1
|
Thabut D, Bouzbib C, Meunier L, Haas M, Weiss N, Louvet A, Imbert-Bismut F, Mochel F, Nadjar Y, Santiago A, Thevenot T, Duhalde V, Oberti F, Francoz C, Coilly A, Hilleret MN, Lebray P, Liou-Schischmanoff A, Barbier L, Duvoux C, Pageaux GP, Bismuth M, Galanaud D, Broucker TD, Cadranel JF, Leroy V, Di Martino V, Larrey D, Camus C, Scatton O, De Ledinghen V, Mallat A, Rudler M, Bureau C. Diagnosis and management of hepatic encephalopathy: The French recommendations. Liver Int 2023; 43:750-762. [PMID: 36625084 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a frequent and severe complication of liver disease with poor patient outcomes. However, it is a poorly understood complication, with no consensus for diagnosis. Therefore, HE is often underdiagnosed. Differential diagnosis may be cumbersome because of non-specific symptoms, such as confusion, cognitive disorders, the aetiological factors of cirrhosis and comorbidities, which are often observed in cirrhotic patients. Therefore, an overt or covert form of HE should be systematically investigated. Advice is provided to drive patient work-up. Effective treatments are available to prevent or treat HE bouts, but the issue of single or combination therapy has not been resolved. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement largely improved the prognosis of cirrhotic patients, but HE occurrence of HE is often a fear, even when post-TIPS HE can be avoided by a careful selection of patients and preventive treatment. HE is an indication of liver transplantation. However, its reversibility post-transplantation and the consequences of transplantation in patients with other causes of neurological disorders remain controversial, which supports the performance of an extensive work-up in expert centres for this subset of patients. The present guidelines assist clinicians in the diagnosis of the overt or covert form of HE to implement curative and preventive treatments and clarify which patients require referral to expert centres for consideration for liver transplantation. These guidelines are very clinically oriented and address different frequent clinical issues to help physicians make bedside decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Thabut
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière. INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN). Brain-Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière Study Group (BLIPS), Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Bouzbib
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière. INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN). Brain-Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière Study Group (BLIPS), Paris, France
| | - Lucy Meunier
- Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie A et Transplantation, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Manon Haas
- APHP-Paris Saclay, Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Université Paris-saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Nicolas Weiss
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service de réanimation neurologique, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière. INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN). Brain-Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière Study Group (BLIPS), Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Louvet
- Services des maladies de l'appareil digestif, CHRU de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Francois Imbert-Bismut
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service de biochimie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Fanny Mochel
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service de génétique, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Yann Nadjar
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service de neurologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Santiago
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière. INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN). Brain-Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière Study Group (BLIPS), Paris, France
| | - Thierry Thevenot
- Service d'hépatologie, Hôpital Jean Minjoz, CHU de Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Véronique Duhalde
- Service de pharmacie, Hôpital Rangueil, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Frédéric Oberti
- Laboratoire HIFIH, UPRES-EA2170, Faculté de Médecine, Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, CHU ANGERS, Angers, France
| | - Claire Francoz
- APHP-Hôpital Beaujon, Service d'hépatologie, Clichy, France
| | - Audrey Coilly
- APHP-Paris Saclay, Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Université Paris-saclay, Villejuif, France
| | | | - Pascal Lebray
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière. INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN). Brain-Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière Study Group (BLIPS), Paris, France
| | | | - Louise Barbier
- Service de chirurgie hépatique et transplantation, CHU de Tours, Tours, France
| | | | - Georges-Philippe Pageaux
- Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie A et Transplantation, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Michael Bismuth
- Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie B, Hôpital Saint Eloi, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Damien Galanaud
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service de neuro-radiologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Thomas De Broucker
- Service de Neurologie Hôpital Pierre Delafontaine, Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Denis, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Jean-François Cadranel
- Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie de nutrition et d'Alcoologie-GHPSO site de Creil, Creil, France
| | - Vincent Leroy
- APHP Hôpital Henri-Mondor, Service d'hépatologie, Créteil, France
| | - Vincent Di Martino
- Service d'hépatologie, Hôpital Jean Minjoz, CHU de Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Dominique Larrey
- Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie A et Transplantation, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Christophe Camus
