was found to be due to underlying previously unrecognised sickle cell anaemia.

Liver biopsy in children: position paper of the ESPGHAN Hepatology Committee

Liver biopsy (LB) is still the criterion standard procedure for obtaining liver tissue for histopathological examination and a valuable tool in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of many parenchymal liver diseases. The aim of this position paper is to summarise the present practice of paediatric LB and make recommendations about its performance. Although histological evaluation of the liver is important in assessing prognosis and exploring treatment, noninvasive techniques (ie, imaging, laboratory markers) may replace use of liver histology. The indications for LB are changing as present knowledge of aetiologies, pathomechanism, and therapeutic options in paediatric liver disease is evolving. Adult and paediatric literature was reviewed to assess the existing clinical practice of LB with focus on the technique, indications, risk of complications, and contraindications in paediatrics. This position paper presents types of LB, indications, complications, contraindications, and an essential checklist for paediatric LB.

Acute Sickle Hepatic Crisis after Liver Transplantation in a Patient with Hb SC Disease

Acute sickle hepatic crisis (ASHC) has been observed in approximately 10% of patients with sickle cell disease. It occurs predominantly in patients with homozygous (Hb SS) sickle cell anemia and to a lesser degree in patients with Hb SC disease, sickle cell trait, and Hb S beta thalassemia. Patients commonly present with jaundice, right upper quadrant pain, nausea, low-grade fever, tender hepatomegaly, and mild to moderate elevations in serum AST, ALT, and bilirubin. We describe the case of a patient with a history of hemoglobin SC disease and cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C presenting approximately 1 year after liver transplantation with an ASHC. The diagnosis was confirmed by liver biopsy. Our patient was treated with RBC exchange transfusions, IV hydration, and analgesia and made a complete recovery. Only a limited number of patients with sickle cell disease have received liver transplants, and, to our knowledge, this is the first case of ASHC after transplantation in a patient with Hb SC disease.

How we treat sickle hepatopathy and liver transplantation in adults

Sickle cell disease (SCD) has evolved into a debilitating disorder with emerging end-organ damage. One of the organs affected is the liver, causing "sickle hepatopathy," an umbrella term for a variety of acute and chronic pathologies. Prevalence of liver dysfunction in SCD is unknown, with estimates of 10%. Dominant etiologies include gallstones, hepatic sequestration, viral hepatitis, and sickle cell intrahepatic cholestasis (SCIC). In addition, causes of liver disease outside SCD must be identified and managed. SCIC is an uncommon, severe subtype, with outcome of its acute form having vastly improved with exchange blood transfusion (EBT). In its chronic form, there is limited evidence for EBT programs as a therapeutic option. Liver transplantation may have a role in a subset of patients with minimal SCD-related other organ damage. In the transplantation setting, EBT is important to maintain a low hemoglobin S fraction peri- and posttransplantation. Liver dysfunction in SCD is likely to escalate as life span increases and patients incur incremental transfusional iron overload. Future work must concentrate on not only investigating the underlying pathogenesis, but also identifying in whom and when to intervene with the 2 treatment modalities available: EBT and liver transplantation.

Successful Outcome of Chronic Intrahepatic Cholestasis in an Adult Patient with Sickle Cell/ β (+) Thalassemia

Sickle cell/β⁺ thalassemia (Hb S/β⁺thal) is considered as a variant form of sickle cell disease. Acute episodes of vasoocclusive pain crisis are characteristic for sickle cell disorders and may be complicated by an acute or chronic life-threatening organ dysfunction. Chronic intrahepatic cholestasis is a rare and severe complication in sickle cell disease, characterized by marked hyperbilirubinemia and acute hepatic failure with an often fatal course. Despite the fact that patients with Hb S/β⁺thal usually have a mild type of disease, herein we describe an interesting case of chronic intrahepatic cholestasis with successful outcome in an adult patient with Hb S/β⁺thal.

