Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) at Admission Predicts Mortality in Patients With Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis (SAH)

Background & aims

Severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) is a grave condition, and the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI) further jeopardizes patient survival. However, the impact of AKI on survival in SAH has not been assessed from this region of Asia.

Materials and methods

This study was conducted on consecutive alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) patients hospitalized in Gastroenterology Department, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, India, between October 2016 and December 2018. On diagnosis of SAH (mDF score ≥32), demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were recorded, and survival was compared between patients with and without AKI (AKIN criteria). In addition, survival was compared among SAH patients defined by other criteria and prognostic models in the presence and absence of AKI.

Results

309 (70.71%) of ALD patients had SAH, and 201 (65%) of them had AKI. SAH patients with AKI had higher total leucocyte count, total bilirubin, serum creatinine, serum urea, INR, MELD (UNOS), MELD (Na+), CTP score, mDF score, Glasgow score, ABIC score, and increased prevalence of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) as per EASL-CLIF Consortium criteria (P < 0.001). Further, they had prolonged hospital stay, and increased death during hospitalization, at 28 days as well as 90 days (P < 0.001). Significant differences in survival were also seen in SAH (as per MELD, ABIC, and GAHS criteria) patients above the marked cut offs in respect to AKI.

Conclusions

Over two-thirds of ALD patients had SAH, and about two-thirds had AKI. Patients with SAH and AKI had an increased prevalence of ACLF, longer hospital stay, and increased mortality during hospitalization at 28 days and 90 days.

Lay summary

SAH is a critical condition, and the presence of AKI negatively affects their survival. Hence, early identification of SAH and AKI, as well as early initiation of treatment, is crucial for better survival. Our study from the coastal part of eastern India is the first to demonstrate the prevalence of SAH among patients with ALD along with the prevalence of AKI among SAH patients in this region. This knowledge will be helpful in managing these patients from this region of world.

Erectile Dysfunction in Cirrhosis: Its Prevalence and Risk Factors

Background

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in men with cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ED and the factors associated with ED in men with cirrhosis.

Methods

400 men with cirrhosis [Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class A, 44.0%; CTP class B, 41.0%; and CTP class C, 15.0%] having high Karnofsky performance score, and living in a stable monogamous relationship with a female partner were included in the study. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, and Short-Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) were used to assess erectile function and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), respectively.

Results

ED was found in 289 (72.3%) patients. Patients with ED reported significantly lower SF-36 scores across all the eight domains of SF-36 (i.e., physical functioning score, role physical score, bodily pain score, general health perception score, vitality score, social functioning score, role emotional score, and mental health score); physical component summary score, and mental physical component summary score, compared with those without ED. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with ED were older age, longer duration of cirrhosis, CTP-C (vs. CTP-A), higher hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), presence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), presence of major depression, and lower appendicular skeletal muscle index measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA ASMI).

Conclusion

ED is common in men with cirrhosis, and men with ED have poor HRQOL compared with those without ED. Older age, longer duration of cirrhosis, CTP-C (vs. CTP-A), higher HVPG, presence of GAD, presence of major depression, and lower DEXA ASMI are associated with ED.

Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) Combined With Sorafenib versus TACE in Patients With BCLC Stage C Hepatocellular Carcinoma - A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

Advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma is a heterogeneous group with limited treatment options. TACE has been advocated recently by various study groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if TACE in combination with sorafenib, as well as TACE alone, was safe and efficacious in treating BCLC stage C HCC.

METHODS

A retrospective evaluation of the clinical data of 78 patients with BCLC stage C HCC who received either TACE-sorafenib (TS) combination therapy or TACE monotherapy as their first treatment was done. The two groups were compared in terms of radiological tumor response 1 month after the intervention. The two groups were also compared in terms of time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), and adverse events.

