Non-invasive markers for hepatic fibrosis

Point Shear Wave Elastography in Assessment of Hepatic Fibrosis: Diagnostic Accuracy in Subjects With Native and Transplanted Livers Referred for Percutaneous Biopsy

The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the use of point shear wave elastography for the assessment of liver fibrosis and to determine the usefulness and optimal location for obtaining elastography measurements in native and transplanted livers. Point shear wave elastography measurements were obtained from 100 consecutive patients presenting for percutaneous liver biopsy. Measurements were acquired within both the superior right hepatic lobe (segments VII/VIII) via an intercostal approach and the inferior right hepatic lobe (segments V/VI) via a subcostal approach. Analysis of variance was used to assess statistical differences between the degree of fibrosis on percutaneous liver biopsy and elastography measurements. No statistical difference was present when comparing elastography measurements in patients with hepatic steatosis compared with patients without steatosis (P = 0.2759). There was no difference in the accuracy of elastography measurements in native livers versus transplanted livers (P = 0.221). Point shear wave elastography can accurately differentiate between patients with no-to-mild hepatic fibrosis (F0-F1) and moderate-to-severe hepatic fibrosis (≥F2) with sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 69%. Point shear wave elastography can be used as a noninvasive method to assess fibrosis in patients with native or transplanted livers. In addition, measurements can be combined or taken separately from either the superior or inferior right hepatic lobe. The presence of hepatic steatosis does not affect the accuracy of point shear wave elastography. However, shear wave elastography values in patients with body mass index greater than 40 should be interpreted with caution.

Non-invasive Diagnostics of Liver Fibrosis

Detecting new units of pathogenesis in the liver fibrosis due to alcoholism, chronic viral Hepatitis B and C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune, parasitic and metabolic diseases and other, reveals perspective for new non-invasive serum biomarkers. In fibrosis, from the wide variety of markers enzymes, proteins and cytokines are mainly used. While direct biomarkers reflect the stage of fibrosis and fibrinogenesis, indirect markers allow assessment of the general liver functions. The combination of direct and indirect markers increases the diagnostic reliability and therefore these panels and indices are investigated quite intensively in recent years in order to decrease the number of liver biopsies without completely replace it, which is still regarded as the reference method.

Anti-fibrotic potential of human umbilical cord mononuclear cells and mouse bone marrow cells in CCl4- induced liver fibrosis in mice

Liver fibrosis is the consequence of hepatocyte injury that leads to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). The treatment of choice is Liver transplantation; however, it has many problems such as surgery-related complications, immunological rejection and high costs associated with the procedure. Stem cell-based therapy would be a potential alternative, so the aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord mononuclear cells (MNC) and mouse bone marrow cells (BMC) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis in mice and compare it with that of silymarin. In the present study, male albino mice (N=60) were divided into six groups (10 mice each), the first group served as the normal control group while the remaining five groups were rendered fibrotic by intraperitoneal injections of CCl4 and being left for 6 weeks to develop hepatic fibrosis. Thereafter, the mice were divided into CCl4 group, CCl4 group receiving MNC or BMC or silymarin or MNC and silymarin combination. After the specified treatment period, animals were then euthanized, blood and tissue samples were collected for measurement of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), malondialdehyde(MDA), reduced glutathione(GSH), collagen, Laminin, transforming growth factor β1(TGFβ1), tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFα). MNC, BMC, and the combination therapy showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, MDA, collagen, Laminin, TGFβ1, and TNFα and a significant increase in GSH. The data displayed a similar regression of fibrosis with the histological and immunohistological parameters. In conclusion, MNC, BMC and the combination therapy showed a potential therapeutic effect against liver fibrosis via reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, and fibrogenic markers.

Stratified aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index accurately predicts survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing curative liver resection

The aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index has been reported to predict prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. This study examined the prognostic potential of stratified aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index for hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing curative liver resection. A total of 661 hepatocellular carcinoma patients were retrieved and the associations between aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index and clinicopathological variables and survivals (overall survival and disease-free survival) were analyzed. Higher aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index quartiles were significantly associated with poorer overall survival (p = 0.002) and disease-free survival (p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index to be an independent risk factor for overall survival (p = 0.018) and disease-free survival (p = 0.01). Patients in the highest aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index quartile were at 44% greater risk of death than patients in the first quartile (hazard ratio = 1.445, 95% confidence interval = 1.081 - 1.931, p = 0.013), as well as 49% greater risk of recurrence (hazard ratio = 1.49, 95% confidence interval = 1.112-1.998, p = 0.008). Subgroup analysis also showed aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index to be an independent predictor of poor overall survival and disease-free survival in patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen or with cirrhosis (both p < 0.05). Similar results were obtained when aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index was analyzed as a dichotomous variable with cutoff values of 0.25 and 0.62. Elevated preoperative aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index may be independently associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients following curative resection.

Early Detection of Liver Damage in Mexican Patients with Chronic Liver Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Liver cirrhosis is usually detected at the later stages of disease. This study is aimed to detect liver damage in patients with chronic liver disease using transitional elastography (TE) and to assess the biochemical parameters associated with liver damage.

METHODS

In 578 patients, chronic liver disease based on etiology was diagnosed by clinical and laboratory tests. Liver damage was evaluated with TE (FibroScan®), while its association with biochemical parameters was performed using the logistic regression tests.

RESULTS

Overall, the main etiologies of liver damage were hepatitis C virus (HCV) (37%), alcoholic liver disease (ALD) (33%) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (26%). Patients were 40 to 50 years of age. ALD and hepatitis B prevailed in men, whereas HCV and NASH in women. The stages of fibrosis were F0 (n = 121, 21%), F1 (n = 122, 21%), F2 (n = 58, 10%), F3 (n = 46, 8%) and F4 (n = 87, 15%). In patients with liver cirrhosis, ALD (n = 96/217, 45%), HCV (n = 94/217, 43%) and NASH (n = 21/217, 10%) were the leading etiologies. Platelets count (OR=3.31, 95%CI 1.61-6.78), glucose (OR=3.07, 95%CI 1.50-6.26), gamma-glutamyl-transferase (OR=3.60, 95%CI 1.79-7.25), albumin (OR=3.89, 95%CI 1.61-9.36), and total bilirubin (OR=3.93, 95%CI 1.41-10.91) were associated to advanced stages of fibrosis (F3-F4) regardless of etiology. The concordance and positive predictive values of these parameters were higher as compared to other scores.

CONCLUSION

Asymptomatic liver disease due to HCV, ALD and NASH prevailed in young adults. Advanced liver damage assessed by TE was associated with five biochemical parameters. In conjunction, both methodologies may be useful for the early detection of fibrosis and cirrhosis in Latin America.

