Caroli's disease: report of 10 cases in children and adolescents in southern Brazil

Systematic review on outcomes used in clinical research on autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease-are patient-centered outcomes our blind spot?

BACKGROUND

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a rare severe hepatorenal disease. Survivors of pulmonary hypoplasia and patients with milder presentations often achieve long-term survival but frequently require kidney and/or liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the use of clinical, surrogate and patient-centered outcomes in studies on ARPKD with special attention to core outcomes of the Standardized Outcomes in NephroloGy project for children with chronic kidney disease (SONG-Kids).

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

A systematic MEDLINE literature search identified 367 ARPKD studies published since 1990; however, of these 134 were excluded because they did not report any clinical outcomes (e.g. only histopathological, genetic, protein structure or radiological markers), 19 studies because they only included prenatal patients and 138 because they were case reports with ≤ 3 patients.

STUDY APPRAISAL

Seventy-six eligible studies were examined for study type, size, intervention, and reported outcomes by organ system and type, including all SONG-kids tier 1-3 outcomes.

PARTICIPANTS

There were 3231 patient-reports of children and adults with ARPKD.

RESULTS

The overwhelming majority of studies reported clinical and surrogate outcomes (75/76 (98%) and 73/76 (96%)), but only 11/76 (14%) examined patient-centered outcomes and only 2/76 (3%) used validated instruments to capture them. Of the SONG-Kids core outcomes, kidney function was reported almost universally (70/76 (92%), infection and survival in three quarters (57/76 (75%), 55/76 (72%)) and measures of life participation (including neurological impairment) only rarely and inconsistently (16/76 (21%)).

LIMITATIONS

Thirty studies (39%) were of low quality as they were either narrative case reports (n = 14, 18%) and/or patients with ARPKD were an indistinguishable subgroup (n = 18, 24%). Only 28 trials compared interventions, but none were randomized.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Studies that reported clinical outcomes in ARPKD usually covered the core outcome domains of kidney function, infections, and survival, but measures of life participation and patient-centered outcomes are distinctly lacking and require more attention in future trials. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Congenital hepatic fibrosis and coexistent retinal macular degeneration: A case report

RATIONALE

Congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by periportal fibrosis, portal hypertension, and renal cystic disease. Essentially, CHF is a variant of fibrocystic disorder in which liver and kidney are commonly affected. Other frequently associated conditions include Caroli syndrome and polycystic kidney disease. CHF is also a known accompaniment in an array of inherited disorders with multiorgan involvement.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The 20-year-old male patient with declining vision (14 years duration), intermittent gingival bleeding (7 years duration), and abdominal distension (5 years duration), presented with exacerbation of these symptoms during the prior 2 months. The patient had been previously diagnosed with retinal macular degeneration, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and hepatosplenomegaly.

DIAGNOSES

Liver biopsy showed disordered hepatic acini and fibrous parenchymal banding, indicative of CHF.

INTERVENTIONS

After the treatment of diuresis and liver protectants, the clinical symptoms of the patients were improved. We subsequently recommend chromosomal analysis, although the family refused.

OUTCOMES

Three months after discharge, the patient was followed up by telephone. The patient had obvious abdominal distension and we advised that he should be admitted again. But the family refused.

LESSONS

CHF is an AR disease resulting in portal hypertension and often associated with renal malformations. CHF is also linked to a number of other disorders, many of which are ciliopathies. Because the clinical manifestations of CHF are nonspecific or lacking, its diagnosis is problematic, relying largely on liver biopsy. Once CHF is identified, physicians are obligated to investigate other organ systems, particularly a search for neuromuscular, retina or renal involvement. This case underscores the value of radiologic imaging, pathologic examination, and genetic testing in successfully diagnosing a rare disease.

What is the incidence of biliary carcinoma in choledochal cysts, when do they develop, and how should it affect management?

The incidence of cancer in choledochal cysts (CCs) in adults was calculated to determine the timing and need for surgery. In 78 publications (1996-2010), 434 of 5780 reported CCs patients had cancer. Cholangiocarcinoma (70.4 %) and gallbladder cancer (23.5 %) were the most common malignancies. Only nine malignancies were reported before age 18 (0.42 %). In contrast, the incidence of malignancy in adults was 11.4 %. The median age for diagnosis of cancer was 42 years, and the incidence increased with each decade.