RESULTS

The disease control rate (44.9% and 25.8%, respectively, P = 0.09) was higher in the TS combination group than in the TACE monotherapy group after 1 month of treatment. The TS combination group had significantly superior TTP and OS than the TACE group (TTP was 4.6 and 3.1 months, respectively, P = 0.001), and OS was 10.1 and 7.8 months, respectively, P < 0.001). The TACE-S group had a greater cumulative survival time at 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year than the TACE group (97.9%, 51.1%, 25.7% vs. 90.4%, 51.6%, and 0%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

TS combination therapy in advanced-stage (BCLC-C) HCC significantly improved disease control rate, TTP, and OS compared with TACE alone, without any significant increase in adverse reactions.

High Prevalence of Hormonal Changes and Hepatic Osteodystrophy in Frail Patients with Cirrhosis-An Observational Study

BACKGROUND/AIM

Hormonal changes and hepatic osteodystrophy are less often studied complications of cirrhosis. This study describes the variance in hormones and osteodystrophy between Frail and Not frail patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

116 outpatients with cirrhosis were prospectively enrolled in this study. Frailty assessment was done using Liver Frailty Index (LFI). Sociodemographic assessment, anthropometry, nutritional assessment, hormone profile, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan were done in all patients.

RESULTS

116 patients, predominantly males (100 (86.2%) with mean age of 50.16 years (95% CI, 48.43-51.89) were included. Malnutrition was more common in Frail group as compared to Not frail group. Subjective global assessment (SGA) class-B patients were significantly more in Frail group (37 (74%) vs 3 (4.5%), P = 0.001). The prevalence of lower parathyroid hormone (PTH) (14 (28%) vs 2 (3%)), testosterone (33 (66%) vs 15 (22.7%)), vitamin D3 (44 (88%) vs 39 (59.1%)), and cortisol (37 (74%) vs 37 (56.1) levels was higher in Frail group (P < 0.05). The number of patients diagnosed with osteodystrophy (34 (68%) vs 21 (31.8%), P = 0.001) was significantly higher in Frail group. The marker of osteoclastic activity, β-cross laps, was significantly elevated in the Frail group both in males (736 (655-818) vs 380 (329-432), P = 0.001) and (females 619 (479-758) vs 313 (83-543), P = 0.02). Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine (LS) and neck of femur (NF) had significant correlation with LFI (ρ = 0.60, P = 0.001 for LS and ρ = 0.59, P = 0.001 for NF), serum testosterone (ρ = 0.58, P = 0.001 for LS and ρ = 0.53, P = 0.001 for NF), β-cross laps (ρ = 0.38, P = 0.001for LS and ρ = 0.35, P = 0.000 for NF), vitamin D3 (ρ = 0.23, P = 0.04 for LS and ρ = 0.25, P = 0.01 for NF), PTH (ρ = 0.52, P = 0.001 for LS and ρ = 0.48. P = 0.001 for NF), and cortisol (ρ = 0.50, P = 0.001 for LS and ρ = 0.45, P = 0.001 for NF) levels.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study that highlights the high prevalence of hormonal changes and hepatic osteodystrophy in frail patients with cirrhosis and opens a new dimension for research and target of therapy in this field.

Diagnosis and Management of Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy refers to the structural and functional changes in the heart leading to either impaired systolic, diastolic, electrocardiographic, and neurohormonal changes associated with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is present in 50% of patients with cirrhosis and is clinically seen as impaired contractility, diastolic dysfunction, hyperdynamic circulation, and electromechanical desynchrony such as QT prolongation. In this review, we will discuss the cardiac physiology principles underlying cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, imaging techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy, cardiac biomarkers, and newer echocardiographic techniques such as tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking, and emerging treatments to improve outcomes.

METHODS

We reviewed available literature from MEDLINE for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and real-world outcomes using the search terms "cirrhotic cardiomyopathy," "left ventricular diastolic dysfunction," "heart failure in cirrhosis," "liver transplantation," and "coronary artery disease".

RESULTS

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is associated with increased risk of complications such as hepatorenal syndrome, refractory ascites, impaired response to stressors including sepsis, bleeding or transplantation, poor health-related quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality. The evaluation of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy should also guide the feasibility of procedures such as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, dose titration protocol of betablockers, and liver transplantation. The use of targeted heart rate reduction is of interest to improve cardiac filling and improve the cardiac output using repurposed heart failure drugs such as ivabradine. Liver transplantation may also reverse the cirrhotic cardiomyopathy; however, careful cardiac evaluation is necessary to rule out coronary artery disease and improve cardiac outcomes in the perioperative period.

