Systematic review: The model for end-stage liver disease--should it replace Child-Pugh's classification for assessing prognosis in cirrhosis?

Kidneys in chronic liver diseases

Acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as an abrupt increase in the serum creatinine level by at least 0.3 mg/dL, occurs in about 20% of patients hospitalized for decompensating liver cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis are susceptible to developing AKI because of the progressive vasodilatory state, reduced effective blood volume and stimulation of vasoconstrictor hormones. The most common causes of AKI in cirrhosis are pre-renal azotemia, hepatorenal syndrome and acute tubular necrosis. Differential diagnosis is based on analysis of circumstances of AKI development, natriuresis, urine osmolality, response to withdrawal of diuretics and volume repletion, and rarely on renal biopsy. Chronic glomerulonephritis and obstructive uropathy are rare causes of azotemia in cirrhotic patients. AKI is one of the last events in the natural history of chronic liver disease, therefore, such patients should have an expedited referral for liver transplantation. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is initiated by progressive portal hypertension, and may be prematurely triggered by bacterial infections, nonbacterial systemic inflammatory reactions, excessive diuresis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, diarrhea or nephrotoxic agents. Each type of renal disease has a specific treatment approach ranging from repletion of the vascular system to renal replacement therapy. The treatment of choice in type 1 hepatorenal syndrome is a combination of vasoconstrictor with albumin infusion, which is effective in about 50% of patients. The second-line treatment of HRS involves a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, renal vasoprotection or systems of artificial liver support.

Interleukin-10 genotype correlated to deficiency syndrome in hepatitis B cirrhosis

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome is an important basis for TCM diagnosis and treatment. As Child-Pugh classification as well as compensation and decompensation phase in liver cirrhosis, it is also an underlying clinical classification. In this paper, we investigated the correlation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and TCM syndromes in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis (HBC). Samples were obtained from 343 HBC patients in China. Three SNPs of IL-10 (-592A/C, -819C/T, and -1082A/G) were detected with polymerase chain-reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR). The result showed the SNP-819C/T was significantly correlated with Deficiency syndrome (P = 0.031), but none of the 3 loci showed correlation either with Child-Pugh classification and phase in HBC patients. The logistic regression analysis showed that the Excess syndrome was associated with dizzy and spider nevus, and the Deficiency syndrome was associated with dry eyes, aversion to cold, IL-10-819C/T loci, and IL-10-1082A/G loci. The odds ratio (OR) value at IL-10-819C/T was 4.022. The research results suggested that IL-10-819C/T locus (TC plus CC genotype) is probably a risk factor in the occurrence of Deficiency syndrome in HBC patients.

Different models in predicting the short-term prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Effective assessing the prognosis of patients with end-stage liver disease is always challenging. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of different models in predicting short-term prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated survival of a cohort of patients with at least 3-month follow up. The receiver-operating-characteristic curves (ROC) were drawn for Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) classification, King's College Hospital (KCH) criteria, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), MELD combined with serum sodium (Na) concentration (MELDNa), integrated MELD (iMELD) and logistic regression model (LRM).

RESULTS

Of the 273 eligible patients, 152 patients (55.7%) died within 3-month follow up. In cirrhotic patients (n = 101), the AUCs of LRM (0.851), MELDNa (0.849), iMELD (0.845) and MELD (0.840) were all significantly higher than those of KCH criteria (0.642) and CTP (0.625) (all p < 0.05), while the differences among LRM, MELD, MELDNa and iMELD were not significant, and the most predictive cutoff value was 0.5176 for LRM, 30 for MELDNa, 47.87 for iMELD and 29 for MELD, respectively. In non-cirrhotic patients (n = 172), the AUC of LRM (0.897) was significantly higher than that of MELDNa (0.776), iMELD (0.768), MELD (0.758), KCH criteria (0.647) and CTP (0.629), respectively (all p < 0.05), and the most predictive cutoff value for LRM was -0.3264.

CONCLUSIONS

LRM, MELD, MELDNa and iMELD are with similar accuracy in predicting the shortterm prognosis of HBV-ACLF patients with liver cirrhosis, while LRM is superior to MELD, MELDNa and iMELD in predicting the short-term prognosis of HBV-ACLF patients without liver cirrhosis.

Child-Turcotte score versus MELD for prognosis in a randomized controlled trial of emergency treatment of bleeding esophageal varices in cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Bleeding esophageal varices is responsible for much of the high mortality rate in cirrhosis. An important objective of management of bleeding varices is to develop reliable tools for predicting survival, controlling bleeding and encephalopathy, and improve quality of life. This study compared two widely used prognostic tools, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and the Child-Turcotte (C-T) score, in a randomized controlled trial of emergency treatment of bleeding varices.

METHODS

We randomized 211 unselected consecutive patients with cirrhosis and bleeding varices to endoscopic sclerotherapy (n = 106) or emergency portacaval shunt (n = 105). Diagnosis and treatment were accomplished within 20 hours. Follow-up was 100% for 10 y. We compared the prognostic powers of MELD and C-T upon entry, and then monthly for the first year and every 3 months thereafter. Statistical analysis included computation of receiver operating curves, the area under the curve, and the proportion of variability.

RESULTS

In baseline determinations of MELD versus C-T, there were no significant differences in predicting survival, recurrent encephalopathy, and rebleeding. The Child-Turcotte score was a stronger predictor than MELD of hospital readmissions and readmission days. In serial determinations over years, the prognostic power of both MELD and C-T was substantial, but C-T was significantly more effective in predicting survival and time to recurrent encephalopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

In this first long-term comparison of MELD versus C-T in cirrhosis with bleeding varices, C-T was consistently as effective as MELD in predicting survival, encephalopathy, rebleeding, hospital readmissions, and readmission days. In some measures, C-T was a more effective prognostic tool than MELD.

