The Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score identifies patients who may benefit from corticosteroids

Model of disease severity in alcoholic hepatitis and novel prognostic insights

INTRODUCTION

Harmful alcohol consumption is one of the leading risk factors for global disease burden and injury condition, causing death and disability early in life, with over 3 million deaths worldwide every year. Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a clinical syndrome characterized by hepatic failure with recent onset of jaundice, consequence of a heavy chronic alcohol drinking. The disease severity ranges from mild to severe cases, with high short-term mortality. Individual variety regarding disease outcome and therapeutic response complicates the prognosis stratification. Thus, novel parameters and continuously sought for a better disease outcome assessment.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To highlight new parameters that accurately assess 30-day mortality (short-term) in patients with AH and to develop a new severity score that uses readily available parameters accessible to any clinician.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a prospective study on patients diagnosed with AH between 2022-2023. We identified 70 patients with AH who met the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) criteria for diagnosis after exclusion of patients with severe comorbidities that could influence disease outcome. Clinical and paraclinical parameters were assessed at least on admission and day 7. Mortality at 30-day was considered the endpoint. The database was composed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corporation) and the data was analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 26 (IBM Corporation).

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients were included in the study with a mortality at 30-days of 22.9% (n=16). The independent variables associated with increased short-term mortality identified using the univariate analysis were: fever, infection, esophageal varices, prothrombin time PT, INR, total bilirubin, CRP, LDH and CHI (creatinine height index). Using multivariate regression we determined a novel prognostic score, with criterion for retaining variable being p<0.05. Total bilirubin day 7, CRP, PT, fever and CHI resulted after the analysis and were included into a new mortality score. Our Prognostic Model Score obtained an area under the ROC of 0.950 (95% CI: 0.890-0.980, p<0.001), with a cut-off value of 13.75 (Sn=87.5%, Sp=91%). Regarding the consecrated prognostic scores, MDF and Lille score obtained good AUROCs=0.839 and 0.881, respectively (p<0.000), with cut-off values comparable with literature (MDF=34.35 vs 32) and (Lille=0.475 vs 0.450). The discriminatory power for ABIC (p=0.58), GAHS (p=0.16), MELD-Na (p=0.61) was not significant.

CONCLUSION

We obtained a new prognostic score for the assessment of 30-day mortality in AH that includes markers of inflammation (CRP, fever) and markers of sarcopenia (CHI) along parameters of hepatic disfunction (total bilirubin and PT). Amongst consecrated prognostic models, MDF and Lille scores were representative for our study, while ABIC, GAHS and MELD-Na did not attain statistical significance. Our score is unique by the addition of CRP and this could prove to be a useful tool in AH severity stratification.

Non-invasive tests for alcohol-associated liver disease

Alcohol consumption is a global phenomenon and a major contributor to alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Detecting individuals at risk of ALD has been challenging, with only a small fraction of patients being identified at early stages compared to other chronic liver diseases. In response to this challenge, non-invasive tests (NITs) have become essential tools for the detection of ALD, offering opportunities for early identification and intervention to mitigate the disease burden. Noninvasive alcohol consumption biomarkers are crucial in estimating individuals' recent alcohol intake, providing valuable insights into their drinking patterns. Various NITs have been investigated for the initial screening of asymptomatic individuals at risk of ALD, as well as for identifying specific stages of the disease. These NITs are applied in 2 main clinical scenarios: population-based stratification for identifying and predicting liver-related symptoms and diagnosing and prognosticating compensated cirrhosis or advanced chronic liver disease in secondary or tertiary care settings. Moreover, NITs play a significant role in the prognostic assessment of patients with various manifestations of ALD, including alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH), decompensated cirrhosis, and metabolic-associated and ALD. These tests guide appropriate treatment decisions and predict outcomes. In this review, various NITs for the early detection and monitoring of alcohol consumption were discussed. Additionally, the evaluation of NITs for screening and predicting ALD and liver complications was addressed comprehensively. Future perspectives of NITs for ALD were explored, alongside a thorough discussion of the opportunities and challenges associated with NITs for ALD screening.

Real-World Utilization of Corticosteroids in Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis: Eligibility, Response, and Outcomes

Background and Objectives: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) poses a medical challenge, causing moderately severe to life-threatening episodes with high short- and long-term mortality. This study aimed to explore real-world corticosteroid utilization in severe AH, response predictors, and patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients admitted for severe AH, defined as a Maddrey Discriminant Function score equal to or above 32, at a tertiary care center. We reviewed patients' medical observation charts to identify corticosteroid prescriptions, reasons for ineligibility, and response rates. Responders were defined based on the Lille score, and predictors of non-response were identified. Short-term (one-month) and long-term (one-year) mortality rates were calculated according to treatment and response. Results: Out of 310 patients enrolled with severe AH, 59% received corticosteroids, achieving a response rate of 75.4%. The reasons for not administering corticosteroids were as follows: uncontrolled infections (27.6%), renal dysfunction (20.4%), gastrointestinal bleeding (18.9%), acute pancreatitis (7.1%), uncontrolled diabetes (3.1%), and other or unknown causes (22.8%). The overall 1-month mortality rate was 12.2%, higher in non-responders (35.3%) and patients who did not receive corticosteroids (13.4%) compared to responders (3.6%). The overall 1-year mortality rate was 62.5%, similar between patients who did not receive corticosteroids (78.7%) and non-responders (77.7%) and higher compared to responders (42.8%). Predictive factors for non-response included older age (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.01-1.08), concomitant cirrhosis (OR= 2.11, 95% CI: 1.064-4.20), MELD scores exceeding 30 (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.21-4.80), severe hypoalbuminemia (OR = 2.46, 95%CI: 1.12-5.37), and increased serum creatinine (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.03). Among the prognostic scores, MELD 3.0 score exhibited superior efficacy for short-term (AUC = 0.734, 95% CI 0.656-0.811) and long-term mortality (AUC = 0.777, 95% CI: 0.724-0.830) compared to alternative scoring systems. Conclusions: Low eligibility rate and poor prognosis underscore the need for effective therapies. Our findings contribute to refining risk stratification and early prediction of non-response, aiding clinicians in identifying more beneficial therapies.

Improving survival in alcohol-related hepatitis: what's new?

Alcohol-related hepatitis (AH) is the most florid presentation of alcohol-related liver disease and carries a high short-term and long-term mortality rate. Specific treatment options remain inadequate. The current management approach for AH focuses on early identification, careful screening and treatment of infection, as well as identification of those patients who may benefit from corticosteroid therapy based on validated prognostic scoring systems. In recent years, there has been growing interest in exploring novel therapies for AH, which may offer alternative treatment options beyond the traditional approaches. Additionally, early liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a promising option in selected cases with growing evidence supporting its role. In this review, we will discuss the current evidence base for the assessment and treatment of AH, and how these advances are shaping practice to improve outcomes in the UK.