CONCLUSION

More data are needed on the new diagnostic criteria, molecular and biochemical changes, and repurposed drugs in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. The use of advanced imaging techniques should be incorporated in clinical practice.

Outcomes of Portal Pressure-Guided Therapy in Decompensated Cirrhosis With Index Variceal Bleed in Asian Cohort

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hemodynamic response to pharmacotherapy improves survival in patients with cirrhosis post variceal bleeding, but long-term outcomes remain unexplored especially in this part of the world. We aimed to study the long-term impact of portal pressure reduction on liver-related outcomes after index variceal bleed.

METHODS

Patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) more than 12 mm Hg after index variceal bleed were given non-selective beta-blockers in combination with variceal band ligation. HVPG response was assessed after 4 weeks. Patients were followed up for rebleed events, survival, additional decompensation events and safety outcomes. Rebleed and other decompensations were compared using competing risks analysis, taking death as competing event, and survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients (29 responders and 19 non-responders) were followed up for a median duration of 45 (24-56) months. Rebleeding rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 10.3%, 20.7% and 20.7% in responders and 15.8%, 44.7% and 51.1% in non-responders, respectively (Gray's test, P = 0.044). Survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 89.7%, 72.1% and 51.9% in responders and 89.5%, 44% and 37.7% in non-responders, respectively (log-rank test, P = 0.1). Both severity of liver disease (MELD score, multivariate sub-distributional hazards ratio: 1.166 [1.014-1.341], P = 0.030) and HVPG non-response (multivariate sub-distributional hazards ratio: 2.476 [1.87-7.030], P = 0.045) predicted rebleeding risk while survival was dependent only on severity of liver disease (MELD > 12, multivariate hazards ratio: 2.36 [1.04-5.38], P = 0.041).

CONCLUSION

Baseline severity of liver disease predicted survival and rebleed in these patients. Hemodynamic response, although associated with lower rebleeding rate, had limited impact on survival.

Nutrition in Chronic Liver Disease: Consensus Statement of the Indian National Association for Study of the Liver

Malnutrition and sarcopenia are common in patients with chronic liver disease and are associated with increased risk of decompensation, infections, wait-list mortality and poorer outcomes after liver transplantation. Assessment of nutritional status and management of malnutrition are therefore essential to improve outcomes in patients with chronic liver disease. This consensus statement of the Indian National Association for Study of the Liver provides a comprehensive review of nutrition in chronic liver disease and gives recommendations for nutritional screening and treatment in specific clinical scenarios of malnutrition in cirrhosis in adults as well as children with chronic liver disease and metabolic disorders.

Determinants of Outcomes in Autoimmune Hepatitis Presenting as Acute on Chronic Liver Failure Without Extrahepatic Organ Dysfunction upon Treatment With Steroids

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Autoimmune hepatitis presenting as acute on chronic liver failure (AIH-ACLF) is a novel entity with limited data on clinical course and management. We assessed outcomes in patients of AIH-ACLF with no extrahepatic organ dysfunction/failure when administered steroids.

METHODS

In this retrospective analysis, clinical data, laboratory parameters, liver biopsy indices and prognostic scores such as model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scores at baseline were computed for patients with AIH-ACLF and compared across strata of incident infections and transplant-free survival. The primary outcome was 90-day transplant-free survival. Biochemical remission was assessed, and predictors of end points were identified.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients of AIH-ACLF were included with a median follow-up of 4 months. The 90- and 180-day transplant-free survival rates of 55.2 [95% confidence interval (CI): 39.7-76.6]% and 30.2(95% CI: 16.7-54.6)%, respectively, were attained on steroids. Three patients (10.3%) underwent liver transplant while 16 (55.2%) deaths occurred. Infections developed in 12 patients (41.3%), leading to worsening prognostic scores, new onset organ dysfunction/failure and 11 deaths. Seven of ten patients (70%) in the transplant-free survivor group attained biochemical remission on follow-up. The MELD score<24 (sensitivity: 68.4%; specificity: 80%) and CTP<11 (sensitivity: 78.9%; specificity: 90%) had best predictive value for survival, in addition to decrease in the MELD score at 2 weeks (sensitivity: 78.9%; specificity: 70%).

