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Artru F, Trovato F, Morrison M, Bernal W, McPhail M. Liver transplantation for acute-on-chronic liver failure. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 9:564-576. [PMID: 38309288 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00363-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) occurs in the context of advanced liver disease and is associated with hepatic and extrahepatic organ failure, eventually leading to a major risk of short-term mortality. To date, there are very few effective therapeutic options for ACLF. In many cases, liver transplantation is the only life-saving treatment that has acceptable outcomes in carefully selected recipients. This Review addresses key aspects of the use of liver transplantation for patients with ACLF, providing an in-depth discussion of existing evidence regarding candidate selection, the optimal window for transplantation, potential prioritisation of liver grafts for this indication, and the global management of ACLF to bridge patients to liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Artru
- Liver Intensive Care Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK; Department of Inflammation Biology, School of Infection and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK; Liver Disease Unit, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France; Inerm 1241 NuMeCan, University of Rennes, Rennes, France
| | - Francesca Trovato
- Liver Intensive Care Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK; Department of Inflammation Biology, School of Infection and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maura Morrison
- Liver Intensive Care Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - William Bernal
- Liver Intensive Care Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
| | - Mark McPhail
- Liver Intensive Care Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK; Department of Inflammation Biology, School of Infection and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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2
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Patel A, Walling A, Kanwal F, Serper M, Hernaez R, Sundaram V, Kaplan D, Taddei T, Mahmud N. Rates, patterns, and predictors of specialty palliative care consultation among patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:100976. [PMID: 38274489 PMCID: PMC10808910 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims There is growing acceptance that principles of palliative care should be integrated into the management of serious illnesses affecting the liver, such as acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, rates, patterns, and predictors of specialty palliative care consultation among patients with ACLF have not been well-described. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with ACLF between 1/1/2008 and 12/31/2018 using the VOCAL cohort. Patients were followed until 6/2021. We used mixed-effects regression analyses to identify significant patient and facility factors associated with palliative care consultation. We examined timing of consultation, the influence of ACLF characteristics, and facility-level variation on receipt of palliative care consultation. Results We identified 21,987 patients hospitalized with ACLF, of whom 30.5% received specialty palliative care consultation. Higher ACLF grade (ACLF-2 [odds ratio (OR) 1.82, 95% CI 1.67-1.99], ACLF-3 [OR 3.06, 95% CI 2.76-3.40]), prior specialty palliative care consultation (OR 2.62, 95% CI 2.36-2.91), and hepatocellular carcinoma (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.89-2.33) were associated with consultation. Consultation occurred latest and closest to the time of death for patients with ACLF-3 compared to ACLF-1 and ACLF-2. Significant facility-level variation in consultation persisted among patients with ACLF-3, despite adjusting for multiple patient and facility factors. Conclusion In this large cohort of hospitalized patients with ACLF, specialty palliative care consultation was rare, more common in patients with higher grade ACLF, and tended to occur closer to the time of death for the sickest patients. Greater attention should be placed on earlier integration of palliative care during acute hospitalizations in patients with ACLF. Impact and implications Though palliative care consultation is recommended for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure, there is no data demonstrating how often this occurs during hospitalizations, on a population level. We found that consultation occurs in only 30.5% of patients and occurs later for patients with grade 3 acute-on-chronic liver failure. Our data should provoke clinicians to urgently consider quality improvement efforts to integrate palliative care into the management of these seriously ill patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpan Patel
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Anne Walling
- Department of Medicine, Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Houston VA Health Services Research and Development Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Marina Serper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Leonard David Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ruben Hernaez
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Houston VA Health Services Research and Development Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Vinay Sundaram
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David Kaplan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Tamar Taddei
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Nadim Mahmud
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Medicine, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Leonard David Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Alukal JJ, Li F, Thuluvath PJ. Older Patients With Acute on Chronic Liver Failure Have a Higher Waitlist Mortality, but Acceptable Post Liver Transplantation Survival When Compared To Younger Patients. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023:S1542-3565(23)01000-5. [PMID: 38072285 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2023.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS There is a paucity of studies on older patients (≥65 years) who develop acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF). The objectives of our study were to determine clinical characteristics and outcomes of older patients listed for liver transplantation (LT). METHODS Adults listed for LT with estimated ACLF (Est-ACLF) between 2005 and 2021 were identified using the United Network for Organ Sharing database and subdivided into older and younger age (18-64 years) groups. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to evaluate survival, and a competing-risk model (Fine-Gray) was used to evaluate risk factors for survival on the waitlist. Logistic regression was done to evaluate risk factors. RESULTS A total of 4313 older (14%) and 26,628 younger (86%) patients were listed for LT, and 2142 (49.6%) and 16,931 (63.5%) were transplanted, respectively. Older patients had a higher 30-day waitlist mortality than younger patients (20.4% vs 16.7%; P < .0001); this was more pronounced in Est-ACLF-2 (23.7% vs 14.8%; P < .0001) and Est-ACLF-3 (43.3% vs 29.9%; P < .0001). One-year post-LT, patient survival in older patients with Est-ACLF grades 1, 2, and 3 were 86.4%, 85.5%, and 77% respectively; younger patients had better survival across all Est-ACLF grades. When adjusted for transplant eras, respiratory failure was the only independent risk factor for increased 1-year post-LT mortality in older patients. CONCLUSION Older patients with Est-CLF had significantly higher waitlist mortality than younger patients, but had acceptable 1-year post-LT survival including those with Est-ACLF-3; therefore, age alone should not be considered as a contraindication for LT. Older patients with respiratory failure should be carefully selected for LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Alukal
- Institute of Digestive Health & Liver Diseases, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Medicine, University of California Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, California
| | - Feng Li
- Institute of Digestive Health & Liver Diseases, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Paul J Thuluvath
- Institute of Digestive Health & Liver Diseases, Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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Kim KS, Kim JH, Kwon HM, Moon YJ, Shin WJ, Kim SH, Jun IG, Song JG, Hwang GS. Neutrophilia is more predictive than increased white blood cell counts for short-term mortality after liver transplantation in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. Anesth Pain Med (Seoul) 2023; 18:389-396. [PMID: 37919923 PMCID: PMC10635859 DOI: 10.17085/apm.23048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a life-threatening disease that requires urgent liver transplantation (LT). Accurate identification of high-risk patients is essential for predicting post-LT survival. The chronic liver failure consortium ACLF score is a widely accepted risk-stratification score that includes total white blood cell (WBC) counts as a component. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of total and differential WBC counts for short-term mortality following LT in patients with ACLF. METHODS A total of 685 patients with ACLF who underwent LT between January 2008 and February 2019 were analyzed. Total and differential WBC counts were examined as a function of the model for end-stage liver disease for sodium (MELD-Na) score. The association between total and differential WBC counts and 90-day post-LT mortality was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS The total WBC counts and neutrophil ratio were higher in patients with ACLF than in those without ACLF. The neutrophil ratio was significantly associated with 90-day post-LT mortality after adjustment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; P = 0.001), whereas total WBC counts were not significantly associated with 90-day post-LT mortality in either univariate or multivariate Cox analyses. The neutrophil ratio demonstrated a relatively linear trend with an increasing MELD-Na score and HR for 90-day post-LT mortality, whereas the total WBC counts exhibited a plateaued pattern. CONCLUSIONS Neutrophilia, rather than total WBC counts, is a better prognostic indicator for short-term post-LT mortality in patients with ACLF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-Sun Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae-Hwan Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye-Mee Kwon
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young-Jin Moon
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Won-Jung Shin
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung-Hoon Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - In-Gu Jun
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun-Gol Song
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gyu-Sam Hwang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Laboratory for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Hernaez R, Karvellas CJ, Liu Y, Sacleux SC, Khemichian S, Stein LL, Shetty K, Lindenmeyer CC, Boike JR, Simonetto DA, Rahimi RS, Jalal PK, Izzy M, Kriss MS, Im GY, Lin MV, Jou JH, Fortune BE, Cholankeril G, Kuo A, Mahmud N, Kanwal F, Saliba F, Sundaram V, Artzner T, Jalan R. The novel SALT-M score predicts 1-year post-transplant mortality in patients with severe acute-on-chronic liver failure. J Hepatol 2023; 79:717-727. [PMID: 37315809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Twenty-eight-day mortality ranges from 30-90% in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure grades 2/3 (severe ACLF). Though liver transplantation (LT) has demonstrated a survival benefit, the scarcity of donor organs and uncertainty regarding post-LT mortality among patients with severe ACLF may cause hesitancy. We developed and externally validated a model to predict 1-year post-LT mortality in severe ACLF, called the Sundaram ACLF-LT-Mortality (SALT-M) score, and estimated the median length of stay (LoS) after LT (ACLF-LT-LoS). METHODS In 15 LT centers in the US, we retrospectively identified a cohort of patients with severe ACLF transplanted between 2014-2019, followed up to Jan'2022. Candidate predictors included demographics, clinical and laboratory values, and organ failures. We selected predictors in the final model using clinical criteria and externally validated them in two French cohorts. We provided measures of overall performance, discrimination, and calibration. We used multivariable median regression to estimate LoS after adjusting for clinically relevant factors. RESULTS We included 735 patients, of whom 521 (70.8%) had severe ACLF (120 ACLF-3, external cohort). The median age was 55 years, and 104 with severe ACLF (19.9%) died within 1-year post-LT. Our final model included age >50 years, use of 1/≥2 inotropes, presence of respiratory failure, diabetes mellitus, and BMI (continuous). The c-statistic was 0.72 (derivation) and 0.80 (validation), indicating adequate discrimination and calibration based on the observed/expected probability plots. Age, respiratory failure, BMI, and presence of infection independently predicted median LoS. CONCLUSIONS The SALT-M score predicts mortality within 1-year after LT in patients with ACLF. The ACLF-LT-LoS score predicted median post-LT stay. Future studies using these scores could assist in determining transplant benefits. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Liver transplantation (LT) may be the only life-saving procedure available to patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), but clinically instability can augment the perceived risk of post-transplant mortality at 1 year. We developed a parsimonious score with clinically and readily available parameters to objectively assess 1-year post-LT survival and predict median length of stay after LT. We developed and externally validated a clinical model called the Sundaram ACLF-LT-Mortality score in 521 US patients with ACLF with 2 or ≥3 organ failure(s) and 120 French patients with ACLF grade 3. The c-statistic was 0.72 in the development cohort and 0.80 in the validation cohort. We also provided an estimation of the median length of stay after LT in these patients. Our models can be used in discussions on the risks/benefits of LT in patients listed with severe ACLF. Nevertheless, the score is far from perfect and other factors, such as patient's preference and center-specific factors, need to be considered when using these tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Hernaez
- Section of Gastroenterology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Constantine J Karvellas
- Department of Critical Care Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology (Liver Unit), University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Yan Liu
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sophie-Caroline Sacleux
- Liver Intensive Care Unit, AP-HP Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Villejuif, France; Departement Hospitalo-Universitaire, Hepatinov, Villejuif, France
| | - Saro Khemichian
- Division of Gastrointestinal & Liver Diseases, Keck Hospital at University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lance L Stein
- Piedmont Transplant Institute, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kirti Shetty
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christina C Lindenmeyer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Justin R Boike
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Douglas A Simonetto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Robert S Rahimi
- Baylor University Medical Center, Division of Hepatology. Baylor Scott and White Hospital, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Prasun K Jalal
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Manhal Izzy
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael S Kriss
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Gene Y Im
- Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ming V Lin
- Division of Transplant and Hepatobiliary Diseases, Department of Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, MA, USA
| | - Janice H Jou
- Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Brett E Fortune
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - George Cholankeril
- Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Kuo
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nadim Mahmud
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Section of Gastroenterology, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Faouzi Saliba
- Liver Intensive Care Unit, AP-HP Hôpital Paul-Brousse, Centre Hépato-Biliaire, Villejuif, France
| | - Vinay Sundaram
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thierry Artzner
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Pôle des Pathologies Digestives, Hépatiques et de la Transplantation, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Rajiv Jalan
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College Hospital; Royal Free Campus, London, United Kingdom; Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom; European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain
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Abstract
In recent years there has been a significant increase in the incidence of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). This syndrome is characterized by infections, organ failures, and high short-term mortality. Although progress in the management of these sick patients has been evident, liver transplantation (LT) remains the best treatment modality to date. Several studies have reported LT as a feasible option, despite organ failures. The outcomes following LT are inversely related to the grade of ACLF. This review discusses the current literature on the feasibility, futility, timing, and outcomes of LT in patients with ACLF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand V Kulkarni
- Department of Hepatology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad-500032, India
| | - K Rajender Reddy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, 2 Dulles, Liver Transplant Office 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Artru F, Goldberg D, Kamath PS. Should patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure grade 3 receive higher priority for liver transplantation? J Hepatol 2023; 78:1118-1123. [PMID: 37208098 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In this debate, the authors consider whether patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure grade 3 (ACLF-3) should receive higher liver transplant priority, with reference to the following clinical case: a 62-year-old male with a history of decompensated alcohol-associated cirrhosis, with recurrent ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, and metabolic comorbidities (type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and a BMI of 31 kg/m2). A few days following evaluation for liver transplantation (LT), the patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and placed on mechanical ventilation for neurological failure, FiO2 of 0.3 with a SpO2 of 98%, and started on norepinephrine at 0.62 μg/kg/min. He had been abstinent since the diagnosis of cirrhosis a year prior. Laboratory results at admission were: leukocyte count 12.1 G/L, international normalised ratio 2.1, creatinine 2.4 mg/dl, sodium 133 mmol/L, total bilirubin 7 mg/dl, lactate 5.5 mmol/L, with a MELD-Na score of 31 and a CLIF-C ACLF score of 67. On the 7th day after admission, the patient was placed on the LT waiting list. On the same day, he had massive variceal bleed with hypovolemic shock requiring terlipressin, transfusion of three red blood cell units, and endoscopic band ligation. On day 10, the patient was stabilised with a low dose of norepinephrine 0.03 μg/kg/min, with no new sepsis or bleeding. However, the patient was still intubated for grade 2 hepatic encephalopathy and on renal replacement therapy with a lactate level of 3.1 mmol/L. The patient is currently categorised as having ACLF-3, with five organ failures (liver, kidney, coagulation, circulation, and respiration). Based on the severity of his liver disease and multiorgan failure, the patient is at an exceedingly high risk of death without LT. Is it appropriate to perform LT in such a patient?