- Service de réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Pontchaillou, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Olivier Scatton
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service de chirurgie et transplantation hépatique, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Victor De Ledinghen
- Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpital du Haut-Lévêque, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Ariane Mallat
- APHP Hôpital Henri-Mondor, Service d'hépatologie, Créteil, France
| | - Marika Rudler
- APHP-Sorbonne Université, Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière. INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN). Brain-Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière Study Group (BLIPS), Paris, France
| | - Christophe Bureau
- Service d'hépatologie, Hôpital Rangueil, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Acharya C, Bajaj JS. Hepatic Encephalopathy and Liver Transplantation: The Past, Present, and Future Toward Equitable Access. Liver Transpl 2021; 27:1830-1843. [PMID: 34018659 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cirrhosis is a debilitating chronic disease with high morbidity and mortality, with the only real cure being liver transplantation (LT). Currently, we allocate organs for transplantation based on the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium (MELD-Na) score that does not account for hepatic encephalopathy (HE). HE affects patients, families, and the health care system because of high rates of recurrence and major readmission burden. Moreover, HE casts a long shadow even after LT. Accounting for HE and incorporating it into the current allocation system has many proponents, but the framework to do this is currently lacking because of differences in consensus or in operationalization parameters. We review the latest evidence of the burden of HE, management of HE before and after LT, and evaluate pros and cons of several methods of diagnosing HE objectively to ensure early and equitable access to LT in this underserved population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chathur Acharya
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System, Richmond, VA
| | - Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System, Richmond, VA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Liver transplantation (LT) remains the only way to cure patients with severe liver diseases. Important questions about neurological sequelae and quality of life after LT have emerged. In this review, we discuss the neurocognitive changes associated with LT and we conclude with recommendations in this regard for patients, caregivers, and physicians. RECENT FINDINGS Compared with other solid organ recipients, LT patients tend to have a higher incidence (up to 30%) of neurological complications post-LT. Even in absence of previous episodes of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), some patients display new onset of neurological symptoms post-LT, raising the concern about the role of other factors that may have a direct impact on cognitive function. SUMMARY Different mechanisms have been postulated to explain these postoperative neurological symptoms. They include sequelae of HE, persistent impairment of cognitive function due to cirrhosis, or postoperative decompensation of an unknown or undiagnosed neurodegenerative disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Somaya A. M. Albhaisi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0341 USA
| | - Jasmohan S. Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire VA Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pflugrad H, Tryc AB, Goldbecker A, Barg-Hock H, Strassburg C, Klempnauer J, Lanfermann H, Weissenborn K, Raab P. Cerebral metabolite alterations in patients with posttransplant encephalopathy after liver transplantation. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221626. [PMID: 31442276 PMCID: PMC6707570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the first weeks after liver transplantation about 30% of the patients develop a posttransplant encephalopathy. A posttransplant encephalopathy comprises metabolic-toxic caused symptoms such as disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, cognitive dysfunction and seizures. We hypothesize that alterations of cerebral metabolites before liver transplantation predispose posttransplant encephalopathy development after liver transplantation. Methods 31 patients with chronic liver disease underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) before liver transplantation to assess glutamine/glutamate (Glx), myo-Inositol (mI), choline (Cho), creatine/phosphocreatine- and N-acetyl-aspartate/N-acetyl-aspartate-glutamate concentrations in the thalamus, lentiform nucleus and white matter. Of these, 14 patients underwent MRS additionally after liver transplantation. Furthermore, 15 patients received MRS only after liver transplantation. Patients’ data were compared to 20 healthy age adjusted controls. Results Patients showed significantly increased Glx and decreased mI and Cho concentrations compared to controls before liver transplantation (p≤0.01). The MRS values before liver transplantation of patients with posttransplant encephalopathy showed no significant difference compared to patients without posttransplant encephalopathy. Patients after liver transplantation showed increased Glx concentrations (p≤0.01) compared to controls, however, patients with and without posttransplant encephalopathy did not differ. Patients with posttransplant encephalopathy who underwent MRS before and after liver transplantation showed a significant mI increase in all three brain regions (p<0.04) and Glx decrease in the lentiform nucleus after liver transplantation (p = 0.04) while patients without posttransplant encephalopathy only showed a mI increase in the thalamus (p = 0.04). Conclusion Patients with and without posttransplant encephalopathy showed no significant difference in cerebral metabolites before liver transplantation. However, the paired sub-analysis indicates that the extent of cerebral metabolite alterations in patients with liver cirrhosis might be critical for the development of posttransplant encephalopathy after liver transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henning Pflugrad