CONCLUSION

Patients with AIH-ACLF have a morbid disease course despite treatment with steroids. Patients with no extrahepatic organ failure with good baseline prognostic scores may be administered steroids with close monitoring for change in MELD over 2 weeks.

Long-term Outcomes with Carvedilol versus Propranolol in Patients with Index Variceal Bleed: 6-year Follow-up Study

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

There is limited information on comparison of clinical outcomes with carvedilol for secondary prophylaxis following acute variceal bleed (AVB) when compared with propranolol. We report long-term clinical and safety outcomes of a randomised controlled trial comparing carvedilol with propranolol with respect to reduction in hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in patients after AVB.

METHODS

We conducted a post-hoc analysis of patients recruited in an open-label randomized controlled trial comparing carvedilol and propranolol following AVB, and estimated long-term rates of rebleed, survival, additional decompensation events and safety outcomes. Rebleed and other decompensations were compared using competing risks analysis, taking death as competing event, and survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients (25 taking carvedilol; 23 propranolol) were followed up for 6 years from randomization. More number of patients on carvedilol had HVPG response when compared with those taking propranolol (72%- carvedilol versus 47.8% propranolol, p = 0.047). Comparable 1-year and 3-year rates of rebleed (16.0% and 24.0% for carvedilol versus 8.9% and 36.7% for propranolol; p = 0.457) and survival (94.7% and 89.0% for carvedilol versus 100.0% and 79.8% for propranolol; p = 0.76) were obtained. New/worsening ascites was more common in those receiving propranolol (69.5% vs 40%; p = 0.04). Other clinical decompensations and complications of liver disease occurred at comparable rates between two groups. Drug-related adverse-events were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Despite higher degree of HVPG response, long-term clinical, survival and safety outcomes in carvedilol are similar to those of propranolol in patients with decompensated cirrhosis after index variceal bleed with the exception of ascites that developed less frequently in patients with carvedilol.

Comparative Study of Ultrasound-guided Percutaneous Omental Biopsy in Cirrhotics and Noncirrhotics

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided (US-guided) omental biopsy in patients with liver cirrhosis and compare these with the noncirrhotic patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied the US-guided omental biopsies (73 males, 14 females with mean age 52.71 ± 15.90 y) between January 2012 and December 2018. Patients with biopsy-proven liver cirrhosis (n = 31) who underwent omental biopsy were included in Group 1, and patients without any features of the chronic liver disease (n = 56) were included in Group 2. The technical success, diagnostic parameters, complications, imaging appearance, and histopathology spectrum were compared between the two groups. Also, univariate analysis was done to evaluate the association of a parameter with histopathology.

RESULTS

The technical success, sample adequacy, diagnostic accuracy of Group 1 were 100%, 96.77%, and 96.77%, respectively, and for Group 2, these were 100%, 98.21%, and 98.21%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of Group 1 were 95%, 100%, 100%, 91.67%, respectively, and for Group 2, these were 97.92%, 100%, 100%, 88.89%, respectively. There was one complication of abdominal wall hematoma in Group 1 (3.2%), which was managed conservatively. Smudged imaging appearance and nonspecific inflammation on histopathology were more common in Group 1, and there was a significant association of increased omental thickening with specific pathology in Group 1.

CONCLUSION

US-guided omental biopsy in patients with liver cirrhosis is safe and effective with comparable results to noncirrhotic patients.

Impact of Direct Acting Antiviral Drugs in Treatment Naïve HCV Cirrhosis on Fibrosis and Severity of Liver Disease: A Real Life Experience from a Tertiary Care Center of North India

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs has been highly effective, but data regarding benefit in advanced liver disease is relatively scarce in Indian patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of DAA in patients with HCV related cirrhosis (compensated/decompensated) who achieved sustained virological response post-therapy at 12 weeks (SVR12).