Prognostic models in alcohol-related liver disease and alcohol-related hepatitis

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) are dynamic disorders whose prognosis can be challenging to determine. A number of prognostic models have been developed to determine likelihood of death, when to refer for liver transplant (LT) and the role for glucocorticoids. Often these models were created with a specific application in mind but were found to have additional applications with further study. Those prognostic models that have stood the test of time are easy to use, have clear interpretations and employ objective parameters. These parameters most often include total bilirubin, INR and creatinine among other data points. Ideally, these models could be utilized at all phases of disease but in most, it is important for clinicians to consider drinking history and how it might alter the determined scores. Herein we provide a brief review of prognostic models in ALD and AH and provide practical tips and considerations to successfully make use of these tools in a clinical setting.

Management of Patients After Treatment of Severe Alcohol-associated Hepatitis

Alcohol-associated liver disease is the leading indication for hospitalization among patients with chronic liver disease. Rates of hospitalization for alcohol-associated hepatitis have been rising over the last 2 decades. Patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis carry significant morbidity and mortality, but there is a lack of standardized postdischarge management strategies to care for this challenging group of patients. Patients warrant management of not only their liver disease but also their alcohol use disorder. In this review, we will discuss outpatient management strategies for patients who were recently hospitalized and discharged for alcohol-associated hepatitis. We will discuss short management of their liver disease, long-term follow-up, and review-available treatment options for alcohol use disorder and challenges associated with pursuing treatment for alcohol use disorder.

Prognostic and diagnostic scoring models in acute alcohol-associated hepatitis: A review comparing the performance of different scoring systems

Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AAH) is a severe form of liver disease caused by alcohol consumption. In the absence of confounding factors, clinical features and laboratory markers are sufficient to diagnose AAH, rule out alternative causes of liver injury and assess disease severity. Due to the elevated mortality of AAH, assessing the prognosis is a radical step in management. The Maddrey discriminant function (MDF) is the first established clinical prognostic score for AAH and was commonly used in the earliest AAH clinical trials. A MDF > 32 indicates a poor prognosis and a potential benefit of initiating corticosteroids. The model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score has been studied for AAH prognostication and new evidence suggests MELD may predict mortality more accurately than MDF. The Lille score is usually combined to MDF or MELD score after corticosteroid initiation and offers the advantage of assessing response to treatment a 4-7 d into the course. Other commonly used scores include the Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score and the Age Bilirubin international normalized ratio Creatinine model. Clinical AAH correlate adequately with histologic severity scores and leave little indication for liver biopsy in assessing AAH prognosis. AAH presenting as acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) is so far prognosticated with ACLF-specific scoring systems. New artificial intelligence-generated prognostic models have emerged and are being studied for use in AAH. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one possible complication of AAH and is significantly associated with increased AAH mortality. Predicting AKI and alcohol relapse are important steps in the management of AAH. The aim of this review is to discuss the performance and limitations of different scoring models for AAH mortality, emphasize the most useful tools in prognostication and review predictors of recurrence.

Acute alcohol-associated hepatitis: Latest findings in non-invasive biomarkers and treatment

Acute alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is a syndrome that occurs in heavy and long-term drinkers and results in severe jaundice and liver failure. The mortality rate in severe cases is 20%-50% at 28 days, and in cases that do not improve despite appropriately timed corticosteroid therapy, the mortality rate reaches 70% at 6 months. The only curative treatment is early liver transplantation, but less than 2% of patients with severe AH are eligible. In order to improve the prognosis, diagnostic tools are needed to detect appropriate cases at risk of severe conditions, and new therapies need to be developed that can replace corticosteroids. Recent research has revealed that the pathogenesis of AH involves a complex of factors, including changes in the gut microbiota, inflammatory and cytokine signalling, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, and abnormalities in the hepatic regenerative capacity. Non-invasive diagnostic tools focusing on these specific pathologies have been reported in recent years. In addition, several novel agents targeting specific pathways are currently being developed and tested in clinical trials. This review will provide an overview of alcohol-associated hepatitis and focus on the latest diagnostic tools, particularly non-invasive biomarkers, and novel therapies.

Effect of Prophylactic Antibiotics on Mortality in Severe Alcohol-Related Hepatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

The benefits of prophylactic antibiotics for hospitalized patients with severe alcohol-related hepatitis are unclear.

Objective

To determine the efficacy of amoxicillin-clavulanate, compared with placebo, on mortality in patients hospitalized with severe alcohol-related hepatitis and treated with prednisolone.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial among patients with biopsy-proven severe alcohol-related hepatitis (Maddrey function score ≥32 and Model for End-stage Liver Disease [MELD] score ≥21) from June 13, 2015, to May 24, 2019, in 25 centers in France and Belgium. All patients were followed up for 180 days. Final follow-up occurred on November 19, 2019.

Intervention

Patients were randomly assigned (1:1 allocation) to receive prednisolone combined with amoxicillin-clavulanate (n = 145) or prednisolone combined with placebo (n = 147).

Main Outcome and Measures

The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 60 days. Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality at 90 and 180 days; incidence of infection, incidence of hepatorenal syndrome, and proportion of participants with a MELD score less than 17 at 60 days; and proportion of patients with a Lille score less than 0.45 at 7 days.

Results

Among 292 randomized patients (mean age, 52.8 [SD, 9.2] years; 80 [27.4%] women) 284 (97%) were analyzed. There was no significant difference in 60-day mortality between participants randomized to amoxicillin-clavulanate and those randomized to placebo (17.3% in the amoxicillin-clavulanate group and 21.3% in the placebo group [P = .33]; between-group difference, -4.7% [95% CI, -14.0% to 4.7%]; hazard ratio, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.45-1.31]). Infection rates at 60 days were significantly lower in the amoxicillin-clavulanate group (29.7% vs 41.5%; mean difference, -11.8% [95% CI, -23.0% to -0.7%]; subhazard ratio, 0.62; [95% CI, 0.41-0.91]; P = .02). There were no significant differences in any of the remaining 3 secondary outcomes. The most common serious adverse events were related to liver failure (25 in the amoxicillin-clavulanate group and 20 in the placebo group), infections (23 in the amoxicillin-clavulanate group and 46 in the placebo group), and gastrointestinal disorders (15 in the amoxicillin-clavulanate group and 21 in the placebo group).

Conclusion and Relevance

In patients hospitalized with severe alcohol-related hepatitis, amoxicillin-clavulanate combined with prednisolone did not improve 2-month survival compared with prednisolone alone. These results do not support prophylactic antibiotics to improve survival in patients hospitalized with severe alcohol-related hepatitis.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02281929.

