Histological-hemodynamic correlation in cirrhosis-a histological classification of the severity of cirrhosis

Efruxifermin in Compensated Liver Cirrhosis Caused by MASH

BACKGROUND

In phase 2 trials involving patients with stage 2 or 3 fibrosis caused by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), efruxifermin, a bivalent fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) analogue, reduced fibrosis and resolved MASH. Data are needed on the efficacy and safety of efruxifermin in patients with compensated cirrhosis (stage 4 fibrosis) caused by MASH.

METHODS

In this phase 2b, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, we assigned patients with MASH who had biopsy-confirmed compensated cirrhosis (stage 4 fibrosis) to receive subcutaneous efruxifermin (at a dose of 28 mg or 50 mg once daily) or placebo. The primary outcome was a reduction of at least one stage of fibrosis without worsening of MASH at week 36. Secondary outcomes included the same criterion at week 96.

RESULTS

A total of 181 patients underwent randomization and received at least one dose of efruxifermin or placebo. Of these patients, liver biopsy was performed in 154 patients at 36 weeks and in 134 patients at 96 weeks. At 36 weeks, a reduction in fibrosis without worsening of MASH occurred in 8 of 61 patients (13%) in the placebo group, in 10 of 57 patients (18%) in the 28-mg efruxifermin group (difference from placebo after adjustment for stratification factors, 3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -11 to 17; P = 0.62), and in 12 of 63 patients (19%) in the 50-mg efruxifermin group (difference from placebo, 4 percentage points; 95% CI, -10 to 18; P = 0.52). At week 96, a reduction in fibrosis without worsening of MASH occurred in 7 of 61 patients (11%) in the placebo group, in 12 of 57 patients (21%) in the 28-mg efruxifermin group (difference from placebo, 10 percentage points; 95% CI, -4 to 24), and in 18 of 63 patients (29%) in the 50-mg efruxifermin group (difference from placebo, 16 percentage points; 95% CI, 2 to 30). Gastrointestinal adverse events were more common with efruxifermin; most events were mild or moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with compensated cirrhosis caused by MASH, efruxifermin did not significantly reduce fibrosis at 36 weeks. (Funded by Akero Therapeutics; SYMMETRY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05039450.).

Multiparametric Ultrasound for Chronic Liver Disease

Diffuse liver disease is a substantial world-wide problem. With the combination of conventional ultrasound of the abdomen, fat quantification and elastography, appropriate staging of the patient can be assessed. This information allows for the diagnosis of steatosis and detection of fibrosis as well as prognosis, surveillance, and prioritization for treatment. With the potential for reversibility with appropriate treatment accurate assessment for the stage of chronic liver disease is critical.

Assessing Mortality Disparities Among Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Metabolic Dysfunction Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a major global health concern due to its association with increased mortality. While previous studies have indicated a link between NAFLD and mortality, variations in risk factors such as age, sex, and disease severity warrant a comprehensive meta-analysis to clarify these associations. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk associated with NAFLD, considering various subgroups defined by age, sex, disease severity, presence of cirrhosis or fibrosis, study quality, and follow-up duration. A systematic search of eight studies was conducted to assess the hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause and CVD mortality associated with NAFLD. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using the I² statistic, and subgroup analyses were performed based on participant age, sex, disease severity, presence of cirrhosis or fibrosis, study quality, and follow-up duration. NAFLD was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.17-1.54, I² = 80.0%). Subgroup analyses revealed that individuals aged ≥50 years (HR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.31-1.73) and males (HR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.29-1.59) had a higher mortality risk. Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) showed a significant association with both overall (HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.14-1.65) and CVD mortality (HR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.25-1.97). The presence of cirrhosis or fibrosis further elevated the risk of mortality (HR = 3.22, 95% CI: 2.40-4.33). However, NAFLD was not significantly associated with CVD mortality in the overall analysis (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.92-1.38). Heterogeneity was high across most subgroups, indicating varying effects based on study characteristics. NAFLD is significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality, particularly in older individuals, males, and those with NASH or cirrhosis/fibrosis. The association with CVD mortality was not significant in the overall analysis but was evident in specific subgroups. These findings underscore the importance of early detection and tailored management of NAFLD to mitigate its impact on mortality. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking NAFLD with adverse health outcomes and to develop effective interventions.

Evaluation of Noninvasive Tools for Predicting Esophageal Varices in Patients With Cirrhosis at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town

Background: In patients with cirrhosis, esophageal variceal hemorrhage (EVH) is a devastating consequence of portal hypertension (PH). Upper endoscopy is considered the gold standard for the detection and diagnosis of esophageal varices (EVs), despite being invasive and costly. This study was aimed at identifying and evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive tools in predicting EVs in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 patients with compensated cirrhosis at the Tygerberg Hospital Gastroenterology Clinic in Cape Town between November 2022 and May 2023. We collected clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory data from patients' physical and electronic charts. All patients underwent an abdominal ultrasound, vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) to assess liver and splenic stiffness, and upper endoscopy. In this comparative study, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of different noninvasive tools in detecting EVs in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Results: Of the 50 patients included in the study, 30 (60%) were female and 20 (40%) were male. The patients' age ranged from 18 to 83, with a mean age of 46.6 years. Cirrhosis was mainly due to alcohol use (n = 11, 22%), hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (n = 11, 22%), and autoimmune hepatitis (n = 10, 20%). The patients included in the study were divided into two subgroups: with (n = 34, 68%) or without (n = 16, 32%) EVs. Statistically significant differences were detected between groups in platelet count (PC), liver stiffness measurement (LSM), spleen stiffness measurement (SSM), portal vein diameter (PVD), bipolar spleen diameter (SBD), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), platelet/bipolar spleen diameter ratio (PSR), liver stiffness-spleen size-platelet ratio (LSPS), liver stiffness-spleen stiffness-platelet ratio score (LS3PS), and spleen stiffness-spleen size-platelet ratio score (SSPS) (p < 0.001). The highest diagnostic precision was observed with SSM (96%), SSPS (96%), LS3PS (94%), LSPS (94%), PSR (94%), and PC (92%). SBD (88%), LSM (86%), APRI (82%), and FIB-4 (82%) had the lowest diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: SSM and SSPS have the highest diagnostic accuracy for predicting the presence of EVs in patients with compensated cirrhosis. LSPS, LS3PS, and PSR come second at 94%. We recommend SSM and SSPS in institutions with transient elastography equipped with the software necessary to measure splenic stiffness. We introduce and propose LS3PS as a novel composite score for predicting the presence of EVs in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Large-sample-size studies are needed to validate these prediction scores and to allow direct comparison with Baveno VII. These prediction tools can help clinicians avoid unnecessary endoscopic procedures in patients with compensated cirrhosis, especially in developing countries with limited resources such as South Africa.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Altered Excitability of Cardiac Efferent Neurons in Cirrhotic Rats

Patients with cirrhosis often exhibit cardiac autonomic dysfunction (CAD), characterized by enhanced cardiac sympathetic activity and diminished cardiac vagal tone, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. This study delineates the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with altered neuronal activities causing cirrhosis-induced CAD. Biliary and nonbiliary cirrhotic rats were produced by common bile duct ligation (CBDL) and intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide (TAA), respectively. Three weeks after CBDL or TAA injection, the assessment of heart rate variability revealed autonomic imbalance in cirrhotic rats. We observed increased excitability in stellate ganglion (SG) neurons and decreased excitability in intracardiac ganglion (ICG) neurons in cirrhotic rats compared to sham-operated controls. Additionally, threshold, rheobase, and action potential duration exhibited opposite alterations in SG and ICG neurons, along with changes in afterhyperpolarization duration. A- and M-type K⁺ channels were significantly downregulated in SG neurons, while M-type K⁺ channels were upregulated, with downregulation of the N- and L-type Ca2⁺ channels in the ICG neurons of cirrhotic rats, both in transcript expression and functional activity. Collectively, these findings suggest that cirrhosis induces an imbalance between cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic neuronal activities via the differential regulation of K+ and Ca2+ channels. Thus, cirrhosis-induced CAD may be associated with impaired autonomic efferent functions within the homeostatic reflex arc that regulates cardiac functions.

