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Bansal AD, Patel AA. Dialysis initiation for patients with decompensated cirrhosis when liver transplant is unlikely. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2024; 33:212-219. [PMID: 38038622 DOI: 10.1097/mnh.0000000000000959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to describe an approach that emphasizes shared decision-making for patients with decompensated cirrhosis and acute kidney injury when liver transplantation is either not an option, or unlikely to be an option. RECENT FINDINGS When acute kidney injury occurs on a background of decompensated cirrhosis, outcomes are generally poor. Providers can also be faced with prognostic uncertainty. A lack of guidance from nephrology and hepatology professional societies means that providers rely on expert opinion or institutional practice patterns. SUMMARY For patients who are unlikely to receive liver transplantation, the occurrence of acute kidney injury represents an opportunity for a goals of care conversation. In this article, we share strategies through which providers can incorporate more shared decision-making when caring for these patients. The approach involves creating prognostic consensus amongst multidisciplinary teams and then relying on skilled communicators to share the prognosis. Palliative care consultation can be useful when teams need assistance in the conversations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar D Bansal
- Renal Electrolyte Division, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Arpan A Patel
- Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California
- Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition, Los Angeles
- VA Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy (CSHIIP), North Hills, California, USA
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2
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Biswas S, Shalimar. Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver Failure- Indication, Prioritization, Timing, and Referral. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2023; 13:820-834. [PMID: 37693253 PMCID: PMC10483009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a major success story in gastroenterology, with improvements in critical care and liver transplant resulting in significant improvements in patient outcomes in the current era compared to the dismal survival rates in the pretransplant era. However, the ever-increasing list of transplant candidates and limited organ pool makes judicious patient selection and organ use mandatory to achieve good patient outcomes and prevent organ wastage. Several scoring systems exist to facilitate the identification of patients who need a liver transplant and would therefore need an early referral to a specialized liver unit. The timing of the liver transplant is also crucial as transplanting a patient too early would lead to those who would recover spontaneously receiving an organ (wastage), and a late decision might result in the patient becoming unfit for transplant (delisted) or have an advanced disease which would result in poor post-transplant outcomes. The current article reviews the indications and contraindications of liver transplant in ALF patients, the various prognostic scoring systems, etiology-specific outcomes, prioritization and timing of referral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagnik Biswas
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, India
| | - Shalimar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, India
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3
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Agumava LU, Gulyaev VA, Lutsyk KN, Olisov OD, Akhmetshin RB, Magomedov KM, Kazymov BI, Akhmedov AR, Alekberov KF, Yaremin BI, Novruzbekov MS. Issues of intensive care and liver transplantation tactics in fulminant liver failure. vmirvz 2023. [DOI: 10.20340/vmi-rvz.2023.1.tx.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Fulminant liver failure is usually characterized as severe acute liver injury with encephalopathy and synthetic dysfunction (international normalized ratio [INR] ≥1.5) in a patient without cirrhosis or previous liver disease. Management of patients with acute liver failure includes ensuring that the patient is cared for appropriately, monitoring for worsening liver failure, managing complications, and providing nutritional support. Patients with acute liver failure should be treated at a liver transplant center whenever possible. Serial laboratory tests are used to monitor the course of a patient's liver failure and to monitor for complications. It is necessary to monitor the level of aminotransferases and bilirubin in serum daily. More frequent monitoring (three to four times a day) of blood coagulation parameters, complete blood count, metabolic panels, and arterial blood gases should be performed. For some causes of acute liver failure, such as acetaminophen intoxication, treatment directed at the underlying cause may prevent the need for liver transplantation and reduce mortality. Lactulose has not been shown to improve overall outcomes, and it can lead to intestinal distention, which can lead to technical difficulties during liver transplantation. Early in acute liver failure, signs and symptoms of cerebral edema may be absent or difficult to detect. Complications of cerebral edema include increased intracranial pressure and herniation of the brain stem. General measures to prevent increased intracranial pressure include minimizing stimulation, maintaining an appropriate fluid balance, and elevating the head of the patient's bed. For patients at high risk of developing cerebral edema, we also offer hypertonic saline prophylaxis (3%) with a target serum sodium level of 145 to 155 mEq/L (level 2C). High-risk patients include patients with grade IV encephalopathy, high ammonia levels (>150 µmol/L), or acute renal failure, and patients requiring vasopressor support. Approximately 40 % of patients with acute liver failure recover spontaneously with supportive care. Predictive models have been developed to help identify patients who are unlikely to recover spontaneously, as the decision to undergo liver transplant depends in part on the likelihood of spontaneous recovery of the liver. However, among those who receive a transplant, the one-year survival rate exceeds 80 %, making this treatment the treatment of choice in this difficult patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. U. Agumava
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center
| | - V. A. Gulyaev
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center
| | - K. N. Lutsyk
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center
| | - O. D. Olisov
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Department of Transplantology and Artificial Organs
| | - R. B. Akhmetshin
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center
| | - K. M. Magomedov
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center
| | - B. I. Kazymov
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center
| | - A. R. Akhmedov
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center
| | - K. F. Alekberov
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center
| | - B. I. Yaremin
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Department of Transplantology and Artificial Organs
| | - M. S. Novruzbekov
- Research Institute of Ambulance them. N.V. Sklifosovsky, liver transplant center; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Department of Transplantology and Artificial Organs
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4
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Price JR, Hagrass H, Filip AB, McGill MR. LDH and the MELD-LDH in Severe Acute Liver Injury and Acute Liver Failure: Preliminary Confirmation of a Novel Prognostic Score for Risk Stratification. J Appl Lab Med 2023; 8:504-513. [PMID: 36759930 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfac137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute liver failure (ALF) is a devastating condition with high mortality. Currently, liver transplantation is the only life-saving treatment, but the decision to transplant is difficult due to the rapid progression of ALF and persistent shortage of donor organs. Biomarkers that predict death better than current prognostics could help. To our surprise, proteomics recently revealed that lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is prognostic in ALF by itself and in a novel form of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score called the MELD-LDH. The purpose of this study was to confirm our proteomics results in a larger population. METHODS We reviewed laboratory data from 238 patients admitted to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center with a diagnosis of ALF and biochemical evidence of acute liver failure over a 12-year period, as well as subset of 170 patients with encephalopathy. RESULTS LDH was strikingly elevated in the nonsurvivors at the time of peak injury. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses revealed that LDH by itself could discriminate between survivors and nonsurvivors on the first day of hospitalization, although not as well as the MELD and MELD-LDH scores that performed alike. Importantly, however, LDH by itself performed similarly to the MELD at the time of peak injury and the MELD-LDH score moderately outperformed both. The MELD-LDH score also had greater sensitivity and negative predictive value than the MELD and the King's College Criteria. CONCLUSIONS The results support our prior finding that LDH and the MELD-LDH score predict death and therefore transplant need in ALF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake R Price
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
| | - Hoda Hagrass
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
| | - Ari B Filip
- Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
| | - Mitchell R McGill
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.,Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR
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5
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Kumar R, Anand U, Priyadarshi RN. Liver transplantation in acute liver failure: Dilemmas and challenges. World J Transplant 2021; 11:187-202. [PMID: 34164294 PMCID: PMC8218344 DOI: 10.5500/wjt.v11.i6.187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute liver failure (ALF) refers to a state of severe hepatic injury that leads to altered coagulation and sensorium in the absence of pre-existing liver disease. ALF has different causes, but the clinical characteristics are strikingly similar. In clinical practice, however, inconsistency in the definition of ALF worldwide and confusion regarding the existence of pre-existing liver disease raise diagnostic dilemmas. ALF mortality rates used to be over 80% in the past; however, survival rates on medical treatment have significantly improved in recent years due to a greater understanding of pathophysiology and advances in critical care management. The survival rates in acetaminophen-associated ALF have become close to the post-transplant survival rates. Given that liver transplantation (LT) is an expensive treatment that involves a major surgical operation in critically ill patients and lifelong immunosuppression, it is very important to select accurate patients who may benefit from it. Still, emergency LT remains a lifesaving procedure for many ALF patients. However, there is a lack of consistency in current prognostic models that hampers the selection of transplant candidates in a timely and precise manner. The other problems associated with LT in ALF are the shortage of graft, development of contraindications on the waiting list, vaguely defined delisting criteria, time constraints for pre-transplant evaluation, ethical concerns, and comparatively poor post-transplant outcomes in ALF. Therefore, there is a desperate need to establish accurate prognostic models and explore the roles of evolving adjunctive and alternative therapies, such as liver support systems, plasma exchange, stem cells, auxiliary LT, and so on, to enhance transplant-free survival and to fill the void created by the graft shortage
