Diabetes mellitus - risk factor and potential future target for hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis?

Hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis: Key clinical considerations for the nurse practitioner and physician assistant

BACKGROUND

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common neurocognitive cirrhosis-related complication with a broad range of symptoms. Timely recognition and treatment of HE, including identifying precipitating factors, when possible, is critical for improving outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. Lactulose and rifaximin therapies, as appropriate, are recommended for patients with cirrhosis and a history of HE episode(s) to reduce risk of HE recurrence.

OBJECTIVES

To provide clinical considerations for nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PAs) on the diagnosis and management of patients with cirrhosis.

DATA SOURCES

A PubMed search of English-language articles published between January 1, 2008, and March 13, 2024, was performed to identify publications on the diagnosis and treatment of HE.

RESULTS

Important topics to address when discussing care with patients with cirrhosis and their caregivers include concomitant medication use, recent infection history, comorbid conditions (e.g., diabetes), fall and frailty risks, and sleep quality. In addition, ensuring treatment adherence is important for reducing the risk of future HE episodes and HE-related hospitalizations. Engaging and empowering caregivers helps reinforce the need for patient adherence to treatment and facilitates earlier identification of HE symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Early recognition of HE, treatment, and reduction in risk of recurrence are imperative to minimize patient morbidity and mortality.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Nurse practitioners and PAs play an important role in supporting patients with cirrhosis who are at risk for developing HE, as well as their caregivers. Understanding and recognizing precipitating factors and clinical symptoms of HE and treating and preventing HE recurrence can improve patient outcomes.

Impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on results in the animal naming test in patients with and without liver cirrhosis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Diabetes mellitus is a common comorbidity in patients with cirrhosis and is associated with the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and cognitive dysfunction. The simplified Animal Naming Test (S-ANT1) has been established for detecting minimal HE (MHE). It is currently unknown whether S-ANT1 results are affected by diabetes mellitus in patients with and without cirrhosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study analyzed data from 268 patients with cirrhosis without signs of HE ≥ 1. MHE was defined using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES). All patients were also tested with S-ANT1. 14 patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic foot syndrome but no cirrhosis, as well as 37 healthy controls, were also tested with S-ANT1 and served as controls.

RESULTS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus was present in 79 (29.5%) patients with cirrhosis and MHE according to PHES was detected in 81 (30.2%) patients. In the total cohort, results in S-ANT1 did not differ between patients with and without diabetes mellitus (19 vs. 20 animals, p = 0.108). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the only variables independently associated with performance in S-ANT1 were PHES-MHE, school education, sodium, and age, while diabetes mellitus was not. Patients with diabetic foot syndrome but no cirrhosis performed poorer in S-ANT1 compared to healthy controls, while patients with cirrhosis and MHE performed poorer than patients with diabetic foot syndrome.

CONCLUSION

S-ANT1 seems to be usable for screening for MHE in patients with cirrhosis and type 2 diabetes mellitus, while one might be more cautious when interpreting results in patients with diabetes-related complications.

Dapagliflozin as an oral antihyperglycemic agent in the management of diabetes mellitus in patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

The use of dapagliflozin in patients with cirrhosis has been relatively restricted due to concerns regarding its overall safety and pharmacological profile in this population.

AIM

To determine the safety and effectiveness of dapagliflozin in the co-management of diabetes mellitus and cirrhosis with or without ascites.

METHODS

The patients studied were divided into two groups: 100 patients in the control group received insulin, while 200 patients received dapagliflozin. These patients were classified as Child A, B, or C based on the Child-Pugh classification. Child A or B and Child C were administered doses of 10 mg and 5 mg of dapagliflozin, respectively.

RESULTS

The rate of increased diuretics dose was markedly elevated in the group that received insulin compared to the group that received dapagliflozin. In addition, dapagliflozin treatment substantially reduced weight, body mass index, and fasting blood glucose compared to the insulin group during follow-up. However, there were no significant differences in hemoglobin A1c, liver function, or laboratory investigations between both groups during the follow-up period. The incidence of hypoglycemia, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, and urinary tract infection was significantly higher in the insulin group compared to the dapagliflozin group. In contrast, the dapagliflozin group experienced significantly higher rates of frequent urination and dizziness. In addition, the insulin group exhibited a marked worsening of ascites compared to the dapagliflozin group.

CONCLUSION

Dapagliflozin demonstrated safety and efficacy in the treatment of diabetic patients who have cirrhosis with or without ascites. This resulted in an improvement of ascites, as well as a decrease in diuretic dose and Child-Pugh score.