Obliteration of portal venules contributes to portal hypertension in biliary cirrhosis

The effects of the obliteration of portal venules (OPV) in cirrhotic portal hypertension are poorly understood. To investigate its contribution to portal hypertension in biliary cirrhosis and its underlying mechanism, we evaluated OPV using two-dimensional (2D) histopathology in liver explants from patients with biliary atresia (BA, n = 63), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, n = 18), and hepatitis B-related cirrhosis (Hep-B-cirrhosis, n = 35). Then, three-dimensional (3D) OPV was measured by X-ray phase-contrast CT in two parallel models in rats following bile duct ligation (BDL) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration, representing biliary cirrhosis and post-necrotic cirrhosis, respectively. The portal pressure was also measured in the two models. Finally, the effects of proliferative bile ducts on OPV were investigated. We found that OPV was significantly more frequent in patients with biliary cirrhosis, including BA (78.57 ± 16.45%) and PBC (60.00 ± 17.15%), than that in Hep-B-cirrhotic patients (29.43 ± 14.94%, p < 0.001). OPV occurred earlier, evidenced by the paired liver biopsy at a Kasai procedure (KP), and was irreversible even after a successful KP in the patients with BA. OPV was also significantly more frequent in the BDL models than in the CCl4 models, as shown by 2D and 3D quantitative analysis. Portal pressure was significantly higher in the BDL model than that in the CCl4 model. With the proliferation of bile ducts, portal venules were compressed and irreversibly occluded, contributing to the earlier and higher portal pressure in biliary cirrhosis. OPV, as a pre-sinusoidal component, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension in biliary cirrhosis. The proliferated bile ducts and ductules gradually take up the 'territory' originally attributed to portal venules and compress the portal venules, which may lead to OPV in biliary cirrhosis. © 2024 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

The polymorphic variant of SerpinB3 (SerpinB3-PD) is associated with faster cirrhosis decompensation

BACKGROUND

SerpinB3 is a cysteine protease inhibitor involved in liver disease progression due to its proinflammatory and profibrogenic properties. The polymorphic variant SerpinB3-PD (SB3-PD), presents a substitution in its reactive centre loop, determining the gain of function.

AIMS

To disclose the clinical characteristics of a cohort of patients with cirrhosis in relation to the presence of SB3-PD and to assess the effect of this genetic variant on fibrogenic and inflammatory cytokines in vitro.

METHODS

We assessed SB3 polymorphism in 90 patients with cirrhosis, prospectively followed up in our referral centre. We used HepG2 and HuH-7 cells transfected to overexpress either wild-type SB3 (SB3-WT) or SB3-PD to assess their endogenous effect, while LX2 and THP-1 cells were treated with exogenous SB3-WT or SB3-PD proteins.

RESULTS

Patients carrying SB3-PD had more severe portal hypertension and higher MELD scores, than patients carrying SB3-WT. In multivariate analysis, SB3-PD was an independent predictor of cirrhosis complications. Patients with SB3-PD polymorphism presented with more severe liver fibrosis and inflammatory features. Hepatoma cells overexpressing SB3-PD showed higher TGF-β1 expression than controls. The addition of recombinant SB3-PD induced an up-regulation of TGF-β1 in LX2 cells and a more prominent inflammatory profile in THP-1 cells, compared to the effect of SB3-WT protein.

CONCLUSIONS

The polymorphic variant SB3-PD is highly effective in determining activation of TGF-β1 and inflammation in vitro. Patients with cirrhosis who carry SB3-PD polymorphism may be more prone to develop severe liver disease progression. However, further validation studies are warranted to support the in vivo relevance of this polymorphism.

Towards a Standardized Classification of the Hepatobiliary Manifestations in Cystic Fibrosis (CFHBI): A Joint ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN Position Paper

The broad spectrum of hepatobiliary involvement in cystic fibrosis (CF) has been commonly referred to as cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD). However, differences in the definitions of CFLD have led to variations in reported prevalence, incidence rates, and standardized recommendations for diagnosis and therapies. Harmonizing the description of the spectrum of hepatobiliary involvement in all people with CF (pwCF) is deemed essential for providing a reliable account of the natural history, which in turn supports the development of meaningful clinical outcomes in patient care and research. Recognizing this necessity, The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) commissioned and tasked a committee to develop and propose a systematic classification of the CF hepatobiliary manifestations to increase uniformity, accuracy, and comparability for clinical, registry, and research purposes. This report describes the committee's combined expert position statement on hepatobiliary involvement in CF, which has been endorsed by NASPGHAN and ESPGHAN. We recommend using CFHBI (Cystic Fibrosis Hepato-Biliary Involvement) as the updated term to describe and classify all hepatobiliary manifestations in all pwCF. CFHBI encompasses the current extensive spectrum of phenotypical, clinical, or diagnostic expressions of liver involvement observed in pwCF. We present a schematic categorization of CFHBI, which may also be used to track and classify the changes and development of CFHBI in pwCF over time. The proposed classification for CFHBI is based on expert consensus and has not been validated for clinical practice and research purposes. Achieving validation should be an important aim for future research.

Portal Hypertension in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Challenges and Paradigms

Portal hypertension in cirrhosis is defined as an increase in the portal pressure gradient (PPG) between the portal and hepatic veins and is traditionally estimated by the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), which is the difference in pressure between the free-floating and wedged positions of a balloon catheter in the hepatic vein. By convention, HVPG≥10 mmHg indicates clinically significant portal hypertension, which is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disorder with a heterogeneous clinical course, which includes the development of portal hypertension. There is increasing evidence that portal hypertension in NAFLD deserves special considerations. First, elevated PPG often precedes fibrosis in NAFLD, suggesting a bidirectional relationship between these pathological processes. Second, HVPG underestimates PPG in NAFLD, suggesting that portal hypertension is more prevalent in this condition than currently believed. Third, cellular mechanoresponses generated early in the pathogenesis of NAFLD provide a mechanistic explanation for the pressure-fibrosis paradigm. Finally, a better understanding of liver mechanobiology in NAFLD may aid in the development of novel pharmaceutical targets for prevention and management of this disease.

Compensated liver cirrhosis: Natural course and disease-modifying strategies

Compensated liver cirrhosis (CLC) is defined as cirrhosis with one or more decompensating events, such as ascites, variceal haemorrhage, or hepatic encephalopathy. Patients with CLC are largely asymptomatic with preserved hepatic function. The transition from CLC to decompensated cirrhosis occurs as a result of a complex interaction between multiple predisposing and precipitating factors. The first decompensation event in CLC patients is considered a significant turning point in the progression of cirrhosis, as it signals a drastic decline in median survival rates from 10-12 years to only 1-2 years. Furthermore, early cirrhosis has the potential to regress as liver fibrosis is a dynamic condition. With the advent of effective non-invasive tools for detecting hepatic fibrosis, more and more patients with CLC are currently being recognised. This offers clinicians a unique opportunity to properly manage such patients in order to achieve cirrhosis regression or, at the very least, prevent its progression. There are numerous emerging approaches for preventing or delaying decompensation in CLC patients. A growing body of evidence indicates that treating the underlying cause can lead to cirrhosis regression, and the use of non-selective beta-blockers can prevent decompensation by lowering portal hypertension. Additionally, addressing various cofactors (such as obesity, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, and alcoholism) and precipitating factors (such as infection, viral hepatitis, and hepatotoxic drugs) that have a detrimental impact on the natural course of cirrhosis may benefit patients with CLC. However, high-quality data must be generated through well-designed and adequately powered randomised clinical trials to validate these disease-modifying techniques for CLC patients. This article discussed the natural history of CLC, risk factors for its progression, and therapeutic approaches that could alter the trajectory of CLC evolution and improve outcomes.

Mortality Outcomes by Fibrosis Stage in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Fibrosis is a key determinant of clinical outcomes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but time-dependent risk of mortality has not been reported in previous meta-analyses. We performed an updated time-to-event meta-analysis to provide robust estimates for all-cause and liver-related mortality in biopsy-confirmed NAFLD with comparisons between fibrosis stages.