A comparison of the reproducibility of the parameters of the ¹³C-aminopyrine breath test for the assessment of hepatic function

This study determined the within-subject and between-subject variability of different ways of expressing the results of the (13)C-aminopyrine breath test ((13)C-ABT) and the effect of shortening the test duration. The (13)C-ABT was conducted on three separate occasions in 10 healthy volunteers and on a single occasion in 22 patients with established liver cirrhosis. The within-subject variability of cumulative percentage dose recovered (cPDR), using measured CO(2) production rate (VCO(2)), in the reference group over three trials was 15% over 120 min. Higher within-subject variability in cPDR would have been evident if the test was terminated at either 30 or 60 min. Substitution of predicted VCO(2) to calculate cPDR yielded comparable values at all time points. Significant differences between cirrhotics and reference group were evident after just 10 min using PDR/h, cPDR or enrichment (all P<0.05). The ABT demonstrates clinically acceptable reproducibility. Shortening of the duration may make the test more acceptable clinically, but it is associated with increasing imprecision.

Preditores de injúria renal aguda em pacientes submetidos ao transplante ortotópico de fígado convencional sem desvio venovenoso

RADICAL: Injúria renal aguda é uma das complicações mais comuns do transplante ortotópico de fígado. A ausência de critério universal para sua definição nestas condições dificulta as comparações entre os estudos. A técnica convencional para o transplante consiste na excisão total da veia cava inferior retro-hepática durante a hepatectomia nativa. Controvérsias sobre o efeito da técnica convencional sem desvio venovenoso na função renal continuam. OBJETIVO: Estimar a incidência e os fatores de risco de injúria renal aguda entre os receptores de transplante ortotópico de fígado convencional sem desvio venovenoso. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 375 pacientes submetidos a transplante ortotópico de fígado. Foram analisadas as variáveis pré, intra e pós-operatórias em 153 pacientes submetidos a transplante ortotópico de fígado convencional sem desvio venovenoso. O critério para a injúria renal aguda foi valor da creatinina sérica > 1,5 mg/dl ou débito urinário < 500 ml/24h dentro dos primeiros três dias pós-transplante. Foi realizada análise univariada e multivariada por regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Todos os transplantes foram realizados com enxerto de doador falecido. Sessenta pacientes (39,2%) apresentaram injúria renal aguda. Idade, índice de massa corpórea, escore de Child-Turcotte-Pugh, ureia, hipertensão arterial sistêmica e creatinina sérica pré-operatória apresentaram maiores valores no grupo injúria renal aguda. Durante o período intraoperatório, o grupo injúria renal aguda apresentou mais síndrome de reperfusão, transfusão de concentrado de hemácias, plasma fresco e plaquetas. No pós-operatório, o tempo de permanência em ventilação mecânica e creatinina pós-operatória também foram variáveis, com diferenças significativas para o grupo injúria renal aguda. Após regressão logística, a síndrome de reperfusão, a classe C do Child-Turcotte-Pugh e a creatinina sérica pós-operatória apresentaram diferenças. CONCLUSÃO: Injúria renal aguda após transplante ortotópico de fígado convencional sem desvio venovenoso é uma desordem comum, mas apresenta bom prognóstico. Síndrome de reperfusão, creatinina sérica no pós-operatório e Child C são fatores associados a injúria renal aguda pós-transplante ortotópico de fígado convencional sem desvio venovenoso.

Prioritization for liver transplantation

There are three possible policies for prioritization for liver transplantation: medical urgency, utility and transplant benefit. The first is based on the severity of cirrhosis, using Child-Turcotte-Pugh score and, more recently, the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, or variants of MELD, for allocation. Although prospectively developed and validated, the MELD score has several limitations, including interlaboratory variations for measurement of serum creatinine and international normalized ratio of prothrombin time, and a systematic adverse female gender bias. Adjustments to the original MELD equation and new scoring systems have been proposed to overcome these limitations; incorporation of serum sodium improves its predictive accuracy. The MELD score poorly predicts outcomes after liver transplantation due to the absence of donor factors incorporated into the scoring system. Several utility models are based on donor and recipient characteristics. Combined poor recipient and donor characteristics lead to very poor outcomes, which in a utility system would be considered unacceptable. Finally, transplant benefit models rank patients according to the net survival benefit that they would derive from transplantation. However, complex statistical models are required, and unmeasured characteristics may unduly affect the models. Well-designed prospective studies and simulation models are necessary to establish the optimal allocation system in liver transplantation.

A fourth dimension in decision making in hepatology

Today, the assessment of liver function in patients suffering from acute or chronic liver disease is based on liver biopsy and blood tests including synthetic function, liver enzymes and viral load, most of which provide only circumstantial evidence as to the degree of hepatic impairment. Most of these tests lack the degree of sensitivity to be useful for follow-up of these patients at the frequency that is needed for decision making in clinical hepatology. Accurate assessment of liver function is essential to determine both short- and long-term prognosis, and for making decisions about liver and non-liver surgery, TIPS, chemoembolization or radiofrequency ablation in patients with chronic liver disease. Liver function tests can serve as the basis for accurate decision-making regarding the need for liver transplantation in the setting of acute failure or in patients with chronic liver disease. The liver metabolic breath test relies on measuring exhaled (13) C tagged methacetin, which is metabolized only by the liver. Measuring this liver-specific substrate by means of molecular correlation spectroscopy is a rapid, non-invasive method for assessing liver function at the point-of-care. The (13) C methacetin breath test (MBT) is a powerful tool to aid clinical hepatologists in bedside decision-making. Our recent findings regarding the ability of point-of-care (13) C MBT to assess the hepatic functional reserve in patients with acute and chronic liver disease are reviewed along with suggested treatment algorithms for common liver disorders.