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Kumar
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna 801507, Bihar, India
| | - Utpal Anand
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna 801507, Bihar, India
| | - Rajeev Nayan Priyadarshi
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna 801507, Bihar, India
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6
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Kim JD, Cho EJ, Ahn C, Park SK, Choi JY, Lee HC, Kim DY, Choi MS, Wang HJ, Kim IH, Yeon JE, Seo YS, Tak WY, Kim MY, Lee HJ, Kim YS, Jun DW, Sohn JH, Kwon SY, Park SH, Heo J, Jeong SH, Lee JH, Nakayama N, Mochida S, Ido A, Tsubouchi H, Takikawa H, Shalimar, Acharya SK, Bernal W, O'Grady J, Kim YJ. A Model to Predict 1-Month Risk of Transplant or Death in Hepatitis A-Related Acute Liver Failure. Hepatology 2019; 70:621-629. [PMID: 30194739 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Acute liver failure (ALF) caused by hepatitis A is a rare but fatal disease. Here, we developed a model to predict outcome in patients with ALF caused by hepatitis A. The derivation set consisted of 294 patients diagnosed with hepatitis A-related ALF (ALFA) from Korea, and a validation set of 56 patients from Japan, India, and United Kingdom. Using a multivariate proportional hazard model, a risk-prediction model (ALFA score) consisting of age, international normalized ratio, bilirubin, ammonia, creatinine, and hemoglobin levels acquired on the day of ALF diagnosis was developed. The ALFA score showed the highest discrimination in the prediction of liver transplant or death at 1 month (c-statistic, 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84-0.92) versus King's College criteria (KCC; c-statistic, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.53-0.59), U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study Group index specific for hepatitis A virus (HAV-ALFSG; c-statistic, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.65-0.76), the new ALFSG index (c-statistic, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.74-0.84), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD; c-statistic, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.74-0.84), and MELD including sodium (MELD-Na; c-statistic, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.73-0.84) in the derivation set (all P < 0.01). In the validation set, the performance of the ALFA score (c-statistic, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.94) was significantly better than that of KCC (c-statistic, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52-0.79), MELD (c-statistic, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61-0.87), and MELD-Na (c-statistic, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.85) (all P < 0.05), and better, but not statistically significant, than that of the HAV-ALFSG (c-statistic, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61-0.90; P = 0.28) and new ALFSG indices (c-statistic, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.93; P = 0.41). The model was well-calibrated in both sets. Conclusion: Our disease-specific score provides refined prediction of outcome in patients with ALF caused by hepatitis A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Dong Kim
- Catholic University Liver Research Center & WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, Korea
| | - Eun Ju Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Choonghyun Ahn
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sue K Park
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Science, Seoul National University Graduate School, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong Young Choi
- Catholic University Liver Research Center & WHO Collaborating Center of Viral Hepatitis, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Han Chu Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Do Young Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Moon Seok Choi
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Jung Wang
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - In Hee Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
| | - Jong Eun Yeon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yeon Seok Seo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Won Young Tak
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Moon Young Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - Heon Ju Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yun Soo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
| | - Dae Won Jun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joo Hyun Sohn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - So Young Kwon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym Univesity College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeong Heo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Sook-Hyang Jeong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jeong-Hoon Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Nobuaki Nakayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saitama Medical University, Moroyama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Mochida
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saitama Medical University, Moroyama, Japan
| | - Akio Ido
- Department of Digestive and Life-Style Related Disease, Health Research Course, Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | | | - Hazime Takikawa
- Department of Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shalimar
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Subrat Kumar Acharya
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - William Bernal
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - John O'Grady
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yoon Jun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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7
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Kuwano A, Kohjima M, Suzuki H, Yamasaki A, Ohashi T, Imoto K, Kurokawa M, Morita Y, Kato M, Ogawa Y. Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin ameliorates acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity in mice. Exp Ther Med 2019; 18:1323-1330. [PMID: 31316624 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin alpha (rhTM) has been developed as an anticoagulant with anti-inflammatory activity. Notably, acetaminophen (APAP) -induced liver disease (AILI) is caused by direct metabolite-induced hepatotoxicity as well as hepatic hyper-coagulation. To evaluate the utility of anticoagulant for the treatment of AILI, rhTM was administered in a mouse AILI model and liver damage was analyzed. AILI was induced in 8-week-old mice by intraperitoneal injection of APAP. rhTM (20 mg/kg) or placebo was injected at the same time as APAP administration. Serum alanine aminotransferase, fibrin degradation products and high-mobility group box 1 levels were significantly decreased in the rhTM-treated group compared with the control group. Furthermore, rhTM reduced the necrotic area and fibrin deposition in liver sections. rhTM suppressed the mRNA expression of heme oxygenase-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, tissue factors, and inflammatory cytokines compared with the control group. rhTM did not change the hepatic GSH content at 2 h after APAP injection, but restored them at 4 h after the insult. rhTM ameliorated liver damage in mice with AILI, probably via the improvement in liver perfusion induced by it's anticoagulant acitivity, which can lead to the suppression of secondary liver damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akifumi Kuwano
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Kohjima
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Hideo Suzuki
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yamasaki
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ohashi
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Koji Imoto
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Miho Kurokawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yusuke Morita
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Masaki Kato
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ogawa
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.,CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
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8
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Montrief T, Koyfman A, Long B. Acute liver failure: A review for emergency physicians. Am J Emerg Med 2018; 37:329-337. [PMID: 30414744 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute liver failure (ALF) remains a high-risk clinical presentation, and many patients require emergency department (ED) management for complications and stabilization. OBJECTIVE This narrative review provides an evidence-based summary of the current data for the emergency medicine evaluation and management of ALF. DISCUSSION While ALF remains a rare clinical presentation, surveillance data suggest an overall incidence between 1 and 6 cases per million people every year, accounting for 6% of liver-related deaths and 7% of orthotopic liver transplants (OLT) in the U.S. The definition of ALF includes neurologic dysfunction, an international normalized ratio ≥ 1.5, no prior evidence of liver disease, and a disease course of ≤26 weeks, and can be further divided into hyperacute, acute, and subacute presentations. There are many underlying etiologies, including acetaminophen toxicity, drug induced liver injury, and hepatitis. Emergency physicians will be faced with several complications, including encephalopathy, coagulopathy, infectious processes, renal injury, and hemodynamic instability. Critical patients should be evaluated in the resuscitation bay, and consultation with the transplant team for appropriate patients improves patient outcomes. This review provides several guiding principles for management of acute complications. Using a pathophysiological-guided approach to the management of ALF associated complications is essential to optimizing patient care. CONCLUSIONS ALF remains a rare clinical presentation, but has significant morbidity and mortality. Physicians must rapidly diagnose these patients while evaluating for other diseases and complications. Early consultation with a transplantation center is imperative, as is identifying the underlying etiology and initiating symptomatic care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Montrief
- University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital/Miller School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, 1611 N.W. 12th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, United States
| | - Alex Koyfman
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, United States
| | - Brit Long
- Brooke Army Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, 3841 Roger Brooke Dr, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, United States.
