New insights into the indications for intestinal transplantation

[Current State of Intestinal Transplantation]

According to the current practice guidelines of the German Medical Chamber, intestinal transplantation is the only causal option for complicated chronic intestinal failure. However, due to demanding immunological, perioperative, infectious challenges, intestinal transplantation is a complementary treatment option secondary to intestinal rehabilitation, after overt failure of parenteral supplementation. This review contains a selected summary of international literature and guidelines, as well as the transplant practice guidelines of the German Medical Chamber. The field of intestinal transplantation comprises a variety of single and combined transplant procedures which are tailored to individual patients and their comorbidities secondary to complicated chronic intestinal failure. The indication is typically preceded by intense intestinal rehabilitation. Nowadays, around 100-150 intestinal transplants are performed worldwide, resulting in 1- and 3- year survival rates of almost 80 and 70%, respectively. This makes intestinal transplantation the rarest of all vascularised organ transplants which is typically only indicated after all modern measures of intestinal rehabilitation have been exploited.

Evaluation of health-related quality of life and performance in intestinal transplant and rehabilitation patients: a cross-sectional study

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in intestinal failure (IF) patients after different modes of intestinal rehabilitation.

Methods

HRQoL was assessed using the generic 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36, ver. 2) and visual analogue scale (VAS) in 6 different areas: diet, sleep, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, diarrhea, musculoskeletal pain, and other symptoms.

Results

Twenty-two patients completed the questionnaires, of which 7 had received intestinal transplant (ITx), 9 were continuing home total parenteral nutrition (HPN), and 6 had tapered off total parenteral nutrition (TPN). SF-36 physical component summary scores were highest in the ITx group (median, 65.6; interquartile range [IQR], 31.6-80.3) compared to the HPN (median, 48.4; IQR, 44.7-66.3) or tapered group (median, 54.2; IQR, 45.2-61.6). Mental component summary scores were lowest in the ITx group (median, 48.8; IQR, 37.1-63.6), compared to the TPN (median, 60.2; IQR, 41.6-78.5) or tapered group (median, 51.0; IQR, 48.8-56.0). Differences were not significant in all items of the SF-36. VAS scores showed that patients in the ITx group showed the best results in diet (0.9), gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (1.4), and musculoskeletal pain (2.4). There was a significant difference in sleep (P = 0.036), with the ITx (1.43) and HPN groups (1.33) showing better outcomes compared with the tapered group (4.67). Patients in the tapered group showed the least favorable results in all performance areas, except GI symptoms.

Conclusion

SF-36 did not show a significant difference between the ITx, HPN, and tapered groups, but VAS showed a significant difference in sleep between groups. Further studies, including serial data, will allow a better understanding of the effects of different modes of intestinal rehabilitation.

Indications for Intestinal Transplantation

Outcomes for patients with chronic intestinal failure have improved with organization of experts into multidisciplinary teams delivering care in intestinal rehabilitation programs. There have been improvements in understanding of intestinal failure complications as well as development of newer therapies that have amplified the improvements in survival. In spite of this encouraging trend, patients who fail PN are often referred too late for intestinal transplantation. The author proposes a more rational framework that might allow earlier identification of intestinal failure patients at risk for PN-failure, who could appropriately be considered earlier for intestinal transplantation with improvements in overall outcomes.

[Indications and results of intestinal transplantation for short bowel syndrome after mesenteric ischemia]

BACKGROUND

Intestinal transplantation (ITx) is the only causal treatment for complicated chronic intestinal failure after mesenteric ischemia and impending failure of parenteral supplementation. Isolated or combined ITx with the inclusion of the intestine is associated with demanding immunological, perioperative and infection associated challenges.

AIM

The characterization of chronic intestinal failure, the indications, transplant survival, transplantation techniques and success rates.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Collection, summary and critical appraisal of international guidelines, the guidelines of the German Medical Chamber, and the international literature.

