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Pearson M, Nobes J, Macpherson I, Gold L, Miller M, Dow E, Dillon JF. Enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) score predicts hepatic decompensation and mortality. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101062. [PMID: 38826498 PMCID: PMC11141136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims In community pathways for detection of liver disease the most common reason for referral is fibrosis assessment. We investigated the impact of adding the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score as a second-line test (subsequent to an indeterminate or high Fibrosis-4 index [FIB-4] and/or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score) to guide referral and prognostication in our multi-aetiology pathway. Methods Patients with ELF results from the intelligent Liver Function Testing (iLFT) pathway were recruited. Case note review was undertaken to compare ELF with endpoints of cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and mortality (liver-related and all-cause death). Results In total, 1,327 individuals were included with a median follow-up of 859 days and median ELF score of 10.2. Overall sensitivity for cirrhosis at the 9.8 threshold was 94% (100% for metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease, 89% for alcohol-related liver disease). Determination of the ELF score as a second-line test reduced the referral rate by 34%. ELF scores predicted hepatic outcomes; each unit change was associated with increased decompensation (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] 2.215, 95% CI: 1.934-2.537) and liver-related mortality (aHR 2.024, 95% CI: 1.674-2.446). ELF outperformed FIB-4 for risk of liver-related mortality, particularly in the short-term (area under the curve [AUC] 94.3% vs. 82.8% at six months). Where FIB-4 was indeterminate, ELF had higher AUC for all outcomes within at least 2 years. ELF ≥13 was associated with particularly high rates of decompensation (26% within 90 days) and all-cause mortality (38% at 1 year). Conclusions The addition of ELF reduced the number of individuals referred for fibrosis assessment following iLFT pathway testing and provided useful prognostic information. Individuals with ELF scores ≥13 were considered at high-risk of negative outcomes warranting urgent clinical assessment. Impact and implications Primary care pathways for suspected liver disease are increasingly common and often lead to increased specialist hepatology referrals for fibrosis assessment. This study, using clinical follow-up for liver-related outcomes, provides further evidence supporting ELF testing to safely reduce referrals in a two-step approach when combined with other simple fibrosis markers. Additionally, ELF scores predict liver-related morbidity and mortality, with ELF scores ≥13 indicating particularly high-risk patients. This study may help inform the implementation of diagnostic pathways for early detection of liver disease and highlights the need for urgent review of individuals with very high ELF scores.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Nobes
- Department of Blood Sciences, NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Iain Macpherson
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Lucy Gold
- School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Michael Miller
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Ellie Dow
- Department of Blood Sciences, NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - John F. Dillon
- Gut Group, Division of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NHS Tayside, Dundee, Scotland, UK
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Abdelhameed F, Kite C, Lagojda L, Dallaway A, Chatha KK, Chaggar SS, Dalamaga M, Kassi E, Kyrou I, Randeva HS. Non-invasive Scores and Serum Biomarkers for Fatty Liver in the Era of Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Comprehensive Review From NAFLD to MAFLD and MASLD. Curr Obes Rep 2024:10.1007/s13679-024-00574-z. [PMID: 38809396 DOI: 10.1007/s13679-024-00574-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly increasing worldwide, making it the leading cause of liver related morbidity and mortality. Currently, liver biopsy is the gold standard for assessing individuals with steatohepatitis and fibrosis. However, its invasiveness, sampling variability, and impracticality for large-scale screening has driven the search for non-invasive methods for early diagnosis and staging. In this review, we comprehensively summarise the evidence on the diagnostic performance and limitations of existing non-invasive serum biomarkers and scores in the diagnosis and evaluation of steatosis, steatohepatitis, and fibrosis. RECENT FINDINGS Several non-invasive serum biomarkers and scores have been developed over the last decade, although none has successfully been able to replace liver biopsy. The introduction of new NAFLD terminology, namely metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and more recently metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), has initiated a debate on the interchangeability of these terminologies. Indeed, there is a need for more research on the variability of the performance of non-invasive serum biomarkers and scores across the diagnostic entities of NAFLD, MAFLD and MASLD. There remains a significant need for finding valid and reliable non-invasive methods for early diagnosis and assessment of steatohepatitis and fibrosis to facilitate prompt risk stratification and management to prevent disease progression and complications. Further exploration of the landscape of MASLD under the newly defined disease subtypes is warranted, with the need for more robust evidence to support the use of commonly used serum scores against the new MASLD criteria and validation of previously developed scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Abdelhameed
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
- Institute for Cardiometabolic Medicine, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
| | - Chris Kite
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
- School of Health and Society, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, UK
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Research Institute for Health & Wellbeing, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK
- Chester Medical School, University of Chester, Shrewsbury, SY3 8HQ, UK
| | - Lukasz Lagojda
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
- Clinical Evidence-Based Information Service (CEBIS), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
| | - Alexander Dallaway
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
- School of Health and Society, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Kamaljit Kaur Chatha
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
- Institute for Cardiometabolic Medicine, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK
| | | | - Maria Dalamaga
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eva Kassi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- First Department of Propaupedic and Internal Medicine, Endocrine Unit, Laiko Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kyrou
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK.
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Research Institute for Health & Wellbeing, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK.
- Institute for Cardiometabolic Medicine, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK.
- Aston Medical School, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK.
- College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK.
- Laboratory of Dietetics and Quality of Life, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855, Athens, Greece.
| | - Harpal S Randeva
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (WISDEM), University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK.
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
- Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Research Institute for Health & Wellbeing, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK.
- Institute for Cardiometabolic Medicine, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK.
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Nobes J, Leith D, Handjiev S, Dillon JF, Dow E. Intelligent Liver Function Testing (iLFT): An Intelligent Laboratory Approach to Identifying Chronic Liver Disease. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:960. [PMID: 38732374 PMCID: PMC11083526 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14090960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The intelligent Liver Function Testing (iLFT) pathway is a novel, algorithm-based system which provides automated laboratory investigations and clinical feedback on abnormal liver function test (LFT) results from primary care. iLFT was introduced to NHS Tayside, Scotland, in August 2018 in response to vast numbers of abnormal LFTs, many of which were not appropriately investigated, coupled with rising mortality from chronic liver disease. Here, we outline the development and implementation of the iLFT pathway, considering the implications for the diagnostic laboratories, primary care services and specialist hepatology clinics. Additionally, we describe the utility, outcomes and evolution of iLFT, which was used over 11,000 times in its first three years alone. Finally, we will consider the future of iLFT and propose areas where similar 'intelligent' approaches could be used to add value to laboratory investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Nobes
- Department of Blood Sciences, NHS Tayside, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
- Population Health & Genomics, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Damien Leith
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NHS Tayside, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
- Gut Group, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Sava Handjiev
- Department of Blood Sciences, NHS Tayside, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
- Gut Group, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
| | - John F. Dillon
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NHS Tayside, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
- Gut Group, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Ellie Dow
- Department of Blood Sciences, NHS Tayside, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK
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4
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Helgesson S, Tarai S, Langner T, Ahlström H, Johansson L, Kullberg J, Lundström E. Spleen volume is independently associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver volume and liver fibrosis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28123. [PMID: 38665588 PMCID: PMC11043861 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can lead to irreversible liver damage manifesting in systemic effects (e.g., elevated portal vein pressure and splenomegaly) with increased risk of deadly outcomes. However, the association of spleen volume with NAFLD and related type 2-diabetes (T2D) is not fully understood. The UK Biobank contains comprehensive health-data of 500,000 participants, including clinical data and MR images of >40,000 individuals. The present study estimated the spleen volume of 37,066 participants through automated deep learning-based image segmentation of neck-to-knee MR images. The aim was to investigate the associations of spleen volume with NAFLD, T2D and liver fibrosis, while adjusting for natural confounders. The recent redefinition and new designation of NAFLD to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), promoted by major organisations of studies on liver disease, was not employed as introduced after the conduct of this study. The results showed that spleen volume decreased with age, correlated positively with body size and was smaller in females compared to males. Larger spleens were observed in subjects with NAFLD and T2D compared to controls. Spleen volume was also positively and independently associated with liver fat fraction, liver volume and the fibrosis-4 score, with notable volumetric increases already at low liver fat fractions and volumes, but not independently associated with T2D. These results suggest a link between spleen volume and NAFLD already at an early stage of the disease, potentially due to initial rise in portal vein pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Helgesson
- Radiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Sambit Tarai
- Radiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
- Antaros Medical AB, BioVenture Hub, Sweden
| | | | - Håkan Ahlström
- Radiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
- Antaros Medical AB, BioVenture Hub, Sweden
| | | | - Joel Kullberg
- Radiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
- Antaros Medical AB, BioVenture Hub, Sweden
| | - Elin Lundström
- Radiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
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5
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Gabriel-Medina P, Ferrer-Costa R, Ciudin A, Augustin S, Rivera-Esteban J, Pericàs JM, Selva DM, Rodriguez-Frias F. Accuracy of a sequential algorithm based on FIB-4 and ELF to identify high-risk advanced liver fibrosis at the primary care level. Intern Emerg Med 2024; 19:745-756. [PMID: 37952070 PMCID: PMC11039533 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-023-03441-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease, and liver fibrosis is the strongest predictor of morbimortality. We aimed to assess the performance of a sequential algorithm encompassing the Fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) scores for identifying patients at risk of advanced fibrosis. This cross-sectional study included one hospital-based cohort with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 140) and two primary care cohorts from different clinical settings: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) follow-up (n = 141) and chronic liver disease (CLD) initial study (n = 138). Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess liver fibrosis diagnosis models based on FIB-4 and ELF biomarkers. The sequential algorithm retrieved the following accuracy parameters in predicting stages F3-4 in the biopsy-confirmed cohort: sensitivity (85%), specificity (73%), negative predictive value (79%) and positive predictive value (81%). In both T2D and CLD cohorts, a total of 28% of patients were classified as stages F3-4. Furthermore, of all F3-4 classified patients in the T2D cohort, 80% had a diagnosis of liver disease and 44% were referred to secondary care. Likewise, of all F3-4 classified patients in the CLD cohort, 71% had a diagnosis of liver disease and 44% were referred to secondary care. These results suggest the potential utility of this algorithm as a liver fibrosis stratifying tool in primary care, where updating referral protocols to detect high-risk F3-4 is needed. FIB-4 and ELF sequential measurement is an efficient strategy to prioritize patients with high risk of F3-4 in populations with metabolic risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Gabriel-Medina
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
- Clinical Biochemistry Research Team, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Roser Ferrer-Costa
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
- Clinical Biochemistry Research Team, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Andreea Ciudin
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
- Diabetes and Metabolism Department, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Augustin
- Liver Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesus Rivera-Esteban
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193, Barcelona, Spain
- Liver Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J M Pericàs
- Liver Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - D M Selva
- Diabetes and Metabolism Department, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08035, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Rodriguez-Frias
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, 08035, Barcelona, Spain
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193, Barcelona, Spain
- Clinical Biochemistry Research Team, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), 08035, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), 28029, Madrid, Spain
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Zoncapè M, Liguori A, Tsochatzis EA. Non-invasive testing and risk-stratification in patients with MASLD. Eur J Intern Med 2024; 122:11-19. [PMID: 38246813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2024.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The development and validation of non-invasive fibrosis tests (NITs) has changed clinical practice in Hepatology over the last 15 years. Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most prevalent liver disease in western countries, with up to a third of the unselected adult population affected. In this article, we review the use of NITs in the diagnosis and staging of MASLD. We discuss their use in the diagnosis of steatosis, steatohepatitis and fibrosis and critically evaluate recently published data. These NITs include a variety of approaches, such as serum markers like FIB-4, pro-C3 and ELF, imaging techniques like Fibroscan® and MRE, and combined scores like Agile 3+ and Agile 4, offering a range of options for healthcare providers. Furthermore, these non-invasive tests also serve as valuable prognostic tools, allowing for better risk assessment and improved patient management, particularly in predicting liver-related events and overall mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Zoncapè
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, UK; Liver Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Liguori
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, UK; Medical and Surgical Sciences Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy
| | - Emmanuel A Tsochatzis
- Sheila Sherlock Liver Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, UK.