METHODS

Medline and Embase databases were searched to include cohort studies reporting survival outcomes by fibrosis stage in biopsy-proven NAFLD. Survival estimates were pooled using reconstructed individual participant data. Conventional meta-analysis was conducted to pool adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) using DerSimonian and Laird random effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 14 articles involving 17,301 patients with NAFLD were included. All-cause mortality at 1, 5, and 10 years for stage 0 to 2 fibrosis was 0.1%, 3.3%, and 7.7% vs 0.3%, 20.6%, and 41.5% for stage 4 fibrosis. Compared with stage 0 fibrosis, all-cause mortality increased with fibrosis stage: stage 2; HR, 1.46 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.98), stage 3; HR, 1.96 (95% CI, 1.41-2.72), and stage 4; HR, 3.66 (95% CI, 2.65-5.05). Risk for liver-related mortality increased exponentially as fibrosis stage increased: stage 2; HR, 4.07 (95% CI, 1.44-11.5), stage 3; HR, 7.59 (95% CI, 2.80-20.5), and stage 4; HR, 15.1 (95% CI, 5.27-43.4). Stage 3 to 4 fibrosis had a higher all-cause (HR, 3.32) and liver-related mortality (HR, 10.40) compared with stage 0 to 2 fibrosis, whereas stage 4 fibrosis had higher all-cause (HR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.47-4.83) and liver-related mortality (HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.22-5.42) vs stage 3 fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk of all-cause and liver-related mortality increases substantially with fibrosis stage. These data have important implications for prognostication and trial design.

Machine learning liver histology scores correlate with portal hypertension assessments in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

In cirrhotic nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) clinical trials, primary efficacy endpoints have been hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), liver histology and clinical liver outcomes. Important histologic features, such as septa thickness, nodules features and fibrosis area have not been included in the histologic assessment and may have important clinical relevance. We assessed these features with a machine learning (ML) model.

METHODS

NASH patients with compensated cirrhosis and HVPG ≥6 mm Hg (n = 143) from the Belapectin phase 2b trial were studied. Liver biopsies, HVPG measurements and upper endoscopies were performed at baseline and at end of treatment (EOT). A second harmonic generation/two-photon excitation fluorescence provided an automated quantitative assessment of septa, nodules and fibrosis (SNOF). We created ML scores and tested their association with HVPG, clinically significant HVPG (≥10 mm Hg) and the presence of varices (SNOF-V).

RESULTS

We derived 448 histologic variables (243 related to septa, 21 related to nodules and 184 related to fibrosis). The SNOF score (≥11.78) reliably distinguished CSPH at baseline and in the validation cohort (baseline + EOT) [AUC = 0.85 and 0.74, respectively]. The SNOF-V score (≥0.57) distinguished the presence of varices at baseline and in the same validation cohort [AUC = 0.86 and 0.73, respectively]. Finally, the SNOF-C score differentiated those who had >20% change in HVPG against those who did not, with an AUROC of 0.89.

CONCLUSION

The ML algorithm accurately predicted HVPG, CSPH, the development of varices and HVPG changes in patients with NASH cirrhosis. The use of ML histology model in NASH cirrhosis trials may improve the assessment of key outcome changes.

Indications and methods for measuring portal hypertension in cirrhosis

Background and objectives: Over the last decade our understanding of the pathophysiology of portal hypertension has increased. Novel diagnostic technologies have facilitated and improved the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. With this review we aim to provide an overview of contemporary diagnostic principles of portal hypertension and indications for measuring portal pressure in cirrhosis.Methods: By review of current literature, we assessed new and old principles of measuring portal hypertension and the diagnostic values of the methods.Results: Invasive measurement of the portal pressure is still the gold standard to quantitate portal hypertension and to assess response to vasoactive treatment. The size of the portal pressure is important to assess since it contains information on the course of the disease and risk of developing hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality. Reliable non-invasive Elastography techniques are emerging that adequately assess portal pressure, but the available methods are not yet sufficiently accurate.Conclusion: Although elastography techniques provide valuable information and are good monitoring tools, liver vein catheterization remains valuable in diagnosing and monitoring portal hypertension, especially in combination with a trans-jugular liver biopsy.

Study protocol of Phase 2 open-label multicenter randomized controlled trial for granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (GCSF) in post-Kasai Type 3 biliary atresia

Animal studies support RCT findings of improved liver function and short-term benefits using repurposed Granulocyte Colonic Stimulating Factor GCSF in adults with decompensated cirrhosis. We describe the protocol for phase 2 RCT of sequential Kasai-GCSF under an FDA-approved IND to test that GCSF improves early bile flow and post-Kasai biliary atresia BA clinical outcome. Immediate post-Kasai neonates, age 15-180 days, with biopsy-confirmed type 3 BA, without access to early liver transplantation, will be randomized 1:1 to standard of care SOC + GCSF at 10 ug/kg in 3 daily doses within 4 days of Kasai vs SOC + NO-GCSF (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0437391). They will be recruited from children's hospitals in Vietnam, Pakistan and one US center. The primary objective is to demonstrate that GCSF decreases the proportion of subjects with a 3-month post-Kasai serum Total Bilirubin ≥ 34 umol/L by 20%, (for a = 0.05, b = 0.80, i.e., calculated sample size of 218 subjects). The secondary objectives are to demonstrate that the frequency of post-Kasai cholangitis at 6-month and 24-month transplant-free survival are improved. The benefits are that GCSF is an affordable BA adjunct therapy, especially in developing countries, to improve biliary complications, enhance quality of liver and survival while diminishing costly liver transplantation.Clinical trial registration: A phase 1 for GCSF dose and safety determination under ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03395028 was completed in 2019. The current Phase 2 trial was registered under NCT04373941.

MR elastography outperforms shear wave elastography for the diagnosis of clinically significant portal hypertension

OBJECTIVES

Portal hypertension (PH) is associated with complications such as ascites and esophageal varices and is typically diagnosed through invasive hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement, which is not widely available. In this study, we aim to assess the diagnostic performance of 2D/3D MR elastography (MRE) and shear wave elastography (SWE) measures of liver and spleen stiffness (LS and SS) and spleen volume, to noninvasively diagnose clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) using HVPG measurement as the reference.

METHODS

In this prospective study, patients with liver disease underwent 2D/3D MRE and SWE of the liver and spleen, as well as HVPG measurement. The correlation between MRE/SWE measures of LS/SS and spleen volume with HVPG was assessed. ROC analysis was used to determine the utility of MRE, SWE, and spleen volume for diagnosing CSPH.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients (M/F 22/14, mean age 55 ± 14 years) were included. Of the evaluated parameters, 3D MRE SS had the strongest correlation with HVPG (r = 0.686, p < 0.001), followed by 2D MRE SS (r = 0.476, p = 0.004). 3D MRE SS displayed the best performance for diagnosis of CSPH (AUC = 0.911) followed by 2D MRE SS (AUC = 0.845) and 3D MRE LS (AUC = 0.804). SWE SS showed poor performance for diagnosis of CSPH (AUC = 0.583) while spleen volume was a fair predictor (AUC = 0.738). 3D MRE SS was significantly superior to SWE LS/SS (p ≤ 0.021) for the diagnosis of CSPH.

CONCLUSION

SS measured with 3D MRE outperforms SWE for the diagnosis of CSPH. SS appears to be a useful biomarker for assessing PH severity. These results need further validation.

KEY POINTS

• Spleen stiffness measured with 2D and 3D MR elastography correlates significantly with hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement. • Spleen stiffness measured with 3D MR elastography demonstrates excellent performance for the diagnosis of clinically significant portal hypertension (AUC 0.911). • Spleen stiffness measured with 3D MR elastography outperforms liver and spleen stiffness measured with shear wave elastography for diagnosis of clinically significant portal hypertension.

What Makes Cirrhosis Irreversible?-Consideration on Structural Changes

Several studies have shown that liver fibrosis, and even cirrhosis can be reversed, disproving the old “dogma” that cirrhosis is irreversible. In addition to scaring, vascular alterations appear to be critically important in the progression of chronic liver diseases. To overcome the “tipping-point” of cirrhosis, we need to understand in depth what might make it irreversible in some cases. Morphologically, the initial, as well as the advanced stages of cirrhosis are characterized by specific structural changes. The hallmark of the initial stage is the division of the original liver parenchyma by centro-central or porto-portal septa. No significant vascular changes are observed in this stage. The advanced stage is characterized by several morphological alterations: (i) The main feature is the parenchymal extinction, with intact portal vein branches, hepatic artery branches, and biliary ductules; (ii) In the extinct areas we observed numerous loops in the ductular network, indicating the disruption of the hepato-biliary junctions; (iii) Although the ductular progenitor cells are able to generate hepatocytes via the budding process, the newly formed hepatocyte nodules cannot re-establish the original lobular architecture due to their disorganized growth. In conclusion, this regenerative process characteristic for the advanced stage, contributes to circulatory disorders, perpetuates parenchymal injury and may lead to the irreversibility of cirrhosis.