Liver stiffness increases acutely during sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis

Acute vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) in sickle cell disease (SCD) is an important cause of end-organ damage. It is estimated that 10-39% of VOC occurs with hepatic involvement. Current assessments of hepatic involvement during VOC are unsatisfactory. We investigated transient elastography (TE) as a marker of hepatic involvement, its relationship with histology, and biochemical markers during VOC. SCD patients were evaluated with biochemical markers and TE at steady-state and during VOC. Change in TE and biochemical markers were correlated with length of hospital stay. When available, liver biopsy and tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) at steady-state were correlated with TE. Twenty-three patients were evaluated (mean age = 34.3 years, standard deviation = 7.96). In 15 patients with liver biopsies, TE correlated with fibrosis (P = 0.01) and TRV (P = 0.0063), but not hepatic iron. Hemolysis biomarkers changed during VOC (P < 0.022), but not alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Paired comparison of TE at steady-state and during VOC showed an increased from 6.2 to 12.3 kPa (P = 0.0029). Increasing TE during VOC associated with increasing ALT and alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.0088 and 0.0099, respectively). At steady-state, increasing inflammation on biopsy (P = 0.0037) and TRV (P = 0.0075) correlated with increasing TE during VOC. Increased hospital stay was associated with higher ALT (P = 0.041), lower albumin (P = 0.046), hemoglobin/hematocrit (P < 0.0021) but not TE. TE may identify patients with hepatic involvement during VOC independent of biochemical measures. Increase in TE may reflect both hepatic passive congestion and hepatic involvement during VOC. TE may serve as a physiological biomarker for hepatic features of VOC.

Beyond the definitions of the phenotypic complications of sickle cell disease: an update on management

The sickle hemoglobin is an abnormal hemoglobin due to point mutation (GAG → GTG) in exon 1 of the β globin gene resulting in the substitution of glutamic acid by valine at position 6 of the β globin polypeptide chain. Although the molecular lesion is a single-point mutation, the sickle gene is pleiotropic in nature causing multiple phenotypic expressions that constitute the various complications of sickle cell disease in general and sickle cell anemia in particular. The disease itself is chronic in nature but many of its complications are acute such as the recurrent acute painful crises (its hallmark), acute chest syndrome, and priapism. These complications vary considerably among patients, in the same patient with time, among countries and with age and sex. To date, there is no well-established consensus among providers on the management of the complications of sickle cell disease due in part to lack of evidence and in part to differences in the experience of providers. It is the aim of this paper to review available current approaches to manage the major complications of sickle cell disease. We hope that this will establish another preliminary forum among providers that may eventually lead the way to better outcomes.

"Sickle Cell Disease in the Emergency Department: Atypical Complications and Management"

Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States. This disorder of hemoglobin structure leads to a chronic hemolytic anemia and complex chronic disease manifested by sudden, severe, and life-threatening complications. These acute complications can occur in any organ system beginning in early childhood and lasting throughout life. The intermittent nature and acuity of these complications lend the emergency department to be an important site of care. The hallmark of sickle cell disease is the vasoocclusive painful event. Other more "typical" complications include fever, acute chest syndrome, priapism, and ischemic stroke. Children with sickle cell disease can also present with other "atypical" complications that can have devastating consequences if they are unrecognized. Detailed discussion of these "atypical" sickle cell disease complications, organized by organ system involved, will be the focus of this article.

Gastrointestinal and hepatic complications of sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive abnormality of the beta-globin chain of hemoglobin (Hb), resulting in poorly deformable sickled cells that cause microvascular occlusion and hemolytic anemia. The spleen is almost always affected by SCD, with microinfarcts within the first 36 months of life resulting in splenic atrophy. Acute liver disorders causing right-sided abdominal pain include acute vaso-occlusive crisis, liver infarction, and acute hepatic crisis. Chronic liver disease might be due to hemosiderosis and hepatitis and possibly to SCD itself if small, clinically silent microvascular occlusions occur chronically. Black pigment gallstones caused by elevated bilirubin excretion are common. Their small size permits them to travel into the common bile duct but cause only low-grade obstruction, so hyperbilirubinemia rather than bile duct dilatation is typical. Whether cholecystectomy should be done in asymptomatic individuals is controversial. The most common laboratory abnormality is an elevation of unconjugated bilirubin level. Bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase levels correlate with one another, suggesting that chronic hemolysis and ineffective erythropoiesis, rather than liver disease, are the sources of hyperbilirubinemia. Abdominal pain is very common in SCD and is usually due to sickling, which resolves with supportive care. Computed tomography scans might be ordered for severe or unremitting pain. The liver typically shows sickled erythrocytes and Kupffer cell enlargement acutely and hemosiderosis chronically. The safety of liver biopsies has been questioned, particularly during acute sickling crisis. Treatments include blood transfusions, exchange transfusions, iron-chelating agents, hydroxyurea, and allogeneic stem-cell transplantation.

Study of Chronic Hepatopathy in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

Background

Hepatic lesions in sickle cell disease were studied essentially in autopsy specimens. We investigated chronic hepatopathy in living adults with sickle cell disease and report the clinical, biochemical, and hepatic histological findings in these patients.