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Gupta U, Ruli T, Buttar D, Shoreibah M, Gray M. Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease: Current practice, screening guidelines and management in the primary care setting. Am J Med Sci 2024; 367:77-88. [PMID: 37967750 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2023.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease, previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the United States with rapidly rising prevalence. There have been significant changes recently in the field with screening now recommended for patients at risk for significant liver fibrosis in primary care and endocrine settings, along with clear guidance for management of metabolic comorbidities and changes in nomenclature. This paper serves as a summary of recent guidance for the primary care physician focusing on identifying appropriate patients for screening, selecting suitable screening modalities, and determining when referral to specialty care is necessary. The hope is that providers will shift away from past practices of utilizing liver tests alone as a screening tool and shift towards fibrosis screening in patients at risk for significant fibrosis. This culture change will allow for earlier identification of patients at risk for end stage liver disease and serious liver related complications, and overall improved patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Udita Gupta
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - Thomas Ruli
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Danyaal Buttar
- Department of Medicine, Campbell University School of Medicine, NC, USA
| | - Mohamed Shoreibah
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Meagan Gray
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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8
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Gee MFW, Palladino A, Levy HR, De Vol E, Kiaei D. Derivation and validation of Transform equations to convert historical Enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) scores to modern equivalents. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 552:117696. [PMID: 38070667 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The Siemens Healthineers ELF™ Test was designed in 2004 with 2 algorithms to allow choice in histological alignment. Consequently, historical and modern algorithms are not fully harmonized, complicating comparisons involving early datasets. We derived transform equations to equate all ELF score versions, allowing historical data to be used in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. METHODS Historical ELF equations were graphed pairwise versus their modern equivalent to assess correlation and derive four transforms. Transforms were validated using multiple datasets and evaluated for median absolute bias, number of samples reflecting clinically significant bias, number of discordant samples, bias at established cutoffs, and regression slope and y-intercept. RESULTS Three transforms were validated equating Scheuer-aligned and/or age-included historical ELF equations (Immuno 1) to later equations aligned to Ishak and omitting age. A fourth transform corrected ADVIA Centaur® / Atellica® IM ELF scores miscalculated using the Scheuer Immuno 1 equation. Transformed data were well within allowable ELF bias limits. CONCLUSIONS All transforms enabled accurate comparison of ELF scores generated by all historical algorithms to the current ADVIA Centaur / Atellica IM Analyzer ELF score. The transforms presented in this report should be used in systematic reviews and meta-analyses to facilitate comparisons to historical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew F W Gee
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States.
| | - Agostino Palladino
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States.
| | - H Roma Levy
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States.
| | - Edward De Vol
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States.
| | - David Kiaei
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States.
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9
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Younossi ZM, Henry L, Isaacs S, Cusi K. Identification of High-Risk Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Endocrinology Clinics. Endocr Pract 2023; 29:912-918. [PMID: 37406857 DOI: 10.1016/j.eprac.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
The twin epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to increase worldwide, so does the associated chronic liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although NAFLD has been thought of as a benign liver disease, current evidence suggests that it is a complex liver disease that, for approximately 20% of patients, can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplant, and death. It is important to note that, given NAFLD's association with metabolic syndrome, the number one cause of death among those with NAFLD is related to cardiovascular diseases. In addition, NAFLD is associated with impaired patient-reported outcomes and a significant economic burden. As such, efforts are now aimed at using noninvasive tests (NITs) to identify patients with NAFLD and those who are at risk of liver disease progression and adverse outcomes in endocrinology practices whereby appropriate risk stratification and referrals can be undertaken. In this review, we discuss the most common NITs used and provide a simple clinically relevant algorithm using these NITs to identify patients with NAFLD who are at risk of adverse outcomes and subsequent clinical management and referral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zobair M Younossi
- Inova Medicine, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia; Beatty Liver and Obesity Research Program, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia; Center for Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia.
| | - Linda Henry
- Inova Medicine, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia; Beatty Liver and Obesity Research Program, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia
| | - Scott Isaacs
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kenneth Cusi
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Chouari T, Merali N, La Costa F, Santol J, Chapman S, Horton A, Aroori S, Connell J, Rockall TA, Mole D, Starlinger P, Welsh F, Rees M, Frampton AE. The Role of the Multiparametric MRI LiverMultiScan TM in the Quantitative Assessment of the Liver and Its Predicted Clinical Applications in Patients Undergoing Major Hepatic Resection for Colorectal Liver Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4863. [PMID: 37835557 PMCID: PMC10571783 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver biopsy remains the gold standard for the histological assessment of the liver. With clear disadvantages and the rise in the incidences of liver disease, the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) and an explosion of surgical management options available, non-invasive serological and imaging markers of liver histopathology have never been more pertinent in order to assess liver health and stratify patients considered for surgical intervention. Liver MRI is a leading modality in the assessment of hepatic malignancy. Recent technological advancements in multiparametric MRI software such as the LiverMultiScanTM offers an attractive non-invasive assay of anatomy and histopathology in the pre-operative setting, especially in the context of CRLM. This narrative review examines the evidence for the LiverMultiScanTM in the assessment of hepatic fibrosis, steatosis/steatohepatitis, and potential applications for chemotherapy-associated hepatic changes. We postulate its future role and the hurdles it must surpass in order to be implemented in the pre-operative management of patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis. Such a role likely extends to other hepatic malignancies planned for resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarak Chouari
- MATTU, The Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (T.C.)
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
- Oncology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Nabeel Merali
- MATTU, The Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (T.C.)
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
- Oncology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Francesca La Costa
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
| | - Jonas Santol
- Department of Surgery, HPB Center, Vienna Health Network, Clinic Favoriten and Sigmund Freud Private University, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Shelley Chapman
- Department of Radiology, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
| | - Alex Horton
- Department of Radiology, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
| | - Somaiah Aroori
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Transplant Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, UK
| | | | - Timothy A. Rockall
- MATTU, The Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (T.C.)
- Oncology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Damian Mole
- Clinical Surgery, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, UK
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH105HF, UK
| | - Patrick Starlinger
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
- Center of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Fenella Welsh
- Hepato-Biliary Unit, Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 9NA, UK
| | - Myrddin Rees
- Hepato-Biliary Unit, Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 9NA, UK
| | - Adam E. Frampton
- MATTU, The Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (T.C.)
