3D-Volumetric Shunt Measurement for Detection of High-Risk Esophageal Varices in Liver Cirrhosis

Background and Objectives: Esophageal varices (EV) and variceal hemorrhages are major causes of mortality in liver cirrhosis patients. Detecting EVs early is crucial for effective management. Computed tomography (CT) scans, commonly performed for various liver-related indications, provide an opportunity for non-invasive EV assessment. However, previous CT studies focused on variceal diameter, neglecting the three-dimensional (3D) nature of varices and shunt vessels. This study aims to evaluate the potential of 3D volumetric shunt-vessel measurements from routine CT scans for detecting high-risk esophageal varices in portal hypertension. Methods: 3D volumetric measurements of esophageal varices were conducted using routine CT scans and compared to endoscopic variceal grading. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to determine the optimal cutoff value for identifying high-risk varices based on shunt volume. The study included 142 patients who underwent both esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and contrast-enhanced CT within six months. Results: The study established a cutoff value for identifying high-risk varices. The CT measurements exhibited a significant correlation with endoscopic EV grading (correlation coefficient r = 0.417, p < 0.001). A CT cutoff value of 2060 mm3 for variceal volume showed a sensitivity of 72.1% and a specificity of 65.5% for detecting high-risk varices during endoscopy. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of opportunistically measuring variceal volumes from routine CT scans. CT volumetry for assessing EVs may have prognostic value, especially in cirrhosis patients who are not suitable candidates for endoscopy.

Sex, Genotype, and Liver Volume Progression as Risk of Hospitalization Determinants in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Liver Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease is a rare condition with a female preponderance, based mainly on pathogenic variants in 2 genes, PRKCSH and SEC63. Clinically, autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease is characterized by vast heterogeneity, ranging from asymptomatic to highly symptomatic hepatomegaly. To date, little is known about the prediction of disease progression at early stages, hindering clinical management, genetic counseling, and the design of randomized controlled trials. To improve disease prognostication, we built a consortium of European and US centers to recruit the largest cohort of patients with PRKCSH and SEC63 liver disease.

METHODS

We analyzed an international multicenter cohort of 265 patients with autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease harboring pathogenic variants in PRKCSH or SEC63 for genotype-phenotype correlations, including normalized age-adjusted total liver volumes and polycystic liver disease-related hospitalization (liver event) as primary clinical end points.

RESULTS

Classifying individual total liver volumes into predefined progression groups yielded predictive risk discrimination for future liver events independent of sex and underlying genetic defects. In addition, disease severity, defined by age at first liver event, was considerably more pronounced in female patients and patients with PRKCSH variants than in those with SEC63 variants. A newly developed sex-gene score was effective in distinguishing mild, moderate, and severe disease, in addition to imaging-based prognostication.

CONCLUSIONS

Both imaging and clinical genetic scoring have the potential to inform patients about the risk of developing symptomatic disease throughout their lives. The combination of female sex, germline PRKCSH alteration, and rapid total liver volume progression is associated with the greatest odds of polycystic liver disease-related hospitalization.

Safety and efficacy of off-label bulevirtide monotherapy in patients with HDV with decompensated Child-B cirrhosis-A real-world case series

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic hepatitis D is the most debilitating form of viral hepatitis frequently progressing to cirrhosis and subsequent decompensation. However, the HDV entry inhibitor bulevirtide is only approved for antiviral treatment of patients with compensated disease. We aimed for the analysis of real-world data on the off-label use of bulevirtide in the setting of decompensated liver cirrhosis.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We conducted a retrospective study in patients with HDV with decompensated liver disease at German, Austrian, and Italian centers. We included 19 patients (47% male, mean age: 51 years) with liver cirrhosis Child-Pugh B. The median MELD score was 12 (range 9-17) at treatment initiation. The median observation period was 41 weeks. Virologic response was achieved in 74% and normal alanine aminotransferase was observed in 74%. The combined response was achieved by 42%. The most relevant adverse events included self-limited alanine aminotransferase flares, an asymptomatic increase in bile acids, and the need for liver transplantation. Despite bile acid increases, adverse events were considered unrelated. Clinical and laboratory improvement from Child-Pugh B to A occurred in 47% (n = 9/19). Improvements in the amount of ascites were observed in 58% of the patients initially presenting with ascites (n = 7/12).

CONCLUSIONS

This report on off-label bulevirtide treatment in patients with decompensated HDV cirrhosis shows similar virologic and biochemical response rates as observed in compensated liver disease. Significant improvements were observed in surrogates of hepatic function and portal hypertension. However, this improvement was not seen in all patients. Controlled trials are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of bulevirtide in decompensated HDV cirrhosis.