Mathematical modeling of liver fibrosis

Fibrosis is the formation of excessive fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue, which occurs in reparative process or in response to inflammation. Fibrotic diseases are characterized by abnormal excessive deposition of fibrous proteins, such as collagen, and the disease is most commonly progressive, leading to organ disfunction and failure. Although fibrotic diseases evolve in a similar way in all organs, differences may occur as a result of structure and function of the specific organ. In liver fibrosis, the gold standard for diagnosis and monitoring the progression of the disease is biopsy, which is invasive and cannot be repeated frequently. For this reason there is currently a great interest in identifying non-invasive biomarkers for liver fibrosis. In this paper, we develop for the first time a mathematical model of liver fibrosis by a system of partial differential equations. We use the model to explore the efficacy of potential and currently used drugs aimed at blocking the progression of liver fibrosis. We also use the model to develop a diagnostic tool based on a combination of two biomarkers.

Noninvasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis Stage Using Ultrasound-Based Shear Wave Velocity Measurements and Serum Algorithms in Patients With Viral Hepatitis B: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Liver biopsy remains the reference standard for the assessment of liver fibrosis, but this procedure is invasive and can lead to complications. Thus, studies to determine the optimal noninvasive test are warranted. This study compared several noninvasive tests and their combinations for evaluating liver fibrosis stages in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODS

The shear wave velocity (SWV) and laboratory indicators were collected from 174 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Formulas were applied to calculate the serum fibrosis model, including the aspartate aminotransaminase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) and aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR). The diagnostic performance of all noninvasive tests was assessed in comparison with percutaneous liver biopsy, based on a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

The SWV (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.82) and APRI (AUC = 0.77) performed better than the FIB-4 (AUC = 0.62), and the AAR (AUC = 0.47) was not suitable for evaluating substantial liver fibrosis (stage ≥F2). The SWV (AUC = 0.96) was the best indicator, being superior to the APRI (AUC = 0.75) and FIB-4 (AUC = 0.74), and the AAR (AUC = 0.45) was not suitable for assessing cirrhosis (F4). Combining the SWV and APRI, the AUC improved to 0.85 for substantial liver fibrosis, and the sensitivity increased to 100% for cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The SWV, APRI, and FIB-4 were valid tests for evaluating substantial liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The combination of these tests with several noninvasive indicators is expected to enhance the assessment of liver fibrosis stages.

Ultrasound shear wave elastography and liver fibrosis: A Prospective Multicenter Study

AIM

To assess the accuracy of shear wave elastography (SWE) alone and in combination with aminotransferase platelet ratio index (APRI) score in the staging of liver fibrosis.

METHODS

A multicenter prospective study was conducted to assess the accuracy of SWE (medians) and APRI to predict biopsy results. The analysis focused on distinguishing the different stages of liver disease, namely, F0 from F1-4, F0-1 from F2-4, F0-2 from F3-4 and F0-3 from F4; F0-F1 from F2-F4 being of primary interest. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was computed using logistic regression model. The role of age, gender and steatosis was also assessed.

RESULTS

SWE alone accurately distinguished F0-1 from F2-4 with a high probability. The AUROC using SWE alone was 0.91 compared to 0.78 for using the APRI score alone. The APRI score, when used in conjunction with SWE, did not make a significant contribution to the AUROC. SWE and steatosis were the only significant predictors that differentiated F0-1 from F2-4 with an AUROC of 0.944.

CONCLUSION

Our study validates the use of SWE in the diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis. Furthermore, the probability of a correct diagnosis is significantly enhanced with the addition of steatosis as a prognostic factor.

Fibrinogen α-Chain as a Serum Marker of Liver Disease

Liver fibrosis is the hepatic response to an insult characterized by an accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. If the underlying cause is not treated or eliminated, the disease can progress and may lead to several clinical complications including hepatocellular carcinoma or even death. Thus, detection, staging, and follow-up of liver fibrosis are the main issues in the prognosis and treatment of patients with chronic liver disease. In recent years, new advances in mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology and protein fractionation techniques have improved protein identification as well as protein quantification in many different samples and diseases including liver fibrosis. In particular, the fibrinogen α chain and more specifically the serum levels of the 5.9 kDa fragment of fibrinogen α C-chain have shown to be altered in several hepatic etiologies. In fact, these results have been reproduced by different laboratories, and recently a marked downregulation of this protein fragment has also been described in the initial stages of liver fibrosis. In this chapter, we have described the potential role of fibrinogen α chain and particularly the 5.9 kDa fragment of fibrinogen α C-chain as a circulating marker of liver fibrosis.

The Relationship between Inflammatory Marker Levels and Hepatitis C Virus Severity

Background. Red cell distribution width (RDW) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been studied in a variety of etiological diseases. We aim to investigate the relationship between RDW and PLR and the severity of hepatitis C virus- (HCV-) related liver disease. Methods. We included fifty-two chronic HCV and 42 HCV-related cirrhosis patients and 84 healthy controls. Hematological and virological parameters and liver function biomarkers of HCV-related patients at admission were recorded. Results. RDW, RDW-to-platelet (RPR), and 1/PLR values in HCV-related cirrhosis patients were significantly higher than in chronic HCV patients and healthy controls (all P < 0.001). The aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (AAR), AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and fibrosis index based on the four factors (FIB-4) scores in HCV-related cirrhosis patients were significantly higher than in chronic HCV patients (all P < 0.001). The areas under the curve of the RDW, RPR, and 1/PLR for predicting cirrhosis were 0.791, 0.960, and 0.713, respectively. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RDW could independently predict the presence of cirrhosis in chronic HCV patients. Conclusions. RDW, RPR, and PLR may be potential markers for estimating HCV severity.

Angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 as non-invasive biomarker of cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy of peripheral blood concentrations of angiopoietins (Ang) as cirrhosis biomarkers of chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

METHODS

Ang1 and Ang2 serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in samples from 179 cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic CHC patients, classified according to the METAVIR system. Groups were compared by non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. Subsequently, the association of peripheral concentrations of angiopoietins with the stage of fibrosis was analyzed using Spearman correlation test. Finally, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of circulating angiopoietins for cirrhosis diagnosis were determined by the study of the respective area under the curve of receiver operator characteristics (AUC-ROC).

RESULTS

Peripheral blood concentrations of Ang1 and Ang2 in CHC patients were significantly related to fibrosis. While Ang1 was decreased in cirrhotic subjects compared to non-cirrhotic (P < 0.0001), Ang2 was significantly increased as CHC progressed to the end stage of liver disease (P < 0.0001). Consequently, Ang2/Ang1 ratio was notably amplified and significantly correlated with fibrosis (P < 0.0001). Interestingly, the individual performance of each angiopoietin for the diagnosis of cirrhosis reached notable AUC-ROC values (above 0.7, both), but the Ang2/Ang1 ratio was much better (AUC-ROC = 0.810) and displayed outstanding values of sensitivity (71%), specificity (84%) and accuracy (82.1%) at the optimal cut-off (10.33). Furthermore, Ang2/Ang1 ratio improved the performance of many other previously described biomarkers or scores of liver cirrhosis in CHC.

CONCLUSION

Ang2/Ang1 ratio might constitute a useful tool for monitoring the progression of chronic liver disease towards cirrhosis and play an important role as therapeutic target.

Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements by Point Shear Wave Elastography via Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse: Intraobserver and Interobserver Variability and Predictors of Variability in a US Population

OBJECTIVES

Measurements of liver stiffness and spleen stiffness are useful noninvasive ways to assess fibrosis and portal hypertension in patients with chronic liver disease. One method for assessing stiffness is by point shear wave elastography via acoustic radiation force impulse imaging (ARFI). Its advantage is that sites where stiffness is measured are visualized sonographically. However, its reliability has not been well established, and all studies done to date evaluating the use of ARFI in chronic liver disease have been performed outside the United States. We aimed to characterize the intraobserver and interobserver variability of ARFI-measured liver and spleen stiffness.

METHODS

Two hepatologists evaluated unselected hepatology outpatients with ARFI. Exclusions were hepatocellular carcinoma, ascites, a surgical shunt or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, portal thrombosis, and cholestatic disease. Each operator obtained 20 measurements from the right liver lobe and spleen. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 177 patients were included: median age, 61 years; 85% male; and 43% obese. Intraobserver ICCs were the same for both observers for liver stiffness (0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-0.92) and spleen stiffness (0.72; 95% CI, 0.61-0.80). Interobserver agreement was excellent for liver stiffness (ICC, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.90) but not as good for spleen stiffness (ICC, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60-0.83). A body mass index of 30 kg/m² or greater, waist circumference of greater than 105 cm, and skin-to-capsule distance of 2 cm or greater negatively affected the ICC for liver stiffness; small spleen size negatively affected the ICC for spleen stiffness.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this article is the first report of ARFI findings in a US population with chronic liver disease. Liver stiffness reproducibility was excellent, particularly in nonobese patients. Spleen stiffness reproducibility was excellent in those with larger spleens and therefore may be most useful in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Evaluation of hyaluronic acid, procollagen type III N-terminal peptide, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 as serum markers of canine hepatic fibrosis

The only way to diagnose hepatic fibrosis in dogs is by histological assessment of a liver biopsy specimen. As this technique is invasive and susceptible to sampling variation, serum biomarkers are used to detect hepatic fibrosis in humans. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) as serum markers of canine hepatic fibrosis. Serum samples were collected from 47 dogs with histologically confirmed hepatobiliary disease and 24 healthy dogs in order to measure concentrations of HA, PIIINP, and TIMP-1. Hepatic fibrosis was staged using a 5-point scoring scheme. There was no correlation between serum concentrations of HA or PIIINP and the severity of hepatic fibrosis. There was a negative correlation between serum concentration of TIMP-1 and the severity of hepatic fibrosis (rs = -0.33; P = 0.036). It was not possible to use serum concentrations of HA, PIIINP, or TIMP-1 to discriminate between dogs with absent-to-moderate hepatic fibrosis and those with marked-to-very-marked fibrosis. The results of this study do not support the utility of measuring serum concentrations of HA, PIIINP, or TIMP-1 for diagnosing canine hepatic fibrosis. Further studies are needed to support this finding.

Autoimmunity against laminins

Laminins are ubiquitous constituents of the basement membranes with major architectural and functional role as supported by the fact that absence or mutations of laminins lead to either lethal or severely impairing phenotypes. Besides genetic defects, laminins are involved in a wide range of human diseases including cancer, infections, and inflammatory diseases, as well as autoimmune disorders. A growing body of evidence implicates several laminin chains as autoantigens in blistering skin diseases, collagenoses, vasculitis, or post-infectious autoimmunity. The current paper reviews the existing knowledge on autoimmunity against laminins referring to both experimental and clinical data, and on therapeutic implications of anti-laminin antibodies. Further investigation of relevant laminin epitopes in pathogenic autoimmunity would facilitate the development of appropriate diagnostic tools for thorough characterization of patients' antibody specificities and should decisively contribute to designing more specific therapeutic interventions.

Metabolic Characterization of Advanced Liver Fibrosis in HCV Patients as Studied by Serum 1H-NMR Spectroscopy

Several etiologies result in chronic liver diseases including chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV). Despite its high incidence and the severe economic and medical consequences, liver disease is still commonly overlooked due to the lack of efficient non-invasive diagnostic methods. While several techniques have been tested for the detection of fibrosis, the available biomarkers still present severe limitations that preclude their use in clinical diagnostics. Liver diseases have also been the subject of metabolomic analysis. Here, we demonstrate the suitability of ¹H NMR spectroscopy for characterizing the metabolism of liver fibrosis induced by HCV. Serum samples from HCV patients without fibrosis or with liver cirrhosis were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy and the results were submitted to multivariate and univariate statistical analysis. PLS-DA test was able to discriminate between advanced fibrotic and non-fibrotic patients and several metabolites were found to be up or downregulated in patients with cirrhosis. The suitability of the most significantly regulated metabolites was validated by ROC analysis. Our study reveals that choline, acetoacetate and low-density lipoproteins are the most informative biomarkers for predicting cirrhosis in HCV patients. Our results demonstrate that statistical analysis of ¹H-NMR spectra is able to distinguish between fibrotic and non-fibrotic patients suffering from HCV, representing a novel diagnostic application for NMR spectroscopy.

In vitro development and validation of a non-invasive (13)C-stable isotope assay for ornithine decarboxylase

Oesophageal cancer is a significant cause of cancer related mortality, with increasing incidence worldwide. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is an enzyme involved in polyamine synthesis and cellular proliferation, and ODC expression and activity has been implicated as a prognostic marker of oesophageal cancer. This study aimed to develop and optimise an in vitro (13)C-stable isotope assay for ODC activity as a non-invasive marker of oesophageal cancer. Experiments were performed in triplicate (n  =  3/group/cell line) using Caco2, HeLa, Flo-1, OE33, TE7 and OE21 cell lines (colorectal, cervical, oesophageal adenocarcinoma and oesophageal squamous carcinoma respectively). Following addition of 2mM (13)C-ornithine to cells, 10 ml gas samples were collected from the headspace every 20 min for a total of five hours. Gas samples were analysed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry to quantify (13)CO2. Assay specificity was determined using the selective ODC inhibitor, N-(4'-Pyridoxil)-Ornithine(BOC)-OMe (POB). All data is expressed as δ (13)CO2 from baseline. High ODC activity was detected by (13)C-ornithine assay in Caco2 (32.00  ±  1.12 δ (13)CO2) in contrast to HeLa cells (5.44  ±  0.14 δ (13)CO2) cells. POB inhibited activity in Caco2 cells to 12.87  ±  1.10 δ (13)CO2. Differential ODC activity was detected in all oesophageal cancer cells, and 53 h incubation of cell lines with POB reduced activity by 72%, 56%, 64% and 69% in the Flo-1, OE33, OE21 and TE7 cell lines respectively. We have shown that ODC activity can be selectively detected by a non-invasive, stable-isotope (13)C-ornithine assay. ODC activity was detected in all oesophageal cancer cell lines in vitro. Further studies are indicated to quantify ODC activity in oesophageal cancer patients.

Noninvasive Markers of Fibrosis and Inflammation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis are associated with elevated morbidity and mortality, and a means of differentiating these diseases from simple steatosis (SS) is needed. Liver biopsy in all patients with NAFLD is not feasible, thus necessitating a noninvasive method for discerning the presence of inflammation and fibrosis. Of the various serum markers, cytokeratin-18 seems to best predict NASH, the NAFLD Fibrosis Score is most closely correlated with fibrosis, and transient elastography can be used for diagnosis of cirrhosis, or to exclude cirrhosis, although its utility is limited by obesity.