Determining Prognosis of ALD and Alcohol-associated Hepatitis

Alcohol-associated hepatitis has a poor prognosis in terms of short-term mortality and often presents with symptoms, such as jaundice, acute renal failure, and ascites. There are many prognostic models that have been developed to predict short-term and long-term mortality in these patients. Current prognostic models can be divided into static scores, which are measured at admission, and dynamic models, which measure baseline and after a certain amount of time. The efficacy of these models in predicting short-term mortality is disputed. Numerous studies across the world have compared prognostic models, such as the Maddrey's discriminant function, the model for end-stage liver disease score, model for end-stage liver disease score-Na, Glasgow alcohol-associated hepatitis score, and the age-bilirubin-international normalized ratio-creatinine (ABIC) score, to each other to determine which score is more useful for a particular context. There are also prognostic markers such as liver biopsy, breath biomarkers, and acute kidney injury that are able to predict mortality. The accuracy of these scores is a key to determining when treatment with corticosteroids is futile since there is an increased risk of infection in those treated with it. Furthermore, although these scores are helpful in predicting short-term mortality, the only factor that is able to predict long-term mortality in patients with alcohol-related liver disease is abstinence. Numerous studies have proven that even though corticosteroids provide a treatment for alcohol-associated hepatitis, it is a temporary one, at best. The purpose of this paper is to compare the historical models to current ones in their ability to predict mortality in patients with alcohol-related liver disease by analyzing multiple studies that have examined these prognostic markers. This paper also isolates the knowledge gaps in the ability to delineate which patients would benefit from corticosteroids and patients who would not and provides potential models for the future that could narrow this gap.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) at Admission Predicts Mortality in Patients With Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis (SAH)

Background & aims

Severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) is a grave condition, and the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI) further jeopardizes patient survival. However, the impact of AKI on survival in SAH has not been assessed from this region of Asia.

Materials and methods

This study was conducted on consecutive alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) patients hospitalized in Gastroenterology Department, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, India, between October 2016 and December 2018. On diagnosis of SAH (mDF score ≥32), demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were recorded, and survival was compared between patients with and without AKI (AKIN criteria). In addition, survival was compared among SAH patients defined by other criteria and prognostic models in the presence and absence of AKI.

Results

309 (70.71%) of ALD patients had SAH, and 201 (65%) of them had AKI. SAH patients with AKI had higher total leucocyte count, total bilirubin, serum creatinine, serum urea, INR, MELD (UNOS), MELD (Na+), CTP score, mDF score, Glasgow score, ABIC score, and increased prevalence of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) as per EASL-CLIF Consortium criteria (P < 0.001). Further, they had prolonged hospital stay, and increased death during hospitalization, at 28 days as well as 90 days (P < 0.001). Significant differences in survival were also seen in SAH (as per MELD, ABIC, and GAHS criteria) patients above the marked cut offs in respect to AKI.

Conclusions

Over two-thirds of ALD patients had SAH, and about two-thirds had AKI. Patients with SAH and AKI had an increased prevalence of ACLF, longer hospital stay, and increased mortality during hospitalization at 28 days and 90 days.

Lay summary

SAH is a critical condition, and the presence of AKI negatively affects their survival. Hence, early identification of SAH and AKI, as well as early initiation of treatment, is crucial for better survival. Our study from the coastal part of eastern India is the first to demonstrate the prevalence of SAH among patients with ALD along with the prevalence of AKI among SAH patients in this region. This knowledge will be helpful in managing these patients from this region of world.

Emerging Biomarkers in Alcohol-associated Hepatitis

Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is a clinical syndrome of jaundice, abdominal pain, and anorexia due to prolonged heavy alcohol intake. AH is associated with changes in gene expression, cytokines, immune response, and the gut microbiome. There are limited biomarkers to diagnose and prognosticate in AH, but several non-invasive biomarkers are emerging. In this review, clinical risk-stratifying algorithms, promising AH biomarkers like cytokeratin-18 fragments, genetic polymorphisms, and microRNAs will be reviewed.

Targeting Unmet Clinical Needs in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder marked by impaired control over drinking behavior that poses a significant challenge to the individual, their community, the healthcare system and economy. While the negative consequences of chronic excessive alcohol consumption are well-documented, effective treatment for AUD and alcohol-associated diseases remains challenging. Cognitive and behavioral treatment, with or without pharmaceutical interventions, remain the most commonly used methods; however, their efficacy is limited. The development of new treatment protocols for AUD is challenged by difficulty in accurately measuring patterns of alcohol consumption in AUD patients, a lack of a clear understanding of the neuropsychological basis of the disorder, the high likelihood of AUD patients relapsing after receiving treatment, and the numerous end-organ comorbidities associated with excessive alcohol use. Identification and prediction of patients who may respond well to a certain treatment mechanism as well as clinical measurement of a patient's alcohol exposure are bottlenecks in AUD research which should be further addressed. In addition, greater focus must be placed on the development of novel strategies of drug design aimed at targeting the integrated neural pathways implicated in AUD pathogenesis, so that next-generation AUD treatment protocols can address the broad and systemic effects of AUD and its comorbid conditions.

Trajectory of Serum Bilirubin Predicts Spontaneous Recovery in a Real-World Cohort of Patients With Alcoholic Hepatitis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a severe condition with poor short-term prognosis. Specific treatment with corticosteroids slightly improves short-term survival but is associated with infection and is not used in many centers. A reliable method to identify patients who will recover spontaneously will minimise the numbers of patients who experience side effects of available treatments.

METHODS

We analysed the trajectory of serum bilirubin concentration over the course of hospital admissions in patients with AH to predict spontaneous survival and the need for treatment.

RESULTS

data from 426 patients were analysed. Based on bilirubin trajectory, patients were categorized into three groups: 'fast fallers' (bilirubin <0.8 x admission value at day 7), 'static' (bilirubin of >0.9 - <1.2 x admission value) and 'rapid risers' (bilirubin of ≥1.2 x admission bilirubin). Fast fallers had significantly better 90-day survival compared to other groups (log rank p < .001), and showed no benefit of corticosteroid therapy (OR for survival at 28 days of treatment, 0.94, 95% CI 0.06 - 8.41). These findings remained even amongst patients with severe disease based on initial DF, GAHS or MELD scores.

CONCLUSIONS

We present an intuitive method of classifying patients with AH based on the trajectory of bilirubin over the first week of admission. It is complimentary to existing scores that identify candidates for corticosteroid treatment or assess response to treatment. This method identifies a group of patients with AH who recover spontaneously and can avoid corticosteroid therapy.

Alcoholic liver disease: Current insights into cellular mechanisms

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) due to chronic alcohol consumption is a significant global disease burden and a leading cause of mortality. Alcohol abuse induces a myriad of aberrant changes in hepatocytes at both the cellular and molecular level. Although the disease spectrum of ALD is widely recognized, the precise triggers for disease progression are still to be fully elucidated. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis and altered immune system response plays an important role in disease pathogenesis, triggering the activation of inflammatory pathways and apoptosis. Despite many recent clinical studies treatment options for ALD are limited, especially at the alcoholic hepatitis stage. We have therefore reviewed some of the key pathways involved in the pathogenesis of ALD and highlighted current trials for treating patients.