RESULTS

The first successful ITx were performed in 1987 and 1988 at the University of Kiel Germany and the University of Pittsburgh, USA. The number of ITx rose continuously but in phases from the end of the 1990s to over 200 per year but has currently decreased to 100-150 per year due to optimized intestinal rehabilitation. While the 1‑year and 3‑year transplant survival rates were 30% and 20% before 1991, they increased in phases up to 60% and 50%, respectively, after 1995 and have now achieved almost 80% and 70%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The substantial improvement in the results of ITx can be partly explained by progress in operative techniques, intensive care medicine and a better understanding of mucosal immunity; however, optimized strategies in immunosuppression as well as prevention of infectious diseases and malignancies have also made decisive contributions.

Comparison of the effects of normothermic machine perfusion and cold storage preservation on porcine intestinal allograft regenerative potential and viability

Intestinal transplantation (IT) is the final treatment option for intestinal failure. Static cold storage (CS) is the standard preservation method used for intestinal allografts. However, CS and subsequent transplantation induce ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Severe IRI impairs epithelial barrier function, including loss of intestinal stem cells (ISC), critical to epithelial regeneration. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) preservation of kidney and liver allografts minimizes CS-associated IRI; however, it has not been used clinically for IT. We hypothesized that intestine NMP would induce less epithelial injury and better protect the intestine's regenerative ability when compared with CS. Full-length porcine jejunum and ileum were procured, stored at 4 °C, or perfused at 34 °C for 6 hours (T6), and transplanted. Histology was assessed following procurement (T0), T6, and 1 hour after reperfusion. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and crypt culture measured ISC viability and proliferative potential. A greater number of NMP-preserved intestine recipients survived posttransplant, which correlated with significantly decreased tissue injury following 1-hour reperfusion in NMP compared with CS samples. Additionally, ISC gene expression, spheroid area, and cellular proliferation were significantly increased in NMP-T6 compared with CS-T6 intestine. NMP appears to reduce IRI and improve graft regeneration with improved ISC viability and proliferation.

ESPEN guideline on chronic intestinal failure in adults - Update 2023

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In 2016, ESPEN published the guideline for Chronic Intestinal Failure (CIF) in adults. An updated version of ESPEN guidelines on CIF due to benign disease in adults was devised in order to incorporate new evidence since the publication of the previous ESPEN guidelines.

METHODS

The grading system of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) was used to grade the literature. Recommendations were graded according to the levels of evidence available as A (strong), B (conditional), 0 (weak) and Good practice points (GPP). The recommendations of the 2016 guideline (graded using the GRADE system) which were still valid, because no studies supporting an update were retrieved, were reworded and re-graded accordingly.

RESULTS

The recommendations of the 2016 guideline were reviewed, particularly focusing on definitions, and new chapters were included to devise recommendations on IF centers, chronic enterocutaneous fistulas, costs of IF, caring for CIF patients during pregnancy, transition of patients from pediatric to adult centers. The new guideline consist of 149 recommendations and 16 statements which were voted for consensus by ESPEN members, online in July 2022 and at conference during the annual Congress in September 2022. The Grade of recommendation is GPP for 96 (64.4%) of the recommendations, 0 for 29 (19.5%), B for 19 (12.7%), and A for only five (3.4%). The grade of consensus is "strong consensus" for 148 (99.3%) and "consensus" for one (0.7%) recommendation. The grade of consensus for the statements is "strong consensus" for 14 (87.5%) and "consensus" for two (12.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

It is confirmed that CIF management requires complex technologies, multidisciplinary and multiprofessional activity, and expertise to care for the underlying gastrointestinal disease and to provide HPN support. Most of the recommendations were graded as GPP, but almost all received a strong consensus.

Small bowel transplant - novel indications and recent progress

INTRODUCTION

Advances in the management of intestinal failure have led to a reduction in the number of intestinal transplants. The number of bowel transplants has been mainly stable even though a slight increase has been observed in the last 5 years.