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK
- Oncology Section, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
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11
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Åberg F, Saarinen K, Jula A, Lundqvist A, Vihervaara T, Erlund I, Färkkilä M. Combined use of the ELF test and CLivD score improves prediction of liver-related outcomes in the general population. Liver Int 2023; 43:2107-2115. [PMID: 37485795 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Effective and feasible population screening strategies are needed for the early detection of individuals at high risk of future severe liver-related outcomes. We evaluated the predictive performance of the combination of liver fibrosis assessment, phenotype profile, and genetic risk. METHODS Data from 5795 adults attending the Finnish Health 2000 Survey were linked with healthcare registers for liver-related outcomes (hospitalization, hepatocellular cancer, and death). Fibrosis was assessed using the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test, phenotype profile by the chronic liver disease (CLivD) risk score, and genetic risk by a validated Polygenic Risk Score (PRS-5). Predictive performance was assessed by competing-risk analyses. RESULTS During a median 13-year follow-up, 64 liver-related outcome events were recorded. ELF, CLivD score, and PRS-5 were independently associated with liver-related outcomes. The absolute 10-year risk of liver-related outcomes at an ELF value of 11.3 ranged from 0.3% to 33% depending on the CLivD score. The CLivD score added 51% of new predictive information to the ELF test and improved areas under the curve (AUCs) from 0.91, 0.81, and 0.71 for ELF alone to 0.95, 0.85, and 0.80, respectively, for ELF combined with the CLivD score at 1, 5, and 10 years. The greatest improvement was for 10-year predictions (delta-AUC 0.097, p < .0001). Adding PRS-5 did not significantly increase predictive performance. Findings were consistent in individuals with obesity, diabetes, or alcohol risk use, and regardless of whether gamma-glutamyltransferase was used in the CLivD score. CONCLUSION A combination of ELF and CLivD score predicts liver-related outcomes significantly better than the ELF test alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Åberg
- Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kustaa Saarinen
- Abdominal Center, Helsinki University and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Jula
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Iris Erlund
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Martti Färkkilä
- Abdominal Center, Helsinki University and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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12
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Zhou XD, Targher G, Byrne CD, Somers V, Kim SU, Chahal CAA, Wong VWS, Cai J, Shapiro MD, Eslam M, Steg PG, Sung KC, Misra A, Li JJ, Brotons C, Huang Y, Papatheodoridis GV, Sun A, Yilmaz Y, Chan WK, Huang H, Méndez-Sánchez N, Alqahtani SA, Cortez-Pinto H, Lip GYH, de Knegt RJ, Ocama P, Romero-Gomez M, Fudim M, Sebastiani G, Son JW, Ryan JD, Ikonomidis I, Treeprasertsuk S, Pastori D, Lupsor-Platon M, Tilg H, Ghazinyan H, Boursier J, Hamaguchi M, Nguyen MH, Fan JG, Goh GBB, Al Mahtab M, Hamid S, Perera N, George J, Zheng MH. An international multidisciplinary consensus statement on MAFLD and the risk of CVD. Hepatol Int 2023; 17:773-791. [PMID: 37204656 PMCID: PMC10198034 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-023-10543-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fatty liver disease in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption is an increasingly common condition with a global prevalence of ~ 25-30% and is also associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since systemic metabolic dysfunction underlies its pathogenesis, the term metabolic (dysfunction)-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has been proposed for this condition. MAFLD is closely intertwined with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherogenic dyslipidemia, which are established cardiovascular risk factors. Unlike CVD, which has received attention in the literature on fatty liver disease, the CVD risk associated with MAFLD is often underestimated, especially among Cardiologists. METHODS AND RESULTS A multidisciplinary panel of fifty-two international experts comprising Hepatologists, Endocrinologists, Diabetologists, Cardiologists and Family Physicians from six continents (Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Oceania) participated in a formal Delphi survey and developed consensus statements on the association between MAFLD and the risk of CVD. Statements were developed on different aspects of CVD risk, ranging from epidemiology to mechanisms, screening, and management. CONCULSIONS The expert panel identified important clinical associations between MAFLD and the risk of CVD that could serve to increase awareness of the adverse metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes of MAFLD. Finally, the expert panel also suggests potential areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Dong Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Heart Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Giovanni Targher
- Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Christopher D Byrne
- Southampton National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, and University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
| | - Virend Somers
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, USA
| | - Seung Up Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - C Anwar A Chahal
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, USA
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, WellSpan Health, Lancaster, PA, USA
- Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, EC1A 7BE, West Smithfield, UK
| | - Vincent Wai-Sun Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jingjing Cai
- Department of Cardiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Michael D Shapiro
- Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Section on Cardiovascular Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Mohammed Eslam
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Philippe Gabriel Steg
- Université Paris -Cité, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat, FACT (French Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials), INSERM U1148, Paris, France
| | - Ki-Chul Sung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Anoop Misra
- Fortis C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, Chirag Enclave, National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation and Diabetes Foundation (India), New Delhi, India
| | - Jian-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Carlos Brotons
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Sardenya Primary Health Care Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yuli Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, Jiazi Road, Lunjiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan, China
| | - George V Papatheodoridis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Laiko", Athens, Greece
| | - Aijun Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yusuf Yilmaz
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey
| | - Wah Kheong Chan
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 3025 Shennan Middle Road, Shenzhen, China
| | - Nahum Méndez-Sánchez
- Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation and Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Saleh A Alqahtani
- Liver Transplantation Unit, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Helena Cortez-Pinto
- Laboratório de Nutrição e Metabolismo, Faculdade de Medicina, Clínica Universitária de Gastrenterologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gregory Y H Lip
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK
- Danish Center for Clinical Health Services Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Robert J de Knegt
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Gravendijkwal 230, Room Ha 206, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ponsiano Ocama
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Manuel Romero-Gomez
- Department of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital Virgen del Rocio, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Marat Fudim
- Department of Cardiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Giada Sebastiani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, 1001 Blvd. Décarie, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jang Won Son
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - John D Ryan
- Department of Hepatology, RCSI School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Dublin/Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ignatios Ikonomidis
- Preventive Cardiology Laboratory and Cardiometabolic Clinic, Second Cardiology Department, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sombat Treeprasertsuk
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Daniele Pastori
- Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Lupsor-Platon
- Department of Medical Imaging, "Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor" Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepathology, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Herbert Tilg
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hasmik Ghazinyan
- Department of Hepatology, Nork Clinical Hospital of Infectious Disease, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Jerome Boursier
- Hepato-Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital, 4 Larrey Street, 49933, Angers Cedex 09, France
- HIFIH Laboratory, UPRES 3859, SFR 4208, LUNAM University, Angers, France
| | - Masahide Hamaguchi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465, Kajii-Cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mindie H Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jian-Gao Fan
- Center for Fatty Liver, Department of Gastroenterology, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - George Boon-Bee Goh
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mamun Al Mahtab
- Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Saeed Hamid
- Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, 74800, Pakistan
| | - Nilanka Perera
- Department of Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
| | - Jacob George
- Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| | - Ming-Hua Zheng
- MAFLD Research Center, Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 2 Fuxue Lane, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
- Institute of Hepatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment for the Development of Chronic Liver Disease in Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, China.
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13
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Palladino A, Gee M, Shalhoub V, Kiaei D. Analytical performance of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Test on the Atellica IM Analyzer. Clin Chim Acta 2023; 548:117461. [PMID: 37390944 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELFTM) Test comprises 3 direct serum markers of fibrosis-hyaluronic acid (HA), amino-terminal pro-peptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1)-whose results are combined in an algorithm to generate the ELF score. Outside the U.S., the ELF Test and score are CE marked for assessment of liver fibrosis severity in patients with signs, symptoms, or risk factors of chronic liver disease to support diagnosis of fibrosis staging or prognosis for likelihood of progression to cirrhosis and liver-related clinical events. In the U.S., the FDA granted de novo marketing authorization to aid prognostic evaluation of disease progression (to cirrhosis and liver-related clinical events) in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients with advanced liver fibrosis. We describe the analytical performance of the ELF analytes and score on the Atellica® IM Analyzer. METHODS Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols were followed for detection capability (limits of blank [LoB], detection [LoD], and quantitation [LoQ]), precision, interference, linearity, hook effect, and ELF reference interval. RESULTS All parameters met predetermined requirements: HA (LoB 1.00 ng/mL, LoD 2.00 ng/mL, LoQ 3.00 ng/mL); PIIINP (LoB 0.50 ng/mL, LoD 0.75 ng/mL, LoQ 1.00 ng/mL); TIMP-1 (LoB 3.0 ng/mL, LoD 4.0 ng/mL, LoQ 5.0 ng/mL). Across the 3 assays, repeatability was ≤5.4% CV; within-lab precision was ≤8.5% CV. ELF score repeatability was ≤0.6% CV, within-lab precision ≤1.3% CV, and reproducibility ≤1.1% CV. Good correlation was obtained between the Atellica IM ELF and ADVIA Centaur ELF Tests (y = 1.01x - 0.22, r = 0.997). Assays were linear across analytical measuring ranges. CONCLUSIONS Analytical performance validation results for the ELF Test and ELF score were excellent making the test acceptable for routine clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agostino Palladino
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States
| | - Matthew Gee
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States
| | - Victoria Shalhoub
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States
| | - David Kiaei
- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., 511 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY, United States.