Hepatic encephalopathy post-TIPS: Current status and prospects in predictive assessment

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an essential procedure for the treatment of portal hypertension but can result in hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a serious complication that worsens patient outcomes. Investigating predictors of HE after TIPS is essential to improve prognosis. This review analyzes risk factors and compares predictive models, weighing traditional scores such as Child-Pugh, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) against emerging artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. While traditional scores provide initial insights into HE risk, they have limitations in dealing with clinical complexity. Advances in machine learning (ML), particularly when integrated with imaging and clinical data, offer refined assessments. These innovations suggest the potential for AI to significantly improve the prediction of post-TIPS HE. The study provides clinicians with a comprehensive overview of current prediction methods, while advocating for the integration of AI to increase the accuracy of post-TIPS HE assessments. By harnessing the power of AI, clinicians can better manage the risks associated with TIPS and tailor interventions to individual patient needs. Future research should therefore prioritize the development of advanced AI frameworks that can assimilate diverse data streams to support clinical decision-making. The goal is not only to more accurately predict HE, but also to improve overall patient care and quality of life.

The Story of Ammonia in Liver Disease: An Unraveling Continuum

Hyperammonemia and liver disease are closely linked. Most of the ammonia in our body is produced by transamination and deamination activities involving amino acid, purine, pyrimidines, and biogenic amines, and from the intestine by bacterial splitting of urea. The only way of excretion from the body is by hepatic conversion of ammonia to urea. Hyperammonemia is associated with widespread toxicities such as cerebral edema, hepatic encephalopathy, immune dysfunction, promoting fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. Over the past two decades, it has been increasingly utilized for prognostication of cirrhosis, acute liver failure as well as acute on chronic liver failure. The laboratory assessment of hyperammonemia has certain limitations, despite which its value in the assessment of various forms of liver disease cannot be negated. It may soon become an important tool to make therapeutic decisions about the use of prophylactic and definitive treatment in various forms of liver disease.

Rifaximin plus lactulose versus lactulose alone for reducing the risk of HE recurrence

BACKGROUND

The aim was to examine rifaximin plus lactulose efficacy in patients with cirrhosis at a risk of developing overt HE who were stratified by important baseline characteristics such as comorbid ascites or diabetes.

METHODS

Pooled post hoc subgroup analysis of adults receiving rifaximin 550 mg twice daily plus lactulose or lactulose alone for 6 months in a phase 3 randomized, double-blind trial and a phase 4 open-label trial was conducted.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Rifaximin plus lactulose was more efficacious than lactulose alone for reducing the risk of overt HE recurrence and HE-related hospitalization in adults grouped by select baseline disease characteristics.

Effect of ipragliflozin on liver enzymes in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is estimated to affect upto 70-80% of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Although several anti-hyperglycemic drugs have been shown to be effective in such patients, there remains an unmet need for newer drugs. The objective of this meta-analysis was to analyze the effect of ipragliflozin on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

A literature search on electronic databases was conducted to identify potential randomized clinical trials (RCT) as per predetermined study selection criteria. Mean difference (MD) was calculated using Cochrane review manager.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis, including 1349 subjects. Compared to the control group, ipragliflozin as a monotherapy showed a significant reduction in levels of ALT at week 12 (p = 0.02) and at week 24 (p = 0.007), GGT at week 12 (p < 0.00001). Ipragliflozin as an add-on therapy showed significant reduction in levels of AST at week 24 (p < 0.00001), ALT at week 12 (p = 0.002), ALT at week 24 (p < 0.00001), and GGT at week 24 (p < 0.00001).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest the beneficial effects of ipragliflozin on liver enzymes. Further large-scale RCTs are required to confirm ipragliflozin's role for liver-related conditions in T2DM.

Empagliflozin attenuates liver fibrosis in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced mice by modulating gut microbiota

The effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on hepatic fibrosis in diabetes remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of empagliflozin on liver fibrosis in high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced mice and the correlation with gut microbiota. After the application of empagliflozin for 6 weeks, we performed oral glucose tolerance and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests to assess glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, and stained liver sections to evaluate histochemical and hepatic pathological markers of liver fibrosis. Moreover, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed on stool samples to explore changes in the composition of intestinal bacteria. We finally analysed the correlation between gut microbiome and liver fibrosis scores or indicators of glucose metabolism. The results showed that empagliflozin intervention improved glucose metabolism and liver function with reduced liver fibrosis, which might be related to changes in intestinal microbiota. In addition, the abundance of intestinal probiotic Lactobacillus increased, while Ruminococcus and Adlercreutzia decreased after empagliflozin treatment, and correlation analysis showed that the changes in microbiota were positively correlated with liver fibrosis and glucose metabolism. Overall, considering the contribution of the gut microbiota in metabolism, empagliflozin might have improved the beneficial balance of intestinal bacteria composition. The present study provides evidence and indicates the involvement of the gut-liver axis by SGLT2 inhibitors in T2DM with liver fibrosis.