Methods

A total of 170 adult patients with sickle cell syndrome were prospectively investigated. Clinical and laboratory investigation including liver function tests, serological tests for viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and abdominal ultrasonography were performed in all of the patients. Liver biopsies were studied from 27 patients.

Results

There was clinical evidence of jaundice in 123 (72.4%) patients, 118 (69.4%) patients had palpable liver, and 69% percent of the patients had elevated enzymes. Serological tests demonstrated the presence of hepatitis B infection in 18 (10.6%) patients and hepatitis C infection in 39 (23%) patients, serological markers for autoimmune hepatitis were positive in two female patients, one diagnosed chronic intrahepatic cholestasis. All 27 biopsies presented some degree of sickling hepatopathy. Moderate or marked liver siderosis was associated with the number of transfusions.

Conclusions

The clinical spectrum of sickle cell disease ranges from mild liver function test abnormalities to significant hepatic abnormalities with marked hyperbilirubinemia. Multiple factors may contribute to the etiology of the liver disease, including ischemia, transfusion related viral hepatitis, iron overload, and gallstones.

Serum ferritin level changes in children with sickle cell disease on chronic blood transfusion are nonlinear and are associated with iron load and liver injury

Chronic blood transfusion is increasingly indicated in patients with sickle cell disease. Measuring resulting iron overload remains a challenge. Children without viral hepatitis enrolled in 2 trials for stroke prevention were examined for iron overload (STOP and STOP2; n = 271). Most received desferrioxamine chelation. Serum ferritin (SF) changes appeared nonlinear compared with prechelation estimated transfusion iron load (TIL) or with liver iron concentrations (LICs). Averaged correlation coefficient between SF and TIL (patients/observations, 26 of 164) was r = 0.70; between SF and LIC (patients/observations, 33 of 47) was r = 0.55. In mixed models, SF was associated with LIC (P = .006), alanine transaminase (P = .025), and weight (P = .026). Most patients with SF between 750 and 1500 ng/mL had a TIL between 25 and 100 mg/kg (72.8% +/- 5.9%; patients/observations, 24 of 50) or an LIC between 2.5 and 10 mg/g dry liver weight (75% +/- 0%; patients/observations, 8 of 9). Most patients with SF of 3000 ng/mL or greater had a TIL of 100 mg/kg or greater (95.3% +/- 6.7%; patients/observations, 7 of 16) or an LIC of 10 mg/g dry liver weight or greater (87.7% +/- 4.3%; patients/observations, 11 of 18). Although SF changes are nonlinear, levels less than 1500 ng/mL indicated mostly acceptable iron overload; levels of 3000 ng/mL or greater were specific for significant iron overload and were associated with liver injury. However, to determine accurately iron overload in patients with intermediately elevated SF levels, other methods are required. These trials are registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00000592 and #NCT00006182.

Hepatic iron overload in children with sickle cell anemia on chronic transfusion therapy

Hepatic iron overload is a serious complication of chronic transfusion therapy in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). No firm consensus has been reached with regard to correlation between hepatic iron content (HIC) and variables including age, number of transfusions, and serum iron makers. Also, the role of HIC in determining hepatic injury is not well established. There is scarcity of data on chronically transfused children with SCD and no other confounding liver pathology. We aimed to further explore relationships between these variables in a cohort of children with SCD on chronic transfusion therapy naive to chelation. Liver biopsies obtained before starting chelation therapy from 27 children with sickle cell anemia receiving chronic transfusion therapy were evaluated for histologic scoring and determination of HIC. Average serum ferritin and iron saturation values were determined for 6 months before biopsy. Duration and total volume of transfusion were obtained from the medical records. All children were negative for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections. Mean age at biopsy was 10.95+/-3.34 years. Mean duration and total volume of transfusions were 50.0+/-26.6 months and 17.4+/-9.6 L, respectively. Pearson product-moment bivariate correlation coefficients indicated significant correlations between HIC and histologic iron score, serum ferritin, iron saturation, age, and transfusion volume. After adjusting for transfusion volume, a significant correlation was only seen between HIC and transfusion volume. Mean HIC was 21.8+/-10.4 mg/g dry weight, with fibrosis observed in 10 patients and lobular inflammation in 9. HIC was higher in biopsies with fibrosis (28.2+/-3.8 mg/g) than biopsies without fibrosis (17.6+/-18.3 mg/g; P=0.012). HIC did not differ between biopsies with lobular inflammation (25.5+/-4.0 mg/g) and biopsies without inflammation (19.9+/-2.5 mg/g; P=0.22). These findings show that transfusion volume provides more insight on hepatic iron overload than serum iron markers.