Quantification of liver fibrosis via second harmonic imaging of the Glisson's capsule from liver surface

Liver surface is covered by a collagenous layer called the Glisson's capsule. The structure of the Glisson's capsule is barely seen in the biopsy samples for histology assessment, thus the changes of the collagen network from the Glisson's capsule during the liver disease progression are not well studied. In this report, we investigated whether non-linear optical imaging of the Glisson's capsule at liver surface would yield sufficient information to allow quantitative staging of liver fibrosis. In contrast to conventional tissue sections whereby tissues are cut perpendicular to the liver surface and interior information from the liver biopsy samples were used, we have established a capsule index based on significant parameters extracted from the second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy images of capsule collagen from anterior surface of rat livers. Thioacetamide (TAA) induced liver fibrosis animal models was used in this study. The capsule index is capable of differentiating different fibrosis stages, with area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) up to 0.91, making it possible to quantitatively stage liver fibrosis via liver surface imaging potentially with endomicroscopy.

Suitability of using serum hialuronic acid concentrations in the diagnosis of canine liver fibrosis

There are multiple dynamic changes associated with the metabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) which occur in the course of liver fibrosis. Therefore, the evaluation of parameters reflecting the deposition of ECM, the activity of myofibroblasts and the synthesis and degradation of collagen may aid in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis. Hyaluronic acid is considered to be a marker of ECM deposition. It is a glycosaminoglycan synthesized by hepatic stellate cells and degraded by hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of hyaluronic acid in dogs with different degrees of liver fibrosis. The study was carried out on 29 dogs with liver disease. A core needle biopsy of the liver was performed in order to assess the degree of hepatic inflammation. Then, hyaluronic acid serum concentrations were measured. The dogs were divided into five groups based on the histopathological examination and the evaluation of the degree of hepatic fibrosis. The study showed that serum hyaluronic acid concentrations were low in patients with first stage liver fibrosis and in controls, while they were twice as high as control values in the group of dogs with second stage liver fibrosis. These concentrations were three-fold greater than control values in patients with third stage liver fibrosis, and seven-fold greater in patients with liver cirrhosis. Based on the results, it was concluded that serum hyaluronic acid is a useful marker of liver fibrosis and may aid in determining the degree of its advancement.

Multiple approaches to assess fourteen non-invasive serum indexes for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare fourteen non-invasive indexes/scores: AAR, APRI, Fibroindex, MODEL3, Forns index, FIB4, GUCI, FI, FCI, Pohl score, AP index, CDS, HGM-1 and HGM-2, in order to diagnose the hepatic fibrosis stage in a survey of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

84 patients with chronic hepatitis C were studied. Liver fibrosis was staged according to the Scheuer scoring system. The diagnostic accuracy of these indexes/scores was evaluated by AUROC, contingency tables and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The best AUROCs (>0.9) to discriminate cirrhosis (F=4), were observed for CDS, FI, AAR, MODEL3, FIB4, HGM-2 and FCI. To discriminate at least advance fibrosis (F≥3), the best AUROCs (>0.89) were for CDS, FI, FIB4, HGM2-2, MODEL3 and FCI. To discriminate at least significant fibrosis (F≥2), the best AUROCs (>0.8) were for FIB4, GUCI, APRI, FI, Forns index, HGM-2 and FCI. Contingency tables and logistic regression analysis supported the results obtained by AUROC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study compares the diagnostic performance of fourteen indexes for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis stage in the same group of CHC patients. These results allow the selection of the best indexes for further studies in larger populations, in order to build diagnostic algorithms as an alternative to liver biopsy for fibrosis staging in patients with chronic HCV infection. These algorithms would allow to take therapeutical decisions and the continuous follow-up of hepatic fibrosis in these patients.

Transient elastography and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio predict liver injury in paediatric intestinal failure

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We aimed to evaluate the value of AST to platelet ratio (APRI) and transient elastography (TE) as predictors of liver histopathology in children with intestinal failure (IF).

METHODS

Altogether 93 liver biopsies from 57 children with parenteral nutrition (PN) duration ≥3 months were analysed. APRI measurement and TE (n = 46) were performed at the time of biopsy.

RESULTS

IF was caused by short bowel syndrome in 75% of patients. At the time of liver biopsy, PN dependent patients (n = 42) were younger with longer PN duration compared to those weaned off PN (n = 51) (2.2 vs. 7.6 years, P < 0.001; 26 vs. 10.5 months, P = 0.043). Elevated transaminase or bilirubin levels were found in 51%, splenomegaly in 26%, and oesophageal varices in 3.5%. Histological fibrosis was present in 61% (Metavir stage F1; 27%, F2; 26%, F3-4; 9%), cholestasis in 25% and steatosis in 22% of biopsy specimens. TE was superior to APRI in prediction of any liver histopathology (fibrosis, cholestasis or steatosis) with areas under the receiving operating curve (AUROC) of 0.86 (95% CI 0.74-0.97) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.58-0.78) respectively. For prediction of ≥F1 and ≥F2 fibrosis, AUROC values for TE were 0.78 (95% CI 0.64-0.93) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.59-0.88), whereas APRI did not correlate with fibrosis stages. For detection of histological cholestasis, the AUROC for APRI was 0.77 (95% CI 0.64-0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

Both TE and APRI are promising noninvasive methods for monitoring the development of IF-related liver histopathology. TE values reflected the degree of fibrosis better while APRI detected histological cholestasis more accurately.

Enteral autonomy, cirrhosis, and long term transplant-free survival in pediatric intestinal failure patients

PURPOSE

Patient selection for transplant evaluation in pediatric intestinal failure is predicated on the ability to assess long-term transplant-free survival. In light of trends toward improved survival of intestinal failure patients in recent decades, we sought to determine if the presence of biopsy-proven hepatic cirrhosis or the eventual achievement of enteral autonomy were associated with transplant-free survival.

METHODS

After IRB approval, records of all pediatric intestinal failure patients (parenteral nutrition (PN) >90 days) treated at a single intestinal failure center from February 2002 to September 2014 were reviewed. Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney, and log-rank testing were performed as appropriate.

RESULTS

Of 313 patients, 174 eventually weaned off PN. Liver biopsies were available in 126 patients (most common indication was intestinal failure associated liver disease, IFALD), and 23 met histologic criteria for cirrhosis. Transplant-free survival for the whole cohort of 313 patients was 94.7% at 1 year and 89.2% at 5 years. Among patients with liver biopsies, transplant-free survival in cirrhotics vs. noncirrhotics was 95.5% vs. 94.1% at one year and 95.5% vs. 86.7% at 5 years (P=0.29). Transplant-free survival in patients who achieved enteral autonomy compared with patients who remained PN dependent was 98.2% vs. 90.3% at one year and 98.2% vs. 76.9% at 5 years (P<0.001). There was no association between cirrhosis and eventual enteral autonomy (P=0.88).