Overweight/Obesity Increases the Risk of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in Cirrhotic Patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the prevalence of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) after the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure in decompensated cirrhotic patients. A retrospective observational cohort study of 145 cirrhotic patients receiving TIPS was carried out in our department from 2017 to 2020. The relationships between BMI and clinical outcomes including OHE, as well as risk factors of developing post-TIPS OHE, were analyzed. BMI was categorized as normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 23.0 kg/m2), underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), and overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 23.0 kg/m2). Among the 145 patients, 52 (35.9%) were overweight/obese and 50 (34%) had post-TIPS OHE. Overweight/obese patients more frequently had OHE compared with normal weight patients (OR: 2.754, 95% CI: 1.236-6.140; p = 0.013). Overweight/obesity (p = 0.013) and older age (p = 0.030) were independent risk factors for post-TIPS OHE according to the logistic regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis suggested that overweight/obese patients had the highest cumulative incidence of OHE (log-rank p = 0.0118). In conclusion, overweight/obesity and older age may raise the risk of post-TIPS OHE in cirrhotic patients.

The Role of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Obesity and Its Related Diseases

Obesity has become a major public health problem worldwide and its occurrence is increasing globally. Obesity has also been shown to be involved in the occurrence and development of many diseases and pathological conditions, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), insulin resistance (IR). In recent years, gut microbiota has received extensive attention as an important regulatory part involved in host diseases and health status. A growing body of evidence suggests that gut microbiota dysbiosis has a significant adverse effect on the host. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a type of intestinal microbial dysbiosis, has been gradually revealed to be associated with obesity and its related diseases. The presence of SIBO may lead to the destruction of intestinal barrier integrity, increased intestinal permeability, increased endotoxin levels, activation of inflammatory responses, and translocation of bacteria from the colon to the small intestine. However, the causal relationship between SIBO and obesity and the specific mechanisms have not been well elucidated. This review discusses the cross-talk between SIBO and obesity and its related diseases, and expounds its potential mechanisms and interventions, which may help to discover new therapeutic targets for obesity and its related diseases and develop treatment options.

Impact of ammonia levels on outcome in clinically stable outpatients with advanced chronic liver disease

Background & Aims

Ammonia levels predicted hospitalisation in a recent landmark study not accounting for portal hypertension and systemic inflammation severity. We investigated (i) the prognostic value of venous ammonia levels (outcome cohort) for liver-related outcomes while accounting for these factors and (ii) its correlation with key disease-driving mechanisms (biomarker cohort).

Methods

(i) The outcome cohort included 549 clinically stable outpatients with evidence of advanced chronic liver disease. (ii) The partly overlapping biomarker cohort comprised 193 individuals, recruited from the prospective Vienna Cirrhosis Study (VICIS: NCT03267615).

Results

(i) In the outcome cohort, ammonia increased across clinical stages as well as hepatic venous pressure gradient and United Network for Organ Sharing model for end-stage liver disease (2016) strata and were independently linked with diabetes. Ammonia was associated with liver-related death, even after multivariable adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.05 [95% CI: 1.00-1.10]; p = 0.044). The recently proposed cut-off (≥1.4 × upper limit of normal) was independently predictive of hepatic decompensation (aHR: 2.08 [95% CI: 1.35-3.22]; p <0.001), non-elective liver-related hospitalisation (aHR: 1.86 [95% CI: 1.17-2.95]; p = 0.008), and - in those with decompensated advanced chronic liver disease - acute-on-chronic liver failure (aHR: 1.71 [95% CI: 1.05-2.80]; p = 0.031). (ii) Besides hepatic venous pressure gradient, venous ammonia was correlated with markers of endothelial dysfunction and liver fibrogenesis/matrix remodelling in the biomarker cohort.

Conclusions

Venous ammonia predicts hepatic decompensation, non-elective liver-related hospitalisation, acute-on-chronic liver failure, and liver-related death, independently of established prognostic indicators including C-reactive protein and hepatic venous pressure gradient. Although venous ammonia is linked with several key disease-driving mechanisms, its prognostic value is not explained by associated hepatic dysfunction, systemic inflammation, or portal hypertension severity, suggesting direct toxicity.

Impact and implications

A recent landmark study linked ammonia levels (a simple blood test) with hospitalisation/death in individuals with clinically stable cirrhosis. Our study extends the prognostic value of venous ammonia to other important liver-related complications. Although venous ammonia is linked with several key disease-driving mechanisms, they do not fully explain its prognostic value. This supports the concept of direct ammonia toxicity and ammonia-lowering drugs as disease-modifying treatment.