Choledochal cyst in childhood: review of 30 cases

Objective: To analyze and discuss the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment of a number of patients with cystic dilatation of the common bile duct of a Brazilian pediatric hospital.Methods: We analyzed 30 patients treated at the Martagão Gesteira Institute of Pediatrics and Child Care of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro for 23 years ,with statistical analysis of epidemiological data, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and postoperative outcome.Results: We observed a marked female predominance (73.4% of cases), the diagnosis being made in the first decade of life in 90% of patients. The most prevalent clinical manifestation was jaundice (70% of cases) and the classic triad of choledochal cyst was not observed. Abdominal ultrasound was the first imaging examination performed, with a sensitivity of 56.6%, with diagnostic definition in 17 children. Two patients (6.6%) had prenatal diagnosis. All patients underwent surgical treatment, cyst resection with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy being performed in 80% of cases. The incidence of postoperative complications was 13.3% and the mortality rate was 6.6%, ie two patients were diagnosed with Caroli's disease.Conclusion: The non-observance of the classic triad of choledochal cyst suggests that its incidence is lower than that reported in the medical literature. The surgical treatment of choledochal cysts, with resection and bilioenteric anastomosis, is safe even for small children.

Choledochal cyst - presentation and treatment in an adult

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

NONE DECLARED Choledochal cyst is a congenital cystic dilation of a part of bile duct that occurs most commonly in the main part of common bile duct. Diagnosis of choledochal cyst is concluded upon disproportionate expansion of extrahepatic bile duct. Symptom trias are: abdominal pain, jaundice and abdominal mass represent clinical guideline signs of diagnosis. Furthermore, hepato-biliary diseases in adults can conceal the primary condition. In addition to this, ultrasound, CT, MRI, cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), transhepatic percutane cholangiography (PTC) guide us for a detailed examination in order to verify the diagnosis. Active endoscopic cholangiography represents an important technique that provides needed anatomic solution and details in diagnosis of choledochal cyst.

Liver transplantation in a 7-month-old girl with Caroli's disease

Caroli's disease (including Caroli's syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the liver characterized by diffuse cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. The disease may present at any age and is characterized by recurrent episodes of biliary obstruction, cholangitis, hepaticolithiasis, and liver abscesses. Caroli's syndrome is further associated with congenital hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension. Patients with recurrent complications or cirrhosis may die because of recurrent infection, portal hypertension, liver failure, or cholangiocarcinoma. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for these complicated patients. Here we describe the youngest reported patient with Caroli's syndrome treated successfully using liver transplantation and review the recent literature.

Pregnancy complicated by Caroli's disease with polycystic kidney disease: a case report and following observations

Caroli's disease and Caroli's syndrome are rare congenital disorders characterized by non-obstructive cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. These disorders are often associated with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. A young woman at 11 weeks of gestation was referred to our hospital for proper management of Caroli's disease during pregnancy. Magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory tests revealed Caroli's disease with chronic renal failure caused by polycystic kidney disease. She received diet control, erythropoietin and prophylactic oral antibiotics. Her pregnancy course was uneventful, and she gave birth at 37 weeks of gestation. Thereafter, her renal function gradually worsened. Hemodialysis was begun 5 years after parturition. Though the courses of pregnancies complicated by Caroli's disease or Caroli's syndrome are variable and can include life-threatening conditions, uneventful outcomes can be expected if careful management prevents biliary and renal infection.

Long-term outcome of liver resection and transplantation for Caroli disease and syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To assess the preoperative disease characteristics as well as the rate of postoperative complications, patient survival, and course of symptoms after liver resection or orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for Caroli disease (CD) or syndrome (CS).

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The clinical course of monolobar or diffuse CD or CS is often characterized by multiple conservative treatment attempts and interventions with recurrent episodes of cholangitis and a serious reduction in quality of life. The role and effectiveness of surgical treatment is still not well defined.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between June 1989 and December 2002, we treated 44 consecutive patients with CD or CS who had failure of conservative treatment before and were referred for surgical intervention. Demographic and clinical data, operative procedures and related morbidity, course of symptoms, and long-term follow-up were reviewed. Four patients with palliative resection for cholangiocarcinoma and incidental diagnosis of CD were excluded from the analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-two women and 18 men had a median period of 26.5 months from onset of symptoms to surgical therapy. Their median age at therapy was 49 years and 80% of the patients had monolobar disease with a left-right ratio of 2.6 to 1. Thirty-three (82.5%) patients underwent liver resection, while 4 (10%) patients received OLT for diffuse disease. Biliodigestive anastomosis alone was performed in 3 (7.5%) patients with contraindications to OLT. Patients (37.5%) had minor postoperative complications, which were treated conservatively, while 2 (5%) transplanted patients had a reoperation due to intraperitoneal bleeding. After a median follow-up of 86.5 months, we observed a favorable patient and graft survival. Three deaths during follow-up were not related to treatment or disease complications. Follow-up of disease-related symptoms, biliary complications, and antibiotic treatment revealed a significant improvement.