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9
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Kakisaka K, Suzuki Y, Kataoka K, Okada Y, Miyamoto Y, Kuroda H, Takikawa Y. Predictive formula of coma onset and prothrombin time to distinguish patients who recover from acute liver injury. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 33:277-282. [PMID: 28488376 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Acute liver failure (ALF) is defined as acute liver injury (ALI) associated with coagulopathy. A follow-up strategy for ALI and characterization of ALI patients with a risk of progressing to ALF have never been established. To establish predictive markers for progression from ALI to ALF, this study compared the clinical characteristics and laboratory data on the day of registration to data from a regional referral system of patients with ALI. METHODS This prospective, observational study enrolled 365 consecutive patients with ALI/ALF between 2007 and 2016. We evaluated 109 ALI patients, 27 of whom satisfied the ALF criteria during observation and another 82 patients who recovered without progression to ALF. RESULTS Four patients died; all were in the ALF group. The variables of age, incidence of autoimmune hepatitis, model of end-stage liver disease score, values for total bilirubin and prothrombin time (PT)-international ratio, and Japan Hepatic Encephalopathy Prediction Model (JHEPM) probability at registration were significantly higher in ALF patients than in ALI patients. In multivariate analysis, PT and JHEPM were identified as risk factors for progression to ALF. The cut-off values of 13%, 4.9%, 65%, and 1.32% for the model of end-stage liver disease score, JHEPM probability, PT, and PT-international ratio values, respectively, had high negative predictive values. Furthermore, among patients whose JHEPM was underestimated, none died due to ALF. CONCLUSION The JHEPM probability is a predictive parameter that can be used to decide a follow-up treatment strategy for ALI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Kakisaka
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Yuji Suzuki
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Kojiro Kataoka
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Yohei Okada
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Miyamoto
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Hidekatsu Kuroda
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takikawa
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
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10
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Abstract
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening condition of heterogeneous etiology. Outcomes are better with early recognition and prompt initiation of etiology-specific therapy, intensive care protocols, and liver transplantation (LT). Prognostic scoring systems include the King's College Criteria and Model for End-stage Liver Disease score. Cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension are reasons for high morbidity and mortality; hypertonic saline is suggested for patients with a high risk for developing intracranial hypertension, and when it does, mannitol is recommended as first-line therapy. Extracorporeal liver support system may serve as a bridge to LT and may increase LT-free survival in select cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chalermrat Bunchorntavakul
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Rajavithi Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, 2 Dulles, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - K Rajender Reddy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, 2 Dulles, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Herrine SK, Moayyedi P, Brown RS, Falck-Ytter YT. American Gastroenterological Association Institute Technical Review on Initial Testing and Management of Acute Liver Disease. Gastroenterology 2017; 152:648-664.e5. [PMID: 28061338 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2016.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven K Herrine
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | | | - Robert S Brown
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Yngve T Falck-Ytter
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Case and VA Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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Koch DG, Tillman H, Durkalski V, Lee WM, Reuben A. Development of a Model to Predict Transplant-free Survival of Patients With Acute Liver Failure. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016; 14:1199-1206.e2. [PMID: 27085756 PMCID: PMC6055510 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2016.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Patients with acute liver failure (ALF) have a high risk of death that can be substantially reduced with liver transplantation. It is a challenge to predict which patients with ALF will survive without liver transplant because available prognostic scoring systems are inadequate. We devised a mathematical model, using a large dataset collected by the Acute Liver Failure Study Group, which can predict transplant-free survival in patients with ALF. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of data from 1974 subjects who met criteria for ALF (coagulopathy and hepatic encephalopathy within 26 weeks of the first symptoms, without pre-existing liver disease) enrolled in the Acute Liver Failure Study Group database from January 1, 1998 through June 11, 2013. We randomly assigned the subjects to development and validation cohorts. Data from the development cohort were analyzed to identify factors associated with transplant-free survival (alive without transplantation by 21 days after admission to the study). Statistically significant variables were used to create a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS Most subjects were women (70%) and white (78%); acetaminophen overdose was the most common cause (48% of subjects). The rate of transplant-free survival was 50%. Admission values of hepatic encephalopathy grade, ALF etiology, vasopressor use, and log transformations of bilirubin and international normalized ratio were significantly associated with transplant-free survival, based on logistic regression analysis. In the validation cohort, the resulting model predicted transplant-free survival with a C statistic value of 0.84, 66.3% accuracy (95% confidence interval, 63.1%-69.4%), 37.1% sensitivity (95% confidence interval, 32.5%-41.8%), and 95.3% specificity (95% confidence interval, 92.9%-97.1%). CONCLUSIONS Using data from the Acute Liver Failure Study Group, we developed a model that predicts transplant-free survival of patients with ALF based on easily identifiable hospital admission data. External validation studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Koch
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
| | - Holly Tillman
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
| | - Valerie Durkalski
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
| | - William M Lee
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
| | - Adrian Reuben
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
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O’Connor DB, Burke JP, Hegarty J, McCormick AP, Nolan N, Hoti E, Maguire D, Geoghegan J, Traynor O. Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in Ireland: Pre-operative alpha-fetoprotein predicts tumour recurrence in a 14-year single-centre national experience. World J Transplant 2016; 6:396-402. [PMID: 27358785 PMCID: PMC4919744 DOI: 10.5500/wjt.v6.i2.396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To examine the results of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Ireland over a 14-year period.
METHODS: Cases of HCC receiving OLT between January 1995 and September 2009 in the Irish Liver Transplant Unit were reviewed from a prospectively maintained database. Outcome measures included overall and recurrence free survival, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and tumour pathological features.
RESULTS: On explant pathology, 57 patients had HCC. The median follow-up time was 42.7 mo. The overall 1, 3 and 5 years survival was 87.7%, 72.1% and 72.4%. There was no difference in survival when compared to patients undergoing OLT without malignancy. The tumour recurrence rate was 14%. The Milan criteria were exceeded in 32% of cases but this did not predict overall survival or recurrence. On multivariate analysis pre-operative AFP > 100 ng/mL was an independent risk factor for recurrence (RR = 5.2, CI: 1.1-24.3, P = 0.036).
CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing OLT for HCC had excellent survival even when conventional listing criteria were exceeded. Pre-operative AFP predicts recurrence independent of tumour size and its role in selection criteria should be investigated in larger studies.