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14
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Teufel A, Geier A, Sarrazin C, Schattenberg JM, Kautz A, Dorner R, Kramer J, Jerysiak K, Baars T, Hönscheid B, Müller-Wieland D, Rossol S, Trautwein C, Tacke F, Canbay A. [Intersectoral management of patients with abnormal liver enzymes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)]. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GASTROENTEROLOGIE 2023; 61:1028-1036. [PMID: 36791784 PMCID: PMC10421697 DOI: 10.1055/a-1957-5671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of fatty liver disease has increased significantly in Germany in recent years. With an estimated 18 million German citizens being affected, it is now among the most prevalent diseases. Furthermore, it is also considered a relevant and independent risk factor for other common cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack or stroke. Finally, diabetes mellitus promotes the development of and an unfavorable course of fatty liver disease. Given the high prevalence and complications, the German healthcare system is reaching its limits.Therefore, close coordination of all healthcare providers and specialists involved in the treatment of these patients is essential. In an expert consensus involving private practice and hospital doctors from the fields of gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiology, general practitioners and laboratory physicians, as well as in close coordination with patient representatives, we have designed a concept for the care of these patients in the German healthcare system. Necessary developments are also addressed. In addition to being useful as a practical guideline, this should also support health policy work, especially in the development of practical care solutions at the medical level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Teufel
- Sektion Hepatologie, Sektion Klinische Bioinformatik, II. Medizinische Klinik, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim
- Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim, Klinische Kooperationseinheit Healthy Metabolism, Zentrum für Präventionsmedizin und Digitale Gesundheit Baden-Württemberg, Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim
| | - Andreas Geier
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg
| | | | | | | | | | - Jan Kramer
- Medizinische Klinik I, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- LADR Der Laborverbund Dr. Kramer & Kollegen, Geesthacht
| | | | - Theodor Baars
- Praxis für Innere Medizin, Kardiologie, Notfallmedizin, Sportmedizin, hausärztliche Versorgung, Essen
| | | | | | | | | | - Frank Tacke
- Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Hepatologie und Gastroenterologie, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) und Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin
| | - Ali Canbay
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Bochum
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15
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KASL clinical practice guidelines for management of autoimmune hepatitis 2022. Clin Mol Hepatol 2023; 29:542-592. [PMID: 37137334 PMCID: PMC10366804 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2023.0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
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16
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Saarinen K, Färkkilä M, Jula A, Erlund I, Vihervaara T, Lundqvist A, Åberg F. Enhanced liver Fibrosis® test predicts liver-related outcomes in the general population. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100765. [PMID: 37333973 PMCID: PMC10276292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis® (ELF) test exhibits good discriminative performance in detecting advanced liver fibrosis and in predicting liver-related outcomes in patients with specific liver diseases, but large population-based studies are missing. We analysed the predictive performance of the ELF test in a general population cohort. Methods Data were sourced from the Health 2000 study, a Finnish population-based health examination survey conducted in 2000-2001. Subjects with baseline liver disease were excluded. The ELF test was performed on blood samples collected at baseline. Data were linked with national healthcare registers for liver-related outcomes (hospitalisation, cancer, and death). Results The cohort comprised 6,040 individuals (mean age 52.7. 45.6% men) with 67 liver-related outcomes during a median 13.1-year follow-up. ELF predicted liver outcomes (unadjusted hazards ratio 2.70, 95% CI 2.16-3.38). with 5- and 10-year AUCs of 0.81 (95% CI 0.71-0.91) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.63-0.79) by competing-risk methodology. The 10-year risks for liver outcomes increased from 0.5% at ELF <9.8 to 7.1% at ELF ≥11.3, being higher among men than women at any given ELF level. Among individuals with body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, diabetes, or alanine aminotransferase >40 U/L. Five-year AUCs for ELF were 0.85, 0.87, and 0.88, respectively. The predictive ability of the ELF test decreased with time: the 10-year AUCs were 0.78, 0.69, and 0.82, respectively. Conclusions The ELF test shows good discriminative performance in predicting liver-related outcomes in a large general population cohort and appears particularly useful for predicting 5-year outcomes in persons with risk factors. Impact and implications The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis test exhibits good performance for predicting liver-related outcomes (hospitalisation, liver cancer, or liver-related death) in the general population, especially in those with risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kustaa Saarinen
- Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Martti Färkkilä
- Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Jula
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Iris Erlund
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Fredrik Åberg
- Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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Abstract
The medical disorders of alcoholism rank among the leading public health problems worldwide and the need for predictive and prognostic risk markers for assessing alcohol use disorders (AUD) has been widely acknowledged. Early-phase detection of problem drinking and associated tissue toxicity are important prerequisites for timely initiations of appropriate treatments and improving patient's committing to the objective of reducing drinking. Recent advances in clinical chemistry have provided novel approaches for a specific detection of heavy drinking through assays of unique ethanol metabolites, phosphatidylethanol (PEth) or ethyl glucuronide (EtG). Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) measurements can be used to indicate severe alcohol problems. Hazardous drinking frequently manifests as heavy episodic drinking or in combinations with other unfavorable lifestyle factors, such as smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet or adiposity, which aggravate the metabolic consequences of alcohol intake in a supra-additive manner. Such interactions are also reflected in multiple disease outcomes and distinct abnormalities in biomarkers of liver function, inflammation and oxidative stress. Use of predictive biomarkers either alone or as part of specifically designed biological algorithms helps to predict both hepatic and extrahepatic morbidity in individuals with such risk factors. Novel approaches for assessing progression of fibrosis, a major determinant of prognosis in AUD, have also been made available. Predictive algorithms based on the combined use of biomarkers and clinical observations may prove to have a major impact on clinical decisions to detect AUD in early pre-symptomatic stages, stratify patients according to their substantially different disease risks and predict individual responses to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onni Niemelä
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Research Unit, Seinäjoki Central Hospital and Tampere University, Seinäjoki, Finland.
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18
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Nielsen MJ, Dolman GE, Harris R, Frederiksen P, Chalmers J, Grove JI, Irving WL, Karsdal MA, Patel K, Leeming DJ, Guha IN. PRO-C3 is a predictor of clinical outcomes in distinct cohorts of patients with advanced liver disease. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100743. [PMID: 37284140 PMCID: PMC10240276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Fibroblast activity is a key feature of fibrosis progression and organ function loss, leading to liver-related complications and mortality. The fibrogenesis marker, PRO-C3, has been shown to have prognostic significance in relation to fibrosis progression and as a treatment efficacy marker. We investigated whether PRO-C3 was prognostic for clinical outcome and mortality in two distinct cohorts of compensated cirrhosis. Methods Cohort 1 was a rapid fibrosis progression cohort including 104 patients with HCV and biopsy-proven Ishak fibrosis stage ≥3 without prior clinical events. Cohort 2 was a prospective cohort including 172 patients with compensated cirrhosis of mixed aetiology. Patients were assessed for clinical outcomes. PRO-C3 was assessed in serum at baseline in cohorts 1 and 2, and compared with model for end-stage liver disease and albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) scores. Results In cohort 1, a 2-fold increase in PRO-C3 was associated with 2.7-fold increased hazard of liver-related events (95% CI 1.6-4.6), whereas a one unit increase in ALBI score was associated with a 6.5-fold increased hazard (95% CI 2.9-14.6). In cohort 2, a 2-fold increase in PRO-C3 was associated with a 2.7-fold increased hazard (95% CI 1.8-3.9), whereas a one unit increase in ALBI score was associated with a 6.3-fold increased hazard (95% CI 3.0-13.2). A multivariable Cox regression analysis identified PRO-C3 and ALBI as being independently associated with the hazard of liver-related outcomes. Conclusions PRO-C3 and ALBI were independent prognostic factors for predicting liver-related clinical outcomes. Understanding the dynamic range of PRO-C3 might enhance its use for both drug development and clinical practice. Impact and Implications We tested novel proteins of liver scarring (PRO-C3) in two groups of liver patients with advanced disease to see if they could predict clinical events. We found that this marker and an established test called ALBI were both independently associated with future liver-related clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grace E. Dolman
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Rebecca Harris
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Jane Chalmers
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Jane I. Grove
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - William L. Irving
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Keyur Patel
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Toronto Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Indra Neil Guha
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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19
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Hydes TJ, Kennedy OJ, Buchanan R, Cuthbertson DJ, Parkes J, Fraser SDS, Roderick P. The impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis on adverse clinical outcomes and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease: a prospective cohort study using the UK Biobank. BMC Med 2023; 21:185. [PMID: 37198624 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02891-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) frequently co-exist. We assess the impact of having NAFLD on adverse clinical outcomes and all-cause mortality for people with CKD. METHODS A total of 18,073 UK Biobank participants identified to have CKD (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 or albuminuria > 3 mg/mmol) were prospectively followed up by electronic linkage to hospital and death records. Cox-regression estimated the hazard ratios (HR) associated with having NAFLD (elevated hepatic steatosis index or ICD-code) and NAFLD fibrosis (elevated fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score or NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS)) on cardiovascular events (CVE), progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and all-cause mortality. RESULTS 56.2% of individuals with CKD had NAFLD at baseline, and 3.0% and 7.7% had NAFLD fibrosis according to a FIB-4 > 2.67 and NFS ≥ 0.676, respectively. The median follow-up was 13 years. In univariate analysis, NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of CVE (HR 1.49 [1.38-1.60]), all-cause mortality (HR 1.22 [1.14-1.31]) and ESRD (HR 1.26 [1.02-1.54]). Following multivariable adjustment, NAFLD remained an independent risk factor for CVE overall (HR 1.20 [1.11-1.30], p < 0.0001), but not ACM or ESRD. In univariate analysis, elevated NFS and FIB-4 scores were associated with increased risk of CVE (HR 2.42 [2.09-2.80] and 1.64 [1.30-2.08]) and all-cause mortality (HR 2.82 [2.48-3.21] and 1.82 [1.47-2.24]); the NFS score was also associated with ESRD (HR 5.15 [3.52-7.52]). Following full adjustment, the NFS remained associated with an increased incidence of CVE (HR 1.19 [1.01-1.40]) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.31 [1.13-1.52]). CONCLUSIONS In people with CKD, NAFLD is associated with an increased risk of CVE, and the NAFLD fibrosis score is associated with an elevated risk of CVE and worse survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa J Hydes
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, 3Rd Floor Clinical Sciences Centre, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Liverpool, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK.