Value of model for end-stage liver disease in assessment of the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis

AIM: To compare the prognostic value of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) grading in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS: A total of 1 790 patients with cirrhosis treated at our hospital were analyzed. These patients were allocated into two groups: survival group and death group. The MELD score and CTP classification were determined for each patient. The accuracy of MELD scoring and CTP grading in predicting the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis was assessed by comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The predictive power of MELD scoring and CTP classification was evaluated using the cut-off approach.

RESULTS: MELD and CPT scores were significantly higher in the death group than in the survival group (both P < 0.001). The mortality of patients with cirrhosis increased with the increase in their MELD and CTP scores. The area under the ROC (AUC) of MELD was significantly higher than that of CPT (0.881 vs 0.824, P < 0.01). Survival analysis showed that both MELD scoring and CTP grading could clearly discriminate patients who survived or died (both P < 0.001). MELD values showed significant correlation with CTP scores (r = 0.705, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Both MELD scoring and CTP grading can accurately predict the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis. MELD scoring is more efficient than CTP grading in predicting the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis.

Nonsurgical options for hepatocellular carcinoma: evolving role of external beam radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and thus poses a global concern. Its incidence is expected to increase in North America secondary to the increasing incidence of patients who develop hepatitis C. Patients who ultimately develop cirrhosis have an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

The authors focus on nonsurgical therapies for this disease with an exploration of how external beam radiotherapy can be used alone or with other modalities. The development of partial liver strategies secondary to an explosion in radiation treatment planning and delivery advances is reviewed. Integration of advanced technology has evolved from three-dimensional conformal treatment to intensity-modulated radiation therapy and image-guided radiation therapy, along with stereotactic body radiation therapy, tomotherapy, and proton beam therapy.

RESULTS

Current data show a promising future for treatment strategies incorporating radiation with high rates of infield tumor control and low rates of radiation-induced liver disease. Radiation can be delivered in conjunction with transarterial catheter embolization for advanced-stage patients. External beam radiotherapy also has a role in the setting of patients with macrovascular tumor thrombus.

CONCLUSIONS

Future directions include how to best synergize the effects of radiation strategies with novel agents, given the hypervascularity of HCC. Downstaging of larger lesions with these therapies to resectable or transplantable disease may lead to better outcomes for patients deemed inoperable at diagnosis, and definitive radiotherapy may offer cure to patients with smaller lesions.

How to manage medications in the setting of liver disease with the application of six questions

OBJECTIVE

Reviewing the current literature to guide clinicians managing medications in the setting of liver disease.

LITERATURE SOURCES

Using the terms liver disease, medication management, and therapeutic monitoring, a literature review was conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles in MEDLINE (1966-April 2009). Reference citations were reviewed as an additional resource. Published English-language literatures, articles and trials were reviewed. Emphasis was placed on prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.

QUESTION SYNTHESIS

An informed decision on how to manage medications in the setting of liver disease should account for changes that transpire in a medication's first-pass metabolism, protein binding, volume of distribution, clearance and pharmacodynamic interactions. To incorporate these issues within one's thought process, clinicians can utilise the following six questions to evaluate a medication use: (i) Is the patient experiencing acute or chronic liver failure? (ii) Does the drug have high hepatic first-pass metabolism? (iii) Is the medication highly protein-bound? (iv) Is there a change in the volume of distribution for the medication? (v) Is the clearance of the medication significantly altered? and (vi) Is there a pharmacodynamic interaction with the medication?

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction and use of six clinically relevant questions in the setting of liver disease can serve as a guide to clinicians who manage patients with liver disease.

Disparities in organ allocation and access to liver transplantation in the USA

Liver transplantation has become the standard of care for the treatment of chronic liver disease. In 1986, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) was formed to ensure the just and equitable allocation of donor livers. At the time, UNOS decided to use the Childs-Turcotte-Pugh scoring system to determine the degree of liver disease in potential transplant patients. Unfortunately, it was shown that the Childs-Turcotte-Pugh system was easily manipulated and did not provide equal access to donor organs. Owing to this fact, the Model of End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was instituted by UNOS in February 2002. While the institution of MELD has shown an improvement in organ allocation and outcomes, disparities still exist. This article discusses UNOS and the MELD allocation system as well as the racial, geographic and gender disparities that occur despite the institution of the MELD system.

Innate immune dysfunction in acute and chronic liver disease

Liver cirrhosis is a common disease causing great public-health concern because of the frequent complications requiring hospital care. Acute liver failure is also prone to several complications but is rare. One of the main complications for both acute and chronic liver diseases is infection, which regularly causes decompensation of cirrhosis, possibly leading to organ failure and death. This review focuses on innate immune function in cirrhosis, acute-on-chronic liver failure and acute liver failure. The known defects of Kupffer cells, neutrophils and monocytes are discussed, together with the pathophysiological importance of gut permeability, portal hypertension and intrinsic cellular defects, and the role of endotoxin, albumin, lipoproteins and toll-like receptors. Based on these different pathomechanisms, the available information on therapeutic strategies is presented. Antibiotic and probiotic treatment, nutritional support, artificial liver support, and experimental strategies such as inhibition of toll-like receptors and use of albumin and colony-stimulating factors are highlighted.

Perioperative oral nutritional supplements in normally or mildly undernourished geriatric patients submitted to surgery for hip fracture: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Oral nutritional supplements have been recommended after orthopedic surgery in geriatric patients. This has been shown to be effective even in normally nourished or mildly undernourished geriatric patients. Whether perioperative administration of these products is also effective and suitable is not known.