Current and Future Biomarkers in Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a clinical syndrome of jaundice, abdominal pain, and anorexia due to prolonged heavy alcohol intake, and is associated with alterations in gene expression, cytokines, immune response, and the gut microbiome. Currently, we have limited biomarkers to diagnose and prognosticate in AH, but there are many novel noninvasive biomarkers under development. We evaluate the currently used algorithms to risk-stratify in AH (such as the Maddrey modified discriminant function), and discuss novel biomarkers in development, such as breath biomarkers, microRNAs, cytokeratin-18 fragments, and the AshTest. We also review the characteristics of an ideal biomarker in AH.

Assessing the Severity and Prognosis of Alcoholic Hepatitis

Acute alcoholic hepatitis is a clinical entity with significant consequences. Those with severe disease can have high short-term mortality, and considerations for liver transplant candidacy may be raised. Estimating prognosis and mortality is of the utmost importance, as it can guide decision making for corticosteroid therapy and help patients gain an understanding of their illness. Maddrey's discriminant function and MELD score are 2 commonly used static models validated to help estimate severity and prognosis in acute alcoholic hepatitis. This article reviews the 2 models and others used in this difficult setting to assess these patients and guide decision making.

[Diagnosis and Severity Assessment of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease]

A diagnosis of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) requires information on the history of excessive alcohol consumption (average intake of 40 g or more in men and 20 g or more in women a day). Furthermore, blood tests, such as GGT, AST, ALT, and mean corpuscular volume, and imaging studies, including abdominal ultrasound or transient elastography, are also useful. A liver biopsy can be useful for confirming the diagnosis and has prognostic value. ALD includes alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis, and in most cases, clinical manifestations can overlap. The prognostic scoring systems of ALD are limited mainly to alcoholic hepatitis, and the early mortality and treatment response can be predicted using various scoring systems. This review summarizes how to diagnose and evaluate the severity of ALD in clinical practice.

Is There a Futility Discriminant Function Score for Alcoholic Hepatitis?

The treatment for patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH) who have a discriminant function (DF) score greater than 32 has been steroids. A prior study reported that mortality approaches 100% when the DF score is greater than 54, despite the use of prednisolone. Our aim was to determine if a DF score greater than 54 is associated with high mortality despite steroids. We conducted a retrospective study of 531 first-time inpatient encounters of AH. We compared 30-day mortality between patients with DF 54 or less to those greater than 54 treated with steroids, as well as a matched group not treated with steroids. A total of 531 inpatients diagnosed with AH were identified, of which 124 had a DF greater than 32 and 52 were treated with steroids. Among patients treated with steroids, 30-day mortality for patients with DF greater than 54 (n = 27) and 54 or below (n = 25) was 22% and 12%, respectively (p = 0.47). Among patients with DF greater than 54, the 30-day mortality for those who did (n = 27) and did not (n = 29) receive steroids was 22% and 24%, respectively (p = 0.87). In our study population, steroids were not futile in patients with a DF score of greater than 54.

Keratin 18 Is a Diagnostic and Prognostic Factor for Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality; there are no good blood biomarkers for diagnosis or determining magnitude of cell death. Keratin 18 (KRT18, also called K18), found in epithelial cells, is released from hepatocytes upon death. We investigated whether level of K18 is a better marker of hepatocyte death than standard biomarkers and might be used to identify patients with AAH at risk for death within 90 days.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 173 participants in a large trial performed at 4 medical centers. Participants with AAH were classified as severe (n = 57, model for end-stage liver disease [MELD] scores above 20) or moderate (n = 27, MELD scores from 12 to 19); 38 participants had alcohol use disorder with mild (n = 28) or no liver injury (n = 10); 34 participants had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; and 17 participants were healthy (controls). We quantified serum levels of K18 using ELISAs and APOPTOSENSE kits.

RESULTS

Serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and the ratio of AST:ALT did not correlate with MELD scores. Patients with alcohol use disorder had higher serum levels of ALT than patients with severe AAH. Levels of K18M65 and K18M30 had statistically significant increases as liver disease worsened, as did the degree of necrosis (ratio of K18 M65:M30). The ratio of K18M65:ALT was increased in serum from patients with AAH compared with controls. Serum levels of K18 identified patients who died within 90 days with greater accuracy than commonly used static biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a stronger association between serum level of keratin 18 and amount of hepatocyte death and liver disease severity than for other biomarkers (AST, ALT, and the AST:ALT ratio). The ratio of K18M65:M30 might be used as marker of mechanism of hepatocyte death, and the ratio of K18M65:ALT might be used to distinguish patients with AAH from patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Serum levels of K18 might be used to identify patients with severe AAH at risk for death. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier # NCT01922895 and NCT01809132.

Alcoholic hepatitis: Towards an era of personalised management

Alcoholic hepatitis should be suspected in every patient with excessive chronic alcohol consumption and recent onset of jaundice. Diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis is based on clinical and laboratory findings, and confirmed by a liver biopsy when available. Several scores are available to assess severity and prognosis of alcoholic hepatitis. The 1-month mortality of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, as defined by Maddrey's discriminant function, is 20-30%. Therefore, severe alcoholic hepatitis should be treated with a 28-day course of oral prednisolone after systematic screening for infection. In this review, we discuss diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis, the different scores to assess severity of the disease, indications for corticosteroid therapy and alternative therapeutic options for non-responders to medical therapy.

Early Liver Transplantation for Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis

Although alcohol-associated liver disease has long been a major component of the liver disease landscape, it was overshadowed by chronic hepatitis C until recently. Nevertheless, with the declining incidence of hepatitis C in the wake of highly effective antiviral therapy, attention has shifted to the increasing burden of alcohol-associated liver disease. The incidence of advanced alcohol-associated liver disease, including acute alcoholic hepatitis and alcohol-associated cirrhosis, is rising in parallel with increasing rates of alcohol use disorders. As a result, alcohol-associated liver disease is now one of the most common indications for liver transplantation. Rates of liver transplantation for acute alcoholic hepatitis are rising as well in spite of the sparse guidance regarding candidate selection, counseling, postoperative care, long-term follow-up, and other best practices. To this day, liver transplant for acute alcoholic hepatitis remains a hotly debated clinical controversy.

Alcohol associated liver disease 2020: A clinical practice guideline by the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF)

Alcohol use disorder which includes alcohol abuse and dependence represents one of the leading risk factors for premature mortality in Europe and it is responsible of over 200 conditions, including neuropsychiatric disorders, chronic diseases, cancers and accidents leading to permanent disability. Alcohol use disorder represents the most common cause of liver damage in the Western world, with a wide spectrum of diseases ranging from steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and cancer. The present clinical practice guidelines by the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF) are focused on the current knowledge about epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of alcohol associated liver disease, aiming to provide practical recommendations on the management of this complex pathological condition.