AREAS COVERED

Standard indication includes patients with a reasonable life expectancy. Recent progress can be deduced by the increased number of intestine transplants in adults: this is due to the continuous improvement of 1-year graft survival worldwide (without differences in 3- and 5-year) associated with better abdominal wall closure techniques. This review aims to provide an update on new indications and changes in trends of pediatric and adult intestine transplantation. This analysis, which stretches through the past 5 years, is based on a collection of related manuscripts from PubMed.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

Intestinal transplants should be solely intended for a group of individuals for whom indications for transplantation are clear and both medical and surgical rehabilitations have failed. Nevertheless, many protocols developed over the years have not yet solved the key question represented by the over-immunosuppression. Novel indications and recent progress in the bowel transplant field, minimal yet consistent, represent a pathway to be followed.

Definition, classification, and causes of short bowel syndrome

The term "short bowel syndrome (SBS)" defines "the clinical feature associated with a remaining small bowel in continuity of less than 200 cm from the ligament of Treitz" and is characterized by malabsorption, diarrhea, fatty stools, malnutrition, and dehydration. SBS is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of chronic intestinal failure (CIF), defined as the "reduction of gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients and/or water and electrolytes, such that intravenous supplementation (IVS) is required to maintain health and/or growth" in a metabolically stable patient. By contrast, the reduction of gut absorptive function that does not require IVS has been termed "intestinal insufficiency or deficiency" (II/ID). The classification of SBS can be categorized as follows: anatomical (anatomy and length of the residual bowel), evolutional (early, rehabilitative, and maintenance phases), pathophysiological (SBS with or without a colon in continuity), clinical (with II/ID or CIF), and severity of CIF (type and volume of the required IVS). Appropriate and homogeneous patient categorization is the mainstay of facilitating communication in clinical practice and in research.

Successful combined auxiliary partial liver and intestinal transplantation in two highly sensitized, cross-match positive patients

INTRODUCTION

Sensitization to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) creates an immunological barrier to intestinal transplantation (ITx). Current desensitization therapies are limited and ineffective in the most highly sensitized patients. A co-transplanted whole liver transplant can protect a kidney, heart, or intestinal allograft from antibody-mediated injury. Whether an auxiliary partial liver allograft provides effective protection for highly sensitized intestinal transplant recipients is unknown.

METHODS

Two patients with strong HLA donor-specific antibody at high titer against their deceased donors underwent combined auxiliary partial liver and ITx across a positive cross-match. The left lateral lobes from the combined-graft recipients and the right liver lobes from the deceased donors were transplanted as a domino procedure to other four patients.

RESULTS

Two combined-graft recipients have had an uneventful postoperative course without major complications at a 12- and 24-month follow-up, respectively. Intestinal graft function has been excellent with no evidence of humoral or cellular rejection. While a positive cross-match turned negative, titers of donor-specific HLA antibodies gradually declined over time after transplant. The left liver lobes procured from the combined-graft recipients were successfully transplanted into two pediatric patients (age 1.9, 2.4 years) and the right lobes from two deceased donors were successfully transplanted into two adult patients. All transplant procedures went well, without post-operative complications related to the splitting technique.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that an auxiliary liver transplant can effectively protect a co-transplanted intestinal allograft against rejection and suggest that this combined procedure may serve as a useful therapeutic adjunct for a highly sensitized intestinal transplant candidate.

Long-term survival following fungal catheter-related bloodstream infection for patients with intestinal failure receiving home parenteral support

BACKGROUND

A fungal-related catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is less frequent than those induced by bacteria. In the past, a single episode of fungal CRBSI has been used as a marker of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) failure and thus a possible indication for intestinal transplantation.