METHODS

Randomized, controlled, open, paralleled two-arms clinical trial, comparing energy-protein supplements (40 g of protein and 400 kcal per day), with no intervention in normally nourished or mildly undernourished patients. Outcomes were serum proteins, body mass index, postoperative complications among others.

RESULTS

60 Elderly patients were included. Patients in the intervention group (n = 30) ingested 52.2 ± 12.1% of the prescribed supplements per day for 5.8 ± 1.8 days before surgery and until hospital discharge. There was a significant change in serum albumin at follow-up (F = 22.536, P < 0.001), and between the two groups (F = 5.763, P = 0.002), favouring the intervention. The same was observed for serum prealbumin (F = 6.654, P = 0.001 within subjects, F = 2.865, P = 0.045 for interaction). Logistic regression showed that only supplemented proteins per day (OR[95%CI] = 0.925[0.869-0.985]) were associated with less postoperative complications (R(2) = 0.323, χ(2) = 11.541, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Perioperative supplements in geriatric patients with hip fracture submitted to surgery showed better recovery of plasma proteins. Higher daily protein intakes were associated with less postoperative complications.

Predictive factors for rebleeding and death in alcoholic cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding: a multivariate analysis

BACKGROUND

Bleeding from esophageal varices is a leading cause of death in alcoholic cirrhotic patients. The aim of the present single-center study was to identify risk factors predictive of variceal rebleeding and death within 6 weeks of initial treatment.

METHODS

Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on 310 prospectively documented alcoholic cirrhotic patients with acute variceal hemorrhage (AVH) who underwent 786 endoscopic variceal injection treatments between January 1984 and December 2006. All injections were administered during the first 6 weeks after the patients were treated for their first variceal bleed.

RESULTS

Seventy-five (24.2%) patients experienced a rebleed, 38 within 5 days of the initial treatment and 37 within 6 weeks of their initial treatment. Of the 15 variables studied and included in a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model, a bilirubin level >51 mmol/l and transfusion of >6 units of blood during the initial hospital admission were predictors of variceal rebleeding within the first 6 weeks. Seventy-seven (24.8%) patients died, 29 (9.3%) within 5 days and 48 (15.4%) between 6 and 42 days after the initial treatment. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that six variables were predictors of death within the first 6 weeks: encephalopathy, ascites, bilirubin level >51 mmol/l, international normalized ratio (INR) >2.3, albumin <25 g/l, and the need for balloon tube tamponade.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival was influenced by the severity of liver failure, with most deaths occurring in Child-Pugh grade C patients. Patients with AVH and encephalopathy, ascites, bilirubin levels >51 mmol/l, INR >2.3, albumin <25 g/l and who require balloon tube tamponade are at increased risk of dying within the first 6 weeks. Bilirubin levels >51 mmol/l and transfusion of >6 units of blood were predictors of variceal rebleeding.

The model for the end-stage liver disease and Child-Pugh score in predicting prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis and esophageal variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND/AIM

Esophageal variceal bleeding is one of the most frequent and gravest complications of liver cirrhosis, directly life-threatening. By monitoring certain clinical and laboratory hepatocellular insufficiency parameters (Child-Pugh score), it is possible to determine prognosis in patients who are bleeding and evaluate further therapy. Recently, the Model for the End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) has been proposed as a tool to predict mortality risk in cirrhotic patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate survival prognosis of cirrhotic patients by the MELD and Child-Pugh scores and to analyze the MELD score prognostic value in patients with both liver cirrhosis and variceal bleeding.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the survival rate of a group of 100 cirrhotic patients of a median age of 57 years. The Child-Pugh score was calculated and the MELD score was computed according to the original formula for each patient. We also analysed clinical and laboratory hepatocellular insufficiency parameters in order to examine their connection with a 15-month survival. The MELD values were correlated with the Child-Pugh scores. The Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients died within 15-months followup. Age and gender did not affect survival rate. The Child-Pugh and MELD scores, as well as ascites and encephalopathy significantly differed between the patients who survived and those who died (p < 0.0001). The International Normalized Ratio (INR) values, serum creatinine and bilirubin were significantly higher, and albumin significantly lower in the patients who died (p < 0.0001). The MELD score was significantly higher in the group of patients who died due to esophageal variceal bleeding (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

In cirrhotic patients the MELD score is an excellent survival predictor at least as well as the Child-Pugh score. Increase in the MELD score is associated with decrease in residual liver function. In the group of patients with liver cirrhosis and esophageal variceal bleeding, the MELD score identifies those with a higher intrahospital mortality risk.

Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time assay considerations

Prothrombin times and activated partial thromboplastin times have long been used as tests of overall ("global") clotting function. Laboratory coagulation testing issues should be at the forefront of the reader's consciousness whenever critically evaluating and extrapolating published study conclusions reliant on the results of these tests. Thus, this article reviews laboratory issues and known variables influencing prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time results and international normalized ratio determinations.

Allocation priority in non-urgent liver transplantation: An overview of proposed scoring systems

Given the lack of donors, a correct organ allocation system for candidates to liver transplantation is essential to increase graft and patient survival. The most used organ allocation tools are Child-Turcotte-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease. It is generally accepted that model for end-stage liver disease score is superior to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification in predicting the short-term survival of cirrhotic patients awaiting liver transplantation. Since 2002, model for end-stage liver disease is widely used for liver allocation. In recent years, to overcome limitations of the consolidated scores, some adjustments to the original model for end-stage liver disease formula and new scoring systems have been proposed. Published data suggest that integrating serum sodium and model for end-stage liver disease may improve the score prognostic accuracy but further studies are necessary to confirm this issue. The updated model for end-stage liver disease, obtained through a revision of traditional model for end-stage liver disease parameters and tested in a large cohort of patients, is of great interest at the moment. In conclusion, several scoring systems have been described for organ allocation, but today, none is definitely able to overcome the limitations of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease systems.