Current Management and Future Treatment of Alcoholic Hepatitis

Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for approximately 50% of all deaths due to cirrhosis. Although the duration and amount of alcohol consumption are the primary factors responsible for the liver injury caused by consuming alcohol, the pathogenesis of the 3 stages of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD)-fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis (AH), and cirrhosis- is likely multifactorial. Preexisting obesity, dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, activation of proinflammatory cytokines, and genetic factors can all contribute to the risk of developing ALD. The cornerstone of therapy for all stages of ALD is abstinence from drinking alcoholic beverages. Severe AH, defined by a Maddrey discriminant function greater than 32, warrants additional therapy. The results of multiple studies evaluating the use of glucocorticoids in the treatment of severe AH led to guidelines from international societies that recommend glucocorticoid therapy in patients with severe AH without active infection. Liver transplantation provides an effective treatment option for patients who fail glucocorticoid therapy. Recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of AH have led to the investigation of potential therapies directed at preventing the development of steatosis, inhibiting the innate immune response, modifying the gut microbiome, and stimulating liver regeneration.

Emerging Noninvasive Biomarkers, and Medical Management Strategies for Alcoholic Hepatitis: Present Understanding and Scope

Alcohol use disorder is associated with a wide array of hepatic pathologies ranging from steatosis to alcoholic-related cirrhosis (AC), alcoholic hepatitis (AH), or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Biomarkers are categorized into two main categories: biomarkers associated with alcohol consumption and biomarkers of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). No ideal biomarker has been identified to quantify the degree of hepatocyte death or severity of AH, even though numerous biomarkers have been associated with AH. This review provides information of some of the novel and latest biomarkers that are being investigated and have shown a substantial association with the degree and severity of liver injury and inflammation. Importantly, they can be measured noninvasively. In this manuscript, we consolidate the present understanding and prospects of these biomarkers; and their application in assessing the severity and progression of the alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We also review current and upcoming management options for AH.

Recent advances in alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis is the severest clinical presentation of alcoholic liver disease. Lacking an effective pharmacologic treatment, alcoholic hepatitis is associated with a poor prognosis and its recovery relies mostly on abstinence. With alcohol use disorder being universally on the rise, the impact of alcoholic hepatitis on society and health-care costs is expected to increase significantly. Prognostic factors and liver biopsy can help with timely diagnosis, to determine eligibility and response to corticosteroids, and for prognostication and transplant referral. Although recent discoveries in the pathophysiology of alcoholic hepatitis are encouraging and could pave the way for novel treatment modalities, a multidisciplinary approach considering timely identification and treatment of liver-related complications, infectious and metabolic disease, malnutrition, and addiction counseling should be emphasized. Apart from proper selection of candidates, transplant programs should provide adequate post-transplant addiction support in order to make of early liver transplantation for alcoholic hepatitis the ultimate sobering experience in the next decade.

PCSK9 inhibition as a novel therapeutic target for alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) causes significant morbidity and mortality, and pharmacological treatment options are limited. In this study, we evaluated the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab, a monoclonal antibody that robustly reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), for the treatment of ALD using a rat model of chronic alcohol exposure. Alirocumab (50 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered weekly for 6 weeks to rats receiving a 12% alcohol liquid diet or an isocaloric control diet. At the end of the alcohol exposure protocol, serum and liver samples were obtained for molecular characterization and histopathological analysis. PCSK9 inhibition with alirocumab attenuated alcohol-induced hepatic triglyceride accumulation through regulation of lipid metabolism (mRNA expression of modulators of fatty acid synthesis (FAS) and catabolism (PPARα and CPT1)), hepatocellular injury (ALT), hepatic inflammation (mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines (TNFa, IL-1β, IL-22, IL-33, IL-17α, IL-2, MIP-2, and MCP-1), and neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase staining)). Alirocumab treatment also attenuated alcohol-induced PCSK9 mRNA elevation and upregulated LDL-receptor (LDL-R) via modulation of the transcription factors (SREBP-1, SREBP-2, and E2F1) in liver. We demonstrated that chronic anti-PCSK9 treatment using the monoclonal antibody alirocumab attenuated alcohol-induced steatohepatitis in the rat model. Given the large unmet clinical need for effective and novel treatments for ALD, anti-PCSK9 treatment with the monoclonal antibody that spares liver metabolism is a viable new therapeutic possibility. Future studies are needed to elucidate the exact role of PCSK9 in ALD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) and to evaluate efficacy and safety of anti-PCSK9 treatment in clinical populations with ALD/AUD.

Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis is a unique type of alcohol-associated liver disease characterized by acute liver inflammation caused by prolonged heavy alcohol use. Treatment is mostly supportive. The short-term prognosis of acute alcoholic hepatitis depends on liver recovery, and ranges widely from rapid improvement to grim multiorgan failure despite treatment. Refinement of scoring systems have enhanced prognostication to guide clinical decision making in alcoholic hepatitis. Recent advances in the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis have solidified corticosteroids as the cornerstone of treatment to enhance short-term survival, but not intermediate or long-term survival.

Non-invasive diagnosis and biomarkers in alcohol-related liver disease

Even though alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of severe liver disease worldwide, most patients with ALD are diagnosed at the decompensation stage. Liver biopsy is still considered the gold standard for establishing a definite diagnosis and assessing the fibrosis stage of ALD, but it is an invasive procedure, associated with significant morbidity. During the last decade, non-invasive tests have been developed to estimate the severity of liver fibrosis and steatosis. Measurement of liver stiffness by transient elastography has become the most commonly used non-invasive parameter to evaluate fibrosis. In ALD, transient elastography has been demonstrated to have an excellent performance to detect advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, aspartate aminotransferase levels must be considered when interpreting liver stiffness cut-offs. Non-invasive biological tests have also been evaluated to assess liver fibrosis in ALD. The commercially available Enhanced Liver Fibrosis test and FibroTest have comparable performance for the diagnosis of advanced fibrosis in ALD, with studies suggesting that they are better than other biological tests (i.e. FIB-4 and APRI). Although ultrasound is still accepted as an initial screen for fatty liver diagnosis, new methods have recently been developed to detect steatosis. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging techniques are highly accurate and reproducible, with superior sensitivities and specificities for detecting histological steatosis than ultrasound. However, low availability and high cost limit the use of magnetic resonance techniques in routine clinical practice. More recently, controlled attenuation parameter was developed as a novel tool to non-invasively assess liver steatosis; performed in combination with transient elastography, it was suggested to be superior to regular ultrasound for detecting steatosis and was shown to have acceptable diagnostic accuracy. New serum biomarkers are under investigation to non-invasively diagnose more severe forms of ALD and to predict prognosis of patients.