Liver fibrosis quantification

Liver fibrosis (LF) is the wound healing response to chronic liver injury. LF is the endpoint of chronic liver disease (CLD) regardless of etiology and the single most important determinant of long-term liver-related clinical outcomes. Quantification of LF is important for staging, to evaluate response to treatment and to predict outcomes. LF is traditionally staged by liver biopsy. However, liver biopsy is invasive and suffers from sampling errors when biopsy size is inadequate; therefore, non-invasive tests (NITs) have found important roles in clinical care. NITs include simple laboratory-based serum tests, panels of serum tests, and imaging biomarkers. NITs are validated against the liver biopsy and will be used in the future for evaluation of nearly all CLDs with invasive liver biopsy reserved for some cases. Both serum tests and some imaging biomarkers such as elastography are currently used clinically as surrogate markers for LF. Several other imaging biomarkers are still considered research and awaiting clinical application in the future. As the evaluation of imaging biomarkers will likely become the norm in the future, understanding pathogenesis of LF is important. Knowledge of properties measured by imaging biomarkers and its correlation with LF is important to understand the application of NITs by abdominal radiologists. In this review, we present a brief overview of pathogenesis of LF, spatiotemporal evolution of LF in different CLD, and severity assessment with liver biopsy. This will be followed by a brief discussion on properties measured by imaging biomarkers and their relationship to the LF.

Potential of PALBI-T score as a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma in alcoholic liver disease

Background and Aim

With the control of viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is becoming increasingly important in Japan. In alcoholic cirrhosis, the impact of portal hypertension is significant. Thus, it may be difficult to predict prognosis accurately with the reported prognostic scores. Here we propose the platelet‐albumin‐bilirubin tumor nodes metastasis (TNM) score (PALBI‐T score) as a prognostic model for HCC in alcoholic liver disease, and investigate its usefulness. The PALBI‐T score is an integrated score based on the TNM stage and PALBI grade including platelets, reflecting portal hypertension.

Methods

This study included 163 patients with alcoholic HCC treated at our Center from 1997 to 2018. We compared the prognostic prediction abilities of the Japan Integrated Staging (JIS) score, ALBI‐T score, and PALBI‐T score. The PALBI‐T score was calculated similarly to the JIS and ALBI‐T scores. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were calculated for predicting overall survival (OS).

Results

In predicting the 1‐year survival, the JIS score had a larger AUC (AUC = 0.925) than the ALBI‐T score (AUC = 0.895) and PALBI‐T score (AUC = 0.891). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in predicting OS among the integrated scores. The PALBI‐T score (AUC = 0.740) had the largest AUC, and the JIS score (AUC = 0.729) and ALBI‐T score (AUC = 0.717) were not significantly different from the PALBI grade (AUC = 0.634). The PALBI grade reflected the degree of portal hypertension.

Conclusion

In patients with alcoholic HCC, the Japan Integrated Staging score is useful for predicting short‐term prognosis. The PALBI‐T score, which reflects portal hypertension, appears to be a more valid prognostic score for predicting long‐term prognosis.

Fibrosis and hepatic regeneration mechanism

Liver cirrhosis is the final stage of continuous hepatic inflammatory activity derived by viral, metabolic or autoimmune origin. In the last years, cirrhosis was considered a unique and static condition; recently was accepted some patients subgroups with different liver injury degrees that coexist under the same diagnosis, with implications about the natural disease history. The liver growth factor (LGF) is a potent in vivo and in vitro mitogenic agent and an inducer of hepatic regeneration (HR) through the hepatocytes DNA synthesis. The clinical implications of the LGF levels in cirrhosis, are not clear and even with having a fundamental role in the liver regeneration processes, the studies suggest that it could be a cirrhosis severity marker, in acute liver failure and in chronic hepatitis. Its role as predictor of mortality in fulminant hepatic insufficiency patients has been suggested. HR is one of the most enigmatic and fascinating biological phenomena. The rapid volume and liver function restoration after a major hepatectomy (>70%) or severe hepatocellular damage and its strict regulation of tissue damage response after the cessation, is an exclusive property of the liver. HR is the clinical applications fundament, such as extensive hepatic resections (>70% of the liver parenchyma), segmental transplantation or living donor transplantation, sequential hepatectomies, isolated portal embolization or associated with in situ hepatic transection, temporary artificial support in acute liver failure and the possible cell therapy clinical applications.

Diagnostic challenges in patients with alcohol-related liver disease

Alcohol is globally the leading risk factor for cirrhosis and is subsumed under the term alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). However, only ca. 10% of people with harmful alcohol consumption (>40 gram alcohol per day) develop cirrhosis, while 15% have normal liver histology. Unfortunately, laboratory parameters and ultrasound hold little value to neither rule-in nor rule out alcohol related liver fibrosis. While several indices with combinations of liver associated markers such as FIB4 seem to be promising, non-invasive test strategies are urgently needed with cut-off's that can be applied to guide clinical decision making. The aims of this review article are to highlight novel developments for the diagnosis of ALD and to identify topics of controversy and potential future directions. In the last 15 years, elastography to measure liver stiffness (LS) has significantly improved our screening strategies for cirrhosis. LS values below 6 kPa are considered as normal and exclude ALD. LS of 8 and 12.5 kPa represent generally accepted cut-off values for F3 and F4 fibrosis. Especially, transient elastography (TE) has been assessed in numerous studies, but similar performance can be obtained with point shear wave elastography, 2 SD shear wave elastography or MR elastography. Important confounders of elevated LS such as inflammation should also be considered and alcohol withdrawal not only improves liver inflammation but also LS. Liver stiffness measurement has signficiantly improved early diagnosis and follow-up of fibrosis in patients with ALD and patients with diagnosed manifest but clinically compensated cirrhosis should undergo further clinical examinations to rule out complications of portal hypertension. In addition, surveillance for the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma is recommended in all cirrhotic patients.

Noncontrast-enhanced MRI-based Noninvasive Score for Portal Hypertension (CHESS1802): An International Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

This study aimed to determine the performance of the non-invasive score using noncontrast-enhanced MRI (CHESS-DIS score) for detecting portal hypertension in cirrhosis.

METHODS

In this international multicenter, diagnostic study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03766880), patients with cirrhosis who had hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement and noncontrast-enhanced MRI were prospectively recruited from four university hospitals in China (n=4) and Turkey (n=1) between December 2018 and April 2019. A cohort of patients was retrospectively recruited from a university hospital in Italy between March 2015 and November 2017. After segmentation of the liver on fat-suppressed T1-weighted MRI maps, CHESS-DIS score was calculated automatically by an in-house developed code based on the quantification of liver surface nodularity.

RESULTS

A total of 149 patients were included, of which 124 were from four Chinese hospitals (training cohort) and 25 were from two international hospitals (validation cohort). A positive correlation between CHESS-DIS score and HVPG was found with the correlation coefficients of 0.36 (p<0.0001) and 0.55 (p<0.01) for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of CHESS-DIS score in detection of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) was 0.81 and 0.9 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficients for assessing the inter- and intra-observer agreement were 0.846 and 0.841, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A non-invasive score using noncontrast-enhanced MRI was developed and proved to be significantly correlated with invasive HVPG. Besides, this score could be used to detect CSPH in patients with cirrhosis.

A Machine Learning Approach to Liver Histological Evaluation Predicts Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension in NASH Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the standard for estimating portal pressure but requires expertise for interpretation. We hypothesized that HVPG could be extrapolated from liver histology using a machine learning (ML) algorithm.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Patients with NASH with compensated cirrhosis from a phase 2b trial were included. HVPG and biopsies from baseline and weeks 48 and 96 were reviewed centrally, and biopsies evaluated with a convolutional neural network (PathAI, Boston, MA). Using trichrome-stained biopsies in the training set (n = 130), an ML model was developed to recognize fibrosis patterns associated with HVPG, and the resultant ML HVPG score was validated in a held-out test set (n = 88). Associations between the ML HVPG score with measured HVPG and liver-related events, and performance of the ML HVPG score for clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) (HVPG ≥ 10 mm Hg), were determined. The ML-HVPG score was more strongly correlated with HVPG than hepatic collagen by morphometry (ρ = 0.47 vs. ρ = 0.28; P < 0.001). The ML HVPG score differentiated patients with normal (0-5 mm Hg) and elevated (5.5-9.5 mm Hg) HVPG and CSPH (median: 1.51 vs. 1.93 vs. 2.60; all P < 0.05). The areas under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCs) (95% CI) of the ML-HVPG score for CSPH were 0.85 (0.80, 0.90) and 0.76 (0.68, 0.85) in the training and test sets, respectively. Discrimination of the ML-HVPG score for CSPH improved with the addition of a ML parameter for nodularity, Enhanced Liver Fibrosis, platelets, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and bilirubin (AUROC in test set: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.92). Although baseline ML-HVPG score was not prognostic, changes were predictive of clinical events (HR: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.26, 3.59) and associated with hemodynamic response and fibrosis improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

An ML model based on trichrome-stained liver biopsy slides can predict CSPH in patients with NASH with cirrhosis.