Incisional hernia as an unusual cause of hepatic encephalopathy in a 62-year-old man with cirrhosis: a case report

Introduction

Hepatic encephalopathy may be initiated by many factors such as gastrointestinal bleeding, infections, fluid and electrolyte disturbances. Hypokalemia is one of the most commonly encountered electrolyte abnormalities causing hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 62-year-old Caucasian man with decompensated liver cirrhosis having multiple episodes of hepatic encephalopathy precipitated by vomiting. He had an incisional hernia at the right lumbar region. A barium contrast study of the small intestine and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the hernial sac included gastric antrum and bowel. We observed that hepatic encephalopathy coincided with hypokalemia as a result of a large volume of vomiting triggered by the collapsed hernial sac. Hepatic encephalopathy was resolved by administration of intravenous potassium.

Conclusion

This case illustrates that a hernia causing a large volume of vomiting may be a precipitant factor in the development of hepatic encephalopathy.

Liver transplantation: from Child to MELD

The widespread availability of transplantation in most major medical centers in the United States, together with a growing number of transplant candidates, has made it necessary for primary care providers, especially internal medicine and family practice physicians to be active in the clinical care of these patients before and after transplantation. This review provides an overview of the liver transplantation process, including indications, contraindications, time of referral to a transplant center, the current organ allocation system, and briefly touches on the expanding field of living donor liver transplantation.

Application of a biochemical and clinical model to predict individual survival in patients with end-stage liver disease

AIM: To investigate the capability of a biochemical and clinical model, BioCliM, in predicting the survival of cirrhotic patients.

METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the survival of 172 cirrhotic patients. The model was constructed using clinical (ascites, encephalopathy and variceal bleeding) and biochemical (serum creatinine and serum total bilirubin) variables that were selected from a Cox proportional hazards model. It was applied to estimate 12-, 52- and 104-wk survival. The model’s calibration using the Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic was computed at 104 wk in a validation dataset. Finally, the model’s validity was tested among an independent set of 85 patients who were stratified into 2 risk groups (low risk ≤ 8 and high risk > 8).

RESULTS: In the validation cohort, all measures of fit, discrimination and calibration were improved when the biochemical and clinical model was used. The proposed model had better predictive values (c-statistic: 0.90, 0.91, 0.91) than the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) and Child-Pugh (CP) scores for 12-, 52- and 104-wk mortality, respectively. In addition, the Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) statistic revealed that the biochemical and clinical model (H-L, 4.69) is better calibrated than MELD (H-L, 17.06) and CP (H-L, 14.23). There were no significant differences between the observed and expected survival curves in the stratified risk groups (low risk, P = 0.61; high risk, P = 0.77).

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the proposed model is able to accurately predict survival in cirrhotic patients.

Management of Cirrhosis and Associated Complications

Liver cirrhosis is the encapsulation or replacement of injured tissue by collagen, resulting in end-stage liver disease and portal hypertension. The consequences of cirrhosis are impaired hepatocyte function, increase intrahepatic circulatory resistance, portal hypertension, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Complications include encephalopathy, coagulopathy, varices, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, epatorenal syndrome, and hepatopulmonary syndrome. Managing patients with acute or chronic liver failure is challenging, and liver failure may have profound effects on other organ systems. Most therapies are directed at managing the complications and bridging patients to liver transplantation. The clinician must be aware of the pathologic presentations and the appropriate management, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies, goals and end points of therapy, and monitoring of therapy. This review focuses on the management of the complications directly associated with liver dysfunction (encephalopathy and coagulopathy) and portal hypertension (varices, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome).

Evaluation of model for end stage liver disease (MELD)-based systems as prognostic index for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The Cancer of Liver Italian Program (CLIP) and Japan Integrated Scoring System (JIS) used the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score to evaluate the liver function.

AIM

We aimed to evaluate the performance of Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) based CLIP and JIS to predict the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Consecutive patients with HCC who presented to our Hepatoma Clinic from January 2003 to April 2005 were studied. MELD-based CLIP and JIS were generated by replacing the original CTP score with MELD score at three categories (<10, 10-14 and >14).

RESULTS

Among 471 HCC patients (85.1% males; aged 58.8 +/- 12.2 years), 73% had chronic hepatitis B, 37.4% had >1 nodule, 84.1% had tumor size >2 cm, 55.0% had Child's B cirrhosis, 12.7% underwent tumor resection and 20.6% received locoregional therapy. The cumulative survival at 3 and 6 months were 67% and 55%, respectively. For 3-month survival, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of MELD-CLIP (0.69) and MELD-JIS (0.69) were superior to the original systems (0.64, P = 0.004 and 0.64, P = 0.0018, respectively). For 6-month survival, AUC of MELD-CLIP (0.64) and MELD-JIS (0.62) were also superior to the original systems (0.54, P = 0.003 and 0.59, P = 0.002, respectively). The MELD-based systems performed best among patients who received locoregional therapy to HCC. Advanced cirrhosis (hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, ascites, coagulopathy and elevated creatinine), and cancer (portal vein thrombosis, elevated alpha-fetoprotein, large and multiple tumors) were associated with higher mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

MELD-based systems performed better than Child-Pugh based systems as prognostic indexes for HCC.

Predictors of early rebleeding and mortality after acute variceal hemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis

Despite improvements over the past 20 years in patient survival following episodes of acute variceal hemorrhage (AVH) secondary to cirrhosis, AVH is still associated with a high rate of mortality. The ability to predict which patients are at high risk of death, or which are not likely to respond to standard therapy at admission to hospital is important, as it enables the immediate initiation of vasoactive drugs, early endoscopic intervention and prophylactic antibiotics. This commentary discusses a study that attempts to predict early rebleeding and mortality after AVH in patients with cirrhosis using the Model for End-stage Liver Disease. In this study, the model was a significant predictor of mortality; however, several defects in the study's design limit the conclusions that can be drawn from it. The model described in this study is neither more useful, nor more accurate, than those previously published for the prediction of rebleeding and mortality in patients with AVH.

