Non-invasive evaluation of portal hypertension using shear-wave elastography: analysis of two algorithms combining liver and spleen stiffness in 191 patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Two algorithms based on sequential measurements of liver and spleen stiffness using two-dimensional shearwave elastography (2D-SWE) have been recently proposed to estimate clinically significant portal hypertension (hepatic venous pressure gradient [HVPG] ≥10 mm Hg) in patients with cirrhosis, with excellent diagnostic accuracy.

AIM

To validate externally these algorithms in a large cohort of patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

One hundred and ninety-one patients with stable cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class A 39%, B 29% and C 31%) who underwent liver and spleen stiffness measurements using 2D-SWE at the time of HVPG measurement were included. Diagnostic accuracy of the 2 algorithms was assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values.

RESULTS

The first algorithm, using liver stiffness <16.0 kilopascals (kPa) and then spleen stiffness <26.6 kPa, was used to rule-out HVPG ≥10 mm Hg. In our population, its sensitivity and negative predictive value were 95% and 63% respectively. The second algorithm, using liver stiffness >38.0 kPa, or liver stiffness ≤38.0 kPa but spleen stiffness >27.9 kPa, was used to rule-in HVPG ≥10 mm Hg. In our population, its specificity and positive predictive value were 52% and 83% respectively. Restricting the analyses to the 74 patients without any history of decompensation of cirrhosis or to the 65 patients with highly reliable liver stiffness measurement did not improve the results.

CONCLUSION

In our population, diagnostic accuracies of non-invasive algorithms based on sequential measurements of liver and spleen stiffness using 2D-SWE were acceptable, but not good enough to replace HVPG measurement or to base clinical decisions.

Lack of clinical or haemodynamic rebound after abrupt interruption of beta-blockers in patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Beta-blockers may have to be interrupted in patients with cirrhosis. The concept of a rebound after interruption of beta-blockers is based on an animal study and on isolated case reports of variceal bleeding.

AIM

To determine if a rebound occurs in patients with cirrhosis following abrupt interruption of beta-blockers.

METHODS

We prospectively included all consecutive patients with cirrhosis undergoing right heart and hepatic vein catheterisation. Four groups were defined: 'no beta-blockers' including patients not receiving beta-blockers; '≤1 day', '2-3 days' and '≥4 days' classified according to the time patients had interrupted beta-blockers before catheterisation. Results were expressed as median (interquartile range).

RESULTS

A total of 150 patients were included. Among the 25 patients in the groups '2-3 days' and '≥4 days', median duration of beta-blockers interruption was 4 (3-6) days. No gastrointestinal bleeding occurred during that period, nor during the following month. Hepatic venous pressure gradient was not different among patients in usually treated with beta-blockers. After adjustment, beta-blockers interruption was not associated with hepatic venous pressure gradient. Cardiac index was higher in the '≥4 days' group [4.6 L/min/m(2) (3.5-5.1)] than in the '≤1 day' group [3.4 (2.6-4.0); P = 0.001] or in the '2-3 days' group [3.1 (2.7-3.7); P = 0.007], but not different from the 'no beta-blockers' group.

CONCLUSIONS

Abrupt interruption of beta-blockers is associated neither with an apparent increase in the risk of variceal bleeding nor with a haemodynamic rebound. Thus, interruption of beta-blockers in patients with cirrhosis may not require particular dosing or surveillance.

Rare and transient anti-D antibody response in D(-) liver transplant recipients transfused with D(+) red blood cells

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20 D(-) liver transplant (LT) recipients transfused with D(+) RBCs perioperatively and screened for RBC antibodies between 2 and 6 months later. None developed anti-D detectable by the indirect antiglobulin test. Two patients produced weak anti-D that reacted only with papain-treated RBCs at 10 and 11 days without any sign of immune haemolysis. Antibodies became quickly undetectable. These data suggest an unusual pattern of alloimmunization in LT recipients with rapid, weak and transient antibody response and support the safety of transfusing D(+) RBCs in most of D(-) patients during LT surgery.