Longitudinal Analysis of the Effect of Repeated Transarterial Chemoembolization for Liver Cancer on Portal Venous Pressure

Objectives

Investigate long-term effects of repeated transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on portal venous pressure (PVP) using non-invasive surrogate markers of portal hypertension.

Methods

Retrospective, Institutional Review Board-approved study. 99 patients [hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) group (n=57); liver metastasis group (n=42)] who underwent 279TACEs and had longitudinal pre-/post-therapy contrast-enhanced-MRI (n=388) and complete blood work were included. Outcomes of interest were platelet count (PC), spleen volume, ascites and portosystemic collaterals. Variables included TACE type/number, tumor type, microcatheter location, Child-Pugh, baseline tumor burden (tumor number/total/largest size), vessel invasion, alpha-fetoprotein, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Generalized Estimating Equations assessed the associations between TACE and outcomes. Power analysis determined the sample size was sufficient.

Results

No significant change in PC over time was observed in either groups, regardless of liver function (P>0.05). Baseline spleen volume was 226 cm³ for metastatic group, and was larger by 204 cm³ for HCC group (P<0.001). Spleen volume increased by 20 cm³ (95%CI: 8-32; P=0.001) for both groups after 1^stTACE and by 16cm³/TACE (P=0.099) over the full follow-up (up to 9TACEs). Spleen volume also tended to increase by 23cm³ (95%CI: -1–48; P=0.064) with higher tumor burden. Odds of developing moderate/severe ascites for metastatic patients was decreased by 0.5 (95%CI: 0.3–0.9; P=0.014), regardless of the Child-Pugh, and increased by 1.5 (95%CI: 1.2–1.9; P<0.001) among HCC patients with unstable Child-Pugh, whereas no change was noted with stable Child-Pugh. HCC patients with unstable Child-Pugh demonstrated a significant increase in portosystemic collaterals number over time (P=0.008). PVP-related complications such as variceal bleeding post-TACE were low (0.4%).

Conclusion

Repeated TACEs did seem to have an impact on PVP. However, the increase in PVP had marginal effects with low portal hypertension-related complications.

Hepatocellular carcinoma risk after viral response in hepatitis C virus-advanced fibrosis: Who to screen and for how long?

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection is associated with fibrosis progression, end-stage liver complications and HCC. Not surprisingly, HCV infection is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. After sustained virological response (SVR), the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma is not completely eliminated in patients with established cirrhosis or with advanced fibrosis. Therefore, lifelong surveillance is currently recommended. This strategy is likely not universally cost-effective and harmless, considering that not all patients with advanced fibrosis have the same risk of developing HCC. Factors related to the severity of liver disease and its potential to improve after SVR, the molecular and epigenetic changes that occur during infection and other associated comorbidities might account for different risk levels and are likely essential for identifying patients who would benefit from screening programs after SVR. Efforts to develop predictive models and risk calculators, biomarkers and genetic panels and even deep learning models to estimate the individual risk of HCC have been made in the direct-acting antiviral agents era, when thousands of patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis have reached SVR. These tools could help to identify patients with very low HCC risk in whom surveillance might not be justified. In this review, factors affecting the probability of HCC development after SVR, the benefits and risks of surveillance, suggested strategies to estimate individualized HCC risk and the current evidence to recommend lifelong surveillance are discussed.

Prospective Study of Outcomes in Adults with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

BACKGROUND

The prognoses with respect to mortality and hepatic and nonhepatic outcomes across the histologic spectrum of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are not well defined.

METHODS

We prospectively followed a multicenter patient population that included the full histologic spectrum of NAFLD. The incidences of death and other outcomes were compared across baseline histologic characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 1773 adults with NAFLD were followed for a median of 4 years. All-cause mortality increased with increasing fibrosis stages (0.32 deaths per 100 person-years for stage F0 to F2 [no, mild, or moderate fibrosis], 0.89 deaths per 100 persons-years for stage F3 [bridging fibrosis], and 1.76 deaths per 100 person-years for stage F4 [cirrhosis]). The incidence of liver-related complications per 100 person-years increased with fibrosis stage (F0 to F2 vs. F3 vs. F4) as follows: variceal hemorrhage (0.00 vs. 0.06 vs. 0.70), ascites (0.04 vs. 0.52 vs. 1.20), encephalopathy (0.02 vs. 0.75 vs. 2.39), and hepatocellular cancer (0.04 vs. 0.34 vs. 0.14). As compared with patients with stage F0 to F2 fibrosis, patients with stage F4 fibrosis also had a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes (7.53 vs. 4.45 events per 100 person-years) and a decrease of more than 40% in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (2.98 vs. 0.97 events per 100 person-years). The incidence of cardiac events and nonhepatic cancers were similar across fibrosis stages. After adjustment for age, sex, race, diabetes status, and baseline histologic severity, the incidence of any hepatic decompensation event (variceal hemorrhage, ascites, or encephalopathy) was associated with increased all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.2 to 21.3).

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective study involving patients with NAFLD, fibrosis stages F3 and F4 were associated with increased risks of liver-related complications and death. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and others; NAFLD DB2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01030484.).

Thick Fibrous Septa on Liver Biopsy Specimens Predict the Development of Decompensation in Patients With Compensated Cirrhosis

OBJECTIVES

In compensated cirrhosis, thick fibrous septa and small nodules on liver biopsy specimens correlate with the presence of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). In turn, CSPH is the strongest predictor of cirrhosis decompensation. The aim of the study was to correlate liver biopsy specimen characteristics with the development of decompensation in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

METHODS

Patients with compensated cirrhosis and a concurrent liver biopsy specimen were reviewed. Semiquantitative grading of septal thickness and nodule size was performed. Primary end point was development of clinical decompensation. In total, 168 patients (median age, 49 years; 76% men) were included in the study; the most common etiology was viral.

RESULTS

In a median follow-up of 50 months, 43 (26%) patients developed clinical decompensation (60% ascites, 16% encephalopathy, 12% variceal hemorrhage, 7% jaundice, and 5% mixed). On univariate analysis, septal width was significantly associated with decompensation, but nodule size was not. On multivariate analysis including model for end-stage liver disease score, serum albumin, and septal width, albumin and septal width were independent predictors of decompensation.

CONCLUSIONS

Histologic cirrhosis in compensated patients can be subclassified by severity based on septal thickness, with thick septa denoting worse prognosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in primary sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cholangitis: a clinical and pathological study in an uncommon but emerging setting

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are biliary tract pathologies with increased risk of HCC, although HCC is more commonly associated with viral hepatitis and steatohepatitis. HCC risk stratification in PBC/PSC populations may help select patients for surveillance. We hypothesized that metabolic syndrome associated diagnoses and co-morbid nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be risk factors for HCC in patients with PBC and PSC. We undertook a multi-institutional case control study of PSC (19 cases, 38 controls) and PBC (39 cases and controls) patients with advanced fibrosis, matched for known HCC risk factors of age and sex, who had native liver explant or resection specimens. In the PSC population, HCC risk was significantly associated with multiple metabolic syndrome associated diagnoses (OR 13, p = 0.02), hyperlipidemia (OR 29, p = 0.03), and obesity (OR 6.8, p = 0.01). In the PBC cohort, only type 2 diabetes was a risk factor for HCC (OR 4.7, p = 0.03). In the PSC cohort, thick fibrous septae were associated with HCC risk (OR 3.4, p = 0.04). No other pathologic features of the nonneoplastic liver were significantly associated with HCC, including features of NAFLD such as macrovesicular steatosis, pericellular fibrosis, and steatohepatitis. Metabolic syndrome associated diagnoses, specifically type 2 diabetes among PBC patients, is associated with HCC risk in patients with biliary type cirrhosis. However, we found no evidence that HCC risk is related to co-morbid NAFLD, indicating a likely distinct mechanism of metabolic syndrome-associated carcinogenesis in these populations.