CONCLUSIONS

Achieving enteral autonomy was associated with improved transplant-free survival in pediatric intestinal failure patients. There was no association between histopathological diagnosis of cirrhosis and transplant-free survival in the cohort. These data suggest that automatic transplant referral may not be required for histopathological diagnosis of cirrhosis alone, and that ongoing efforts aimed at achievement of enteral autonomy remain paramount in pediatric intestinal failure.

The effect of applied transducer force on acoustic radiation force impulse quantification within the left lobe of the liver

Introduction: Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Quantification measures shear wave velocities (SWVs) within the liver. It is a reliable method for predicting the severity of liver fibrosis and has the potential to assess fibrosis in any part of the liver, but previous research has found ARFI quantification in the right lobe more accurate than in the left lobe. A lack of standardised applied transducer force when performing ARFI quantification in the left lobe of the liver may account for some of this inaccuracy. The research hypothesis of this present study predicted that an increase in applied transducer force would result in an increase in SWVs measured.

Methods: ARFI quantification within the left lobe of the liver was performed within a group of healthy volunteers (n = 28). During each examination, each participant was subjected to ARFI quantification at six different levels of transducer force applied to the epigastric abdominal wall.

Results: A repeated measures ANOVA test showed that ARFI quantification was significantly affected by applied transducer force (p = 0.002). Significant pairwise comparisons using Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons showed that with an increase in applied transducer force, there was a decrease in SWVs.

Conclusion: Applied transducer force has a significant effect on SWVs within the left lobe of the liver and it may explain some of the less accurate and less reliable results in previous studies where transducer force was not taken into consideration. Future studies in the left lobe of the liver should take this into account and control for applied transducer force.

Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index in hepatitis C virus and Schistosomiasis coinfection

AIM

To assess the diagnostic accuracy, of aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) alone and with antischistosomal antibody (Ab) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and schistosomiasis coinfection.

METHODS

This retrospective study included medical records of three hundred and eighty three Egyptian men patients who had undergone percutaneous liver biopsy between January 2006 to April 2014 in tertiary care hospital in Qatar for diagnosis or monitoring purpose were selected. Data of patients > 18 years of age were included in the study. The values of HCV RNA titer and antischistosomal antibody titer were also taken into consideration. Patients were excluded from the study if they had any other concomitant chronic liver disease, including; history of previous antiviral or interferon therapy, immunosuppressive, therapy, chronic hepatitis B infection, human immunodeficiency virus co-infection, autoimmune hepatitis, decompensated liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, prior liver transplantation, and if no data about the liver biopsy present.

RESULTS

Median age of patients was 46 years. About 7.1% had no fibrosis, whereas 30.4%, 37.5%, 20.4%, and 4.6% had fibrosis of stage I, II, III, and IV respectively. In bivariate analysis, APRI score, levels of AST, platelet count and age of patient showed statistically significant association with liver fibrosis (P < 0.0001); whereas antischistosomal antibody titer (P = 0.52) and HCV RNA titer (P = 0.79) failed to show a significant association. The respective AUC values for no fibrosis, significant fibrosis, severe fibrosis and cirrhosis of APRI score were 63%, 73.2%, 81.1% and 88.9% respectively. This showed good sensitivity and specificity of APRI alone for grading of liver fibrosis. But the inclusion of anti-Schistosoma antibody did not improve the prediction of fibrosis stage.

CONCLUSION

The study results suggest that noninvasive biochemical markers like APRI are sensitive and specific in diagnosing the degree of fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with coinfection of HCV and schistosomiasis as compared to biopsy. The addition of antischistosomal Ab to APRI did not improve sensitivity for predicting the degree of cirrhosis.

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Hyaluronic acid (HA), ASAT to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), ASAT/ALAT ratio, Fibrosis 4 score (FIB4) and FibroScan were studied as non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis (F) in chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC), in an attempt to avoid the complications of liver puncture biopsy, considered the gold standard in the evaluation of F. The aim of our research was to study whether HA, APRI, ASAT/ALAT ratio, FIB4 and FibroScan are useful non-invasive markers in predicting severe F in Romanian patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective multicenter transversal and observational study, which included 76 patients with CHB/CHC. The independent effect of studied markers was tested using multiple binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

In patients with CHB and CHC, the APRI cut-off value for F4 was 0·70 ng/mL (Se = 77%, Sp = 78%), the FIB4 cut-off value was 2·01 (Se = 77%, Sp = 69%), and the FibroScan cut-off value was 13·15 (Se = 92%, Sp = 88%). For patients with CHB/CHC, there was a significant linear positive correlation between F and HA (r = 0·42, P = 0·001), FibroScan (r = 0·67, P < 0·001), APRI (r = 0·46, P < 0·001) and FIB4 (r = 0·51, P < 0·001). Considering age, sex and body mass index as possible confounding factors or covariates in multivariable logistic modelling, FibroScan was the unique test that able to significantly highlight the presence of F4 score in CHB/CHC patients (P = 0·009) while FIB4 test seems to have a tendency to statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

FibroScan, APRI and FIB4 are useful non-invasive tests for the evaluation of F4 in patients with CHB and CHC.

FibroScan, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis index based on the 4 factor (FIB-4), and their combinations in the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of FibroScan, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis index based on the 4 factor (FIB-4) and their combinations on liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B.

METHODS

406 hospitalized patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and cirrhosis in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively and collected patients clinical indicators, including liver stiffness (LS), AAR, APRI and FIB-4, and then compared the differences of these indicators between CHB group and hepatitis B with cirrhosis group. Receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the differentiating capacity of these indicators on CHB and liver cirrhosis.

RESULTS

Four indicators related to liver cirrhosis had a statistical significance between two groups (P < 0.01); the under ROC curve areas of LS, AAR, APRI and FIB-4 for differential diagnosis of CHB and liver cirrhosis were 0.866, 0.772, 0.632 and 0.885, respectively. The under ROC curve areas of LS, AAR, APRI and FIB-4 for differential diagnosis of liver cirrhosis at compensatory stage and de-compensatory stage were 0.627, 0.666, 0.795 and 0.820, respectively.

CONCLUSION

LS, AAR, APRI and FIB-4 were good indicators as clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis on hepatitis B related cirrhosis.

Serum soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor and interferon-γ-induced protein 10 levels correlate with significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) presents an important public health problem. Liver biopsy is currently the gold standard for assessing the degree of intrahepatic inflammation and for staging liver fibrosis. However, the value of liver biopsies is limited by sampling errors, understaging and interobserver variability in interpretation. There is, therefore, a need to identify novel, non-invasive serologic biomarkers for the development of new predictive models of fibrosis.

METHODS

We enrolled patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) and examined the relationships between serum soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and interferon-induced protein-10 (IP-10), and the results of liver biopsies. Healthy volunteers with normal aminotransferase levels and negative serological results for HBV, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus were recruited as controls.

RESULTS

Mean platelet volume, serum suPAR and IP-10 were significantly elevated in patients with CHB compared with controls. Median serum suPAR and IP-10 levels were significantly higher in patients with liver fibrosis compared with patients with mild fibrosis. There was no significant difference in mean platelet volume or aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index scores between patients with mild and significant fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

suPAR and IP-10 were able to distinguish between significant and mild fibrosis with good sensitivity and specificity, and may thus represent useful biomarkers for identifying patients with significant fibrosis.