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Guo YM, Li FY, Gong M, Zhang L, Wang JB, Xiao XH, Li J, Zhao YL, Wang LF, Zhang XF. Short-term efficacy of treating hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure based on cold pattern differentiation with hot herbs: A randomized controlled trial. Chin J Integr Med 2016; 22:573-80. [PMID: 27220737 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-016-2582-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yinchen Zhufu Decoction (, YCZFD) in the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV-ACLF) with cold pattern in Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS This is a multi-center randomized controlled trial of integrative treatment of CM and Western medicine (WM) for the management of HBV-ACLF patients. A total of 200 HBV-ACLF patients with cold pattern were equally randomly assigned to receive YCZFD and WM (integrative treatment) or WM conventional therapy alone respectively for 4 weeks. The primary end point was the mortality for HBV-ACLF patients. Secondary outcome measures included Model for End-Stage Liver disease (MELD) score, liver biochemical function, coagulation function and complications. Adverse events during treatment were reported. RESULTS The mortality was decreased 14.28% in the integrative treatment group compared with WM group (χ(2) =6.156, P=0.013). The integrative treatment was found to signifificantly improve the MELD score (t=2.353, P=0.020). There were statistically signifificant differences in aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, direct bilirubin and prothrombin time between the two groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The complications of ascites (χ(2)=9.033, P=0.003) and spontaneous bacteria peritonitis (χ(2)=4.194, P=0.041) were improved signifificantly in the integrative treatment group. No serious adverse event was reported. CONCLUSIONS The integrative treatment of CM and WM was effective and safe for HBV-ACLF patients with cold pattern in CM. The Chinese therapeutic principle "treating cold pattern with hot herbs" remains valuable to the clinical therapy. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-10000766).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ming Guo
- China Military Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Feng-Yi Li
- Treatment and Research Center for Infectious Diseases, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Man Gong
- Integrative Medical Center for Liver Diseases, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Medical Affairs, Novartis Pharma China, Beijing, 100004, China
| | - Jia-Bo Wang
- China Military Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Xiao-He Xiao
- China Military Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China.
| | - Jun Li
- Integrative Medical Center for Liver Diseases, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China.
| | - Yan-Ling Zhao
- Integrative Medical Center for Liver Diseases, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Li-Fu Wang
- Integrative Medical Center for Liver Diseases, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Zhang
- Integrative Medical Center for Liver Diseases, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
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McPhail MJW, Farne H, Senvar N, Wendon JA, Bernal W. Ability of King's College Criteria and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Scores to Predict Mortality of Patients With Acute Liver Failure: A Meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016; 14:516-525.e5; quiz e43-e45. [PMID: 26499930 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2015.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Several prognostic factors are used to identify patients with acute liver failure (ALF) who require emergency liver transplantation. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the accuracy of King's College criteria (KCC) versus the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores in predicting hospital mortality among patients with ALF. METHODS We performed a systematic search of the literature for articles published from 2001 through 2015 that compared the accuracy of the KCC with MELD scores in predicting hospital mortality in patients with ALF. We identified 23 studies (comprising 2153 patients) and assessed the quality of data, and then performed a meta-analysis of pooled sensitivity and specificity values, diagnostic odds ratios (DORs), and summary receiver operating characteristic curves. Subgroups analyzed included study quality, era, location (Europe vs non-Europe), and size; ALF etiology (acetaminophen-associated ALF [AALF] vs nonassociated [NAALF]); and whether or not the study included patients who underwent liver transplantation and if the study center was also a transplant center. RESULTS The DOR for the KCC was 5.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7-7.6; 57% heterogeneity) and the DOR for MELD score was 7.0 (95% CI, 5.1-9.7; 48% heterogeneity), so the MELD score and KCC are comparable in overall accuracy. The summary area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values was 0.76 for the KCC and 0.78 for MELD scores. The KCC identified patients with AALF who died with 58% sensitivity (95% CI, 51%-65%) and 89% specificity (95% CI, 85%-93%), whereas MELD scores identified patients with AALF who died with 80% sensitivity (95% CI, 74%-86%) and 53% specificity (95% CI, 47%-59%). The KCC predicted hospital mortality in patients with NAALF with 58% sensitivity (95% CI, 54%-63%) and 74% specificity (95% CI, 69%-78%), whereas MELD scores predicted hospital mortality in patients with NAALF with 76% sensitivity (95% CI, 72%-80%) and 73% specificity (95% CI, 69%-78%). In patients with AALF, the KCC's DOR was 10.4 (95% CI, 4.9-22.1) and the MELD score's DOR was 6.6 (95% CI, 2.1-20.2). In patients with NAALF, the KCC's DOR was 4.16 (95% CI, 2.34-7.40) and the MELD score's DOR was 8.42 (95% CI, 5.98-11.88). CONCLUSIONS Based on a meta-analysis of studies, the KCC more accurately predicts hospital mortality among patients with AALF, whereas MELD scores more accurately predict mortality among patients with NAALF. However, there is significant heterogeneity among studies and neither system is optimal for all patients. Given the importance of specificity in decision making for listing for emergency liver transplantation, MELD scores should not replace the KCC in predicting hospital mortality of patients with AALF, but could have a role for NAALF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J W McPhail
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Hepatology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Hugo Farne
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Naz Senvar
- Department of Hepatology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julia A Wendon
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - William Bernal
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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Bagchi A, Kumar S, Ray PC, Das BC, Gumma PK, Kar P. Predictive value of serum actin-free Gc-globulin for complications and outcome in acute liver failure. J Viral Hepat 2015; 22:192-200. [PMID: 24774007 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
This prospective study was designed to evaluate whether early changes in actin-free Gc-globulin levels were associated with complications and outcomes and to identify factors associated with persistent low actin-free Gc-globulin levels in acute liver failure (ALF). Thirty-two consecutive ALF patients admitted from October 2011 to December 2012 were followed up until death or complete recovery. All had serum actin-free Gc-globulin estimation at admission and at day three or expiry. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of mortality. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was also performed. Nonsurvivors had significantly lower median actin-free Gc-globulin levels than survivors (87.32 vs 180 mg/L; P < 0.001). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an area under curve (AUC) of 0.771 and showed that serum actin-free Gc-globulin level of ≤124 mg/L would predict mortality with 92% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity. Patients with lower serum actin-free Gc-globulin levels and decreasing trend in serum actin-free Gc-globulin levels were found to have more mortality and developed more complications. Logistic regression analysis showed that serum actin-free Gc-globulin, total leucocyte count and serum creatinine at admission were independent predictors of mortality. Incorporating these variables, a score predicting mortality risk at admission was derived. The scoring system was compared to MELD score and King's College Criteria as individual predictor of mortality. Serum actin-free Gc-globulin level at presentation is predictive of outcome and can be used for risk stratification. Its persistent low-level predicts mortality and is correlated with various complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bagchi
- General Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
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17
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Abstract
The case for using emergency liver transplantation in acute liver failure was made two decades ago by a series of single centre experiences. The development of models identifying a poor prognosis assisted the selection of patients for liver transplantation but none of these delivers both high sensitivity and specificity for prediction of death. Enhanced sensitivity favours the individual patient while enhanced specificity targets the pool of organs available at those who will derive greatest benefit. The non-transplant survival rates have improved considerably for certain cohorts of patients and these prognostic models have not been adjusted to reflect these changes. The presumption of transplant benefit can no longer be taken as established in paracetamol-related acute liver failure and a policy review is appropriate. In other scenarios, such as seronegative hepatitis and the phenotype of sub-acute liver failure, spontaneous survival rates remain low and the basis for liver transplantation remains sound. Outcomes after liver transplantation are improving but are not yet comparable to elective transplantation. The understanding of factors associated with failure after liver transplantation is improving but accurate definition of futility has not yet been attained.
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Affiliation(s)
- John O'Grady
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
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Chung HS, Jung DH, Park CS. Intraoperative predictors of short-term mortality in living donor liver transplantation due to acute liver failure. Transplant Proc. 2013;45:236-240. [PMID: 23375307 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2012.06.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Revised: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare and fatal disease with rapidly deteriorating clinical features. Many predictive models for ALF outcomes have been tested, but none have been adopted as definitive guidelines for prognosis because of inconsistencies in accuracy. Most prognostic models for ALF are based on preoperative patient conditions, thus ignoring various specific intraoperative features relevant to postoperative outcomes. We investigated whether intraoperative factors predicted short-term mortality due to ALF in living donor liver transplantations (LDLT). METHODS We retrospectively collected intraoperative data, including surgical time, fluctuations in mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), central venous pressure (CVP), urine output, laboratory data, oxygen indices (PaO(2)/FiO(2)), administered drugs, and transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) from 101 patients with ALF who underwent LDLT. After simple relationships of individual intraoperative variables with 1-month posttransplant mortality were analyzed, we examined potentially significant intraoperative variables (P < .10) by a multivariate adjustment process with preoperative indicators of ALF prognosis. RESULTS Intraoperative MBP fluctuations, first mean PAP and CVP, last oxygen index, administered calcium chloride, and PRBC transfusion showed individual associations with posttransplant mortality of ALF patients (P < .05). After multivariate adjustment, PRBC transfusion of ≥ 10 pints (odds ratio 4.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-21.16) and MBP fluctuations (odds ratio 1.26; 95% CI 1.00-1.58) were identified to be independent predictors of 1-month posttransplant mortality, together with preoperative factors, including severe hepatic encephalopathy, and a Model for End-stage Liver Disease score ≥ 30 points (area under the curve 0.82, P < .001). CONCLUSION MBP fluctuations and large blood transfusions were intraoperative predictors of short-term mortality after LDLT due to ALF. Increased attention to intraoperative manifestations should provide valuable prognostic information for ALF.