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Artru
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Goldberg
- Division of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Patrick S Kamath
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
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8
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Devarbhavi H, Asrani SK, Arab JP, Nartey YA, Pose E, Kamath PS. Global burden of Liver Disease: 2023 Update. J Hepatol 2023:S0168-8278(23)00194-0. [PMID: 36990226 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 178.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Liver disease accounts for 2 million deaths and is responsible for 4% of all deaths (1 out of every 25 deaths worldwide); approximately 2/3 of all liver related deaths occur in men. Deaths are largely attributable to complications of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, with acute hepatitis accounting for a smaller proportion of deaths. The most common causes of cirrhosis worldwide are related to viral hepatitis, alcohol, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hepatotropic viruses are the etiological factor in most cases of acute hepatitis, but drug-induced liver injury increasingly accounts for a significant proportion of cases. This iteration of the global burden of liver disease is an update of the 2019 version and focuses mainly on areas where significant new information is available like alcohol-associated liver disease, NAFLD, viral hepatitis, and HCC. We also devote a separate section to the burden of liver disease in Africa, an area of the world typically neglected in such documents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshad Devarbhavi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India
| | - Sumeet K Asrani
- Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Scott and White, Dallas, TX, United States.
| | - Juan Pablo Arab
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University & London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada; Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yvonne Ayerki Nartey
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Elisa Pose
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)
| | - Patrick S Kamath
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, United States
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9
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Tarlow BD, Kim WR, Mannalithara A, Kwo PY, Bonham CA, Kwong A. Mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease above model for end-stage liver disease 3.0 of 40. Hepatology 2023; 77:851-861. [PMID: 36052665 PMCID: PMC10556544 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Since the implementation of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score to determine waitlist priority for liver transplant (LT) in 2002, the score has been capped at 40. Recently, the MELD 3.0 score was proposed to improve upon MELD-Na. Here, we examine waitlist mortality and LT outcomes in patients with MELD 3.0 ≥ 40 to assess the potential impact of uncapping the score. APPROACH AND RESULTS Adult waitlist registrations for LT from January 2016 to December 2021 were identified in the registry data from the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network. All MELD 3.0 scores were calculated at registration and thereafter. Waitlist mortality for up to 30 days was calculated as well as post-LT survival. There were 54,060 new waitlist registrations during the study period, of whom 2820 (5.2%) had MELD 3.0 ≥ 40 at listing. The 30-day waitlist mortality was high in these patients, yet it increased further in proportion with MELD 3.0 up to a score of 55 with 30-day mortality of 58.3% for MELD 3.0 of 40-44 and 82.4% for ≥50. The multivariable hazard ratio was 1.13 for each point of MELD 3.0, adjusting for several variables including acute-on-chronic liver failure. The number of LT recipients with MELD 40 at transplant increased from 155 in 2002 to 752 in 2021. Posttransplant survival was comparable across MELD strata including MELD of 35-39. CONCLUSION MELD 3.0 scores beyond 40 are associated with increasing waitlist mortality without adversely affecting posttransplant outcome. Uncapping the MELD score in waitlist candidates may lead to greater survival benefit from LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branden D. Tarlow
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Clinic-Gastroenterology-East
| | - W. Ray Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Ajitha Mannalithara
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Paul Y Kwo
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - C. Andrew Bonham
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Allison Kwong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine
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Putignano A, Gustot T. Liver Transplantation in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure Grade 3: Fifty Shades of Gray. Liver Transpl 2022; 28:933-935. [PMID: 35226792 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Putignano
- Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepato-Pancreatology and Digestive Oncology, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thierry Gustot
- Liver Transplant Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepato-Pancreatology and Digestive Oncology, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Multiorgan Transplantation, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.,Inserm Unité 1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'inflammation, Paris, France.,UMR S_1149, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.,European Association for the Study of the Liver-CLIF Consortium, European Foundation for the study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain
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