METHODS

Survival outcomes were assessed from a prospectively maintained database of patients initiated on HPN for underlying chronic intestinal failure between 1993 and 2018, with a censoring date of December 31, 2020. Cox regression was performed to assess predictors of mortality with univariable and multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1008 patients were included in the study, with a total of 1 364 595 catheter days. There were 513 CRBSI events recorded in 262 patients, equating to a CRBSI rate of 0.38/1000 catheter days. A total of 38/262 (14.5%) patients had at least one episode of fungal CRBSI, whereas 216/262 (82.4%) had at least one bacterial but no fungal CRBSI. The median time between HPN initiation and the first CRBSI episode was 20.6 months (95% confidence interval, 16.5-24.1). Episodes of fungal or bacterial CRBSI and the number of CRBSI episodes were not associated with increased mortality. Overall, 15 CRBSI-related deaths were observed in the observation period (0.01 CRBSI deaths/1000 catheter days), two of these were fungal in origin.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of a fungal CRBSI does not increase the risk of death compared with patients who have bacterial CRBSI or those without a CRBSI event.

Management of Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) and Intestinal Failure

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a chronic disease whose natural history requires a changing array of management strategies over time. Chief amongst these is the chronic use of parenteral nutrition (PN) to ensure adequate nutritional intake. With time and appropriate management, approximately half of all SBS patients will successfully regain a functional, baseline level of intrinsic bowel function that will allow for them to achieve PN independence. However, the other half of SBS patients will progress into chronic intestinal failure which warrants a change in therapy to include more aggressive medical and potentially surgical measures. This review examines the evolving treatment strategies involved in the management of SBS as well as intestinal failure.

The safety of available treatment options for short bowel syndrome and unmet needs

INTRODUCTION

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a rare, highly disabling, life-threatening condition due to extensive intestinal resections, characterized by diarrhea, malabsorption, and malnutrition. SBS is the main cause of intestinal failure (SBS-IF). The primary therapy for SBS-IF is intravenous supplementation (IVS) of nutrients. The pharmacological therapy aims to improve the remnant bowel function, leading to the decrease of IVS requirement.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides a safety perspective and discusses unmet clinical needs on pharmacotherapy for SBS, ranging from symptomatic agents traditionally used off-label to manage hypersecretion and diarrhea, to curative drugs with selective intestinotrophic properties. Real-world evidence on symptomatic drugs is lacking. Data on teduglutide - the first-in-class glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) receptor agonist approved in SBS - are mainly derived from clinical trials, with several unsettled safety issues, including the risk of malignancies.

EXPERT OPINION

Defining the long-term safety of drugs used for SBS is a priority; a unified list of commonly used drugs with consolidated proof of effectiveness is needed to harmonize the symptomatic pharmacological approach to SBS. GLP-2 receptor agonists are a promising curative pharmaco-therapeutic approach, although long-term safety and effectiveness deserve further real-world assessment. Pharmacovigilance and global data sharing are crucial to support safe prescribing in SBS.

Proteomic biomarkers in short bowel syndrome : are we ready to use them in clinical activity?

Introduction: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a clinical condition that can affect childhood and adult patients. Biomarker research is expected to be a new frontier in the clinical application, helpful for patients and health-care systems.Areas covered: SBS is usually a consequence of a massive intestinal resection that leads to an intestinal failure because of the reduction of absorptive surface, bacterial overgrowth, and faster intestinal transit. This new condition requires a multidisciplinary expertise to achieve again digestive autonomy. Parental nutrition (PN) supports nutritional status in SBS patients while the new guidelines on intestinal transplantation confirm its strict indication only for patients at actual risk of death on PN. A PubMed literature review from the 1980s up to date was performed, highlighting proteomic biomarkers and growth factor therapies that have shown so far promising results in SBS patients.Expert opinion: Apart from a few specific biomarkers and growth factors, the discovery of specific molecular events is currently under investigation of the proteomic analysis and could potentially represent fundamental, future changes in prevention, diagnosis, therapeutic management, and experimental practices in SBS.