METHODS

Sixty-three patients with HCV related cirrhosis treated with sofosbuvir based regimen were evaluated. Data regarding baseline demographics, the severity of liver disease and treatment regimen were collected. The primary end point was to evaluate the effect of treatment (SVR12) on the severity of liver disease with the secondary end point being to observe for any adverse events related to treatment.

RESULTS

Treatment naïve patients with HCV cirrhosis either due to genotype 1 or genotype 3 were divided into two groups: group A (compensated cirrhosis), group B (decompensated cirrhosis). SVR12 in group A was 91.66% (33/37) and in group, B was 73.17% (30/41). Baseline mean liver stiffness measurement (LSM) in group A was 16.81 ± 3.57 kPa which decreased to 11.19 ± 1.75 kPa at SVR12 (P-value <0.0001). Baseline mean APRI and FIB-4 score in group A were 1.228 ± 0.499 and 2.61 ± 1.06 and in group B were 2.156 ± 1.10 and 5.71 ± 2.06 respectively which decrease to 0.415 ± 0.115 and 1.25 ± 0.46 in group A, to 0.759 ± 0.275 and 2.60 ± 1.12 in group B following SVR12 (P value <0.0001). Mean MELD-Na improved from baseline 9.93 ± 2.04, 20.70 ± 4.52 to 7.21 ± 0.92, 14.23 ± 4.51 respectively in group A and B at SVR12 (P-value <0.0001). Child-Turcotte-Pugh score improved by 1 in 27.27% (9/33) and ≥2 in 76.67% (23/30) of patients in group A and group B respectively.

CONCLUSION

There was a significant improvement in severity of liver disease as depicted by the decrease in LSM and other noninvasive marker of fibrosis in patients who achieved SVR12 on DAA therapy.

Results of Portosystemic Shunt Embolization in Selected Patients with Cirrhosis and Recurrent Hepatic Encephalopathy

BACKGROUND

Large portosystemic shunts (PSSs) may lead to recurrent encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis and embolization of these shunts may improve encephalopathy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Five patients underwent balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) or plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (PARTO) of a large PSS at our center in last 2 years for recurrent hepatic encephalopathy (HE) at a tertiary care center at north India. Data are shown as number and mean ± SD. None of these patients had Child's C cirrhosis or presence of large ascites/large varices.

RESULTS

Five patients (all males), aged 61 ± 7 years, underwent BRTO or PARTO for recurrent HE and presence of lienorenal (n = 4) or mesocaval shunt (n = 1). The etiology of cirrhosis was cryptogenic/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in 3, and alcohol and hepatitis B in one each. All patients had Child's B cirrhosis; Child's score was 8.6 ± 0.5, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was 13.4 ± 2.3. One patient had mild ascites; 3 patients had small esophageal varices before procedure. Sclerosants (combination of air, sodium tetradecyl sulphate, and lipiodol) were used in two patients, endovascular occlusion plugs were used in two patients, and both sclerosants and endovascular occlusion plug were used in one patient. Embolization of minor outflow veins to allow for stable deposition sclerosants in dominant shunt was done using embolization coils and glue in two patients. One patient needed 2 sessions. The pre-procedure ammonia was 127 ± 35 which decreased to 31 ± 17 after the shunt embolization. There was no recurrence of encephalopathy in any of these patients. One patient was lost to follow-up at 6 months; others are doing well at 6 months (n = 2), 10 months (n = 1) and 2 years (n = 1). None of these patients developed further decompensation in the defined follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Good results can be obtained in selected patients after embolization of large PSS for recurrent HE.

Can Alcoholic Liver Disease and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Co-Exist?

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by definition would require exclusion of significant alcohol intake. Present study was aimed to assess the prevalence of various components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) and to study the affect of its presence on the severity of liver disease, testing the hypothesis if alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and NAFLD could co-exist.