Serum Levels of Annexin A2 as a Candidate Biomarker for Hepatic Fibrosis in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B

BACKGROUND

Hepatologists have studied serologic markers of liver injury for decades. Annexins are a prominent group of such markers and annexin A2 (AnxA2) is one of the best characterized annexins. AnxA2 inhibits HBV polymerase among other functions. Its expression is up-regulated in regenerative hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if serum AnxA2 level has a role in estimating liver damage in chronic HBV infection and investigate whether AnxA2 levels correlate with hepatic fibrosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study included 173 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 51 healthy controls. Liver fibrosis was graded histologically on liver biopsy samples. Blood samples were taken from patients during biopsy and serum AnxA2 levels were measured with ELISA.

RESULTS

In a group of adult patients with CHB, AnxA2 values were far higher than those of the control group (P = 0.001). When we assessed AnxA2 levels based on fibrosis stages, serum AnxA2 levels of patients with early stage fibrosis (stages 1 - 3) were significantly higher than those of patients with advanced stage fibrosis (stages 4 - 5; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

AnxA2 is a useful biomarker for early stage fibrosis in patients with CHB.

Non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) consists of a broad spectrum of disorders, ranging from simple steatosis to alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Fatty liver develops in more than 90% of heavy drinkers, however only 30%-35% of them develop more advanced forms of ALD. Therefore, even if the current “gold standard” for the assessment of the stage of alcohol-related liver injury is histology, liver biopsy is not reasonable in all patients who present with ALD. Currently, although several non-invasive fibrosis markers have been suggested as alternatives to liver biopsy in patients with ALD, none has been sufficiently validated. As described in other liver disease, the diagnostic accuracy of such tests in ALD is acceptable for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis or cirrhosis but not for lesser fibrosis stages. Existing data suggest that the use of non-invasive tests could be tailored to first tier screening of patients at risk, in order to diagnose early patients with progressive liver disease and offer targeted interventions for the prevention of decompensation. We review these tests and critically appraise the existing evidence.

Diagnostic usefulness of FibroMeter VCTE for hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis is an important prognostic determinant in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The FibroMeter VCTE is a diagnostic tool comprising both biochemical markers and transient elastography (TE) originally developed for the diagnosis of fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. In this pilot study, we investigated the diagnostic performance of the FibroMeter VCTE tool for determining fibrosis in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Its diagnostic accuracy was also compared with those of the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFSA) and TE alone.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

FibroMeter VCTE, NFSA, and TE were determined in 52 patients with NAFLD. The results of liver biopsies were considered the gold standard. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were used to express the diagnostic accuracy of each test.

RESULTS

Significant (F≥2) and severe (F≥3) fibrosis were detected in 20 (38%) and 10 (19%) patients, respectively. The sensitivity of FibroMeter VCTE, NFSA, and TE for detecting significant fibrosis was 70, 65, and 75%, respectively, whereas specificity was 88, 81, and 78%. The sensitivity of FibroMeter VCTE, NFSA, and TE for diagnosing severe fibrosis was 90, 90, and 100%, respectively, whereas specificity was 93, 78, and 76%. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that FibroMeter VCTE had a significantly larger areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.968) compared with both NFSA (0.833, P<0.001) and TE (0.922, P<0.05) for the detection of severe fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

Our preliminary findings indicate that FibroMeter VCTE is superior to both NFSA and TE for the diagnosis of severe fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

HCV genotype 3 and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA)-IgM are independently associated with histological features of NASH in HCV-infected patients

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) enhances the risk of progressive liver disease. In chronic hepatitis C (CHC), liver steatosis is frequent, especially in genotype 3, but its clinical significance is debated. As squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA)-IgM has been associated with advanced liver disease and risk of tumour development, we evaluated its occurrence in CHC and the possible relation with NASH at liver biopsy. Using a validated ELISA, serum SCCA-IgM was measured in 91 patients with CHC at the time of liver biopsy performed before antiviral treatment, at the end of treatment and 6 months thereafter, and in 93 HCV-negative patients with histological diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as controls. SCCA-IgM was detected in 33% of CHC patients and in 4% of controls. This biomarker was found more elevated in CHC patients with histological NASH, and at multivariate analysis, SCCA-IgM and HCV genotype 3 were independently associated with NASH [OR (95% CI): 6.94 (1.21-40) and 27.02 (4.44-166.6)]. As predictors of NASH, HCV genotype 3 and SCCA-IgM had a specificity and a sensitivity of 97% and 44%, and of 95% and 27%, respectively. PPV and NPV were 80% and 86% for HCV genotype 3 vs 73% and 72% for SCCA-IgM. In patients with sustained virologic response to therapy, SCCA-IgM levels decreased significantly, while these remained unchanged in nonresponders. In conclusion, SCCA-IgM is detectable in one-third of patients with CHC and significantly correlates with histological NASH.

Recommendations for the management of hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs

In high income countries, the majority of new and existing hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections occur among people who inject drugs (PWID). In many low and middle income countries large HCV epidemics have also emerged among PWID populations. The burden of HCV-related liver disease among PWID is increasing, but treatment uptake remains extremely low. There are a number of barriers to care which should be considered and systematically addressed, but should not exclude PWID from HCV treatment. The rapid development of interferon-free direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for HCV infection has brought considerable optimism to the HCV sector, with the realistic hope that therapeutic intervention will soon provide near optimal efficacy with well-tolerated, short duration, all oral regimens. Further, it has been clearly demonstrated that HCV treatment is safe and effective across a broad range of multidisciplinary healthcare settings. Given the burden of HCV-related disease among PWID, strategies to enhance HCV assessment and treatment in this group are urgently needed. These recommendations demonstrate that treatment among PWID is feasible and provide a framework for HCV assessment and care. Further research is needed to evaluate strategies to enhance testing, linkage to care, treatment, adherence, viral cure, and prevent HCV reinfection among PWID, particularly as new interferon-free DAA treatments for HCV infection become available.

Serum Levels of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Predict Severity of Fibrosis in Patients With E Antigen-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Noninvasive techniques are needed to assess hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. We developed a scoring system to determine the degree of fibrosis in patients with genotype B or genotype C hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and positive for the hepatitis B e antigen.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study to identify baseline variables associated with the severity of fibrosis (METAVIR scores, F0-F4) in a large phase 3 clinical trial of predominantly Asian patients (n = 710), using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Significant variables were used to construct predictive models using optimal cut-off values. The final model was validated in similar patients from a large phase 4 clinical trial (n = 465).