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Abstract
Acute liver failure (ALF) is defined by the presence of coagulopathy (International Normalized Ratio ≥ 1.5) and hepatic encephalopathy due to severe liver damage in patients without pre-existing liver disease. Although the mortality due to ALF without liver transplantation is over 80%, the survival rates of patients have considerably improved with the advent of liver transplantation, up to 60% to 90% in the last two decades. Recent large studies in Western countries reported 1, 5, and 10-year patient survival rates after liver transplantation for ALF of approximately 80%, 70%, and 65%, respectively. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), which has mainly evolved in Asian countries where organ availability from deceased donors is extremely scarce, has also improved the survival rate of ALF patients in these regions. According to recent reports, the overall survival rate of adult ALF patients who underwent LDLT ranges from 60% to 90%. Although there is still controversy regarding the graft type, optimal graft volume, and ethical issues, LDLT has become an established treatment option for ALF in areas where the use of deceased donor organs is severely restricted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhisa Akamatsu
- Department of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yasuhiko Sugawara
- Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Address correspondence to: Dr. Yasuhiko Sugawara, Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. E-mail:
| | - Norihiro Kokudo
- Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Remien CH, Adler FR, Waddoups L, Box TD, Sussman NL. Mathematical modeling of liver injury and dysfunction after acetaminophen overdose: early discrimination between survival and death. Hepatology 2012; 56:727-34. [PMID: 22331703 DOI: 10.1002/hep.25656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Acetaminophen (APAP) is the leading cause of acute liver injury in the developed world. Timely administration of N-acetylcysteine (N-Ac) prevents the progression of serious liver injury and disease, whereas failure to administer N-Ac within a critical time frame allows disease progression and in the most severe cases may result in liver failure or death. In this situation, liver transplantation may be the only life-saving measure. Thus, the outcome of an APAP overdose depends on the size of the overdose and the time to first administration of N-Ac. We developed a system of differential equations to describe acute liver injury due to APAP overdose. The Model for Acetaminophen-induced Liver Damage (MALD) uses a patient's aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and international normalized ratio (INR) measurements on admission to estimate overdose amount, time elapsed since overdose, and outcome. The mathematical model was then tested on 53 patients from the University of Utah. With the addition of serum creatinine, eventual death was predicted with 100% sensitivity, 91% specificity, 67% positive predictive value (PPV), and 100% negative predictive value (NPV) in this retrospective study. Using only initial AST, ALT, and INR measurements, the model accurately predicted subsequent laboratory values for the majority of individual patients. This is the first dynamical rather than statistical approach to determine poor prognosis in patients with life-threatening liver disease due to APAP overdose. CONCLUSION MALD provides a method to estimate overdose amount, time elapsed since overdose, and outcome from patient laboratory values commonly available on admission in cases of acute liver failure due to APAP overdose and should be validated in multicenter prospective evaluation.
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Wlodzimirow KA, Eslami S, Abu-Hanna A, Nieuwoudt M, Chamuleau RAFM. Systematic review: acute liver failure - one disease, more than 40 definitions. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35:1245-56. [PMID: 22506515 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2012.05097.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2011] [Revised: 01/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute liver failure (ALF) is a clinical syndrome with very high mortality estimates ranging between 60% and 80%. AIM To investigate the explicitness and extent of variability in the used ALF definitions in the ALF prognostic literature. METHODS All studies that pertain to the prognosis of patients with ALF were electronically searched in MEDLINE (1950-2012) and EMBASE (1950-2012). Identified titles and abstracts were independently screened by three reviewers to determine eligibility for additional review. We included English articles that reported original data from clinical trials or observational studies on ALF patients. RESULTS A total of 103 studies were included. Of these studies 87 used 41 different ALF definitions and the remaining 16 studies did not report any explicit ALF definition. Four components underlying ALF definitions accounted for the differences: presence and/or grading of hepatic encephalopathy (HE); the interval between onset of disease and occurrence of HE; presence of coagulopathy and pre-existing liver disease. CONCLUSIONS The diversity in acute liver failure definitions hinders comparability and quantitative analysis among studies. There is room for improvement in the reporting of acute liver failure definitions in prognostic studies. The result of this review may be useful as a starting point to create a uniform acute liver failure definition.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Wlodzimirow
- Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Craig DGN, Reid TWDJ, Wright EC, Martin KG, Davidson JS, Hayes PC, Simpson KJ. The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score is prognostically superior to the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and MELD variants following paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35:705-13. [PMID: 22260637 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2012.04996.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2011] [Revised: 11/24/2011] [Accepted: 01/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic value of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and sodium-based MELD variants in predicting survival following paracetamol overdose remains unclear. AIM To examine the prognostic accuracy of sodium-based MELD variants in paracetamol-induced acute liver injury compared with the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. METHODS Retrospective analysis of 138 single time point paracetamol overdoses admitted to a tertiary liver centre. Individual laboratory samples were correlated with the corresponding clinical parameters in relation to time post-overdose, and the daily MELD, MELD-Na, MELDNa, MESO, iMELD, UKELD, updated MELD and SOFA scores were calculated. RESULTS Sixty-six (47.8%) patients developed hepatic encephalopathy, of whom 7 were transplanted and 21 died without liver transplantation. SOFA had a significantly greater area under the receiver operator characteristic for the prediction of spontaneous survival compared with MELD at both 72 (P = 0.024) and 96 (P = 0.017) h post-overdose. None of the sodium-based MELD variants improved the prognostic accuracy of MELD. A SOFA score >6 by 72 h or >7 by 96 h, post-overdose predicted death/transplantation with a negative predictive value of 96.9 (95% CI 90.2-99.4) and 98.8 (95% CI 93.6-99.9) respectively. SOFA and MELD had similar accuracy for predicting the development of hepatic encephalopathy (P = 0.493). CONCLUSIONS The SOFA score is superior to MELD in predicting spontaneous survival following paracetamol-induced acute liver injury. Modification of the MELD score to include serum sodium does not improve prognostic accuracy in this setting. SOFA may have potential as a quantitative triage marker following paracetamol overdose.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G N Craig
- Scottish Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK
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Abstract
Liver transplantation is now an integral part of the management of acute liver failure. The challenge for clinicians is to select the appropriate candidates with a combination of need and high likelihood of benefiting from the transplant. This is achieved through a combination of prognostic modelling and ongoing clinical evaluation. Although the outcomes after liver transplantation are good the survival rates do not quite match those achieved after elective transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- John O'Grady
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK. john.o’
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Abstract
Acute liver failure is a remarkably rare syndrome, the result of rapid hepatocyte injury occurring over days or a few weeks, and encompassing multiple etiologies, but all with a remarkably similar clinical picture. The clinical features of coagulopathy and encephalopathy characterize this severe and often fatal condition. To date, transplantation has been the only reliable form of rescue for many patients. Recent developments have included a clearer understanding of the different contributing etiologies, how to build a diagnosis and prognosis based on initial laboratory findings, a more aggressive approach to intensive care management and more detailed understanding of the role of transplantation in this setting. This review will provide an overview of standard practices and new research initiatives and findings for this interesting but vexing orphan disease. Particular attention will be paid to practical matters for clinicians to consider in approaching the ALF patient. Few controlled clinical trials have been possible because of the condition's rarity. Critical care of these rare patients is key to their survival and decisions must be made decisively, sometimes with inadequate information. Experience is helpful but experienced clinician managers are even rarer than the disease: few hepatologists or intensivists have in-depth experience with ALF patients.