Liver resection in transplanted patients: a single-center Western experience

BACKGROUND

Liver resection (LR) in liver transplant (OLT) recipients, an extremely rare situation, who performed on 8 recipients.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data concerned 8 (0.66%) 1198 LR cases among OLT performed from 1997 to 2011. We analyzed demographic data, surgical indications, and postoperative courses.

RESULTS

The indications were resectable recurrent hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC, n = 3), persistent fistula from a posterior sectorial duct (n = 1), recurrent cholangitis due to anastomotic stricture on the posterior sectorial duct (n = l), hydatid cyst (n = l), left arterial hepatic thrombosis with secondary ischemic cholangitis (n = 1), and a large symptomatic biliary cyst (n = 1). The mean interval time to liver resection was 23.7 months (range, 5-47). LR included right hepatectomy (n = 1), right posterior hepatectomy (n = 1), left lobectomy (n = 4), pericystectomy (n = 1), or biliary fenestration (n = 1). Which there was no postoperative mortality, the global morbidity rate was 62% (5/8). The mean follow-up after LR was 92 months (range, 11-156). No patients required retransplantation. None of the 3 patients who underwent LR for HCC showed a recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

LR in OLT recipients is safe, but associated with a high morbidity rate. This procedure can avoid retransplantation in highly selected patients, presenting a possible option particularly for transplanted patients with a resectable, recurrent HCC.

Simultaneous surgical repair for combined biliary and arterial stenoses after liver transplantation

After orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), hepatic artery stenoses (HAS) and biliary strictures (BS) are frequent. These complications remain a significant cause of graft loss and patient death. The present study reported a group of 7 patients in whom both HAS and BS were identified and treated surgically in the same surgical session. The median times to diagnosis were 42 (range, 5-120) and 84 (range, 15-280) days after OLT for biliary and arterial stenosis, respectively. The mortality was nil. Two patients (28%) developed postoperative complications. The median hospital stay was 16 days (range, 10-42). All patients are alive; there was no graft loss. With a median of 76 months' follow-up (range, 38-132), only 1 patient (14%) developed recurrence of both BS and HAS. In patients with coincident biliary and artery stenosis, concomitant surgical repair is feasible, offering good long-term results.

Long-term survival after portal vein arterialization for portal vein thrombosis in orthotopic liver transplantation

Portal vein thrombosis is a relatively common finding during liver transplantation. The management of portal vein thrombosis during liver transplantation is technically demanding and ensures adequate portal flow to the liver graft. Eversion thromboendovenectomy and bypass using a patent splanchnic vein and cavoportal hemitransposition are the most often used procedures to treat portal vein thrombosis. There have been anecdotal reports of portal vein arterialization. We report a case of portal vein arterialization during orthotopic liver transplantation for decompensated cirrhosis. When thromboendovenectomy failed to restore sufficient portal flow and completion of arterial anastomosis between the recipient hepatic artery and the donor celiac trunk, a calibrated end-to-side anastomosis between the donor splenic artery and the donor portal vein was performed. With a 6-year follow-up, there are no symptoms related to portal hypertension, liver function is normal. However, an aneurismal dilatation of the portal branches has progressively developed. Calibrated portal vein arterialization is a possible option for portal vein thrombosis in liver transplantation, allowing long-term patient and graft survival.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in Budd-Chiari syndrome: characteristics and risk factors

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To analyse the characteristics of and the factors associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

97 consecutive patients with BCS and a follow-up > or = 1 year were evaluated retrospectively. Liver nodules were evaluated using serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and imaging features (CT/MRI). Biopsy of nodules was obtained when one of the following criteria was met: number < or = 3, diameter > or = 3 cm, heterogeneity, washout on portal venous phase, increase in size on surveillance, or increase in AFP level.