Antiarrhythmics: elimination and dosage considerations in hepatic impairment

Many drugs, including most antiarrhythmics (some of which are now of limited clinical use) are eliminated by the hepatic route. If liver function is impaired, it can be anticipated that hepatic clearance will be delayed, which can lead to more pronounced drug accumulation with multiple dosing. Consequently, the potential risks of adverse events could be increased, especially as antiarrhythmics have a narrow therapeutic index. The present review summarises the available pharmacokinetic data on the most popular antiarrhythmic drugs to identify the enzymes involved in the metabolism of the various agents and confirm whether liver disease affects their elimination. Despite long usage of some of these drugs (e.g. amiodarone, diltiazem, disopyramide, procainamide and quinidine), surprisingly few data are available in patients with liver disease, making it difficult to give recommendations for dosage adjustment. In contrast, for carvedilol, lidocaine (lignocaine), propafenone and verapamil, sufficient clinical studies have been performed. For these drugs, a marked decrease in systemic and/or oral clearance and significant prolongation of the elimination half-life have been documented, which should be counteracted by a 2- to 3-fold reduction of the dosage in patients with moderate to severe liver cirrhosis. For sotalol, disopyramide and procainamide, renal clearance contributes considerably to overall elimination, suggesting that dosage reductions are probably unnecessary in patients with liver disease as long as renal function is normal. The hepatically eliminated antiarrhythmics are metabolised mainly by different cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes (e.g. CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6) and partly also by conjugations. As the extent of impairment in clearance is in the same range for all of these agents, it could be assumed that they have a common vulnerability and that, consequently, hepatic dysfunction will affect CYP-mediated phase I pathways in a similar fashion. The severity of liver disease has been estimated clinically by the validated Pugh score, and functionally by calculation of the clearance of probe drugs (e.g. antipyrine). Both approaches can be helpful in estimating/predicting impairments in drug metabolism, including antiarrhythmics. In conclusion, hepatic impairment decreases the elimination of many antiarrhythmics to such an extent that dosage reductions are highly recommended in such populations, especially in patients with cirrhosis.

Helicobacter pylori infection in hepatic encephalopathy: Relationship to plasma endotoxins and blood ammonia

BACKGROUND/AIM

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is frequently observed in patients with advanced liver disease and manifests a wide variety of neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms. Ammonia toxicity and bacterial endotoxins have been suggested as key determinants of HE onset whereas a role for Helicobacter pylori infection has not been established. We investigated the correlation between H. pylori infection and HE severity (evaluated through functional tests) in 60 outpatients with established liver cirrhosis and 20 non-cirrhotic controls.

METHODS

Fasting arterial blood ammonia, plasma endotoxins, and H. pylori infection status were investigated in all subjects.

RESULTS

H. pylori infection was documented in 35/60 (58%) patients and in 6/20 (30%) controls (P = 0.039). Significant differences were observed between patients with and withoutHE for age, presence of ascites, fasting arterial blood ammonia, plasma endotoxin, and H. pylori infection. Further, a significant increase in fasting arterial blood ammonia and plasma endotoxin was associated with H. pylori infection in cirrhotic patients. Last, medical treatment of H. pylori infection led to a significant decrease in HE severity and fasting arterial blood ammonia levels.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we submit that H. pylori infection might, in fact, play a role in increasing the circulating levels of ammonia and endotoxins in cirrhotic patients, thus facilitating the onset of HE.

Review article: the assessment of liver function using breath tests

BACKGROUND

Hepatologists have long sought to develop a test for assessing liver function, but this aim has been stalled by the complexity of the liver and its diverse functions. Results of metabolic tests, including breath tests, correlate with clinical and histological parameters of patients with liver disorders; however, these tests tend to be cumbersome and impractical for everyday use. The recent development of a real-time, point-of-care liver function breath test has made it straightforward to assess the metabolic function of the liver.

AIM

To review the available data on the use of breath tests for assessing liver reserve in various conditions and their application in various clinical hepatology settings.

RESULTS

The (13)C-methacetin breath test enables accurate follow-up of patients with acute or chronic liver damage, where overall hepatic function is significantly suppressed by known causes of liver disorders, including acute, sub-acute or chronic conditions. The metabolic breath test can detect both gradual and spontaneous improvements in liver function and the effects of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Breath testing that provides continuous quantification of methacetin metabolism may be a sensitive tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with liver disorders.

[Mortality and prognostic factors of the cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy admitted to medical intensive care unit]

OBJECTIVE

To assess mortality and to identify variables that could predict it in cirrhotic patients hospitalized to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) for hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 1995 to December 2004, the cirrhotic patients admitted consecutively in MICU were screened and those with altered level of consciousness were included. The MICU mortality rate was assessed. Nearly 80 variables were analyzed and compared between survivors and non-survivors.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

t test, chi(2) or Fisher exact tests, Kaplan-Meier and log rank, Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 180 patients (42 women-138 men, mean age: 59+/-10 years) were admitted (incidence: 2.6%). The SAPS II was 30.1+/-11, Acute Physiology Age and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II): 16.5+/-5.3, Child-Pugh score: 9.1+/-1.9 and GCS: 11+/-2.8. The causes of liver cirrhosis was identified in 41.2% of cases (viral: 35.6%, alcohol: 5.6%). Nearly 18% of patients had an antecedent of HE. The causes of HE were: infection (65.6%), upper gastrointestinal bleeding (32.2%), drugs (5%) and metabolic cause (5%). MICU mortality rate was 33.3% and seemed higher in gastrointestinal bleeding. Eighteen variables were significantly associated with poor prognosis in univariate analysis. Only three variables remained significant in multivariate analysis: systolic blood pressure<90 mmHg (RR=4; IC 95%=2-8.1), total WBC>12000 n/mm(3) (RR=3.1; IC 95%=1.8-5.3) and use of mechanical ventilation (RR=3.1; IC 95%=1.7-5.6).