- University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK.
| | - Oliver J Kennedy
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Ryan Buchanan
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Department of Hepatology, University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
- NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Daniel J Cuthbertson
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, 3Rd Floor Clinical Sciences Centre, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Liverpool, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK
- University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK
| | - Julie Parkes
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Simon D S Fraser
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Paul Roderick
- School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
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20
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Urias E, Chen VL. Screening for At-Risk Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Primary Care Setting. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:133-141. [PMID: 37105224 PMCID: PMC10668862 DOI: 10.1055/a-2082-5203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
While nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease, most patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease do not develop cirrhosis and its complications. Therefore, risk stratification using inexpensive, noninvasive screening modalities is critical to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment of a large proportion of the population. In this review, we discuss the data supporting screening and current professional society recommendations on this topic. Screening for at-risk nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is recommended in patients with risk factors including diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, hepatic steatosis, and elevated aminotransferases. Screening typically consists of noninvasive testing using serum biomarkers followed by elastography using specialized imaging modalities. This sequential screening approach accurately identifies both high- and low-risk patients and is cost-effective when applied to at-risk populations. In conclusion, screening for advanced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the primary care setting is a crucial part of identifying high-risk patients who may benefit from aggressive intervention while avoiding overtreatment of patients at low risk of liver-related complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Urias
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Vincent L Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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21
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Romero-Gómez M, Aller R, Ampuero J, Fernández Rodríguez C, Augustín S, Latorre R, Rivera-Esteban J, Martínez Urroz B, Gutiérrez García ML, López SA, Albillos A, Hernández M, Graupera I, Benlloch S, Olveira A, Crespo J, Calleja JL. AEEH «Consensus about detection and referral of hidden prevalent liver diseases». GASTROENTEROLOGIA Y HEPATOLOGIA 2023; 46:236-247. [PMID: 35569541 DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Romero-Gómez
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina (HUVR/CSIC/US), Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, España.
| | - Rocío Aller
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, España
| | - Javier Ampuero
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Instituto de Biomedicina (HUVR/CSIC/US), Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, España
| | | | - Salvador Augustín
- Servei de Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, España
| | - Raquel Latorre
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Son Llàtzer, Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares, España
| | | | | | | | - Sonia Alonso López
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España
| | - Agustín Albillos
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España
| | - Marta Hernández
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, IDIPHISA, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Majadahonda, Madrid, España
| | - Isabel Graupera
- Servicio de Hepatología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, España
| | - Salvador Benlloch
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Valencia, España; CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, España
| | - Antonio Olveira
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, España
| | - Javier Crespo
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla. IDIVAL, Santander, Cantabria, España
| | - José Luis Calleja
- Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, IDIPHISA, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Majadahonda, Madrid, España
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22
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Helgadottir H, Vesterhus M. Noninvasive evaluation of fibrosis in adult biliary diseases. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2023; 39:83-88. [PMID: 36821455 DOI: 10.1097/mog.0000000000000909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Liver fibrosis is highly associated with disease progression and clinical outcome in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), the major chronic biliary diseases in adults. Establishment of validated tools for the noninvasive evaluation of liver fibrosis in PBC and PSC for use in patient follow-up, and effect evaluation in clinical trials, has been a top research priority over recent years. RECENT FINDINGS Two studies in large PBC patient panels investigated liver stiffness measurement by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and two studies in PSC demonstrated enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) variation over time, confirming VCTE and ELF as good prognostic markers. Currently, magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), quantitative MRI mapping and novel serum extracellular matrix and extracellular vesicle markers show promising results for fibrosis and prognostic assessment in biliary diseases. SUMMARY In this article, we will briefly review recent studies supporting recommendations to assess liver fibrosis and prognosis using the ELF test and VCTE during clinical follow-up in both PBC and PSC. We will discuss emerging evidence for MRE and other imaging techniques, and novel serum fibrosis markers, for which sufficient data or availability is currently limited precluding recommendations for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holmfridur Helgadottir
- Norwegian PSC Research Centre, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Division of Surgery, Inflammatory Diseases and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo.,Department of Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital
| | - Mette Vesterhus
- Norwegian PSC Research Centre, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Division of Surgery, Inflammatory Diseases and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo.,Department of Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital.,Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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23
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Mulinacci G, Cristoferi L, Palermo A, Luca M, Gerussi A, Invernizzi P, Carbone M. Risk stratification in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Minerva Gastroenterol (Torino) 2023; 69:84-94. [PMID: 33300753 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5985.20.02821-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disorder commonly affecting young patients and associated with uncertain prognosis and elevated risk of end-stage liver disease and hepatobiliary cancer. Rate of progression in PSC is heterogeneous and accurately predicting the disease course is of paramount importance to clinical practice and interventional trial design. So far, efforts have brought to the development of models looking at short-to-middle-term outcome using composite models including clinical, laboratory, radiological and histological parameters with limited performance. In the era of whole genome sequencing and digital innovation, the time is ripe for the development of stratified medicine in PSC. Efforts should be directed toward developing well-phenotyped cohorts of patients with longitudinal follow-up across sustained periods of time, application of novel image-processing technology, and biomarker discovery using multiomics platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Mulinacci
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Laura Cristoferi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Andrea Palermo
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Martina Luca
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Alessio Gerussi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Pietro Invernizzi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Marco Carbone
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, University of Milan Bicocca, Milan, Italy - .,European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
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24
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Time to focus on chronic liver diseases in the community: A review of primary care hepatology tools, pathways of care and reimbursement mechanisms. J Hepatol 2023; 78:663-671. [PMID: 36283499 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Addressing primary care's low confidence in detecting and managing chronic liver disease is becoming increasingly important owing to the escalating prevalence of its common lifestyle-related metabolic risk factors - obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol consumption. Whilst liver blood testing is frequently carried out in the management of long-term conditions, its interpretation is not typically focused on specific liver disease risk. Educational steps for primary care should outline how liver fibrosis is the flag of pathological concern, encourage use of pragmatic algorithms such as fibrosis-4 index to differentiate between those requiring referral for further fibrosis risk assessment and those who can be managed in the community, and emphasise that isolated minor liver function test abnormalities are unreliable for estimating the risk of fibrosis progression. Measures to increase primary care's interest and engagement should make use of existing frameworks for the management of long-term conditions, so that liver disease is considered alongside other metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease etc. Selling points when considering the required investment in developing local fibrosis assessment pathways include reduced repeat testing of minor abnormalities and improved secondary care referrals, plus improvements in the patient's journey through long-term multimorbidity care. A focus on improving chronic liver disease is likely to have wide-ranging benefits across co-existing metabolic disorders, particularly when pathways are aligned with community lifestyle support services. The important message for primary care is to increase the value of existing monitoring rather than to generate more work.