METHODS

In a retrospective analysis of 16 months data, 81 patients with AC were analysed for the prevalence of MS. The diagnosis of AC was based on the history of alcohol intake, clinical examination, serum biochemistry, hematological parameters, exclusion of other causes of chronic liver disease, imaging and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Severity of liver disease was assessed by Child-Turcott-Pugh (CTP) score. MS was assessed as per the ATP III criteria and the affect of MS on CTP score was evaluated.

RESULTS

All 81 patients with AC were male [mean age 50.9 ± 9.5, mean CTP score 8.38 ± 1.66]. But for three patients (3.7%) all other 78 patients (96.3%) with AC had at least one component of MS. Forty-three (53.0%) patients had full blown MS with three or more components of MS. Sixty-one (75.30%) patients were either overweight [22 (27.1%)] or obese [39 (48.1%)], with a mean BMI of 25.35 ± 3.86 kg/m². Type II DM was present in 40 (25%) and 28 (34.5%) patients were hypertensive. Twenty-two (27.2%) patients had hypertriglyceridemia and 52 (64.2%) had low HDL. Eleven (13.6%) patients had Child's A cirrhosis, 46 (56.8%) had Child's B and 24 (29.6%) patients had Child's C cirrhosis. Even though not significant statistically, patients with Child's C cirrhosis (17, 70.83%) had higher presence of MS in comparison to Child's A (7, 63.6%) and B (19, 41.3%) cirrhosis.

CONCLUSION

MS is common in patients with AC. Presence of MS may be contributing towards severity of liver disease in these patients indirectly suggesting the co-existence of ALD and NAFLD.

Handgrip Strength as an Important Bed Side Tool to Assess Malnutrition in Patient with Liver Disease

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is frequently present in patients with cirrhosis. Anthropometric measures such as body mass index (BMI), mid arm muscle circumference (MAMC), triceps skin fold thickness (TST) and subjective global assessment (SGA) have some limitations in assessment of malnutrition. This study aims to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in non-hospitalized cirrhotic and chronic hepatitis patients and to assess handgrip (HG) strength as a tool for identifying malnutrition.

METHODS

Consecutive patients of cirrhosis (n = 352), chronic hepatitis (n = 189) and healthy controls (n = 159) were enrolled. All patients underwent MAMC, TST, HG and SGA assessment. Malnutrition was diagnosed on basis of SGA score. Values of MAMC, TST and HG below the 5th percentile or less than 60% of healthy controls were considered as abnormal.

RESULTS

According to SGA (taken as standard) 24% patients with chronic hepatitis and 56% of patients with cirrhosis had malnutrition (P = 0.001). In patients with chronic hepatitis prevalence of malnutrition according to MAMC (12%), TST (31%) and HG (18%). In patients with cirrhosis prevalence of malnutrition according to MAMC (27%), TST (60%) and HG (42%). HG exercise strength had the highest area under curve 0.82 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78-0.86, P = 0.001) compared to MAMC 0.60 (95% CI 0.55-0.64, P = 0.001) and TST 0.65 (95% CI 0.61-0.69, P = 0.001) for assessing malnutrition. On comparison of HG, TST and MAMC, the sensitivity was 67%, 60% and 31%, respectively, Specificity was 95%, 71% and 89%, respectively, and diagnostic accuracy was 87%, 67% and 71%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

HG strength is an excellent tool to assess at bed side the nutrition status in patients with cirrhosis and has the highest diagnostic accuracy compared to other anthropometric tests such as MAMC and TST.

Long-Term Outcomes of Liver Transplantation for Hepatic Sarcoidosis: A Single Center Experience

AIM

Hepatic sarcoidosis is a rare indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Hence, studies evaluating these patients are scarce. We present a single center experience with OLT for hepatic sarcoidosis in a case-control study.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed on 970 patients with OLT at our center, and 13 patients (1.3%) were identified who underwent 14 OLTs for hepatic sarcoidosis. For each case, two controls matched for etiology of liver disease, recipient age (±5 years), and duration since transplant (within 5 years) were selected.

