Challenges in liver transplantation for common variable immunodeficiency-related liver disease: a case series and systematic review

Common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID)-related liver disease: assessment of the main histological aspects using novel semiquantitative scoring systems, image analysis and correlation with clinical parameters of liver stiffness and portal hypertension

AIMS

We aimed to investigate the relationship between T-cell-mediated sinusoidal injury, nodular regenerative hyperplasia like changes (NRH-LC) and fibrosis, clinical measures of fibrosis and portal hypertension, and progression rate in common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID)-related liver disease.

METHODS

This is a retrospective single-centre study. Liver biopsies from CVID patients with liver disease were reviewed to assess for NRH-LC, fibrosis and elastosis, including collagen and elastin proportionate areas. CD3 positive T-cells infiltration and sinusoidal endothelial changes by CD34 expression were quantified by image analysis and a semiquantitative method, respectively. These findings were correlated with liver stiffness measurements (LSM) and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG).

RESULTS

NRH-LC and pericellular elastosis were present in most biopsies (32/40 and 38/40, respectively). All biopsies showed fibrosis, which was limited to pericellular in 21/40 (52.5%) and included bridging fibrous septa in 19/40 (47.5%). 28/40 liver biopsies showed enhanced sinusoidal expression of CD34. There were more CD3 positive cells in biopsies with NRH-LC compared with those without. There was no significant correlation between LSM, HVPG and fibrosis/elastosis scores. Five of seven patients with at least two biopsies showed progression in fibrosis stage.

CONCLUSIONS

NRH-LC and fibrosis in CVID patients often coexist along with the presence of sinusoidal endothelial changes and sinusoidal lymphocytic infiltration. Fibrosis progresses over time, and significant fibrosis can be observed in young patients (<30 years old), potentially reflecting a more aggressive form of CVID-related liver disease. Further studies are necessary to investigate the relationship between histological findings, clinical measures of fibrosis and portal hypertension and outcome.

Management of liver disease and portal hypertension in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)

Patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) frequently develop liver disease and associated complications, which represent an increasingly prevalent unmet medical need. The main hepatic manifestation of CVID is nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH), resulting in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). Liver disease is often underdiagnosed, leading to poor outcomes and decreased survival. The increasing numbers of patients with CVID who are diagnosed late with progressive liver disease underscores the importance of appropriate clinical management and treatment of liver complications. At the same time, specific guidelines for the clinical management of CVID-related liver disease are still lacking. Here, we review the epidemiology of CVID-related liver disease, reveal new insights into NRH and NCPH biology and highlight recently uncovered opportunities for NCPH diagnostics in CVID. Finally, we focus on current management of liver disease, portal hypertension and its complications - the key challenge in patients with CVID. Specifically, we review recent data regarding the role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and liver transplantation in clinical management. The role for anticoagulants and immunosuppressants targeting the pathogenesis of NRH will also be discussed. We propose an updated algorithm for the diagnostic work-up and treatment of NCPH in CVID. Finally, we consider future needs and therapeutic opportunities for CVID-related liver disease.

Medical Challenges of a Common Variable Immunodeficiency With a TNFRSF13B Gene Mutation in a Simultaneous Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Recipient

Common variable immune deficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder, with hypogammaglobulinemia and increased susceptibility to recurrent infections, autoimmune disorders, granulomatous diseases and malignancy. Among the solid organ transplant (SOT) recipient population, those with primary immunodeficiency disorders under chronic immunosuppression therapy can theoretically be at higher risk of atypical infections, autoimmune complications and disease recurrence with suboptimal long term graft survival, but literature is scarce. Here, we report a 27-year-old female with type 1 diabetes mellitus, complicated with nephropathy that progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), who had a history of a chronic inflammatory response dysregulation, with chronic monoarthritis, persistent elevation of inflammation markers, recurrent infections, low immunoglobulin G (IgG) and A (IgA) serum levels, a slightly decreased population of memory B cells at flow cytometric immunophenotyping, and a confirmed pathological heterozygous mutation in the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 13B (TNFRSF13B), with a suspected diagnosis of CVID. Whilst on hemodialysis, she received a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant from a standard criteria donor (SCD), and our induction and maintenance immunosuppression protocol and prophylaxis regimen allowed for a successful transplant with immediate pancreatic function, with no evidence of renal graft rejection upon biopsy in the early post-transplant period, and no novel episodes of serious infectious complications were recorded during a follow-up period of six months.