Hépatite alcoolique aiguë sévère

Tout patient consommateur chronique et excessif d’alcool avec un ictère récent doit être évalué par le score de Maddrey à la recherche d’une hépatite alcoolique aiguë sévère. Les corticostéroïdes représentent le traitement de première ligne, associés à un soutien nutritionnel adapté et à une abstinence alcoolique. La combinaison corticostéroïdes plus N-acétylcystéine (perfusée pendant les cinq premiers jours) améliore la survie à court terme par rapport aux corticostéroïdes seuls, constituant une option thérapeutique de première ligne. La réponse au traitement est évaluée au septième jour par le modèle de Lille inférieur ou égal à 0,45. Le pronostic des patients non répondeurs aux corticostéroïdes avec un modèle de Lille supérieur à 0,45 est sombre avec une survie de 23 % à six mois. Pour des patients non répondeurs aux corticostéroïdes et sélectionnés, la transplantation hépatique précoce améliore significativement la survie à six mois et à long terme.

Application of prognostic scores in the STOPAH trial: Discriminant function is no longer the optimal scoring system in alcoholic hepatitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

'Static' prognostic models in alcoholic hepatitis, using data from a single time point, include the discriminant function (DF), Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score (GAHS), the age, serum bilirubin, international normalized ratio and serum creatinine (ABIC) score and the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD). 'Dynamic' scores, incorporating evolution of bilirubin at seven days, include the Lille score. The aim of this study was to assess these scores' performance in patients from the STOPAH trial.

METHODS

Predictive performance of scores was assessed by area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). The effect of different therapeutic strategies upon survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and tested using the log-rank test.

RESULTS

A total of 1,068 patients were studied. The AUCs for the DF were significantly lower than for MELD, ABIC and GAHS for both 28- and 90-day outcomes: 90-day values were 0.670, 0.704, 0.726 and 0.713, respectively. 'Dynamic' scores and change in 'static' scores by Day 7 had similar AUCs. Patients with consistently low 'static' scores had low 28-day mortalities that were not improved with prednisolone (MELD <25: 8.6%; ABIC <6.71: 6.6%; GAHS <9: 5.9%). In patients with high 'static' scores without gastrointestinal bleeding or sepsis, prednisolone reduced 28-day mortality (MELD: 22.2% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.13; ABIC 14.6% vs. 21%, p = 0.02; GAHS 21% vs. 29.3%, p = 0.04). Overall mortality from treating all patients with a DF ≥32 and Lille assessment (90-day mortality 26.8%) was greater than combining newer 'static' and 'dynamic' scores (90-day mortality: MELD/Lille 21.8%; ABIC/Lille 23.7%; GAHS/Lille 20.6%).

CONCLUSION

MELD, ABIC and GAHS are superior to the DF in alcoholic hepatitis. Consistently low scores have a favourable outcome not improved with prednisolone. Combined baseline 'static' and Day 7 scores reduce the number of patients exposed to corticosteroids and improve 90-day outcome.

LAY SUMMARY

Alcoholic hepatitis is a life-threatening condition. Several scores exist to determine the outcome of these patients as well as to identify those who may benefit from treatment. This study looked at the performance of existing scores in patients who had been recruited to the largest alcoholic hepatitis clinical trial: STOPAH. 'Static' scores are calculable at the start of assessment. The three newer static scores (ABIC, GAHS and MELD) were shown to be superior to the oldest score (DF). ABIC and GAHS could also identify patients who had a survival benefit 28 days after starting prednisolone treatment. 'Dynamic' scores relate to the change in disease over the first week of treatment. Combination of the 'static' scores 'with the 'dynamic' scores or change in 'static' scores allowed identification of patients who could benefit from prednisolone up to 90 days.

Review article: recent insights into clinical decision-making in severe alcoholic hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Alcoholic hepatitis is a severe acute manifestation of alcoholic liver disease with a high mortality. Management of patients with this condition has been a matter of controversy for many years; however, recent clinical studies have sought to improve the clinical approach to these patients.

AIM

To use these recent studies in order to guide clinical management.

METHODS

A MeSH search of Medline was performed to specifically identify recent studies which influenced clinical diagnosis, assessment and management of alcoholic hepatitis.

RESULTS

Fulfilment of clear clinical criteria including a minimum threshold of bilirubin, defined periods of jaundice and alcohol ingestion negates the need for liver biopsy in most patients. Corticosteroids improve short-term mortality only (28 day) with other factors such as abstinence likely to be significant in long-term outcome. Pentoxifylline is not an effective treatment. The Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score (GAHS) score can identify those patients likely to benefit from corticosteroids, but scores that include the evolution of bilirubin over 1 week of such treatment (such as the Lille Score) define "response". Underlying infection may contribute towards corticosteroid nonresponse and needs to be actively sought out and treated. Liver transplant remains controversial; however, it has been shown to be feasible in alcoholic hepatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent studies have helped to define patients who may benefit from corticosteroid treatment. However, there remains a need for more accurate scores of prognosis and treatment response, and a clear need for alternative treatments for those patients not responding to corticosteroid therapy.

Homozygosity for rs738409:G in PNPLA3 is associated with increased mortality following an episode of severe alcoholic hepatitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Carriage of rs738409:G in PNPLA3 is associated with an increased risk of developing alcohol-related cirrhosis and has a significant negative effect on survival. Short-term mortality in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis is high; drinking behaviour is a major determinant of outcome in survivors. The aim of this study was to determine whether carriage of rs738409:G has an additional detrimental effect on survival in this patient group.

METHODS

Genotyping was undertaken in 898 cases with severe alcoholic hepatitis, recruited through the UK Steroids or Pentoxifylline for Alcoholic Hepatitis (STOPAH) trial, and 1188 White British/Irish alcohol dependent controls with no liver injury, recruited via University College London. Subsequent drinking behaviour was classified, in cases surviving ≥90days, as abstinent or drinking. The relationship between rs738409 genotype, drinking behaviour and survival was explored.

RESULTS

The frequency of rs738409:G was significantly higher in cases than controls (29.5% vs. 18.9%; p=2.15×10^-15; odds ratio 1.80 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.55-2.08]). Case-mortality at days 28, 90 and 450 was 16%, 25% and 41% respectively. There was no association between rs738409:G and 28-day mortality. Mortality in the 90 to 450-day period was higher in survivors who subsequently resumed drinking (hazard ratio [HR] 2.77, 95% CI 1.79-4.29; p<0.0001) and in individuals homozygous for rs738409:G (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.02-2.81, p=0.04).

CONCLUSION

Homozygosity for rs738409:G in PNPLA3 confers significant additional risk of medium-term mortality in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis. Rs738409 genotype may be taken into account when considering treatment options for these patients.