RESULTS

For the 13 patients transplanted for sarcoidosis, the median age was 46 years. The majority were women (62%) and African-American (85%). Cholestatic liver disease was the primary manifestation. Portal hypertensive complications were present in 11 patients (84%). The median MELD score at transplantation was 19. Extra-hepatic manifestations were present in ten patients (77%). All patients received whole deceased 14 donor allografts. Six patients remain alive with a median post-OLT follow-up of 8.4 years. The 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year patient survival rates were 84.6%, 76.9%, 61.1%, and 51.3%, respectively for the sarcoidosis group and 82.1%, 78.6%, 78.6%, and 61.9%, respectively for the matched PSC/PBC group (P = 0.739). Re-graft free survival for sarcoidosis patients was 84.6%, 76.9%, 61.5%, and 51.3% for 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-years and for the matched control group re-graft free survival was 78.6% at 1-, 3-, 5-years, and 64.8% at 10-years (P = 0.661). Recurrence of hepatic sarcoidosis was found in 4 patients at 11 days, 112 days, 222 days, and 6.6 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study depicts the long-term benefit of liver transplantation in patients with end stage liver disease secondary to sarcoidosis. It shows statistically comparable graft and patient survival for such patients when compared to other cholestatic diseases. Disease recurrence, although possible, has not been shown to cause allograft dysfunction.

Liver Transplantation: East versus West

Liver transplantation (LT) has evolved rapidly since the first successful liver transplant performed in1967. Despite a humble beginning, this procedure gained widespread acceptance in the western world as a suitable option for patients with end stage liver disease (ESLD) by the beginning of the 1980s. At present, approximately 25,000 liver transplants are being performed worldwide every year with approximately 90% one year survival. The techniques of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) developed in East Asia in the 1990s to overcome the shortage of suitable grafts for children and scarcity of deceased donors. While deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) constitutes more than 90% of LT in the western world, in India and other Asian countries, most transplants are LDLT. Despite the initial disparity, outcomes following LDLT in eastern countries have been quite satisfactory when compared to the western programs. The etiologies of liver failure requiring LT vary in different parts of the world. The commonest etiology for acute liver failure (ALF) leading to LT is drugs in the west and acute viral hepatitis in Asia. The most common indication for LT due to ESLD in west is alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus (HCV), while hepatitis B virus (HBV) predominates in the east. There is a variation in prognostic models for assessing candidature and prioritizing organ allocation across the world. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) is followed in United States and some European centers. Other European countries rely on the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score. Some parts of Asia still follow chronological order of listing. The debate regarding the best model for organ allocation is far from over.

Inhibitory control test for the detection of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis of liver

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) has significant impact on future clinical outcomes, such as occurrence of overt HE (OHE) and survival in patients of cirrhosis. In the absence of a 'gold standard', psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) is widely used for the diagnosis of MHE. This cross-sectional and prospective study was carried out to determine the usefulness of inhibitory control test (ICT) for the diagnosis of MHE.

METHODS

One hundred and two patients with cirrhosis and without a history of OHE were enrolled in to the study and were subjected to PHES and ICT. MHE was diagnosed when the PHES was ≤ -5. ICT was considered abnormal when the numbers of ICT lures were more than 14.

RESULTS

Forty-one (40.2%) patients had MHE. There were 40 patients with normal PHES and ICT, 32 with abnormal PHES and ICT, 9 with abnormal PHES and normal ICT, and 21 with abnormal ICT and normal PHES score. ICT had 78% sensitivity and 65.6% specificity and an area-under-the-curve value of 0.735 (95% CI = 0.632-0.830) for the diagnosis of MHE. In patients with cirrhosis, ICT did not correlate with severity of liver disease as measured by CTP score (r = 0.044, P = 0.658) and MELD score (r = 0.176, P = 0.077). ICT did not predict survival as well as PHES; while 6 (11.3%) patients died among those who had altered ICT compared to 4 (8.2%) patients who did not have altered ICT (P = 0.74), 8 (19.5%) patients died among those who had altered PHES compared to 2 (3.3%) patients who did not have altered PHES (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

ICT is not as useful as PHES in diagnosing MHE in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. It does not correlate with disease severity and predict survival as well as PHES.