The involvement of the liver in systemic diseases

The liver has a double blood supply and plays a central role in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and many medications. In addition, it has a role in the induction of immune tolerance and may also be a target for immune-mediated damage. For these reasons, the liver may be involved in many systemic diseases. In this review, we discuss the involvement of the liver in granulomatous, rheumatologic, malignant, and circulatory diseases. An understanding of the wide spectrum of liver involvement in systemic diseases will aid in both diagnosis and treatment of patients with a wide range of medical conditions.

Hepatic dysfunction in sickle cell disease: a new system of classification based on global assessment

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hepatic dysfunction in adults with sickle cell disease varies in character and severity from self-limited cholestasis to life-threatening acute liver failure and cirrhosis. Because previous attempts to describe patterns of liver disease have not reflected clinical experience, we aimed to characterize the presentation, clinicopathologic findings, and natural history of such patients.

METHODS

We reviewed the clinical, laboratory, radiographic, and histologic features with the natural history of 38 patients (mean age, 33 years) with Hb SS, SC, or S-beta thalassemia referred to a tertiary liver center for assessment.

RESULTS

Distinct disease patterns were identified that comprised massive hepatocellular necrosis (5%), acute severe sequestration and cholestasis in the context of sepsis (18%), cirrhosis (18%), chronic, fluctuating sequestration without cholestasis (21%), mechanical biliary obstruction (8%), siderosis without cirrhosis (8%), generalized cholangiopathy (8%), venous outflow obstruction (3%), and miscellaneous (11%). Of the 20 who required emergency admission, 8 did not survive their index admission, and 3 patients died during follow-up admissions (4 months-4 years later). There were 3 instances of hemorrhage related to liver biopsy. One patient underwent transplantation but died. Hematologic and biochemical markers did not discriminate well between survivors and nonsurvivors. The incidence of a second hepatic pathology (ie, viral hepatitis, autoimmune disease, transfusional siderosis) was 37% and was associated with the finding of more advanced histologic fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Patterns of hepatic dysfunction in sickle cell disease are diverse and demand clear characterization for each individual; however, groups with a poor prognosis can be identified after collation of clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data. Findings at biopsy (which is associated with higher risk of bleeding in this group) might be anticipated by noninvasive test results.

Chronic liver abnormalities in sickle cell disease: a clinicopathological study in 70 living patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The present study aimed to evaluate the incidence and etiology of chronic liver abnormalities in 70 living patients with sickle cell disease from the Hematology and Hemotherapy Center of the State University of Campinas.

METHODS

Clinical and laboratory investigations, including liver function tests, serological tests for viral hepatitis and abdominal ultrasound, were performed in all patients. Additionally, liver biopsies were taken from 20 patients.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven (96%) patients had some liver abnormality; these included abnormal liver function tests, viral hepatitis, liver ultrasonographic changes or cholelithiasis. The sickling process was the only explanation for the abnormal liver function tests or liver ultrasonographic changes in 24% of these patients. One or more defined reasons, including viral hepatitis, cholelithiasis, clinical hemosiderosis, alcoholism or diabetes, justified the liver abnormalities in 76% of the patients. Nineteen of the 20 liver biopsies presented some degree of vascular lesion; other histological findings were associated with hemosiderosis, viral hepatitis or cholestasis.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with sickle cell disease, chronic liver abnormalities are frequent and seem to be a multifactorial phenomenon, depending on overlapping factors such as cholelithiasis, viral damage, iron overload and also the primary disease itself.

Exacerbation of sickle cell disease itself as a cause of abnormal liver chemistry tests

Liver pathology occurring in patients with sickle cell disease is commonly related to viral hepatitis or hepatic iron deposition due to repeated transfusions; cholestasis and cirrhosis may also occur. Consequently, the differential diagnosis of abnormal liver tests in patients with sickle cell anemia is often complicated. We report the case of a patient presenting with jaundice and abnormal liver biochemistries, without typical evidence of the liver diseases associated with sickle cell anemia. Biochemical markers for viral hepatitis were negative. CT scan only showed hepatomegaly. The liver biopsy revealed marked sinusoidal congestion with red blood cells without significant steatosis or increased iron deposition. The patient's medical history corroborated with biochemical tests and histological examination of the liver suggested that worsening hemolysis related to increased sickling of erythrocytes intrahepatically led to sinusoidal dilatation and probably caused the abnormal liver tests.