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25
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Reinson T, Buchanan RM, Byrne CD. Noninvasive serum biomarkers for liver fibrosis in NAFLD: current and future. Clin Mol Hepatol 2023; 29:S157-S170. [PMID: 36417894 PMCID: PMC10029954 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2022.0348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 20 years, noninvasive serum biomarkers to identify liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been developed, validated against liver biopsy (the gold standard for determining the presence of liver fibrosis) and made available for clinicians to use to identify ≥F3 liver fibrosis. The aim of this review is firstly to focus on the current use of widely available biomarkers and their performance for identifying ≥F3. Secondly, we discuss whether noninvasive biomarkers have a role in identifying F2, a stage of fibrosis that is now known to be a risk factor for cirrhosis and overall mortality. We also consider whether machine learning algorithms offer a better alternative for identifying individuals with ≥F2 fibrosis. Thirdly, we summarise the utility of noninvasive serum biomarkers for predicting liver related outcomes (e.g., ascites and hepatocellular carcinoma) and non-liver related outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular-related mortality and extra hepatic cancers). Finally, we examine whether serial measurement of biomarkers can be used to monitor liver disease, and whether the use of noninvasive biomarkers in drug trials for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis can accurately, compared to liver histology, monitor liver fibrosis progression/regression. We conclude by offering our perspective on the future of serum biomarkers for the detection and monitoring of liver fibrosis in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Reinson
- Nutrition and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K
- National Institute for Health and Care Research, Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, U.K
| | - Ryan M Buchanan
- National Institute for Health and Care Research, Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, U.K
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Christopher D Byrne
- Nutrition and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, U.K
- National Institute for Health and Care Research, Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, U.K
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26
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Chee D, Ng CH, Chan KE, Huang DQ, Teng M, Muthiah M. The Past, Present, and Future of Noninvasive Test in Chronic Liver Diseases. Med Clin North Am 2023; 107:397-421. [PMID: 37001944 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Chronic liver disease is a major global health threat and is the 11th leading cause of death globally. A liver biopsy is frequently required in assessing the degree of steatosis and fibrosis, information that is important in diagnosis, management, and prognostication. However, liver biopsies have limitations and carry a considerable risk, leading to the development of various modalities of noninvasive testing tools. These tools have been developed in recent years and have improved markedly in diagnostic accuracy. Moving forward, they may change the practice of hepatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Chee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Cheng Han Ng
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Kai En Chan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Daniel Q Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore; National University Centre for Organ Transplantation, National University Health System, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Margaret Teng
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore; National University Centre for Organ Transplantation, National University Health System, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Mark Muthiah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore; National University Centre for Organ Transplantation, National University Health System, Tower Block Level 10, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
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27
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Younossi Z, Alkhouri N, Cusi K, Isaacs S, Kanwal F, Noureddin M, Loomba R, Ravendhran N, Lam B, Nader K, Racila A, Nader F, Henry L. A practical use of noninvasive tests in clinical practice to identify high-risk patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2023; 57:304-312. [PMID: 36511349 DOI: 10.1111/apt.17346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or other components of metabolic syndrome are at high risk for disease progression. We proposed an algorithm to identify high-risk NAFLD patients in clinical practice using noninvasive tests (NITs). METHODS Evidence about risk stratification of NAFLD using validated NITs was reviewed by a panel of NASH Experts. Using the most recent evidence regarding the performance of NITs and their application in clinical practice were used to develop an easy-to-use algorithm for risk stratification of NAFLD patients seen in primary care, endocrinology and gastroenterology practices. RESULTS The proposed algorithm uses a three-step process to identify NAFLD patients who are potentially at high risk for adverse outcomes. The first step is to use clinical data to identify most patients who are at risk for having potentially progressive NAFLD (e.g. having T2D or multiple components of metabolic syndrome). The second step is to calculate the FIB-4 score as a NIT that can further risk stratifying individuals who are at low risk for progressive liver disease and can be managed by their primary healthcare providers to manage their cardiometabolic comorbidities. The third step is to use second-line NITs (transient elastography or enhanced liver fibrosis tests) to identify those who at high risk for progressive liver disease and should be considered for specially care by providers with NASH expertise. CONCLUSIONS The use of this simple clinical algorithm can identify and assist in managing patients with NAFLD at high risk for adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zobair Younossi
- Inova Medicine, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.,Liver and Obesity Research Program, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.,Center for Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Ken Cusi
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Scott Isaacs
- Division of Endocrinology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Baylor College of Medicine, Michael E.D. Bakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mazen Noureddin
- Fatty Liver Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood, California, USA
| | - Rohit Loomba
- NAFLD Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Natarajan Ravendhran
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian Lam
- Liver and Obesity Research Program, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.,Center for Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Khalil Nader
- George Washington Medical Faculty Associates, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Center for Outcomes Research in Liver Diseases, The Global NASH Council, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Andrei Racila
- Liver and Obesity Research Program, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.,Center for Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.,Center for Outcomes Research in Liver Diseases, The Global NASH Council, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Fatema Nader
- Center for Outcomes Research in Liver Diseases, The Global NASH Council, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Linda Henry
- Liver and Obesity Research Program, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.,Center for Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Falls Church, Virginia, USA.,Center for Outcomes Research in Liver Diseases, The Global NASH Council, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Larrey D, D'Erasmo L, O'Brien S, Arca M. Long-term hepatic safety of lomitapide in homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. Liver Int 2023; 43:413-423. [PMID: 36520008 PMCID: PMC10107656 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lomitapide is a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor for patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. Due to its mechanism of action, potential hepatic effects of lomitapide are of clinical interest. This study aimed to determine the long-term hepatic safety of lomitapide. METHODS Data were aggregated from the pivotal phase 3 and extension phase clinical trial with lomitapide (median 5.1 years; serum total bilirubin, transaminases, cytokeratin-18 [CK-18] and enhanced liver fibrosis [ELF] score, fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids), 8-year data from the Lomitapide Observational Worldwide Evaluation Registry (LOWER) and real-world evidence from a cohort of patients treated with lomitapide in Italy (hepatic elastography, and FIB-4 score for hepatic fibrosis). RESULTS In the phase 3 trial and the LOWER registry, any asymptomatic excursions in liver transaminase levels were not associated with elevations in bilirubin, and no Hy's law cases were detected in up to 8 years follow-up. There were no clinically relevant increases among hepatic biomarkers CK-18, CK-18 fragments or ELF score and fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids remained above normal levels. In 34 patients treated in Italy with lomita pide for more than 9 years, elevations in hepatic fat were mild-to-moderate; hepatic stiffness remained normal, and the mean FIB-4 score remained below the fibrosis threshold value of 2.67. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that the hepatic safety of lomitapide remains favourable with no clinically significant elevations in hepatic biomarkers and hepatic stiffness remained normal for more than 9 years follow-up. PHASE 3 TRIAL: NCT00730236; extension phase: NCT00943306; LOWER: NCT02135705.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura D'Erasmo
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marcello Arca
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy
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Risk of liver fibrosis associated with long-term methotrexate therapy may be overestimated. J Hepatol 2023; 78:989-997. [PMID: 36702175 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The risk of significant liver fibrosis from prolonged methotrexate (MTX) exposure has been estimated at around 5%, prompting intensive monitoring strategies. However, the evidence is derived from retrospective studies that under-reported risk factors for liver disease. We evaluated the risk of long-term MTX therapy on liver fibrosis in a longitudinal cohort study using two non-invasive markers. METHOD Between 2014-2021, adult patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriasis for ≥2 years were recruited prospectively from six UK sites. The MTX group included patients who received MTX for ≥6 months, whereas the unexposed group included those who never received MTX. All patients underwent full liver profiling, with transient elastography (TE) and enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) marker measurements. RESULTS A total of 999 patients (mean age 60.8 ± 12 years, 62.3% females) were included. Of 976 with valid TE values, 149 (15.3%) had liver stiffness ≥7.9 kPa. Of 892 with a valid ELF, 262 (29.4%) had ELF ≥9.8. Age and BMI were independently associated with elevated liver stiffness and ELF. Neither MTX cumulative dose nor duration was associated with elevated liver stiffness. Diabetes was the most significant risk factor associated with liver stiffness ≥7.9 kPa (adjusted odds ratio = 3.19; 95% CI 1.95-5.20; p <0.001). Regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs showed the strongest association with ELF ≥9.8 (odds ratio = 1.76; 95% CI 1.20-2.56; p = 0.003), suggesting the degree of joint inflammation in RA may confound ELF as a non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION The risk of liver fibrosis attributed to MTX itself might have been previously overestimated; there is a need to consider modifying current monitoring guidelines for MTX. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Current guidelines recommend intensive (2-3 monthly) monitoring strategies for patients on long-term methotrexate therapy due to the potential risk of liver fibrosis. Evaluation of the association using two validated non-invasive markers of liver fibrosis, liver stiffness and enhanced liver fibrosis score, in a large cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis shows that the reported risk has previously been overestimated. The clinical focus should be to improve patients' metabolic risk factors, diabetes and BMI, that are independently associated with liver stiffness. There is a need to consider modifying current treatment monitoring guidelines for methotrexate.