CONCLUSION

The MICU mortality of cirrhotic patients with HE was high and significantly associated with haemodynamic instability, hyperleucocytosis and mechanical ventilation.

Different methods of creatinine measurement significantly affect MELD scores

Bilirubin (Bil) interferes with creatinine (Cr) measurement. Different laboratory methods are used to overcome this problem. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring incorporates Cr and is used to prioritize patients for liver transplantation. Thus, MELD scores may vary with different Cr measurements influencing patients' priority. Our aim was to evaluate 4 different Cr assays (O'Leary modified Jaffe [mJCr], compensated [rate blanked] kinetic Jaffe [cJCr], enzymatic [ECr], and standard kinetic Jaffe [JCr]) in patients with abnormal liver function tests and assess changes in MELD score. A total of 403 consecutive samples from 158 patients' Cr assays were evaluated.. Bland-Altman plots and MELD scores were also evaluated for each assay. Agreement was found to be poor among all Cr assays. Increased variability in Cr occurred with increasing Bil concentrations: Bil <100 micromol/L <or=3-point MELD variation - 3-point difference in 2%; Bil >or=400micromol/L <or=7-point MELD variation - >or=3-point difference in 78%. When MELD was >or=25 (mJCr as reference; mean, 30.5 points), MELD variation was greatest: mean, 28 (MELD cJCr), 27.5 (MELD ECr), and 28.4 (MELD JCr) (P < 0.001). In conclusion, there is poor agreement among different assays for Cr. As Bil concentration rises, there is greater variability in each creatinine measurements and thus greater variability in MELD scores that, this affect prioritization for liver transplantation.

Human serum fetuin A/alpha2HS-glycoprotein level is associated with long-term survival in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, comparison with the Child-Pugh and MELD scores

Background

Serum concentration of fetuin A/α2HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) is a good indicator of liver cell function and 1-month mortality in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. We intended to determine whether decreased serum AHSG levels are associated with long-term mortality and whether the follow-up of serum AHSG levels can add to the predictive value of the Child-Pugh (CP) and MELD scores.

Methods

We determined serum AHSG concentrations in 89 patients by radial immunodiffusion. Samples were taken at the time of enrolment and in the 1^st, 3^rd, 6^th, and the 12^th month thereafter.

Results

Forty-one patients died during the 1-year follow-up period, 37 of them had liver failure. Data of these patients were analysed further. Deceased patients had lower baseline AHSG levels than the 52 patients who survived (293 ± 77 vs. 490 ± 106 μg/ml, mean ± SD, p < 0.001). Of all laboratory parameters serum AHSG level, CP and MELD scores showed the greatest difference between deceased and survived patients. The cutoff AHSG level 365 μg/ml could differentiate between deceased and survived patients (AUC: 0.937 ± 0.025, p < 0.001, sensitivity: 0.865, specificity: 0.942) better than the MELD score of 20 (AUC: 0.739 ± 0.052, p < 0.001, sensitivity: 0.595, specificity: 0.729). Initial AHSG concentrations < 365 μg/ml were associated with high mortality rate (91.4%, relative risk: 9.874, 95% C.I.: 4.258–22.898, p < 0.001) compared to those with ≥ 365 μg/ml (9.3%). Fourteen out of these 37 fatalities occurred during the first month of observation. During months 1–12 low AHSG concentration proved to be a strong indicator of mortality (relative risk: 9.257, 95% C.I.: 3.945–21.724, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that decrease of serum AHSG concentration was independent of all variables that differed between survived and deceased patients during univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that correlation of low serum AHSG levels with mortality was stronger than that with CP and MELD scores. Patients with AHSG < 365 μg/ml had significantly shortened survival both in groups with MELD < 20 and MELD ≥ 20 (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0014, respectively).

Conclusion

Serum AHSG concentration is a reliable and sensitive indicator of 1-year mortality in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis that compares well to the predictive value of CP score and may further improve that of MELD score.

The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)

The Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) was initially created to predict survival in patients with complications of portal hypertension undergoing elective placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. The MELD which uses only objective variables was validated subsequently as an accurate predictor of survival among different populations of patients with advanced liver disease. The major use of the MELD score has been in allocation of organs for liver transplantation. However, the MELD score has also been shown to predict survival in patients with cirrhosis who have infections, variceal bleeding, as well as in patients with fulminant hepatic failure and alcoholic hepatitis. MELD may be used in selection of patients for surgery other than liver transplantation and in determining optimal treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are not candidates for liver transplantation. Despite the many advantages of the MELD score, there are approximately 15%-20% of patients whose survival cannot be accurately predicted by the MELD score. It is possible that the addition of variables that are better determinants of liver and renal function may improve the predictive accuracy of the model. Efforts at further refinement and validation of the MELD score will continue.