Serum Biomarkers of Liver Fibrosis Staging in the Era of the Concept "Compensated Advanced Chronic Liver Disease"

Non-invasive indexes of liver fibrosis based on blood examinations have been developed for decades, partially replacing liver biopsy examinations. Recently, the concept of liver cirrhosis was revised and converted to "compensated advanced chronic liver diseases" since the Baveno VI consensus statement in 2015. The term "compensated advanced chronic liver diseases" was established based on the premise that serum biomarkers were not able to differentiate cirrhosis from severe fibrosis. The difficulty to histologically distinguish cirrhosis from severe fibrosis had been pointed out in 1977, when the definition and nomenclatures of cirrhosis had been determined by the World Health Organization. That was decades before serum biomarkers available at present were investigated. Though we are accustomed to differentiating the fibrosis stage as stage 1, 2, 3 (severe fibrosis), and 4 (cirrhosis), differentiation of cirrhosis from severe fibrosis is difficult even by histopathological examination. The current review will provide readers a framework to revise how to apply serum biomarkers on liver fibrosis staging in an era of the concept of "compensated advanced chronic liver disease".

Effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt treatment of patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension: Case series

RATIONALE

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is well established as an effective treatment tool for portal hypertension. However, the effects of TIPS in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension have not been adequately verified in clinical trials.

PATIENT CONCERNS

To evaluate the effects of TIPS in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension with or without portal vein thrombosis (PVT).

INTERVENTIONS

A total of 55 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension received TIPS treatment from December 2014 to April 2018 were enrolled. Clinical data, including portal pressure, Child-Pugh score, and relevant complications were recorded.

OUTCOMES

TIPS was successfully performed in 54 patients. The overall technical success rate was 98.19% without serious technical complications. After TIPS treatment, portal pressure was significantly reduced from 38.13 ± 4.00 cmH2O to 24.14 ± 3.84 cmH2O (P < 0.05). In addition, symptoms including gastrointestinal bleeding and ascites were improved after TIPS treatment. During the 6 to 21-month follow up, hepatic encephalopathy in 15 patients (27.8%), shunt dysfunction in 5 patients (9.3%), rebleeding in 12 patients (22.2%) and deterioration of liver function in 2 patients (3.7%) were recorded. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the rates of rebleeding and hepatic encephalopathy between patients with PVT and the non-PVT group, whereas the occurrence rate of TIPS dysfunction was higher in the PVT group, but not statistically significant.

LESSONS

TIPS treatment could alleviate the symptoms of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension in individuals with or without PVT. However, complications during follow-up should be appropriately noted and addressed with corresponding treatments.

Histological sub-classification of cirrhosis using collagen proportionate area in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Collagen proportionate area (CPA, %) is used to quantify liver fibrosis. Here, we assessed CPA performance to sub-classify cirrhosis. CPA was measured in explanted livers from consecutively transplanted patients for hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), Child-Pugh score and decompensating events (ascites, variceal bleeding, non-obstructive jaundice and encephalopathy) were recorded at the time of liver transplant. Of the 154 patients, 24%, 12%, 35%, 24% and 5% had zero, one, two, three and four previous decompensating events. Patients with decompensation had significantly higher CPA than those without (25.1 ± 8.4 vs 15.8 ± 5.5, P < .001). Decompensation was independently associated with CPA, bilirubin and albumin or with CPA and MELD score. CPA did not differ between patients with one, two, three or four decompensating events (22.2 ± 6.3 vs 26.6 ± 8.9 vs 24.5 ± 7.7 vs 24.4 ± 10.9, P = .242). Overall, CPA correlates with the clinical severity of cirrhosis until the advent of decompensation but not with subsequent decompensating events.

Per-rectal portal scintigraphy as an alternative measure of hepatic venous pressure gradient in chronic liver disease: A preliminary report

AIM

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement is a gold standard for the diagnosis of portal hypertension but can be invasive and difficult to conduct. Per-rectal portal scintigraphy (PRPS) can estimate portal haemodynamics noninvasively. However, no report to date has examined the association between HVPG and PRPS in patients with chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis.

METHODS

This single-centre study included a total of 21 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent HVPG measurement and PRPS. For PRPS, the transit times from injection of the radiotracer to its inflow into the liver (TTL) and heart (TTH) were set and the time difference between TTL and TTH (TDLH) was calculated, while the shunt index (SI) was measured.

RESULTS

Cirrhosis was observed in 18 cases (86%), and the median HVPG was 13 mmHg. HVPG (p = 0.028), TTL (p = 0.018), TDLH (p = 0.003) and SI (p = 0.033) were higher in patients with oesophageal varices (EV). Considering the diagnostic ability for EV, the area under the curve was 0.88 for TDLH and 0.80 for HVPG. TDLH was significantly correlated with the risk of EV rupture (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Patients with chronic liver disease should undergo upper gastrointestinal endoscopy when the TDLH is high.

Liver Pathologic Changes After Direct-Acting Antiviral Agent Therapy and Sustained Virologic Response in the Setting of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

CONTEXT.—

Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis C (HCV) infection with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) results in cure, or sustained viral response (SVR), in more than 90% of patients. However, there are subsets of patients who have persistent liver inflammation and fibrosis and develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) despite achieving SVR. A possible reason for these phenomena may be the presence of virus particles in liver tissue but not blood, otherwise defined as occult infection.

OBJECTIVE.—

To describe liver histologic findings following successful DAA therapy, test HCV RNA by (liver) tissue polymerase chain reaction in treated cases, and identify predictive markers for HCC development in treated cases.

DESIGN.—

A total of 96 identified patients were divided into 4 groups, each differentiated by the presence or absence of SVR and HCC. Groups were compared for several clinicopathologic variables, including degree of inflammation and fibrosis, and the 'directionality' of fibrosis in cirrhotic livers using the novel progressive-indeterminate-regressive scoring system.

RESULTS.—

Overall, we found a significant decrease in inflammation in SVR patients. None of the patients showed regression of their cirrhosis following treatment. No evidence of occult HCV infection was seen in 40 livers tested, including 21 with HCC. The number of patients who developed HCC was similar in the SVR and non-SVR groups, and increased inflammation and fibrosis were associated with HCC development.

CONCLUSIONS.—

Following DAA-SVR there appears to be an overall decrease in inflammation, but the fibrosis tends to persist, at least in the short term (median follow-up of 20.2 months).

Fibrosis Regression After Eradication of Hepatitis C Virus: From Bench to Bedside

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its complications have been the major cause of cirrhosis and its complications for several decades in the Western world. Until recently, treatment for HCV with interferon-based regimens was associated with moderate success but was difficult to tolerate. More recently, however, an arsenal of novel and highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs has transformed the landscape by curing HCV in a broad range of patients, including those with established advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, comorbidities, and even those with complications of cirrhosis. Fibrosis is a dynamic process comprising both extracellular matrix deposition, as well as its degradation. With almost universal sustained virologic response (SVR) (ie, elimination of HCV), it is timely to explore whether HCV eradication can reverse fibrosis and cirrhosis. Indeed, fibrosis in several types of liver disease is reversible, including HCV. However, we do not know with certainty in whom fibrosis regression can be expected after HCV elimination, how quickly it occurs, and whether antifibrotic therapies will be indicated in those with persistent cirrhosis. This review summarizes the evidence for reversibility of fibrosis and cirrhosis after HCV eradication, its impact on clinical outcomes, and therapeutic prospects for directly promoting fibrosis regression in patients whose fibrosis persists after SVR.

The longitudinal outcomes of applying non-selective beta-blockers in portal hypertension: real-world multicenter study

BACKGROUND/AIM

We investigated the effect of non-selective β-blockers (NSBB) in real-world situations and whether low-dose NSBB is beneficial compared to maximally tolerated doses.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of 740 patients with cirrhosis requiring prophylactic treatment of esophageal varices: 473 primary prophylaxis (PP: NSBB = 349, non-NSBB = 124) and 267 secondary prophylaxis (SP: NSBB = 200, non-NSBB = 67). The NSBB group was divided into low-dose (≤ 80 mg/day) and high-dose (> 80 mg/day).