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Integrated Research and Treatment Centre Transplantation, Hannover, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Anita Blanka Tryc
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Integrated Research and Treatment Centre Transplantation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Annemarie Goldbecker
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Integrated Research and Treatment Centre Transplantation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hannelore Barg-Hock
- Clinic for Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian Strassburg
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jürgen Klempnauer
- Integrated Research and Treatment Centre Transplantation, Hannover, Germany
- Clinic for Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Heinrich Lanfermann
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Karin Weissenborn
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Integrated Research and Treatment Centre Transplantation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Peter Raab
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kornerup LS, Pflugrad H, Weissenborn K, Vilstrup H, Dam G. Cognitive impairment after liver transplantation: residual hepatic encephalopathy or posttransplant encephalopathy? Hepat Med 2019; 11:41-46. [PMID: 31040728 PMCID: PMC6456244 DOI: 10.2147/hmer.s144667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) represents the definitive treatment for end-stage liver disease. Cognitive impairment following LT is frequent, referred to as postliver transplant encephalopathy (PLTE). LT removes the underlying chronic liver disease, and until recently hepatic encephalopathy (HE) was assumed to be fully reversible after LT. However, increasing evidence indicates that some degree of cognitive impairment may be present after LT. To which extent PLTE reflects cognitive impairment caused by residual HE (RHE) or the combined effect of other factors affecting brain function before, during, and after LT is not clarified. None of the available psychometric and neurophysiological tests used for detecting HE is shown to be able to distinguish between etiologies. The available, mostly retrospective, clinical studies indicate a high prevalence of abnormal psychometric tests after LT, and not all seem to recover completely. The patients with earlier HE show the most marked improvements, suggesting that the clinical picture of the early PLTE, in fact, represents RHE. Other early post-LT etiologies for PLTE comprise cerebral ischemia, critical illness encephalopathy, and immunosuppressive therapy. Late-onset etiologies comprise diabetes and hypertension, among others. PLTE regardless of etiology is a worrying issue and needs more attention in the form of mechanistic research, development of diagnostic/discriminative tools, and standardized prospective clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Skibsted Kornerup
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Henning Pflugrad
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Hendrik Vilstrup
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Gitte Dam
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Weiss N, Thabut D. Neurological Complications Occurring After Liver Transplantation: Role of Risk Factors, Hepatic Encephalopathy, and Acute (on Chronic) Brain Injury. Liver Transpl 2019; 25:469-487. [PMID: 30697911 DOI: 10.1002/lt.25420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) remains the only way to definitively cure patients with the most severe liver diseases. Because the survival rate is now fairly high, important questions about neurological sequelae or quality of life after LT have emerged. Indeed, LT represents a peculiar situation because up to 30% of patients present with neurological symptoms after LT compared with only 4% after cardiac transplant and 0.5% after renal transplant. These postoperative neurological symptoms have long been interpreted as sequelae of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, postoperative decompensation of an unknown cerebral condition due to the pathophysiology of cirrhosis or undiagnosed neurodegenerative disorders or aging constitute other possibilities that are underrecognized. Some patients who undergo LT for acute liver failure and patients with cirrhosis without episodes of HE and without any previous cerebral alteration also display post-LT neurological symptoms. This latter situation speaks in favor of a direct adverse effect of either general anesthesia, the surgical procedure, or factors related to the postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) environment. The role of inflammation, which has been described in the ICU setting, could also be a crucial determinant. In this review, we will discuss the neurological complications associated with LT, the neurocognitive complications after LT, and how to assess the LT-related neurological or neurocognitive complications. Furthermore, we will review the various hypotheses surrounding post-LT neurocognitive impairment and will conclude with recommendations for future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Weiss
- Brain Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière (BLIPS) Study Group, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupement Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Département de Neurologie, Unité de Réanimation Neurologique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.,Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Dominique Thabut
- Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Paris, France.,Brain Liver Pitié-Salpêtrière (BLIPS) Study Group, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupement Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière-Charles Foix, Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Unité de Soins Intensifs d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|