LAY SUMMARY

Individuals misusing alcohol who carry a particular variant of the gene PNPLA3 are more at risk of developing severe alcoholic hepatitis, a condition with a poor chance of survival. The longer-term outcome in people with this condition who survive the initial illness is strongly influenced by their ability to remain abstinent from alcohol. However, carriers of this gene variant are less likely to survive even if they are able to stop drinking completely. Knowing if someone carries this gene variant could influence the way in which they are managed. Clinical trial numbers: EudraCT reference number: 2009-013897-42; ISRCTN reference number: ISRCTN88782125.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBERS

EudraCT reference number: 2009-013897-42; ISRCTN reference number: ISRCTN88782125.

Alcoholic hepatitis: current trends in management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Alcohol consumption is increasing globally, as are complications of alcohol-related liver disease, including the most severe manifestation, alcoholic hepatitis. Despite the increased prevalence, many patients hospitalized with alcoholic hepatitis are either not diagnosed or inadequately treated leading to significant morbidity and high mortality rates. The purpose of this review is to discuss current challenges in the diagnosis and management of this frequently fatal condition.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies and meta-analyses have improved our understanding of both the evaluation and treatment of alcoholic hepatitis including the diagnostic criteria, appropriate use of glucocorticoids and other therapeutic modalities including novel disease-specific therapeutic agents and indications for considering liver transplantation.

SUMMARY

Glucocorticoid therapy and enteral nutrition represent the best options for reducing short-term mortality in patients with the severe form of acute alcoholic hepatitis. The efficacy of other medications such as pentoxifylline as currently used does not support a role for use outside clinical trials. While the current management options for alcoholic hepatitis remain insufficient, improvements in diagnosis, determining prognosis and severity and the potential role of novel treatments provides encouragement that outcomes from this devastating condition will improve.

Emerging concepts in alcoholic hepatitis

Severe alcoholic hepatitis is implicated as a costly, worldwide public health issue with high morbidity and mortality. The one-month survival for severe alcoholic hepatitis is low with mortality rates high as 30%-50%. Abstinence from alcohol is the recommended first-line treatment. Although corticosteroids remain as the current evidence based option for selected patients with discriminant function > 32, improvement of short-term survival rate may be the only benefit. Identification of individuals with risk factors for the development of severe alcoholic hepatitis may provide insight to the diverse clinical spectrum and prognosis of the disease. The understanding of the complex pathophysiologic processes of alcoholic hepatitis is the key to elucidating new therapeutic treatments. Newer research describes the use of gut microbiota modification, immune modulation, stimulation of liver regeneration, caspase inhibitors, farnesoid X receptors, and the extracorporeal liver assist device to aid in hepatocellular recovery. Liver transplantation can be considered as the last medical option for patients failing conventional medical interventions. Although the preliminary data is promising in patients with low risk of recividism, controversy remains due to organ scarcity. This review article comprehensively summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, and prognostic indicators of severe alcoholic hepatitis with a focus on the current and emerging therapeutics.

Pathophysiology and Management of Alcoholic Liver Disease: Update 2016

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and acute and chronic liver failure and as such causes significant morbidity and mortality. While alcohol consumption is slightly decreasing in several European countries, it is rising in others and remains high in many countries around the world. The pathophysiology of ALD is still incompletely understood but relates largely to the direct toxic effects of alcohol and its main intermediate, acetaldehyde. Recently, novel putative mechanisms have been identified in systematic scans covering the entire human genome and raise new hypotheses on previously unknown pathways. The latter also identify host genetic risk factors for significant liver injury, which may help design prognostic risk scores. The diagnosis of ALD is relatively easy with a panel of well-evaluated tests and only rarely requires a liver biopsy. Treatment of ALD is difficult and grounded in abstinence as the pivotal therapeutic goal; once cirrhosis is established, treatment largely resembles that of other etiologies of advanced liver damage. Liver transplantation is a sound option for carefully selected patients with cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis because relapse rates are low and prognosis is comparable to other etiologies. Still, many countries are restrictive in allocating donor livers for ALD patients. Overall, few therapeutic options exist for severe ALD. However, there is good evidence of benefit for only corticosteroids in severe alcoholic hepatitis, while most other efforts are of limited efficacy. Considering the immense burden of ALD worldwide, efforts of medical professionals and industry partners to develop targeted therapies in ALF has been disappointingly low.

Medical Management of Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis: Expert Review from the Clinical Practice Updates Committee of the AGA Institute

The purpose of this clinical practice update is to review diagnostic criteria for severe acute alcoholic hepatitis and to determine the current best practices for this life-threatening condition. The best practices in this review are based on clinical trials, systematic reviews including meta-analysis and expert opinion to develop an approach to diagnosis and management. Best Practice Advice 1: Abstinence from drinking alcohol is the cornerstone of treatment for alcohol hepatitis (AH). Best Practice Advice 2: Patients with jaundice and suspected AH should have cultures of blood, urine, and ascites, if present, to determine the presence of bacterial infections regardless of whether they have fever. Best Practice Advice 3: Patients with AH who have jaundice should be admitted to the hospital to encourage abstinence, restore adequate nutrition, and exclude serious infections. Best Practice Advice 4: Imaging of the liver is warranted as part of the evaluation, but caution should be used in administering iodinated contrast dye, as it increases the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Best Practice Advice 5: Patients with AH require a diet with 1-1.5 g protein and 30-40 kcal/kg body weight for adequate recovery. If the patient is unable to eat because of anorexia or altered mental status, a feeding tube should be considered for enteral feeding. Parenteral nutrition alone is inadequate. Best Practice Advice 6: Severity and prognosis of AH should be evaluated using Maddrey Discriminant Function (MDF), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), age, bilirubin, international normalized ratio, and creatinine (ABIC), or Glasgow scoring systems. Current treatments are based on this assessment. Best Practice Advice 7: Presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) on admission is associated with an increased risk of multi-organ failure (MOF) syndrome. Development of MOF, usually due to infections developing after initial diagnosis of AH, is associated with a very high mortality rate. Best Practice Advice 8: Nephrotoxic drugs, including diuretics, should be avoided or used sparingly in patients with AH, since AKI is an early manifestation of MOF. Best Practice Advice 9: Patients with MDF > 32 or MELD score > 20 without a contraindication to glucocorticoid, such as hepatitis B viral infection, tuberculosis, or other serious infectious diseases, may be treated with methylprednisolone 32 mg daily, but the appropriate duration of treatment remains a subject of controversy. Methylprednisolone does not improve survival beyond 28 days, and the benefits for < 28 days are modest. Best Practice Advice 10: Patients with a contraindication to glucocorticoids may be treated with pentoxifylline 400 mg three times daily with meals. Data regarding the efficacy are conflicting. Best Practice Advice 11: Patients with severe AH, particularly those with a MELD score > 26 with good insight into their alcohol use disorder and good social support should be referred for evaluation for liver transplantation, as the 90-day mortality rate is very high. Best Practice Advice 12: Patients with mild to moderate AH defined by a MELD score < 20 and MDF < 32 should be referred for abstinence counseling and prescribed a high protein diet supplemented with B vitamins and folic acid.

