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Wang H, Qian Y, Wang JW, Fang Y, Fan YC, Liu HH, Wang K. Hypomethylation of thymosin β4 promoter is associated with glucocorticoid therapy in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B-induced liver failure. Int Health 2022; 15:19-29. [PMID: 35150577 PMCID: PMC9808517 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihac003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to determine whether the methylation status of thymosin β4 (Tβ4) promoter reflects the severity of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) and whether glucocorticoids affect this status. METHODS Fifty-six patients with ACHBLF, 45 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 32 healthy controls (HCs), were retrospectively enrolled. Methylation-specific PCR and real-time PCR were used to detect Tβ4 methylation frequency and mRNA level. The expression of Tβ4 was measured before and after glucocorticoid treatment in patients with ACHBLF. Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained. RESULTS Tβ4 mRNA expression of patients with ACHBLF was lower than in patients with CHB or HCs, but the methylation frequency was higher. Tβ4 promoter methylation frequency was correlated with serum total bilirubin, prothrombin activity and model for end-stage liver disease score. Moreover, Tβ4 promoter methylation frequency decreased and demethylation occurred during glucocorticoid therapy. After glucocorticoid therapy, Tβ4 mRNA expression and liver function were better in patients with low levels of methylation than in those with higher levels. After 90 d, the survival of patients with low levels of methylation was significantly higher than those with high levels. CONCLUSIONS Patients with ACHBLF who have low levels of Tβ4 methylation may show a more favorable response to glucocorticoid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Wang
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China,Department of Hepatology, Qingdao Sixth People's Hospital, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Yu Qian
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jing-Wen Wang
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yu Fang
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yu-Chen Fan
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China,Institute of Hepatology, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Hui-Hui Liu
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Corresponding author: Tel: +86-531-82169593; Fax: +86-531-86927544; E-mail: ;
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Philips CA, Kakkar K, Joseph M, Yerol PK, Ahamed R, Rajesh S, Augustine P. Critically Ill COVID-19 Patient with Chronic Liver Disease - Insights into a Comprehensive Liver Intensive Care. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2021; 9:576-586. [PMID: 34447688 PMCID: PMC8369022 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2020.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus-related coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been relentless in disrupting and overwhelming healthcare the world over. Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with chronic comorbidities, especially in those with metabolic syndrome, are well documented. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis patients are a special sub-group, among whom the management of COVID-19 is challenging. Understanding the pathophysiology of COVID-19 in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension improves our identification of at-risk patients for disease progression that will further help compartmentalize generalized and specialized treatment options in this special patient group. In this exhaustive review, we critically review the impact of COVID-19 on the liver and in chronic liver disease and cirrhosis patients. We further discuss common features associated with the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and cirrhosis, based on the renin-angiotensin system and deliberate current literature on guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19 and extrapolate the same to the cirrhosis population to provide a concise and stepwise, evidence-based management for cirrhosis patients with severe and critical COVID-19. There are no specific management guidelines for cirrhosis patients with COVID-19 and current recommendations for treatment are as per guidelines for general population. Nevertheless, specific issues like avoiding corticosteroids in decompensated patients with variceal bleeding, suspected sepsis, high grade hepatic encephalopathy and acute kidney injury, use of early mechanical ventilation strategies in those with severe ascites and hepatopulmonary syndrome, avoidance of remdesivir in advanced liver disease, and application of liver-specific severity scores for prognostication and identification of futility need to be highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyriac Abby Philips
- Department of Clinical Hepatology, The Liver Institute, Center of Excellence in GI Sciences, Rajagiri Hospital, Chunangamvely, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
- Correspondence to: Cyriac Abby Philips, Department of Clinical Hepatology, The Liver Institute, Center of Excellence in GI Sciences, Rajagiri Hospital, Chunangamvely, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala 683112, India. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9587-336X. Tel: +91-484-2905000, Fax: +91-484-7184000, E-mail:
| | - Kamna Kakkar
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Moby Joseph
- Great Western Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Swindon, United Kingdom
| | - Praveen Kumar Yerol
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Government Medicine College and Hospital, Thrissur, Kerala, India
| | - Rizwan Ahamed
- Gastroenterology and Advanced G.I Endoscopy, Center of Excellence in GI Sciences, Rajagiri Hospital, Chunangamvely, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
| | - Sasidharan Rajesh
- Interventional Hepatobiliary Radiology, The Liver Institute, Center of Excellence in GI Sciences, Rajagiri Hospital, Chunangamvely, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
| | - Philip Augustine
- Gastroenterology and Advanced G.I Endoscopy, Center of Excellence in GI Sciences, Rajagiri Hospital, Chunangamvely, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
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