RESULTS

In the PP group, NSBB treatment reduced mortality and showed the most pronounced effect in patients with moderate/severe ascites (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; p < 0.01), HVPG ≥ 16 mmHg (HR, 0.53; p = 0.04), or CTP class B/C (HR, 0.46; p < 0.01) but not in those with no/mild ascites, HVPG < 16 mmHg, or CTP class A. Low-dose NSBB group showed a significant reduction in mortality compared with non-NSBB (moderate/severe ascites: HR, 0.61; p = 0.02 and CTP class B/C: HR, 0.41; p < 0.01) and the effect size was stronger than the high-dose NSBB. NSBB was associated with a reduced risk of infection (HR, 0.36; p = 0.01). In the SP group, NSBB prolonged survival in patients with moderate/severe ascites (HR, 0.56; p = 0.02), HVPG ≥ 16 mmHg (HR, 0.42; p < 0.01), or CTP class B/C (HR, 0.52; p < 0.01). Low-dose NSBB was more beneficial with 56% risk reduction (p < 0.01) of mortality compared with 33% risk reduction in the high-dose NSBB (p = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

NSBB therapy was associated with longer survival in PP and SP groups who had an advanced stage of cirrhosis. Moreover, low-dose NSBB exhibited a better benefit than a standard-titrated high-dose NSBB with better tolerability.

Sleep Disturbance Is Associated With the Presence of Portosystemic Collaterals in Patients With Compensated Cirrhosis

Disturbed sleep is common among patients with cirrhosis. The extent to which this is associated with the different stages of compensated cirrhosis is unknown. This study examines whether the presence of portosystemic collaterals, an indicator of clinically significant portal hypertension, is associated with sleep disturbance in compensated cirrhosis. We conducted a cross-sectional study among patients with compensated cirrhosis, comparing sleep characteristics, sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness between 21 patients without and 21 patients with portosystemic collaterals. Patients were assessed with wrist actigraphy, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Collateral presence was determined by imaging and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Differences in sleep characteristics were analyzed using t tests and computed effect sizes. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between collaterals and sleep disturbance while controlling for possible confounders. The group of patients with collaterals had greater beta-blocker and tobacco use, lower albumin, and higher international normalized ratio compared to the group without collaterals. Patients with collaterals had more sleep fragmentation (Cohen's d = -0.86), lower sleep efficiency (Cohen's d = 0.59), and lower total sleep time (Cohen's d = 0.75) than patients without collaterals. The presence of collaterals was independently associated with greater sleep fragmentation (P = 0.046) and greater daytime sleepiness (P = 0.030). Conclusion: Patients with compensated cirrhosis complicated by portosystemic collaterals experienced more sleep disturbance than those without collaterals.

The stratification of cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is traditionally seen as an irreversible stage of chronic liver disease although its clinical course may last several years. Overall, the clinical management of patients with cirrhosis is based on the observation of clinical events mostly related to complications of portal hypertension. Each event of cirrhosis decompensation has clear prognostic implications although it is not precisely predictable. In practice, the advancement in the knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for disease progression is not yet translated in clinical tools allowing the stratification of the cirrhotic stage according to pathophysiological mechanisms. This article provides a review of the main clinical and histopathological features of liver cirrhosis that are relevant for its clinical stratification together with the advancements provided by the introduction of non-invasive measures of portal hypertension. Other clinical aspects that have a major impact on the quality of life and the possibility of liver transplantation are also discussed.

Patients With Signs of Advanced Liver Disease and Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension Do Not Necessarily Have Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with hepatic venous pressure gradients (HVPGs) of 10 mm Hg or greater and chronic liver disease often are assumed to have cirrhosis. We investigated the association between HVPGs and cirrhosis, using histologic findings as the reference standard. We also assessed the prevalence and characteristics of patients with HVPGs of 10 mm Hg or greater without cirrhosis.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 157 consecutive patients, 89 with suspected cirrhosis and hepatic hemodynamic data collected from 2015 through 2017. Biopsy specimens collected had 10 or more portal tracts from each patient and were analyzed for features of cirrhosis. Biopsy specimens with histologic features of cirrhosis were excluded and the remaining biopsy specimens were re-reviewed by an expert pathologist. The fibrosis area was calculated digitally by image analysis.

RESULTS

HVPG identified patients with cirrhosis with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.879: 14 of 89 patients with HVPG of 10 mm Hg or greater (16%) had no histologic features of cirrhosis (METAVIR scores <4 and Ishak scores <6). The median HVPG was 11 mm Hg (range, 10-22 mm Hg). Based on METAVIR scores, 7 patients had fibrosis stage F3, 4 patients had fibrosis stage F2, and 3 patients had fibrosis stages F0 or F1. The mean area of fibrosis in livers was 16.2% ± 6.5%. All 14 patients had perisinusoidal fibrosis and 8 patients had hepatocyte ballooning. The most common diagnoses were nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (n = 5) and nodular regenerative hyperplasia (n = 4). An HVPG cut-off value of 12 mm Hg identified patients with cirrhosis with 92% specificity, misclassifying 5 patients with different etiologies of liver disease.

CONCLUSIONS

In a retrospective analysis of 89 consecutive patients with chronic liver disease and an HVPG of 10 mm Hg or greater, 16% were not found to have cirrhosis upon biopsy analysis. Most of these patients had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or nodular regenerative hyperplasia. Perisinusoidal fibrosis and hepatocyte ballooning might increase sinusoidal pressure. An HVPG cut-off value of 12 mm Hg or greater identified patients with cirrhosis with 92% specificity.

Enhanced processing of von Willebrand factor reflects disease severity and discriminates severe portal hypertension in cirrhosis

OBJECTIVES

Portal hypertension in cirrhosis is associated with endothelial dysfunction, impaired wound healing, and decreased platelet count. Increased von Willebrand factor (VWF) formation has been suggested as a compensatory mechanism, but the role of VWF processing has not been directly assessed. The aim was to measure the processing of activated VWF (VWF-A) in addition to VWF release (VWF-N) to investigate the association of primary hemostasis with disease activity and portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

Plasma samples from 105 participants undergoing liver vein catheterization and with liver cirrhosis of varying severity were included in the study together with 20 controls without liver disease. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay format was used to estimate biomarkers of VWF turnover using neo-epitope-specific monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTS

VWF-N levels and VWF-A levels were significantly elevated in cirrhotic patients compared with controls (P<0.0001), and both markers could discriminate mild from severe cirrhosis (VWF-N, P<0.0001; VWF-A, P<0.05). Both markers correlated well with increasing portal hypertension and could identify patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (VWF-N, area under the curve: 0.78; VWF-A, area under the curve: 0.67). Only VWF-A significantly separated compensated from decompensated patients (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The data indicate that both VWF release and processing of active VWF are increased in cirrhosis, reflecting ongoing wound healing initiation. VWF-N and VWF-A may specifically contain information to assess the presence and severity of PHT as an early indicator of cirrhosis, and for acute damage in decompensated cirrhosis. Whether the increased wound healing affects long-term outcome needs to be addressed in future studies.

The relationship between fibrosis and nodule structure and esophageal varices

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the histopathological findings of cirrhosis together with clinical and laboratory parameters, and to investigate their relationship with esophageal varices that are portal hypertension findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 67 (42 male and 25 female) patients who were diagnosed with cirrhosis were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 51.6±19.0 (1-81) years. The biopsy specimens of the patients were graded in terms of fibrosis, nodularity, loss of portal area, central venous loss, inflammation, and steatosis. The spleen sizes were graded ultrasonographically, and the esophageal varices were graded endoscopically.

RESULTS

In the multivariate regression analysis, there was a correlation between the advanced disease stage (Child-Pugh score odds ratio (OR): 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.018-2.121, p=0.040), presence of micronodularity (OR: 0.318, 95% CI: 0.120-0.842, p=0.021), grade of central venous loss (OR: 5.231, 95% CI: 1.132-24.176, p=0.034), and presence of esophageal varicose veins.

CONCLUSION

Although thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly may predict the presence of large esophageal varices, cirrhosis histopathology is the main factor in the presence of varices.