Practical Concerns and Controversies in the Management of Alcoholic Hepatitis

Recent advances in the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis (AH) have reinforced the utility of glucocorticoids, a treatment that has been in use for nearly 4 decades, to enhance short-term survival. As multi-institutional consortia research new therapeutic advances, this orphan disease, which afflicts younger patients and has poor outcomes, continues to be difficult to manage. AH has a protean clinical presentation and course, with various prediction models and treatment approaches that can challenge even experienced providers. This review addresses 4 key controversies and other practical issues associated with the diagnosis, prognosis, management, and treatment of patients with AH.

Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis, the Clinical Aspects

Alcoholic hepatitis is an acute form of alcoholic liver disease with variable severity that develops in patients who usually have a history of prolonged and recent alcohol abuse. The diagnosis is clinical and depends on history, physical examination, and laboratory derangements. Liver biopsy is diagnostic but not universally performed, and noninvasive diagnostic modalities are under development. Scoring systems are used to assess severity of disease, predict mortality, and guide decisions for initiation of specific therapies. The natural history and long-term outcomes of alcoholic hepatitis, including recurrence, progression to cirrhosis, and mortality, vary and depend partly on abstinence from alcohol use.

Prognosis and Prognostic Scoring Models for Alcoholic Liver Disease and Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

Multiple prognostic scoring systems have been developed to predict mortality from acute alcoholic hepatitis. Some systems, such as the modified discriminant function, are specific to alcoholic hepatitis. Others, such as the model for end-stage liver disease, apply to a broad range of liver diseases. Prognostic factors are better at predicting patients who are likely to survive rather than die of this condition at 30 and 90 days. This important shortcoming may be improved by combining scores for better prediction accuracy.

The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of STeroids Or Pentoxifylline for Alcoholic Hepatitis (STOPAH): a 2 × 2 factorial randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a distinct presentation of alcoholic liver disease arising in patients who have been drinking to excess for prolonged periods, which is characterised by jaundice and liver failure. Severe disease is associated with high short-term mortality. Prednisolone and pentoxifylline (PTX) are recommended in guidelines for treatment of severe AH, but trials supporting their use have given heterogeneous results and controversy persists about their benefit.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of STeroids Or Pentoxifylline for Alcoholic Hepatitis trial was to resolve the clinical dilemma on the use of prednisolone or PTX.

DESIGN

The trial was a randomised, double-blind, 2 × 2 factorial, multicentre design.

SETTING

Sixty-five gastroenterology and hepatology inpatient units across the UK.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of AH who had a Maddrey's discriminant function value of ≥ 32 were randomised into four arms: A, placebo/placebo; B, placebo/prednisolone; C, PTX/placebo; and D, PTX/prednisolone. Of the 5234 patients screened for the trial, 1103 were randomised and after withdrawals, 1053 were available for primary end-point analysis.

INTERVENTIONS

Those allocated to prednisolone were given 40 mg daily for 28 days and those allocated to PTX were given 400 mg three times per day for 28 days.

OUTCOMES

The primary outcome measure was mortality at 28 days. Secondary outcome measures included mortality or liver transplant at 90 days and at 1 year. Rates of recidivism among survivors and the impact of recidivism on mortality were assessed.

RESULTS

At 28 days, in arm A, 45 of 269 (16.7%) patients died; in arm B, 38 of 266 (14.3%) died; in arm C, 50 of 258 (19.4%) died; and in arm D, 35 of 260 (13.5%) died. For PTX, the odds ratio for 28-day mortality was 1.07 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77 to 1.40; p = 0.686)] and for prednisolone the odds ratio was 0.72 (95% CI 0.52 to 1.01; p = 0.056). In the logistic regression analysis, accounting for indices of disease severity and prognosis, the odds ratio for 28-day mortality in the prednisolone-treated group was 0.61 (95% CI 0.41 to 0.91; p = 0.015). At 90 days and 1 year there were no significant differences in mortality rates between the treatment groups. Serious infections occurred in 13% of patients treated with prednisolone compared with 7% of controls (p = 0.002). At the 90-day follow-up, 45% of patients reported being completely abstinent, 9% reported drinking within safety limits and 33% had an unknown level of alcohol consumption. At 1 year, 37% of patients reported being completely abstinent, 10% reported drinking within safety limits and 39% had an unknown level of alcohol consumption. Only 22% of patients had attended alcohol rehabilitation treatment at 90 days and 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that prednisolone reduces the risk of mortality at 28 days, but this benefit is not sustained beyond 28 days. PTX had no impact on survival. Future research should focus on interventions to promote abstinence and on treatments that suppress the hepatic inflammation without increasing susceptibility to infection.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial is registered as EudraCT 2009-013897-42 and Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN88782125.

FUNDING

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 19, No. 102. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information. The NIHR Clinical Research Network provided research nurse support and the Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre also provided funding.

Prognostic models for alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is caused by acute inflammation of the liver in patients that consume excessive amounts of alcohol, usually in a background of cirrhosis. AH can range from mild to severe, life threatening disease with a high rate of short and long-term mortality. Prognostic models have been used to estimate mortality in order to identify those that may benefit from corticosteroids or pentoxifylline. This review focuses on the different prognostic models proposed. While limitations of the prognostic models exist, combining models may be beneficial in order to identify responders to therapy versus non-responders.

Risk factors for mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and assessment of prognostic models: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is associated with a substantial risk for short-term mortality.

OBJECTIVES

To identify prognostic factors and validate well-known prognostic models in a Canadian population of patients hospitalized for AH.

METHODS

In the present retrospective study, patients hospitalized for AH in Calgary, Alberta, between January 2008 and August 2012 were included. Stepwise logistic regression models identified independent risk factors for 90-day mortality, and the discrimination of prognostic models (Model for End-stage Liver Disease [MELD] and Maddrey discriminant function [DF]) were examined using areas under the ROC curves.

RESULTS

A total of 122 patients with AH were hospitalized during the study period; the median age was 49 years (interquartile range [IQR] 42 to 55 years) and 60% were men. Median MELD score and Maddrey DF on admission were 21 (IQR 18 to 24) and 45 (IQR 26 to 62), respectively. Seventy-three percent of patients received corticosteroids and⁄or pentoxifylline, and the 90-day mortality was 17%. Independent predictors of mortality included older age, female sex, international normalized ratio, MELD score and Maddrey DF (all P<0.05). For discrimination of 90-day mortality, the areas under the ROC curves of the prognostic models (MELD 0.64; Maddrey DF 0.68) were similar (P>0.05). At optimal cut-offs of ≥22 for MELD score and ≥37 for Maddrey DF, both models excluded death with high certainty (negative predictive values 90% and 96%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients hospitalized for AH, well-known prognostic models can be used to predict 90-day mortality, particularly to identify patients with a low risk for death.