CONCLUSION

Our data show that liver resection for monolobar CD or CS and OLT for diffuse manifestations can achieve excellent long-term patient survival with marked symptom relief. Because of life-threatening long-term complications such as biliary sepsis and development of cholangiocarcinoma, timely indication for surgical treatment is crucial.

Inhibition of intrahepatic bile duct dilation of the polycystic kidney rat with a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib

The polycystic kidney (PCK) rat represents a liver and kidney cyst pathology corresponding to Caroli's disease with congenital hepatic fibrosis and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. We previously reported that an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, gefitinib (Iressa), significantly inhibited the abnormal growth of biliary epithelial cells of PCK rats in vitro. This study investigated the effects of gefitinib on cyst pathogenesis of the PCK rat both in vitro and in vivo. A three-dimensional culture model of biliary epithelial cells in the collagen gel matrix was used for in vitro analysis. For in vivo experiments, PCK and control rats were treated with gefitinib between 3 and 10 weeks of age. In vitro, gefitinib had strong inhibitory effects on biliary cyst formation of PCK rats. In vivo, treatment with gefitinib significantly inhibited the cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts of PCK rats, which was accompanied by improvement of liver fibrosis. By contrast, no beneficial effects were observed on renal cyst development because of the treatment. These results suggest that signaling pathways mediated by epidermal growth factor receptor are involved in biliary dysgenesis of the PCK rat, with the mechanisms of cyst progression being different between the liver and kidney.

Doppler sonographic findings in children with idiopathic portal vein cavernous deformity and variceal hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

To describe the flow patterns in the portal vascular territory in children with portal vein cavernous deformity.

METHODS

The study included 12 children (age 4-10 years) with hematemesis, melena, or both in whom B-mode gray scale sonography revealed small anechoic spaces replacing the site of the portal vein. The portal vein cavernous deformity was present either alone (in 8 patients) or with congenital hepatic fibrosis (in 4). Doppler sonography (color and spectral) was performed to assess the flow in the portal vascular territory, splenic vein, intrasplenic veins, and abdominal collaterals.

RESULTS

Doppler sonography confirmed the venous flow waveform in the cavernous portal vein in all children with normal flow direction in the few intrahepatic portal vein branches and also in the intrahepatic veins. Splenomegaly was present in all. The intrasplenic veins were dilated in all but had normal flow direction except in 2 with spontaneous trans-splenic shunts. Gallbladder varices were shown in 4 patients, and perisplenic collaterals were shown in 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Doppler sonography is a valuable noninvasive imaging technique for assessment of the portal hemodynamic profile in patients with portal vein cavernous deformity, which can affect subsequent treatment decision making. Trans-splenic shunts are uncommon, but this Doppler sonographic report documents such shunts in children with portal hypertension.

Regression of antenatally diagnosed localized Caroli's disease

The authors report on an infant who had a multiloculated cystic lesion located in segment IV of the liver, consistent with Caroli's disease diagnosed, by routine prenatal ultrasound at 25 weeks' gestation, and confirmed by hepatobiliary HIDA scan and computed tomography soon after birth. Because there was no sign of biliary obstruction, the patient was observed initially, with gradual regression of the cysts noted by serial sonograms. Caroli's disease in older children and adults often is associated with recurrent cholangitis and cirrhosis, mandating resection when the disease is unilobar. However, the natural history of Caroli's disease diagnosed in utero is unclear, and a period of observation appears warranted in the asymptomatic patient.

Benign liver and biliary tract masses in infants and toddlers

There is a remarkable diversity of conditions encompassed by benign liver masses in infants and toddlers. The most common benign hepatic tumor in this age group is infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma. Other commonly seen benign tumors are mesenchymal hamartoma and focal nodular hyperplasia. Hepatic adenoma is almost exclusively a disease of older children; primary hepatic teratoma is exceedingly rare. There are several distinguishing characteristics of these benign tumors on radiographic evaluation; however, imaging techniques such as ultrasound scan, computed tomography, and angiography are not always reliable in differentiating benign from malignant tumors. The differential diagnosis of benign hepatic tumors includes nonneoplastic cystic masses including biliary and simple hepatic cysts, hematoma, parasitic cysts, and pyogenic and amebic liver abscess. Choledochal cyst presents with a classic triad of abdominal pain, cholestatic jaundice, and a palpable abdominal mass. They are classified anatomically into 5 subtypes with the most popular types being type I and type IV. Treatment is with complete cyst excision with hepaticojejunostomy reconstruction.