RESULTS

Patients were mainly Caucasian (69%) and female (66%). Mean age at the diagnosis of BCS was 35.8 (SE 1.2 years), and median follow-up 5 years (1-20 years). The inferior vena cava (IVC) was obstructed in 13 patients. Liver nodules were found in 43 patients, 11 of whom had HCC. Cumulative incidence of HCC during follow-up was 4%. Liver parenchyma adjacent to HCC showed cirrhosis in nine patients. HCC was associated with male sex (72.7% v 29.0%, p = 0.007); factor V Leiden (54.5% v 17.5%, p = 0.01); and IVC obstruction (81.8% v 4.6%, p < 0.001). Increased levels of serum AFP were highly accurate in distinguishing HCC from benign nodules: PPV = 100% and NPV = 91% for a cut-off level of 15 ng/ml.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of HCC in this large cohort of BCS patients was similar to that reported for other chronic liver diseases. IVC obstruction was a major predictor for HCC development. Serum AFP appears to have a higher utility for HCC screening in patients with BCS than with other liver diseases.

The risk of surgery in patients with cirrhosis

Several reasons result in the finding that patients with cirrhosis need surgery more often than other patients groups. Patients with cirrhosis frequently have comorbidities resulting in gastrointestinal, lung or cervical cancer, among others. Independent of cirrhosis, surgical resection may be the best alternative for a number of those malignancies. Comorbidities may also result in an increased incidence of vascular complications (such as lower extremity atherosclerosis and coronary stenosis) some of them being potential indications for surgery. Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis are more frequently subjected to trauma and bone fractures. Ascites leads to umbilical hernia which can be strangulated or ruptured. Emergency surgery may be needed in this context. Finally, a significant proportion of patients with cirrhosis develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during the course of the disease. Surgical resection remains a first line option for HCC. While reliable guidelines have been proposed for surgical resection of HCC and liver transplantation, no precise guidelines are available for other aspects of surgical management during cirrhosis. Specific surgical procedures such as hepatectomy and transplantation are concentrated in highly specialised centres, where detailed evaluation is relatively easy to obtain. In contrast, more general surgical procedures, either abdominal or non abdominal, are performed in various centres, making it more difficult to obtain detailed evaluation and draw recommendations. General surveys are still needed to precisely assess the risk of non-specific surgery in patients with cirrhosis, to identify risk factors and to propose reliable guidelines.

Splanchnic vein thrombosis in candidates for liver transplantation: usefulness of screening and anticoagulation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Splanchnic vein thrombosis is a significant source of complications in candidates for liver transplantation. The aims of this study were: (a) to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for splanchnic vein thrombosis in cirrhotic patients awaiting transplantation and (b) to assess the usefulness of anticoagulation.

METHODS

A total of 251 cirrhotic patients listed for transplantation were analysed. All underwent systematic screening for thrombosis with Doppler ultrasonography. During the second period of the study, all patients with thrombosis received anticoagulation up to transplantation while during the first period none had received anticoagulation.

RESULTS

The incidence of splanchnic vein thrombosis at evaluation was 8.4%. Seventeen additional patients (7.4%) developed de novo thrombosis after evaluation. Independent risk factors for thrombosis were low platelet count (77.4 (36.3) v 111.6 (69.2) 10(9)/l; p = 0.001), a past history of variceal bleeding (47.4% v 29.1%; p = 0.003), and a prolonged interval from listing to transplantation (8.5 (6.8) v 4.8 (4.4) months; p = 0.002). The proportion of partial or complete recanalisation was significantly higher in those who received (8/19) than in those who did not receive (0/10, p = 0.002) anticoagulation. Survival was significantly lower in those who had complete portal vein thrombosis at the time of surgery (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

These results support a systematic screening for splanchnic vein thrombosis in patients awaiting transplantation. They suggest that in these patients, anticoagulation is safe and has a significant impact on recanalisation as well as prevention of extension of thrombosis.