Female liver transplant recipients with the same GFR as male recipients have lower MELD scores--a systematic bias

Women have lower glomerular filtration (GFR) than men for the same serum creatinine (Cr) value, not accounted for in model for end-stage liver disease (MELD). We compare male/female Cr, GFR (using MDRD formula) and respective MELD scores in 403 Cr measurements using standard (sCr), O'Leary modified (mCr) and Compensated (cCr) Jaffe and Enzymatic (eCr) in 158 liver disease patients, mCr in 208 liver transplantation (LT) candidates, and EDTA-Cr(51)-GFR in 38 other candidates for LT; considering each female as male, a 'corrected' Cr was derived. MELD scores were calculated for measured and "corrected" Cr in females. Median Cr and GFR in females were lower than males (p < 0.05). Both MDRD and EDTA-Cr(51) GFR were lower in females than males, despite lower Cr values. In females, each MELD score was lower than the corresponding MELD-corrected Cr (p < 0.001) with > or =three-point difference in liver disease patients: 25%[sCr]; 23%[mCr]; 11%[eCr]; and 14%[cCr]. In 65% of female LT candidates, two- or three-point difference was found. Females with liver disease have lower GFR than males for the same Cr value; correcting Cr increases MELD score by two or three points in 65% of female LT candidates. MELD score adjustment in females would ensure equal LT priority by gender.

Conventional predictors of survival poorly predict and significantly underpredict survival after H-graft portacaval shunts

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to evaluate the ability to predict survival after 8 mm prosthetic H-graft portacaval shunts (HGPCS).

METHODS

Since 1988, 170 patients have been prospectively followed after HGPCS. Using preshunt data, predictors of survival after shunting [MELD Score, Emory Score, Child Pugh Score, Discriminant Function (DF), and Child Class] were determined and related to actual survival.

RESULTS

Child Class was: (a) 10%, (b) 28%, and (c) 62%. Actual 5- and 10-year survival by Child Class was: (a) 67% and 33%, (b) 49% and 16%, (c) 29% and 7%. Survival correlated with all predictors of survival (p < 0.01 for each). Actual survival was better than predicted by MELD (p < 0.001). By Multiple Variable Regression Analysis--Computed Model, explained variation in survival was greatest for Child Class (18%), followed by MELD (14%), with DF, Emory Score, and Child Pugh Score not significantly contributing.

CONCLUSIONS

After HGPCS, actual survival is better than predicted by MELD. Child Class explains only a minor variation in survival, although it better explains survival than MELD, Emory Score, Child Pugh Score, or DF. Conventional predictors of survival poorly and underpredict survival after HGPCS and should be used with caution.

MELD-XI: a rational approach to "sickest first" liver transplantation in cirrhotic patients requiring anticoagulant therapy

Priority for "sickest first" liver transplantation (LT) in the United States is determined by the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD). MELD is a good predictor of short-term mortality in cirrhosis, but it can overestimate risk when international normalized ratio (INR) is artificially elevated by anticoagulation. An alternate prognostic index omitting INR is needed in this situation. We retrospectively analyzed survival data for 554 cirrhotic veterans referred for consideration of LT prior to December 1, 2003 (training group). Using logistic regression we derived a predictive formula for 90-day pretransplant mortality incorporating bilirubin and creatinine but omitting INR. We normalized this formula to the same scale as MELD using linear regression. This yielded MELD-XI (for MELD excluding INR) = 5.11 Ln(bilirubin) + 11.76 Ln(creatinine) + 9.44. Accuracy of MELD-XI was validated in a holdout group of 278 cirrhotic veterans referred after December 1, 2003, and in an independent validation dataset of 7,203 cirrhotic adults listed for LT in the United States between May 1, 2001, and October 31, 2001. MELD-XI and MELD correlated well in training, holdout, and independent validation cohorts (r = 0.930, 0.954, and 0.902, respectively). In the holdout cohort, c-statistics of MELD vs. MELD-XI for mortality were, respectively, 0.939 vs. 0.906 at 30 days;0.860 vs. 0.841 at 60 days; 0.842 vs. 0.829 at 90 days; and 0.795 vs. 0.797 at 180 days. In the independent validation dataset, c-statistics for MELD vs. MELD-XI as predictors of 90-day survival were, respectively, 0.857 vs. 0.843 in noncholestatic liver diseases and 0.905 vs. 0.894 in cholestatic liver diseases. Comparable MELD and MELD-XI scores were associated with comparable prognosis. In conclusion, MELD-XI, despite omission of INR, is nearly as accurate as MELD in predicting short-term survival in cirrhosis. In patients treated with oral anticoagulants, substitution of MELD-XI for MELD may permit more accurate assessment of risk and more rational assignment of "sickest first" priority for LT.

A systematic review of the performance of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) in the setting of liver transplantation

The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score is now used for allocation in liver transplantation (LT) waiting lists, replacing the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score. However, there is debate as whether it is superior to CTP score to predict mortality in patients with cirrhosis on the LT waiting list and after LT. We reviewed studies comparing the accuracy of MELD vs. CTP score in transplantation settings. We found that in studies of the LT waiting list (12,532 patients with cirrhosis), only 4 of 11 showed MELD to be superior to CTP in predicting short-term (3-month) mortality. In addition, 2 of 3 studies (n = 1,679) evaluating the changes in MELD score (DeltaMELD) showed that DeltaMELD had better prediction for mortality than the baseline MELD score. The impact of MELD on post-LT mortality was assessed in 15 studies (20,456 patients); only 6 (9,522 patients) evaluated the discriminative ability of MELD score using the concordance (c) statistic (the MELD score had always a c-statistic < 0.70). In 11 studies (19,311 patients), high MELD score indicated poor post-LT mortality for cutoff values of 24-40 points. In re-LT patients, 2 of 4 studies evaluated the discriminative ability of MELD score on post-LT mortality. Finally, several studies have shown that the predictive ability of MELD score increases by adding clinical variables (hepatic encephalopathy, ascites) or laboratory (sodium) parameters. On the basis of the current literature, MELD score does not perform better than the CTP score for patients with cirrhosis on the waiting list and cannot predict post-LT mortality.