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Draijer L, Voorhoeve M, Troelstra M, Holleboom A, Beuers U, Kusters M, Nederveen A, Benninga M, Koot B. A natural history study of pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease over 10 years. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100685. [PMID: 37077274 PMCID: PMC10106916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims The long-term outcome of paediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been well established. Between 2008 and 2012, an unselected cohort of 133 children with severe obesity was screened for NAFLD. The aim of this study was to determine the 10-year natural history of NAFLD in this cohort. Methods All 133 participants of the original study were approached. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis® (ELF) test were used to assess longitudinal changes in steatosis and fibrosis, respectively. Risk factors for disease progression were explored. Results Fifty-one of the 133 participants (38%) from the original cohort were included. The mean follow-up time was 10.3 years (range 7-13 years), 65% were female and 92% had persistent obesity. The proportion of participants with steatosis remained unchanged (47%). Nine individuals developed steatosis and in nine individuals steatosis resolved. Predefined relevant individual changes in 1H-MRS were seen in 38% of the participants. The mean ELF test did not change significantly (8.70 ± 0.58 vs. 8.51 ± 0.71, p = 0.22). However, 16% had a relevant increase in ELF test and 6% of those with NAFLD developed advanced fibrosis at follow-up. Changes in steatosis correlated with changes in established metabolic risk factors, alanine aminotransferase, and bariatric surgery. A change in the ELF test was associated with a change in triglycerides. Conclusions This 10-year follow-up study shows that one-third of the young adults who had childhood obesity develop steatosis and in one-third steatosis resolves. Six percent of those with NAFLD had developed advanced fibrosis at follow-up. These data underscore the importance of screening for NAFLD and monitoring for progression to advanced NAFLD in young people with obesity. Impact and implications Childhood obesity accompanied by fat accumulation in the liver persists into young adulthood in the vast majority, and 6% develop serious liver injury. Worsening of metabolic disturbances increases the risk of liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Draijer
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center/Emma Children’s Hospital, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center/Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Address: Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Tel.: +31-205662906
| | - Maaike Voorhoeve
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center/Emma Children’s Hospital, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marian Troelstra
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Adriaan Holleboom
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ulrich Beuers
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Meeike Kusters
- Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Aart Nederveen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marc Benninga
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center/Emma Children’s Hospital, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bart Koot
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center/Emma Children’s Hospital, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Wang J, Qin T, Sun J, Li S, Cao L, Lu X. Non-invasive methods to evaluate liver fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1046497. [PMID: 36589424 PMCID: PMC9794751 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1046497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease that is strongly related to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, and it has become the most common liver disorder in developed countries. NAFLD embraces the full pathological process of three conditions: steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and finally, cirrhosis. As NAFLD progresses, symptoms will become increasingly severe as fibrosis develops. Therefore, evaluating the fibrosis stage is crucial for patients with NAFLD. A liver biopsy is currently considered the gold standard for staging fibrosis. However, due to the limitations of liver biopsy, non-invasive alternatives were extensively studied and validated in patients with NAFLD. The advantages of non-invasive methods include their high safety and convenience compared with other invasive approaches. This review introduces the non-invasive methods, summarizes their benefits and limitations, and assesses their diagnostic performance for NAFLD-induced fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jincheng Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tao Qin
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinyu Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiwu Li
- Liver Disease Center, Qinhuangdao Third Hospital, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Lihua Cao
- Liver Disease Center, Qinhuangdao Third Hospital, Qinhuangdao, China,*Correspondence: Xiaojie Lu, ; Lihua Cao,
| | - Xiaojie Lu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Xiaojie Lu, ; Lihua Cao,
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Brusa S, Terracciano D, Bruzzese D, Fiorenza M, Stanziola L, Pinchera B, Valente V, Gentile I, Cittadini A, Mormile I, Mormile M, Portella G. Circulating tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) at COVID-19 onset predicts severity status. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1034288. [PMID: 36523781 PMCID: PMC9744795 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1034288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic biomarkers for severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection are of great interest. In this study, we evaluated a set of collagen metabolites and extracellular matrix remodeling biomarkers including procollagen type III amino terminal propeptide (PIIINP), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) and hyaluronic acid (HA) as prognostic indicators in COVID-19 patients. METHODS Ninety COVID-19 patients with the absence of chronic liver diseases were enrolled. Serum PIIINP, TIMP-1, and HA were measured and correlated with inflammatory indices and clinical variables. Patients were stratified for disease severity according to WHO criteria in two groups, based on the requirement of oxygen support. RESULTS Serum TIMP-1, but not PIIINP and HA was significantly higher in patients with WHO score ≥5 compared to patients with WHO score <5 [PIIINP: 7.2 (5.4-9.5) vs. 7.1 (4.5-9.9), p = 0.782; TIMP-1: 298.1 (20.5-460) vs. 222.2 (28.5-452.8), p = 0.01; HA: 117.1 (55.4-193.7) vs. 75.1 (36.9-141.8), p = 0.258]. TIMP-1 showed moderate correlation with CRP (r = 0.312, p = 0.003) and with LDH (r = 0.263, p = 0.009). CRP and serum LDH levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with WHO score ≥5 compared to the group of patients with WHO score < 5 [15.8 (9-44.5) vs. 9.3 (3.4-33.8), p = 0.039 and 373 (282-465) vs. 289 (218-383), p = 0.013, respectively]. CONCLUSION In patients with COVID-19, circulating TIMP-1 was associated with disease severity and with systemic inflammatory index, suggesting that TIMP-1 could represent a promising non-invasive prognostic biomarker in COVID-19 patients. Interestingly, our results prompted that serum TIMP-1 level may potentially be used to select the patients for therapeutic approaches targeting matrix metalloproteases pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Brusa
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Terracciano
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Dario Bruzzese
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariano Fiorenza
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Stanziola
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Biagio Pinchera
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Valente
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Ivan Gentile
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Cittadini
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Ilaria Mormile
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Mauro Mormile
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Portella
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Bradley CR, Cox EF, Palaniyappan N, Aithal GP, Francis ST, Guha IN. Variability of noninvasive MRI and biological markers in compensated cirrhosis: insights for assessing disease progression. Eur Radiol Exp 2022; 6:52. [PMID: 36274113 PMCID: PMC9588852 DOI: 10.1186/s41747-022-00303-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We annually monitored stable compensated cirrhosis (CC) patients to evaluate serial variation in blood serum, liver stiffness, and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) measures to provide reference change values (RCV) and sample size measures for future studies. Methods Patients were recruited from a prospectively followed CC cohort, with assessments at baseline and annually over three years. We report on blood markers, transient elastography liver stiffness measures (LSM) and noninvasive mpMRI (volume, T1 mapping, blood flow, perfusion) of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and heart in a stable CC group and a healthy volunteer (HV) group. Coefficient of variation over time (CoVT) and RCV are reported, along with hazard ratio to assess disease progression. Sample size estimates to power future trials of cirrhosis regression on mpMRI are presented. Results Of 60 CC patients enrolled, 28 with stable CC were followed longitudinally and compared to 10 HVs. CoVT in mpMRI measures was comparable between CC and HV groups. CoVT of Enhanced Liver Fibrosis score was low (< 5%) compared to Fibrosis-4 index (17.9%) and Aspartate Aminotransferase-to-Platelet-Ratio Index (19.4%). A large CoVT (20.7%) and RCV (48.3%) were observed for LSM. CoVT and RCV were low for liver, spleen, and renal T1 values (CoVT < 5%, RCV < 8%) and volume (CoVT < 10%, RCV < 16%); haemodynamic measures were high (CoVT 12–25%, RCV 16–47%). Conclusions Evidence of low CoVT and RCV in multiorgan T1 values. RCV and sample size estimates are provided for future longitudinal multiorgan monitoring in CC patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02037867, Registered: 05/01/2013.
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Eguchi A, Iwasa M, Sugimoto R, Tempaku M, Yoshikawa K, Yoshizawa N, Povero D, Sugimoto K, Hasegawa H, Takei Y, Nakagawa H. Complement complex 1 subunit q-mediated hepatic stellate cell activation with connective tissue growth factor elevation is a prognostic factor for survival in rat and human chronic liver diseases. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:3515-3527. [PMID: 36199236 PMCID: PMC9701491 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.2097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Complement complex 1 subunit q (C1q) has multiple functions, including cell migration, in addition to its traditional complement-activating effect. Research shows C1q is a ligand for frizzled receptors (FZDs). FZD-induced yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) alternate Wnt signaling activation induces connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) production and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. However, no study exists in which C1q directly induces CTGF in HSCs. Here, we investigated the role of C1q in HSC activation. Human HSCs (LX2) were incubated with C1q to assess HSC activation. C1q and fibrotic markers were assessed using immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in cirrhotic rats administered CCl4 for 21 weeks. Serum C1q, liver function, and fibrosis score were measured in 91 patients with chronic liver disease. The correlations between serum C1q and liver function, fibrosis score, and survival prognosis were examined. C1q-activated LX2s showed morphologic changes, up-regulation of CTGF, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1), and alternate Wnt signal genes FZD2, TAZ, and cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61). Cirrhotic rat liver C1q expression correlated with the Azan-positive area and expression of CTGF, TIMP-1, hyaluronan synthase (HAS)1, HAS3, and CD44. Expression of C1q protein and C1q, CTGF, and TIMP-1 genes were higher in deceased cirrhotic rat livers compared to surviving rats. Human serum C1q levels increased in liver cirrhosis compared to chronic hepatitis and correlated with liver fibrosis and functional markers. Ten patients suffered liver-related death over a 66-month observation period. The C1q cut-off value (11 mg/dl) showed patients with serum values < 11 mg/dl had longer rates of survival compared to C1q ≥ 11 mg/dl. Conclusion: C1q-mediated HSC activation in liver fibrosis is associated with CTGF elevation. Additionally, serum C1q may be diagnostic for survival in human chronic liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Motoh Iwasa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Ryosuke Sugimoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Mina Tempaku
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Kyoko Yoshikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Naohiko Yoshizawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Davide Povero
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMayo ClinicRochesterMinnesotaUSA
| | - Kazushi Sugimoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Hiroshi Hasegawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Yoshiyuki Takei
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of MedicineMie UniversityTsuJapan