Surgery in a patient with liver disease

Surgery is often needed in patients with concurrent liver disease. The multiple physiological roles of the liver places these patients at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Diseases necessitating surgery like gallstones and hernia are more common in patients with cirrhosis. Assessment of severity of liver dysfunction before surgery is important and the risk benefit of the procedure needs to be carefully assessed. The disease severity may vary from mild transaminase rise to decompensated cirrhosis. Surgery should be avoided if possible in the emergency setting, in the setting of acute and alcoholic hepatitis, in a patient of cirrhosis who is child class C or has a MELD score more than 15 or any patient with significant extrahepatic organ dysfunction. In this subset of patients, all possible means to manage these patients conservatively should be attempted. Modified Child-Pugh scores and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores can predict mortality after surgery fairly reliably including nonhepatic abdominal surgery. Pre-operative optimization would include control of ascites, correction of electrolyte imbalance, improving renal dysfunction, cardiorespiratory assessment, and correction of coagulation. Tests of global hemostasis like thromboelastography and thrombin generation time may be more predictive of the risk of bleeding compared with the conventional tests of coagulation in patients with cirrhosis. Correction of international normalized ratio with fresh frozen plasma does not necessarily mean reduction of bleeding risk and may increase the risk of volume overload and lung injury. International normalized ratio liver may better reflect the coagulation status. Recombinant factor VIIa in patients with cirrhosis needing surgery needs further study. Intra-operatively, safe anesthetic agents like isoflurane and propofol with avoidance of hypotension are advised. In general, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) and benzodiazepines should not be used. Intra-abdominal surgery in a patient with cirrhosis becomes more challenging in the presence of ascites, portal hypertension, and hepatomegaly. Uncontrolled hemorrhage due to coagulopathy and portal hypertension, sepsis, renal dysfunction, and worsening of liver failure contribute to the morbidity and mortality in these patients. Steps to reduce ascitic leaks and infections need to be taken. Any patient with cirrhosis undergoing major surgery should be referred to a specialist center with experience in managing liver disease.

Comparison of circulating endothelial cell/platelet count ratio to aspartate transaminase/platelet ratio index for identifying patients with cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are indicative of vascular injury and correlate with severity of vascular diseases. A pilot study showed that the ratio of CEC to platelet count (CEC/PC) was effective in predicting cirrhosis. Therefore, we evaluated CEC/PC in a larger cohort of patients, correlated it with cirrhosis, and compared its operating characteristics with previously described biomarker for cirrhosis, the AST/platelet ratio index (APRI).

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with cirrhosis, 20 matched healthy controls, and 9 patients with noncirrhotic liver disease were recruited. Peripheral blood sample was collected and analyzed to enumerate nucleated CEC CD146+, CD105+, CD45- using a commercial assay.

RESULTS

Median CEC counts were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis (62 cells/4 mL, interquartile range [IQR]: 43.5-121) as compared with controls (31 cells/4 mL, IQR: 22.2-40). The CEC/PC was also significantly elevated in cirrhotics (0.69, IQR: 0.39-1.48) compared with controls (0.12, IQR: 0.09-0.20) and noncirrhotics (0.21, IQR: 0.08-0.43). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that CEC cutoff value of ≥37 cells/4 mL showed sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 75% for differentiating cirrhosis from controls (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67-0.91). The CEC/PC ratio cutoff value of ≥0.23 showed sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 82% (AUC: 0.92; 95% CI 0.83-0.99). The APRI cutoff value of ≥0.4 showed sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 85% for differentiating cirrhosis from control patients (AUC: 0.96; 95% CI 0.90-1.0). A product of CEC and APRI, termed CAPRI (CEC-APRI), effectively distinguished patients with cirrhosis from controls; with cutoff value of ≥12.7, showing higher sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 85% (AUC: 0.98; 95% CI 0.96-1.0).

CONCLUSION

The CEC/PC ratio is significantly elevated in patients with cirrhosis and demonstrates comparable operating characteristics to previously described APRI. Furthermore, CAPRI, compiled as product of CEC to APRI showed outstanding ability to distinguish patients with cirrhosis from controls, although larger studies are necessary for validation.