RESULTS

We developed 2 prediction scoring systems (PSs). PS1 analyzed data on HBV genotype (B vs. C), patient age (<30 vs. ≥30 y), level of hepatitis B surface antigen (≤17,500 vs. >17,500 IU/mL), and level of alanine aminotransferase (≤3-fold vs. >3-fold the upper limit of normal). PS2 analyzed data on only age and level of hepatitis B surface antigen. PS1 identified patients with F0 to F1 vs. F2 to F4 fibrosis with more than 87% specificity and a positive predictive value greater than 75; it identified patients with F0 to F2 vs. F2 to F4 fibrosis with approximately 95% specificity and a positive predictive value (PPV) of approximately 97%. PS2 identified patients with F0 to F1 fibrosis with less accuracy than PS1, but identified patients with F0 to F2 fibrosis with an almost identical level of sensitivity and PPV.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a simple scoring system to determine the severity of fibrosis in patients with genotypes B or C HBV infection who are hepatitis B e antigen positive. Our system differentiated patients with no or mild fibrosis (F0-F1) from those with marked or severe (F2-F4) fibrosis with a high PPV. The high level of specificity for the identification of nonsevere fibrosis (F0-F2) limits the risk of overlooking patients with severe fibrosis (F3-F4).

The promise of metabolic phenotyping in gastroenterology and hepatology

Disease risk and treatment response are determined, at the individual level, by a complex history of genetic and environmental interactions, including those with our endogenous microbiomes. Personalized health care requires a deep understanding of patient biology that can now be measured using a range of '-omics' technologies. Patient stratification involves the identification of genetic and/or phenotypic disease subclasses that require different therapeutic strategies. Stratified medicine approaches to disease diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic response monitoring herald a new dimension in patient care. Here, we explore the potential value of metabolic profiling as applied to unmet clinical needs in gastroenterology and hepatology. We describe potential applications in a number of diseases, with emphasis on large-scale population studies as well as metabolic profiling on the individual level, using spectrometric and imaging technologies that will leverage the discovery of mechanistic information and deliver novel health care solutions to improve clinical pathway management.

Value of reelin for assessing hepatic fibrogenesis in a group of Egyptian HCV infected patients

BACKGROUND

Development of non-invasive markers that can predict the stages of hepatic fibrosis without resorting to repeated liver biopsies is still an important goal to evaluate the effectiveness of antifibrotic treatment. The present work investigates the value of the assessment of peripheral circulating reelin, in which the liver represents its prime source, as a marker for monitoring hepatic fibrogenesis.

METHODS

Seventy-four cases with chronic hepatitis positive for serum HCV RNA and 15 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Assessment of reelin in the harvested serum and in 64 corresponding liver biopsies using immunofluorescence technique was done. The results were evaluated in relation to the stages and quantitative morphometric analysis of hepatic fibrosis as well as the serum levels of the validated biomarker hyaluronic acid.

RESULTS

Significant correlation was detected between the levels of serum reelin and the semiquantitative assessment of reelin immunoreactivity in liver tissue, the stages of hepatic fibrosis, the morphometrically determined collagen and serum hyaluronic acid with a correlation coefficient of 0.675, 0.623, 0.479, 0.772, respectively with p<0.001. The sensitivity and the specificity of reelin for the determination of advanced (F2+F3) and significant fibrosis (F2-F4) were nearly comparable to the result of hyaluronic acid. In addition the area under curve (AUC) were 0.859, 0.871 for the reelin versus 0.878, and 0.891 for the hyaluronic acid.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion serum reelin may be considered an additional useful parameter for monitoring the progression of hepatic fibrosis in HCV-infected patients specially in those with active rheumatological conditions which result in an increase in serum hyaluronic acid.

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor levels are associated with severity of fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The identification of individuals with severe liver fibrosis among patients with chronic liver disease is of major importance when evaluating prognosis, potential risk for complications, and when deciding treatment strategies. Although percutaneous liver biopsy is still considered a "gold standard" for staging of liver fibrosis, attempts to find reliable noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis are frequent. Inflammation is essential for the progression of fibrosis. The urokinase plasminogen activator and its receptor have been associated with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in mice. High serum concentrations of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) are suggested to be involved in inflammation, tissue remodeling, and cancer metastasis. Here, we evaluated serum suPAR as a noninvasive test to detect liver fibrosis in 82 well-characterized patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and in 38 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at the time of their first liver biopsy. suPAR levels were increased in chronic liver disease compared with blood donors (P < 0.001). Patients with HCV had higher suPAR concentrations than patients with NAFLD (P < 0.002). suPAR levels were associated with the severity of fibrosis, particularly in NAFLD, but did not correlate with inflammation. Regarding the performance in predicting severity of fibrosis, suPAR was essentially as good as other commonly used noninvasive fibrosis scoring systems. The results in HCV confirm previous observations. However, this is the first study to investigate suPAR as a biomarker in NAFLD, and the results indicate that suPAR may constitute a severity marker related to fibrosis and prognosis rather than reflecting inflammation.

Measurements of serum procollagen-III peptide and M30 do not improve the diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography for the detection of hepatic fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Transient elastography (TE) has recently emerged as an accurate noninvasive imaging method for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here, we tested whether adding serum measures of serum procollagen-III peptide (PIIIP) and caspase-cleaved cytokeratin 18 fragment (M30) to TE could improve its diagnostic accuracy in patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

TE was performed in 87 patients with NAFLD. Serum PIIIP and M30 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Liver histology was considered the gold standard. The diagnostic accuracies were assessed by measuring the area under the receiver operating curve.

RESULTS

At histopathological examination, 34 patients (39.1%) had significant fibrosis (F2-F4) and 19 patients (21.8%) had advanced fibrosis (F3-F4). Both TE and serum M30 levels were independent predictors of fibrosis, whereas no association was found with PIIIP. No significant differences in terms of sensitivity and specificity for both significant and advanced fibrosis were evident for TE, serum M30, or their combination. Moreover, the area under the receiver operating curves of serum M30 combined with TE did not differ significantly from those of either test alone.

CONCLUSION

Both TE and serum M30 levels are accurate for the noninvasive diagnosis of fibrosis in NAFLD. However, their combination did not improve the overall diagnostic accuracy.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes: common pathophysiologic mechanisms

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an independent risk factor for advanced liver disease, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of NAFLD in the general population is around 30 %, but it is up to three times higher in those with T2DM. Among people with obesity and T2DM, the NAFLD epidemic also is worsening. Therefore, it is important to identify early metabolic alterations and to prevent these diseases and their progression. In this review, we analyze the pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to NAFLD, particularly, those common to T2DM, such as liver and muscle insulin resistance. However, it is mainly adipose tissue insulin resistance that results in increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis, inflammation, and lipotoxicity. Although genetics predispose to NAFLD, an unhealthy lifestyle, including high-fat/high-sugar diets and low physical activity, increases the risk. In addition, alterations in gut microbiota and environmental chemical agents, acting as endocrine disruptors, may play a role.

Composite prognostic models across the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease spectrum: Clinical application in developing countries

Heterogeneity in clinical presentation, histological severity, prognosis and therapeutic outcomes characteristic of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) necessitates the development of scientifically sound classification schemes to assist clinicians in stratifying patients into meaningful prognostic subgroups. The need for replacement of invasive liver biopsies as the standard method whereby NAFLD is diagnosed, graded and staged with biomarkers of histological severity injury led to the development of composite prognostic models as potentially viable surrogate alternatives. In the present article, we review existing scoring systems used to (1) confirm the presence of undiagnosed hepatosteatosis; (2) distinguish between simple steatosis and NASH; and (3) predict advanced hepatic fibrosis, with particular emphasis on the role of NAFLD as an independent cardio-metabolic risk factor. In addition, the incorporation of functional genomic markers and application of emerging imaging technologies are discussed as a means to improve the diagnostic accuracy and predictive performance of promising composite models found to be most appropriate for widespread clinical adoption.