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Miyazaki M, Kato M, Tanaka M, Tanaka K, Takao S, Kohjima M, Ito T, Enjoji M, Nakamuta M, Kotoh K, Takayanagi R. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using Sonazoid to evaluate changes in hepatic hemodynamics in acute liver injury. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 26:1749-56. [PMID: 21615794 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2011.06790.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Disturbances in hepatic microcirculation are believed to be involved in the mechanisms regulating the progression of acute liver injury (ALI). Evaluation of hepatic hemodynamics in patients with acute liver injury might be helpful in understanding the extent of the intrahepatic microcirculatory disturbances. Therefore, we investigated whether contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is useful to evaluate the changes in hepatic hemodynamics in patients with ALI. METHODS CEUS was performed in 21 patients with ALI and coagulopathy. Participants were injected with 0.0075 mL Sonazoid/kg body weight, and time-intensity curves were simultaneously recorded for the hepatic and portal veins. The data were compared with those of 10 healthy volunteers. RESULTS The arrival time of Sonazoid in the hepatic vein was similar to that in the portal vein in the patients, whereas the arrival time in the hepatic vein was delayed relative to that in the portal vain in the controls (interval between the hepatic and portal vein arrival times, control vs patients 6.74 ± 3.07 s vs 1.13 ± 1.07 s, P < 0.001). Repeated examination revealed that the interval between the hepatic and portal vein arrival times was extended by improvements in hepatic function. The early arrival of Sonazoid in the hepatic vein in the patients is likely to reflect the formation of intrahepatic shunts as a result of hepatic microcirculatory disturbances. CONCLUSION CEUS using Sonazoid is a useful method to estimate the changes in hepatic hemodynamics in patients with ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Miyazaki
- Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Kyushu University, Japan
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Abstract
Non-cirrhotic patients having acute liver decompensation in flares of hepatitis B can recover spontaneously or die without liver transplantation. Criteria for identifying patients in need of liver transplantation are lacking. Fifty-one non-cirrhotic patients having acute liver decompensation in flares of hepatitis B were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups: group A patients (n=18) recovered from acute liver decompensation spontaneously; group B patients (n=22) died of acute liver failure; and group C patients (n=11) had liver transplantation. Model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores were evaluated to identify the criteria for liver transplantation. The cut-off point of MELD scores for liver transplantation was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Comparing group A and B patients, MELD score was an independent factor to predict prognosis. By analysing ROC curve, a MELD score>30 was the most optimal cut-off point to indicate liver transplantation; however, the false positive rate was 11.1%. By weekly measurement of MELD scores, subsequent increase in MELD scores could help to avoid false positives. Moreover, a MELD score>34 yielded 0% false positive rate and indicated the necessity of definite liver transplantation. For group C patients, ten of 11 patients were saved by liver transplantation. In conclusion, for the patients having acute liver decompensation in flares of hepatitis B, liver transplantation is definitely indicated by MELD scores>34. Liver transplantation is also indicated if the MELD score increases in the subsequent 1-2 weeks. Liver transplantation has a good outcome if performed on time.
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Affiliation(s)
- W-C Lee
- Departments of Liver and Transplantation Surgery Hepatology, Chang-Gung Transplantation Institute, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang-Gung University Medical School, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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McPhail MJW, Wendon JA, Bernal W. Meta-analysis of performance of Kings's College Hospital Criteria in prediction of outcome in non-paracetamol-induced acute liver failure. J Hepatol 2010; 53:492-9. [PMID: 20580460 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2009] [Revised: 03/10/2010] [Accepted: 03/28/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Current techniques for predicting outcome and requirement for emergency liver transplantation (ELT) in acute liver failure (ALF) are imperfect, though The Kings College Criteria (KCC) are the most commonly applied tools for this purpose. Their performance in identification of patients with non-paracetamol-induced ALF (non-POD ALF), who would not survive without ELT, has recently been questioned. Using quantitative techniques, we therefore performed a meta-analysis of outcome data of the KCC for prediction of survival in non-POD ALF. METHODS A systematic database search was performed and retrieved articles graded according to a pre-agreed pro-forma of methodological quality. Collated data was meta-analysed for summary sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and ROC curve analysis. Pre-specified sub-group analysis was performed on the basis of methodological quality, the severity of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) of reported patients, timing of KCC application and exclusion of those who underwent ELT. RESULTS Eighteen studies with data on 1105 patients were available for production of 2x2 tables. Summary sensitivity was 68 (95% CI 59-77)%, specificity 82 (75-88)% and DOR 12.6 (6.5-26.1). Heterogeneity was detected in the DOR and related to methodological quality (I(2)=64% for all studies versus 47% for 'good' quality studies) and was lower in studies considering high grade HE or dynamic application of KCC (I(2)=0%). For data where ELT were excluded (13 studies) summary sensitivity was 68 (57-79)%, specificity 81 (72-90)% and DOR 12.2 (4.9-30.1) and a symmetric summary ROC curve was produced. Specificity was highest in studies of patients with high grade HE (93 (80-100)%) and where KCC were applied dynamically through the clinical course (88 (78-97)%). Sensitivity was reduced in studies published post 2005 compared with studies pre 1995 (58 (46-71)% versus 85 (76-82)%). CONCLUSIONS KCC for outcome in non-POD ALF have good specificity and more limited sensitivity. There is significant heterogeneity in the published data partially related to methodological quality. KCC perform best in groups with high grade encephalopathy and in historically earlier studies suggesting modern medical management of ALF may modify performance of KCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J W McPhail
- Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK
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Miyazaki M, Kato M, Tanaka M, Takayanagi R. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol improves the model for end-stage liver disease scoring system for prognostic prediction of acute liver failure. Scand J Gastroenterol 2010; 45:506-8. [PMID: 20001750 DOI: 10.3109/00365520903490614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute liver failure is a devastating clinical syndrome with a persistently high mortality rate despite critical care advances. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a life-saving treatment in selected cases, but effective use of this limited resource requires accurate prognostication because of surgical risks and the requirement for subsequent life-long immunosuppression. AIM To review the aetiology of acute liver failure, discuss the evidence behind critical care management strategies and examine potential treatment alternatives to OLT. METHODS Literature review using Ovid, PubMed and recent conference abstracts. RESULTS Paracetamol remains the most common aetiology of acute liver failure in developed countries, whereas acute viral aetiologies predominate elsewhere. Cerebral oedema is a major cause of death, and its prevention and prompt recognition are vital components of critical care support, which strives to provide multiorgan support and 'buy time' to permit either organ regeneration or psychological and physical assessment prior to acquisition of a donor organ. Artificial liver support systems do not improve mortality in acute liver failure, whilst most other interventions have limited evidence bases to support their use. CONCLUSION Acute liver failure remains a truly challenging condition to manage, and requires early recognition and transfer of patients to specialist centres providing intensive, multidisciplinary input and, in some cases, OLT.