Surgical site infections are independently associated with the development of postoperative acute-on-chronic liver failure in liver cirrhosis

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is associated with organ failure and high short-term mortality. Bacterial infections and surgery have been reported as major precipitants for ACLF. However, detailed characterization of postoperative infections after elective surgery in patients with liver cirrhosis and their impact on the development of ACLF have not been investigated yet. A total of 235 patients with cirrhosis without ACLF and proven bacterial infections undergoing elective surgery were included. The primary end point was the development of ACLF within 28 days after surgery, and secondary end points were infection development within 28 days and 3-month ACLF-related mortality. Cox regression analysis was used for identification of risk factors associated with ACLF development, infection development, and mortality. A total of 86 patients (37%) developed ACLF within 28 days after surgery. Patients with new postoperative infections had significantly higher rates of associated ACLF episodes within 28 days (51% vs. 24%, p < 0.001) and higher 3-month mortality ( p < 0.05) than patients without postoperative infections. New infections after surgery [HR: 2.43 (1.59-3.71), p < 0.001] and organ/space surgical site infections [HR: 2.46 (1.26-4.80), p = 0.01] in particular were independent risk factors associated with ACLF development 28 days after surgery. Extensive procedures were associated with the development of new postoperative infection episodes within 28 days. Infections treated with initial appropriate empirical antibiotic strategies showed significantly improved survival. This study characterizes and identifies bacterial infections in general and organ/space surgical site infection in particular as precipitating events for the development of ACLF after elective surgery in patients with cirrhosis. Postoperative ACLF combined with infections leads to higher postoperative short-term mortality than each condition separately, especially in extensive procedures. Interdisciplinary care, early identification of postoperative ACLF and infections, and adequate, broad, and early treatment strategies are needed to improve postoperative outcome.

Treating hepatitis D with bulevirtide - Real-world experience from 114 patients

Background & Aims

Bulevirtide is a first-in-class entry inhibitor of hepatitis B surface antigen. In July 2020, bulevirtide was conditionally approved for the treatment of hepatitis D, the most severe form of viral hepatitis, which frequently causes end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, we report the first data from a large multicenter real-world cohort of patients with hepatitis D treated with bulevirtide at a daily dose of 2 mg without additional interferon.

Methods

In a joint effort with 16 hepatological centers, we collected anonymized retrospective data from patients treated with bulevirtide for chronic hepatitis D.

Results

Our analysis is based on data from 114 patients, including 59 (52%) with cirrhosis, receiving a total of 4,289 weeks of bulevirtide treatment. A virologic response defined as an HDV RNA decline of at least 2 log or undetectable HDV RNA was observed in 87/114 (76%) cases with a mean time to virologic response of 23 weeks. In 11 cases, a virologic breakthrough (>1 log-increase in HDV RNA after virologic response) was observed. After 24 weeks of treatment, 19/33 patients (58%) had a virologic response, while three patients (9%) did not achieve a 1 log HDV RNA decline. No patient lost hepatitis B surface antigen. Alanine aminotransferase levels improved even in patients not achieving a virologic response, including five patients who had decompensated cirrhosis at the start of treatment. Treatment was well tolerated and there were no reports of drug-related serious adverse events.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we confirm the safety and efficacy of bulevirtide monotherapy in a large real-world cohort of patients with hepatitis D treated in Germany. Future studies need to explore the long-term benefits and optimal duration of bulevirtide treatment.

Impact and implications

Clinical trials proved the efficacy of bulevirtide for chronic hepatitis D and led to conditional approval by the European Medical Agency. Now it is of great interest to investigate the effects of bulevirtide treatment in a real-world setting. In this work, we included data from 114 patients with chronic hepatitis D who were treated with bulevirtide at 16 German centers. A virologic response was seen in 87/114 cases. After 24 weeks of treatment, only a small proportion of patients did not respond to treatment. At the same time, signs of liver inflammation improved. This observation was independent from changes in hepatitis D viral load. The treatment was generally well tolerated. In the future, it will be of interest to investigate the long-term effects of this new treatment.

QIL1-dependent assembly of MICOS complex-lethal mutation in C19ORF70 resulting in liver disease and severe neurological retardation

Seven subunits of the mitochondrial contact site and cristae junction (CJ) organizing system (MICOS) in humans have been recently described in function and structure. QIL1 (also named MIC13) is a small complex that is crucial for the maintenance and assembling of MICOS. A novel mutation of an essential splice site in the C19orf70 gene encoding QIL1 induces severe mitochondrial encephalopathy, hepatopathy and lactate acidosis consistent with psychomotor retardation. In addition, bilateral kidney stones were observed. Disassembly of MICOS complex subunits displays lack of MIC10-MIC26-MIC27-QIL1 subcomplex, resulting in aberrant cristae structure and a loss of cristae junctions and contact sites. In liver and muscle tissue, the activity of the respiratory chain complexes (OXPHOS) was severely impaired. Defects in MICOS complex do not only affect mitochondrial architecture, but also mitochondrial fusion, metabolic signalling, lipid trafficking and cellular electric homeostasis.