Value of Egy-Score in diagnosis of significant, advanced hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis compared to aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, FIB-4 and Forns' index in chronic hepatitis C virus

AIM

Serum markers and developed scores are of rising importance in non-invasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. Aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB-4 and Forns' index are validated scores used for diagnosis of liver fibrosis. The Egy-Score is a newly developed score for detection of hepatic fibrosis with promising results. We aimed to assess the accuracy of the Egy-Score in the diagnosis of significant fibrosis, advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis compared to APRI, FIB-4 and Forns' in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study including 100 chronic hepatitis C naïve Egyptian patients was performed. Patients were classified according to stages of fibrosis into three groups: significant fibrosis (≥ F2), advanced fibrosis (≥ F3) and cirrhosis (F4). Egy-Score, APRI, FIB-4 and Forns' index were calculated. Regression analysis and receiver-operator curves were plotted to assess the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for the significant scores with the best cut-off for diagnosis.

RESULTS

An Egy-Score of 3.28 or more was superior to APRI, FIB-4 and Forns' index for detecting advanced fibrosis with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 78%. An Egy-Score of 3.67 or more was superior to APRI, FIB-4 and Forns' index for detecting cirrhosis with a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 87%. Forns' index was superior to Egy-Score, FIB-4 and APRI for detecting significant fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

The Egy-Score is a promising, accurate, easily calculated, cost-effective score in the prediction of hepatic fibrosis in chronic HCV patients with superiority over APRI, FIB-4 and Forns' index in advanced hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Turnover rates of hepatic collagen and circulating collagen-associated proteins in humans with chronic liver disease

Accumulation and degradation of scar tissue in fibrotic liver disease occur slowly, typically over many years. Direct measurement of fibrogenesis, the rate of scar tissue deposition, may provide valuable therapeutic and prognostic information. We describe here results from a pilot study utilizing in vivo metabolic labeling to measure the turnover rate of hepatic collagen and collagen-associated proteins in plasma for the first time in human subjects. Eight subjects with chronic liver disease were labeled with daily oral doses of ²H₂O for up to 8 weeks prior to diagnostic liver biopsy and plasma collection. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the abundance and fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of proteins in liver and blood. Relative protein abundance and FSR data in liver revealed marked differences among subjects. FSRs of hepatic type I and III collagen ranged from 0.2–0.6% per day (half-lives of 4 months to a year) and correlated significantly with worsening histologic fibrosis. Analysis of plasma protein turnover revealed two collagen-associated proteins, lumican and transforming growth factor beta-induced-protein (TGFBI), exhibiting FSRs that correlated significantly with FSRs of hepatic collagen. In summary, this is the first direct measurement of liver collagen turnover in vivo in humans and suggests a high rate of collagen remodeling in advanced fibrosis. In addition, the FSRs of collagen-associated proteins in plasma are measurable and may provide a novel strategy for monitoring hepatic fibrogenesis rates.

Results of extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary connection in 500 patients

OBJECTIVES

This single-institution study aimed to evaluate the early to mid-term outcomes of extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary connection (EC-TCPC).

METHODS

Between March 1994 and March 2014, 500 patients (median age, 3.4 years) underwent EC-TCPC at our hospital. One hundred and twenty-three patients (24.6%) showed heterotaxy, and fenestration was created in 6 patients (1.2%). The standard institutional treatment policy included postoperative anticoagulation and individualized cardiovascular medication. The mortality and morbidity rates, haemodynamic status, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and liver examination results during the follow-up period (median, 6.7 years) were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

There were 2 early and 17 late deaths. The Kaplan-Meier estimated survival rate was 96.2% at 10 years and 92.8% at 15 years. Bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia occurred in 19 and 13 patients, respectively. Other late-occurring morbidities included protein-losing enteropathy in 8, thromboembolism in 5, bleeding complications in 6 and liver cirrhosis in 1 patient. The rate of freedom from late-occurring morbidities was 82.1% at 15 years. In the multivariate analysis, heterotaxy was found to be a predictor for mortality (P = 0.02), whereas age at operation was a predictor for new-onset arrhythmias (P = 0.048). In the cardiopulmonary exercise test (n = 312), the peak VO2 was 84.9 ± 17.3% of the predicted value, which tended to decrease with age (R(2) = 0.32) and elapsed time since operation (R(2) = 0.21). Postoperative cardiac catheterization (n = 468; time from surgery, 3.6 ± 4.3 years) showed central venous pressure of 9.9 ± 2.4 mmHg, ventricular end-diastolic pressure of 5.2 ± 3.3 mmHg, cardiac index of 3.4 ± 0.8 l/min/m(2) and arterial oxygen saturation of 94.2 ± 4.8%. In 101 patients who were followed up for ≥10 years, amino-terminal type III procollagen peptide and collagen type IV levels exceeded the normal ranges in 52.9 and 75.2% of patients, respectively, and liver ultrasonography revealed hyper-echoic spots in 43.3% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The early to mid-term outcomes of post-EC-TCPC patients managed with individualized pharmacotherapy were excellent, with low mortality and morbidity rates; however, development of late-occurring morbidities specific to Fontan physiology, including exercise intolerance and liver disease, must be carefully monitored during the long-term follow-up.

Liver stiffness-based model for prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B virus infection: comparison with histological fibrosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Liver stiffness (LS) value using transient elastography is a reliable, non-invasive tool for assessing liver fibrosis. LS-based prediction model, LSPS (=LS value × spleen diameter/platelet count) is well correlated with the risk of developing portal hypertension-related cirrhotic complications. Here, we assessed the prognostic performance of LSPS in predicting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS

Between 2006 and 2010, we recruited 227 patients with CHB who underwent liver biopsy and LS measurement. The major end point was HCC development.

RESULTS

Median age was 45 years and 156 (68.7%) patients were male. During the follow-up period (median, 61 months), HCC developed in 18 patients. Patient with HCC had a higher LS value, a longer spleen, and lower platelet counts (all P < 0.05) than those without HCC. On multivariate analysis, LSPS was identified as an independent predictor of HCC development [hazard ratio (HR) 1.541, P < 0.001] after adjusting for age, serum albumin level and histological fibrosis stage. When patients were stratified into three groups (LSPS <1.1, 1.1-2.5 and >2.5), the 5-year cumulative risk of HCC increased significantly in association with a higher LSPS value (4.0, 13.8, 36.2%, respectively, P < 0.001). Patients with LSPS 1.1-2.5 (HR 2.0, P = 0.032) and LSPS > 2.5 (HR 8.7, P = 0.002) had a higher risk of developing HCC than those with LSPS < 1.1.

CONCLUSIONS

LS value-spleen diameter to platelet ratio score is useful for assessing the risk of HCC development and careful surveillance strategies are required in an individual manner.