An Expert Opinion/Approach: Clinical Presentations, Diagnostic Considerations, and Therapeutic Options for Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Common Variable Immune Deficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary immunodeficiency. It is characterized by impaired B-cell differentiation. Although patients can be diagnosed with CVID anytime during their lifetime, most patients have symptoms for 5-9 years before their diagnosis. The diagnosis of CVID starts with a detailed history focusing on the infectious and noninfectious manifestations of the disease. In patients who are suspected to experience CVID, quantitative immunoglobulins (Ig) should be checked to confirm the diagnosis. IgG should be at least 2 times less than the age-specific SD along with either a low IgA or IgM and with evidence of impaired vaccine response. CVID is usually associated with infectious and/or noninfectious conditions, the latter of which can be inflammatory, autoimmune, lymphoproliferative, or malignant, among other manifestations. Ig therapy has positively affected the disease course of patients with infectious complications but has limited effect on the noninfectious manifestations because the noninfectious complications are related to immune dysregulation involving B cells and T cells rather than primarily due to antibody deficiency. When the gastrointestinal (GI) system is involved, patients with CVID may display signs and symptoms that mimic several GI conditions such as celiac disease, pernicious anemia, or inflammatory bowel diseases. The inflammatory bowel disease-like condition is usually treated with steroids, 5-aminosalicylates, thiopurines, or biologic agents to control the inflammation. In this review, the clinical presentations, diagnostic considerations, and therapeutic options for GI manifestations of CVID will be discussed to facilitate the individualized management of these often-complex patients.

Liver Stiffness by Transient Elastography Correlates With Degree of Portal Hypertension in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Patients With Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). While liver biopsy is the gold standard for NRH diagnosis, a non-invasive technique could facilitate early disease recognition, monitoring, and/or immune intervention. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of ultrasound-based transient elastography (TE) in patients with CVID to evaluate liver stiffness and compared this between patients with (N = 12) and without (N = 6) biopsy-proven NRH. Additionally, these data were compared to a cohort followed at our institution for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (N = 527), a disease for which TE has routine diagnostic use. Clinical and pathologic features of NRH were evaluated as correlates of liver stiffness, and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to define a liver stiffness cutoff with diagnostic utility for NRH among CVID patients. CVID patients with NRH had a more severe disease presentation compared to those without. This included increased autoinflammatory disease comorbidities, combined B-cell and T-cell dysfunction, and abnormal liver biochemistries (specifically an increased mean alkaline phosphatase level [proximal to TE, 250 vs. 100 U/L; p = 0.03; peak, 314 vs. 114 U/L; p = 0.02). Results of TE demonstrated a significantly elevated liver stiffness in CVID patients with NRH (mean 13.2 ± 6.2 kPa) as compared to both CVID patients without NRH (mean 4.6 ± 0.9 kPa) and non-CVID patients with NAFLD (mean 6.9 ± 5.5 kPa) (p < 0.01). No single or composite histopathologic feature of NRH correlated with liver stiffness including nodule size, nodule density, sinusoidal dilation, fibrosis, and/or lymphocytosis. In contrast, liver stiffness by TE was significantly correlated with clinical parameters of portal hypertension, including an elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient, an increased splenic longitudinal diameter, presence of varices, and presence of peripheral edema. A liver stiffness of greater than or equal to 6.2 kPa was a clinically significant cutoff for NRH in CVID patients. We propose that TE has diagnostic utility in CVID, particularly in the presence of immunophenotypic features such as combined B-cell and T-cell dysfunction, autoinflammatory comorbidities, and/or abnormal liver tests. Elevated liver stiffness by TE should raise suspicion for NRH in patients with CVID and prompt expedited evaluation by hepatology.