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Affiliation(s)
- D G N Craig
- Scottish Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
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30
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Gleisner AL, Muñoz A, Brandao A, Marroni C, Zanotelli ML, Cantisani GG, Moreira LB, Choti MA, Pawlik TM. Survival benefit of liver transplantation and the effect of underlying liver disease. Surgery 2010; 147:392-404. [PMID: 19962165 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2009.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Accepted: 10/02/2009] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The benefit of liver transplantation relative to initial degree of underlying liver disease and time on the waiting list remains poorly defined. We sought to examine the survival benefit attributable to liver transplantation across a wide range of Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. METHODS The study population included patients with end-stage liver disease enlisted in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between 2001 and 2005. Survival and hazard function for enlisted and transplanted patients were estimated using parametric and nonparametric methods. MELD score was utilized to account for underlying liver disease. RESULTS Of 1,130 eligible patients, 520 (46.0%) were transplanted, 266 (23.5%) died on the waiting list, 141 (12.5%) were excluded from the waiting list, and 203 (18.0%) remained enlisted and were awaiting transplantation at the time of last observation. At 1 year after transplantation, a MELD score of 15 represented a transition point in terms of overall survival benefit (MELD 10, 90% vs 83%; MELD 15, 81% vs 80%; MELD 20, 63% vs 78%; MELD 25, 42% vs 74%; MELD 30, 21% vs71%; enlisted vs transplant patients, respectively). MELD scores at which transplantation seemed to be beneficial relative to the amount of follow-up time was MELD 23, 17, 15, and 12 at 6 months, and 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively, from time of transplantation/enlistment. CONCLUSION Although patients with greater MELD scores enjoy a pronounced and early benefit from transplantation, patients with lesser MELD scores do gain from transplantation, although a greater period of time is needed to realize the survival benefit.
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Lee WM, Hynan LS, Rossaro L, Fontana RJ, Stravitz RT, Larson AM, Davern TL, Murray NG, McCashland T, Reisch JS, Robuck PR. Intravenous N-acetylcysteine improves transplant-free survival in early stage non-acetaminophen acute liver failure. Gastroenterology 2009; 137:856-64, 864.e1. [PMID: 19524577 PMCID: PMC3189485 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2009.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 385] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2008] [Revised: 04/22/2009] [Accepted: 06/02/2009] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antidote for acetaminophen poisoning, might benefit patients with non-acetaminophen-related acute liver failure. METHODS In a prospective, double-blind trial, acute liver failure patients without clinical or historical evidence of acetaminophen overdose were stratified by site and coma grade and assigned randomly to groups that were given NAC or placebo (dextrose) infusion for 72 hours. The primary outcome was overall survival at 3 weeks. Secondary outcomes included transplant-free survival and rate of transplantation. RESULTS A total of 173 patients received NAC (n = 81) or placebo (n = 92). Overall survival at 3 weeks was 70% for patients given NAC and 66% for patients given placebo (1-sided P = .283). Transplant-free survival was significantly better for NAC patients (40%) than for those given placebo (27%; 1-sided P = .043). The benefits of transplant-free survival were confined to the 114 patients with coma grades I-II who received NAC (52% compared with 30% for placebo; 1-sided P = .010); transplant-free survival for the 59 patients with coma grades III-IV was 9% in those given NAC and 22% in those given placebo (1-sided P = .912). The transplantation rate was lower in the NAC group but was not significantly different between groups (32% vs 45%; P = .093). Intravenous NAC generally was well tolerated; only nausea and vomiting occurred significantly more frequently in the NAC group (14% vs 4%; P = .031). CONCLUSIONS Intravenous NAC improves transplant-free survival in patients with early stage non-acetaminophen-related acute liver failure. Patients with advanced coma grades do not benefit from NAC and typically require emergency liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- WM Lee
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - LS Hynan
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - L Rossaro
- University of California Davis, Sacramento
| | | | | | | | - TL Davern
- University of California, San Francisco
| | - NG Murray
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas
| | - T McCashland
- University of Nebraska, Omaha, and the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
| | - JS Reisch
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
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Lu BR, Gralla J, Liu E, Dobyns EL, Narkewicz MR, Sokol RJ. Evaluation of a scoring system for assessing prognosis in pediatric acute liver failure. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2008; 6:1140-5. [PMID: 18928939 PMCID: PMC2581795 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2008.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2008] [Accepted: 05/24/2008] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) results in death or need for liver transplantation (LT) in up to 50% of patients. A scoring system for predicting death or LT (Liver Injury Units [LIU] score) in PALF was previously derived by our group, and used peak values during hospital admission of total bilirubin, prothrombin time/international normalized ratio, and ammonia as significant predictors of outcome. The aims of this study were to test the predictive value of the LIU score in a subsequent validation set of patients and to derive a hospital admission LIU (aLIU) score predictive of outcome. METHODS Data were obtained from 53 children admitted with PALF from 2002 to 2006. Outcome was defined at 16 weeks as alive without LT, death, or LT. RESULTS Survival without LT at 16 weeks for each LIU score quartile was 92%, 44%, 60%, and 12%, respectively (P < .001). The receiver operating characteristic C index for predicting death or LT by 4 weeks was 86.3. An admission LIU score was derived using admission total bilirubin and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio. Survival without LT at 16 weeks for each quartile using the aLIU score was 85%, 77%, 69%, and 31% (P = .001). The receiver operating characteristic C index for predicting death or LT by 4 weeks was 83.7. CONCLUSIONS The original LIU score is a valid predictor of outcome in PALF. The aLIU score is promising and needs to be validated in subsequent patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandy R Lu
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Pediatric Liver Center and Liver Transplantation Program, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Jane Gralla
- Pediatric Clinical Translational Research Center, The Children’s Hospital and University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Edwin Liu
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Pediatric Liver Center and Liver Transplantation Program, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Emily L. Dobyns
- Section of Critical Care Medicine, The Children’s Hospital and University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Michael R. Narkewicz
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Pediatric Liver Center and Liver Transplantation Program, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Ronald J. Sokol
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Pediatric Liver Center and Liver Transplantation Program, Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital and University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA,Pediatric Clinical Translational Research Center, The Children’s Hospital and University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
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Koskinas J, Deutsch M, Kountouras D, Kostopanagiotou G, Arkadopoulos N, Smyrniotis V, Rapti I, Manesis E, Archimandritis A. Aetiology and outcome of acute hepatic failure in Greece: experience of two academic hospital centres. Liver Int 2008; 28:821-827. [PMID: 18492016 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2008.01782.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: In Western countries, the most frequent aetiology of acute liver failure (ALF) is acetaminophen overdose, while in developing countries viral infections [hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B virus (HBV)] predominate. Aim: To evaluate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, outcome and prognostic factors of survival of patients with ALF in Greece during the last 6 years. Results: A total of 40 patients, 28 females (70%), with a median age of 37.4+/-18.6 years (range: 15-84) with ALF were studied. HBV infection was the cause in 53% of them (compared with 74% from a previous study reported in the early 1980s), drug toxicity in 15% and undetermined in 13%. The overall survival was 57.5%, including 94% with and 15% without liver transplantation. Forty-five per cent of our patients had emergency liver transplantation in European Centers within a median time of 3.3 days (1-9) from admission. The total bilirubin level at admission and the development of infections were found to be significantly associated with poor outcome. Conclusions: Hepatitis B virus still remains the most important cause of ALF in Greece, but shows a significant decrease as compared with studies in the early 1980s. Almost half of our patients needed emergency liver transplantation and had a very good survival rate. The other 15% of the patients presented spontaneous survival only with intensive medical support.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Koskinas
- Second Department of Medicine, Medical School of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Pratschke J, Weiss S, Neuhaus P, Pascher A. Review of nonimmunological causes for deteriorated graft function and graft loss after transplantation. Transpl Int 2008; 21:512-22. [PMID: 18266771 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2008.00643.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Various factors determine the graft- and patient survival after transplantation. HLA-matching and immunological factors are of importance for the short- and long-term survival. Apart from these obvious determinants, nonimmunological factors play an important role in defining the baseline organ quality as well as the recipients' status. The influence of these parameters on graft- and patient survival is still underestimated and is a topic of debate. On account of the increasing acceptance of marginal-donor organs these events are of increasing importance for graft survival and long-term function. We review nonimmunological causes for deteriorated graft function and graft loss after solid organ transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann Pratschke
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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Abstract
Devices for support of patients with liver failure are of two types: bioartificial livers and artificial livers. Bioartificial livers include hepatocytes in bioreactors to provide both excretory and synthetic liver functions. Artificial livers use nonliving components to remove toxins of liver failure, supply nutrients and macromolecules. Current artificial liver devices use columns or suspensions of sorbents (including adsorbents and absorbents) to selectively remove toxins and regenerate dialysate, albumin-containing dialysate, plasma filtrate or plasma. This article reviews three artificial liver devices. Liver Dialysis uses a suspension of charcoal and cation exchangers to regenerate dialysate. MARS uses charcoal and an anion exchanger to regenerate dialysate with albumin. Prometheus uses neutral and anion exchange resins to regenerate a plasma filtrate containing albumin and small globulins. We review the operating principles, chemical effects, clinical effects and complications of use of each type of artificial liver. These devices clearly improve the clinical condition of patients with acute or acute-on-chronic liver failure. Further randomized outcome studies are necessary to prove clinical outcome benefit of the artificial liver support devices, and define what types of patients appear most amenable to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Carpentier
- Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Compiègne, France.