Clinically Evident Portal Hypertension: An Operational Research Definition for Future Investigations in the Pediatric Population

Portal hypertension (PHT) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric liver diseases. Thus, research into causes and disease modifiers in PHT in these conditions is vitally important. PHT is rarely directly or indirectly measured in the assessment of children with chronic liver disease. A straightforward, reproducible definition of PHT could be invaluable for consistently identifying patients with PHT and for grouping these patients according to their risk of complications from their disease. We propose the term Clinically Evident Portal Hypertension (CEPH) to denote clinical findings that demonstrate evidence of elevated portal pressure. When CEPH criteria are met, PHT is highly likely to be present, although it is likely that PHT exists for variable periods of time before meeting CEPH criteria. Use of this research definition of CEPH will allow for consistent identification of these patients by clinicians in nearly any clinical setting and serve as a clinical milepost that may dictate future prognosis in pediatric patients with cirrhosis.

Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient Measurements in Children: Correlation With Hepatic Histology and Clinical Indicators of Portal Hypertension

OBJECTIVES

In adults, elevated hepatic venous pressure gradients (HVPGs) are correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis on histopathology and predict worse outcomes including variceal bleeding and death. We aimed to examine the association between HVPG measurements, histopathologic findings, and clinical indicators of portal hypertension in children.

METHODS

Utilizing retrospective data from 2 pediatric centers between 2006 and 2015, we identified children who underwent simultaneous HVPG measurement and transjugular liver biopsy. Medical charts were reviewed for histopathology, imaging, endoscopic, and clinical data.

RESULTS

Forty-one children (median age 11 years) were included in the analysis with diagnoses of acute hepatitis (n = 15), chronic liver disease (n = 12), hepatic noncirrhotic portal hypertension (n = 4), acute liver failure (n = 3), and nonhepatic causes of portal hypertension (n = 7). Elevated mean HVPG measurements were found in children with acute liver failure (10 mmHg, range 4-12) and chronic liver disease (7 mmHg, range 1-12). HVPG measurements did not correlate with the histological severity of fibrosis (ρ = 0.23, P = 0.14) or portal inflammation (ρ = 0.24, P = 0.29), and no difference was found in HVPG when comparing children with and without a history of variceal bleeding (P = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS

HVPG measurements do not correlate significantly with the degree of hepatic fibrosis on biopsy. Furthermore, HVPG measurements are not associated with the presence of varices or history of variceal bleeding, suggesting the possibility of intrahepatic shunting in children with advanced liver disease. Therefore, unlike in adults, HVPG measurements may not accurately predict children who are at risk of complications from portal hypertension.

Past, present and future perspectives in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was first described as a distinct clinical entity four decades ago. However, the condition has become the centre of attention within hepatology owing to its high prevalence and growing contribution to the burden of end-stage liver disease in the general population. This Perspective provides an overview on the development of knowledge related to NAFLD with a focus on landmark findings that have influenced current paradigms and key knowledge gaps that need to be filled to make progress. Specifically, a timeline of scientific discovery of both basic disease mechanisms (with a focus on human data) and the evolution of knowledge about the clinical course of the disease is provided and related to current approaches to treat and eventually prevent NAFLD.

Pressure gradients, laboratory changes, and outcomes with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts in pediatric portal hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Indications for TIPS are well described in adults and involve complications of PHTN. Complications from PHTN are associated with PSG of > 12 mm Hg in adults. It is unclear if these parameters apply to children with PHTN.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether adult criteria for TIPS placement can be utilized in children, describe laboratory changes over time, and report outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 34 pediatric patients who underwent TIPS, examining indications, radiology, PSG reductions, laboratory changes, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Most patients had PHTN due to parenchymal liver disease including congenital hepatic fibrosis (n = 5), biliary atresia (n = 5), cystic fibrosis-related liver disease (n = 3) and cavernous transformation of the portal vein (n = 6). Indications for TIPS included variceal bleeding, recurrent ascites, and maintenance of portal vein flow following thrombolysis. Variceal bleeding was observed in six children with PSG < 12 mm Hg. Minor complications occurred in eight subjects. Continued bleeding occurred in one patient. Six patients were successfully bridged to transplantation, and three patients died secondary to end-stage disease. Standard laboratory tests stabilized after TIPS placement and hematocrit increased.

CONCLUSION

TIPS placement in pediatric patients was performed for complications of PHTN. Unlike adult series, a substantial proportion of our cases treated extrahepatic PHTN from cavernous transformation of the portal vein. Children presented with sequelae of PHTN with PSG below 12 mm Hg, below the adult standard. We found TIPS in pediatrics to be safe and effective with laboratory stabilization and improvement in hematocrit.

Vascular syndromes in liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is associated with multiple vascular syndromes affecting almost all body systems. Many of these syndromes are directly related to impaired liver function and sometimes reversible after liver transplantation while others arise secondary to portal hypertension and ascites. Altered expression of angiogenic and vasoactive compounds (most importantly nitric oxide), endothelial dysfunction, dysregulated neurohormonal control, and systemic inflammatory state play differential roles in mediating homeostatic instability and abnormal vasogenic response. Important vascular features encountered in liver disease include portal hypertension, splanchnic overflow, abnormal angiogenesis and shunts, portopulmonary syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, and systemic hyperdynamic circulation. Redistribution of effective circulatory volume deviating from vital organs and pooling in splanchnic circulation is also encountered in liver patients which may lead to devastating outcomes as hepatorenal syndrome. Etiologically, vascular syndromes are not isolated phenomena and vascular dysfunction in one system may lead to the development of another in a different system. This review focuses on understanding the pathophysiological factors underlying vascular syndromes related to chronic liver disease and the potential links among them. Many of these syndromes are associated with high mortality, thus it is crucial to look for early biomarkers for these syndromes and develop novel preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Prioritization of Therapeutic Targets and Trial Design in Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension

Portal hypertension (PH) is the main driver of cirrhosis decompensation, the main determinant of death in patients with cirrhosis. PH results initially from increased intrahepatic vascular resistance. Subsequently, increased inflow from splanchnic vasodilation and increased cardiac output lead to a further increase in portal pressure (PP). Reducing PP in cirrhosis results in better outcomes. Removing the cause of cirrhosis might improve PP. However, this is a slow process and patients may continue to be at risk of decompensation. Additionally, for some chronic liver diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), etiological treatments are not yet available. Therefore, there is a need to develop better therapies specifically aimed at reducing PP. For over 35 years, the mainstay of such therapy has been the use of nonselective beta-blockers (NSBBs) that act by reducing portal venous inflow. Recently, many drugs (mainly targeting intrahepatic mechanisms) have shown promise in preclinical and early clinical studies and may act alone or synergistically with NSBBs in reducing PP in cirrhosis. The objective of this position paper is to propose a novel framework for the design of clinical trials (phase 1, 2, and 3) in patients with cirrhosis and PH and to prioritize targets and pharmacological therapies in this setting. We have focused the discussion on patients with compensated cirrhosis. The paper summarizes discussions held at The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Industry Colloquium in January 2018, with the participation of clinical and translational investigators, regulatory professionals, and industry partners.

Future Pharmacological Therapies of Portal Hypertension

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To provide an overview of recent pharmacological treatments for portal hypertension evaluated in early clinical trials, with particular emphasis on the pathophysiological basis of their use.

RECENT FINDINGS

In patients with compensated cirrhosis, even small decreases in portal pressure (as small as 1 mmHg) are associated with a lower probability of decompensation. In patients with decompensated cirrhosis, portal pressure "response" to non-selective beta-blocker (NSBB) therapy is associated with a lower mortality. When present, significant portal hypertension persists even after elimination of the etiology of cirrhosis and this justifies the continued development of new drugs that target portal hypertension.

SUMMARY

Over several decades we have gained great depth in the understanding of portal hypertension, its mechanisms and complications. NSBBs, which act by reducing portal venous inflow (an extrahepatic target), are effective in reducing portal pressure and have been the mainstay of therapy for portal hypertension in the last 35 years -being effective in preventing decompensation and variceal hemorrhage. However, because not all patients will have a sufficient response to NSBB and some may be intolerant to NSBB, alternative drugs or drugs that will augment the effect of NSBB on portal pressure are being tested in pre-clinical and early-clinical trials. Many of these drugs target more than one of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension in cirrhosis. Out of these proposed therapies, statins have emerged as the most promising new pharmacological therapy for the treatment of portal hypertension.

Ultrasound of Diffuse Liver Disease Including Elastography

Diffuse liver disease is a substantial world-wide problem. With the combination of conventional ultrasound of the abdomen and elastography-appropriate staging of the patient can be assessed. This information allows for the detection of fibrosis as well as prognosis, surveillance, and prioritization for treatment. With the potential for reversibility with appropriate treatment, accurate assessment for the stage of chronic liver disease is critical.