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Pacheco-moreira L, Balbi E, Enne M, Roma J, Paulino dos Santos K, Annunziata T, Perez R, Sérgio de Moraes Coelho H, Martinho J. Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver Failure: Trying to Define When Transplantation Is Futile. Transplant Proc 2007; 39:3178-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2007.06.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2007] [Revised: 05/14/2007] [Accepted: 06/21/2007] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Montano-Loza AJ, Carpenter HA, Czaja AJ. Features associated with treatment failure in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis and predictive value of the model of end-stage liver disease. Hepatology 2007; 46:1138-45. [PMID: 17668882 DOI: 10.1002/hep.21787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Autoimmune hepatitis may fail to respond to corticosteroid therapy, but the frequency and bases for this outcome are uncertain. We aimed to determine the frequency and nature of treatment failure in patients with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, define features associated with its occurrence, and assess if the model for end-stage liver disease can predict this outcome. Patients failing conventional corticosteroid regimens were compared to patients who responded to similar regimens. Fourteen of 214 patients (7%) failed corticosteroid treatment. Patients who failed therapy were younger (33 +/- 3 years versus 48 +/- 1 years, P = 0.0008), had higher serum levels of bilirubin at accession (4.1 +/- 0.9 mg/dL versus 2.3 +/- 0.2 mg/dL, P = 0.02), presented acutely more frequently (43% versus 14%, P = 0.01), and had a higher frequency of HLA (human leukocyte antigen) DRB1*03 (93% versus 53%, P = 0.004) than did patients who achieved remission. An alternative disease (fatty liver disease) emerged in only 1 patient who failed therapy (7%). Scores determined by the model of end-stage liver disease at presentation of patients who failed treatment were higher than those of who achieved remission (16 +/- 1 versus 10 +/- 0.3 points, P < 0.0001), and score greater than 12 points had greater sensitivity (97%) and specificity (68%) for treatment failure than did HLA DRB1*03 or other features. CONCLUSION Onset at an early age, acute presentation, hyperbilirubinemia, and presence of HLA DRB1*03 characterize patients who fail corticosteroid treatment. The model for end-stage liver disease may be a useful instrument for identifying patients prone to this outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo J Montano-Loza
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Yu K, Sheng G, Sheng J, Chen Y, Xu W, Liu X, Cao H, Qu H, Cheng Y, Li L. A metabonomic investigation on the biochemical perturbation in liver failure patients caused by hepatitis B virus. J Proteome Res 2007; 6:2413-9. [PMID: 17539670 DOI: 10.1021/pr060591d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A metabonomic study was performed to investigate the biochemical perturbation of the serum samples from liver failure patients induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV; n=24) and control normal subjects (n=23). The serum metabonome was detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique integrated with a commercial mass spectral library for the peak identification. After peak deconvolution, identification, and matching, the acquired GC-MS data were normalized and processed by principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). Specific changes in the metabolic composition of serum samples from patients including amino acids (AAs) and glucose were shown in GC-MS total ion current (TIC) chromatograms. The distinctive biochemical difference between the healthy subjects and liver failure patients was displayed by the pattern recognition methods. We also found that the liver failure patients with different degree of severity categorized as MELD (model for end-stage of liver diseases) could be clearly classified by the corresponding metabonomic data. In comparison, the current routine clinical indices cannot characterize the global phenotyping of liver failure. The result demonstrated that the GC-MS technique is an alternative tool for the characterization of the metabolic perturbation and the metabonomic study promises to provide an integrative criterion to evaluate the severity and the prognosis of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Yu
- Pharmaceutical Informatics Institute, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Abstract
Liver transplantation has revolutionized the management of acute or fulminant liver failure. Overall success rates of liver transplantation are satisfactory, although not as high as for elective transplantation. Although the bulk of liver transplants use standard whole grafts, interesting data are emerging on auxiliary liver grafts and donations from living donors. Liver transplantation is an integral part of management protocols complementing the sophisticated critical care protocols that have contributed significantly to the overall improved outcomes seen in acute liver failure. The potential for liver support devices to have an impact on the need for liver transplantation and outcomes after transplantation remains exciting.
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Affiliation(s)
- John O'Grady
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, United Kingdom. john.o'
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Affiliation(s)
- Eberhard L Renner
- Section of Hepatology/Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3E 3P4.
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Katoonizadeh A, Decaestecker J, Wilmer A, Aerts R, Verslype C, Vansteenbergen W, Yap P, Fevery J, Roskams T, Pirenne J, Nevens F. MELD score to predict outcome in adult patients with non-acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure. Liver Int 2007; 27:329-34. [PMID: 17355453 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2006.01429.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/BACKGROUND A model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score >30 was proposed as an excellent predictor of mortality in patients with non-acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure (ALF). We analyzed the prognostic value of MELD score in our patients with ALF who were prospectively registered in our database since 1990. METHODS Overall, 106 patients met the criteria of ALF. Excluding seven patients with acetaminophen etiology, 99 patients (42+/-15 years, 40M/59F) were studied. RESULTS Causes were cryptogenic (n=38), viral (n=29), drugs (n=20) and miscellaneous (n=12). Of these, 37% (n=37) survived with medical management alone (group I), 16% (n=16) died (group II) and 46% (n=46) underwent liver transplantation (group III). The strongest predictors of poor outcome were advanced encephalopathy, cryptogenic/drug-induced/hepatitis B etiology and a high MELD score. At the time of diagnosis, King's College Hospital criteria and MELD score >30 had similar high negative predictive value (92% and 91%, respectively) and low positive predictive value (52% and 56%, respectively). The predictive values improved only slightly during follow-up. The best cut-off point for MELD score to discriminate between survivors and nonsurvivors was >35, with a sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS MELD score, which mostly takes into consideration the degree of liver impairment, has a similar prognostic value as King's College Hospital criteria to predict outcome in adult patients with nonacetaminophen-induced ALF. Overall, all current scores miss accuracy and therefore there is a clear need for factors that can better predict the regeneration of the liver in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aezam Katoonizadeh
- Department of Hepatology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, KU Leuven, Belgium
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