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Kechagias S, Ekstedt M, Simonsson C, Nasr P. Non-invasive diagnosis and staging of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hormones (Athens) 2022; 21:349-368. [PMID: 35661987 PMCID: PMC9464753 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-022-00377-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and is characterized by ectopic accumulation of triglycerides in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, i.e., steatosis. NAFLD has become the most common chronic liver disease, with an estimated global prevalence of 25%. Although the majority of NAFLD patients will never experience liver-related complications, the progressive potential of NAFLD is indisputable, with 5-10% of subjects progressing to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, or hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis are at the highest risk of developing cardiovascular and cirrhosis-related complications. Liver biopsy has hitherto been considered the reference method for evaluation of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis stage. Given the limitations of biopsy for widescale screening, non-invasive tests (NITs) for assessment of steatosis and fibrosis stage, including serum-based algorithms and ultrasound- and magnetic resonance-based methods, will play an increasing role in the management of NAFLD patients. This comprehensive review presents the advantages and limitations of NITs for identification of steatosis and advanced fibrosis in NAFLD. The clinical implications of using NITs to identify and manage NAFLD patients are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stergios Kechagias
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
- Department of Health, Medical and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Mattias Ekstedt
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Health, Medical and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Christian Simonsson
- Center for Medical Image Science and Visualization (CMIV), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Patrik Nasr
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Health, Medical and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Cossiga V, La Civita E, Bruzzese D, Guarino M, Fiorentino A, Sorrentino R, Pontillo G, Vallefuoco L, Brusa S, Montella E, Terracciano D, Morisco F, Portella G. Enhanced liver fibrosis score as a noninvasive biomarker in hepatitis C virus patients after direct-acting antiviral agents. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:891398. [PMID: 36059971 PMCID: PMC9428144 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.891398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In more than 90% of chronic viral hepatitis C (HCV) patients treated with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), a sustained viral response (SVR) was observed. Unfortunately, there are subgroups of subjects who display enduring liver fibrosis and are at high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, liver fibrosis evaluation during the follow-up of these patients plays a pivotal role. The gold standard to evaluate hepatic fibrosis is liver biopsy, which is an invasive procedure. Imaging techniques and serum biomarkers have been proposed as safer and cheaper procedures. Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the concordance of transient elastography (TE) with ELF score ( enhanced liver fibrosis) in a cohort of patients with HCV before and after direct-acting antiviral (DAAs) treatment. ELF score has been validated in other chronic liver diseases; the evidence is not available in HCV patients treated with DAAs. Study design: We prospectively recruited all consecutive HCV patient candidates for DAAs therapy at the University of Naples “Federico II” between April 2015 and July 2016. TE and ELF scores were assessed at baseline, at SVR24, and at SVR48. Results: One-hundred-nineteen patients were treated with DAAs, and 94.1% of them reached SVR. A total of 55.5% of patients were males with a mean age of 64.7 ± 9.6 years. TE results revealed that 12 patients (10%) had F1-2 mild/moderate fibrosis, and 107 (90%) had F3-4 advanced fibrosis. At baseline, SVR24, and SVR48, the concordance between ELF test and TE was poor: 0.11 (p = 0.086), 0.15 (p = 0.124), and 0.034 (p = 0.002), respectively. However, at SVR24 and SVR48, both methods showed a significant amelioration of liver fibrosis compared to baseline (p < 0.001). In addition, both ELF index and TE were significantly associated with portal hypertension at baseline, but not with varices and ascites. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that ELF test could predict changes in liver fibrosis, independently of TE. In case of TE unavailability, ELF score could represent an appropriate tool. Notably, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, ELF testing should be encouraged to reduce unnecessary access to the hospital and prolonged physical contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Cossiga
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Daniela Terracciano, ; Valentina Cossiga,
| | - Evelina La Civita
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Dario Bruzzese
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Guarino
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Fiorentino
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosanna Sorrentino
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pontillo
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Vallefuoco
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefano Brusa
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Emma Montella
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Daniela Terracciano
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Daniela Terracciano, ; Valentina Cossiga,
| | - Filomena Morisco
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Portella
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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Scheiner B, Balcar L, Nussbaumer RJ, Weinzierl J, Paternostro R, Simbrunner B, Hartl L, Jachs M, Bauer D, Stättermayer AF, Semmler G, Pinter M, Ay C, Quehenberger P, Trauner M, Reiberger T, Lisman T, Mandorfer M. Factor VIII/protein C ratio independently predicts liver-related events but does not indicate a hypercoagulable state in ACLD. J Hepatol 2022; 76:1090-1099. [PMID: 35066090 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS It has been suggested that the ratio of procoagulant factor VIII to anticoagulant protein C (FVIII/PC) reflects the hemostatic equilibrium. Moreover, FVIII/PC predicted decompensation/death in a small study not accounting for portal hypertension severity. We investigated (i) the prognostic value of FVIII/PC (outcome-cohort) and (ii) whether FVIII/PC reflects the hypercoagulable state (assessed by thrombomodulin-modified thrombin generation assay [TM-TGA]) or the risk of bleeding/thrombotic events in patients undergoing hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement during follow-up. METHODS (i) The outcome-cohort comprised 576 patients with evidence of advanced chronic liver disease (liver stiffness measurement ≥10 kPa and/or HVPG ≥6 mmHg). (ii) TM-TGA-cohort patients (n = 142) were recruited from the prospective VIenna CIrrhosis Study (VICIS: NCT03267615). RESULTS (i) FVIII/PC significantly increased across clinical stages (p <0.001) as well as HVPG (p <0.001) and MELD score (p <0.001) strata and remained independently associated with decompensation/liver-related death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.06; 95% CI 1.01-1.11; p = 0.013), even after multivariable adjustment. It was also associated with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) development (adjusted hazard ratio 1.10; 95% CI 1.02-1.19; p = 0.015) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. (ii) FVIII/PC showed a weak positive correlation with endogenous thrombin potential (Spearman's ρ = 0.255; p = 0.002), but this association disappeared after adjusting for the severity of liver disease. FVIII/PC was not associated with the development of bleeding (p = 0.272) or thrombotic events (p = 0.269). However, FVIII/PC correlated with biomarkers of different pathophysiological mechanisms that promote liver disease progression. CONCLUSION FVIII/PC provides prognostic information regarding hepatic decompensation/death and ACLF, independently of established prognostic indicators. However, this is not evidence that hypercoagulability drives disease progression, as the correlation between FVIII/PC and thrombin generation is confounded by liver disease severity and FVIII/PC was not associated with thrombosis. Therefore, FVIII/PC does not reflect coagulation and results from previous studies on FVIII/PC require re-interpretation. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER NCT03267615 (in part). LAY SUMMARY A balanced coagulation system is essential for preventing bleeding episodes and blood clot formation (thrombosis). Blood of patients with advanced liver disease may have increased coagulation potential, possibly promoting the worsening of liver disease via thrombosis in the blood vessels of the liver. The ratio between the results of 2 blood tests (procoagulant factor VIII to anticoagulant protein C) has been suggested to reflect these increases in coagulation potential. Our study demonstrates, on the one hand, that this ratio is a versatile predictor of the development of complications of cirrhosis, yet on the other hand, that it is unrelated to coagulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Scheiner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lorenz Balcar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rosa Johanna Nussbaumer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johanna Weinzierl
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rafael Paternostro
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Simbrunner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Hartl
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mathias Jachs
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - David Bauer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Albert Friedrich Stättermayer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Semmler
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Pinter
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cihan Ay
- Clinical Division of Haematology and Haemostaseology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Peter Quehenberger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Trauner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Reiberger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ton Lisman
- Surgical Research Laboratory and Section of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Mattias Mandorfer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Chen C, Wang L, Wu J, Lu M, Yang S, Ye W, Guan M, Liang M, Zou H. Circulating Collagen Metabolites and the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Score as Fibrosis Markers in Systemic Sclerosis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:805708. [PMID: 35177989 PMCID: PMC8844460 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.805708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Serum fibrosis markers for systemic sclerosis (SSc) remain limited. The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score is a collagen marker set consisting of procollagen type III amino terminal propeptide (PIIINP), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), and hyaluronic acid (HA). This longitudinal study aimed to examine the performance of the ELF score and its single analytes as surrogate outcome measures of fibrosis in SSc. Methods: Eighty-five SSc patients fulfilling the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria with the absence of chronic liver diseases were enrolled. Serum PIIINP, TIMP-1, HA, and the ELF score were measured and correlated with clinical variables including the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Twenty SSc patients underwent a follow-up serological testing and mRSS evaluation during treatment with immunosuppressants and/or anti-fibrotic drugs. Results: Serum PIIINP, TIMP-1, and ELF score were significantly higher in patients with SSc than in healthy controls [PIIINP: 10.31 (7.83–14.10) vs. 5.61 (4.69–6.30), p < .001; TIMP-1: 110.73 (66.21–192.45) vs. 61.81 (48.86–85.24), p < .001; ELF: 10.34 (9.91–10.86) vs. 9.68 (9.38–9.99), p < .001]. Even higher levels of PIIINP, TIMP-1, and ELF score were found in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc than those with limited cutaneous SSc. At baseline, both PIIINP and ELF score showed good correlation with mRSS (PIIINP: r = .586, p < .001; ELF: r = .482, p < .001). Longitudinal analysis showed that change in PIIINP positively correlated with change in mRSS (r = 0.701, p = .001), while change in ELF score were not related, in a statistical context, to the change in mRSS (ELF: r = .140, p = .555). Serum TIMP-1 was significantly higher in SSc patients with ILD, compared to the matched group of patients without ILD [109.45 (93.05–200.09) vs. 65.50 (40.57–110.73), p = 0.007]. Conclusion: In patients with SSc, the ELF score well correlates with the extent of skin fibrosis, while serum PIIINP is a sensitive marker for longitudinal changes of skin fibrosis. In the future, circulating collagen metabolites may potentially be used to evaluate therapeutic effects of anti-fibrotic treatments in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingbiao Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinfeng Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meijuan Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sen Yang
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjing Ye
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Guan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Minrui Liang
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hejian Zou
- Department of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
ABSTRACT For the detection of steatosis, quantitative ultrasound imaging techniques have achieved great progress in past years. Magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction is currently the most accurate test to detect hepatic steatosis. Some blood biomarkers correlate with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, but the accuracy is modest. Regarding liver fibrosis, liver stiffness measurement by transient elastography (TE) has high accuracy and is widely used across the world. Magnetic resonance elastography is marginally better than TE but is limited by its cost and availability. Several blood biomarkers of fibrosis have been used in clinical trials and hold promise for selecting patients for treatment and monitoring treatment response. This article reviews new developments in the non-invasive assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Accumulating evidence suggests that various non-invasive tests can be used to diagnose NAFLD, assess its severity, and predict the prognosis. Further studies are needed to determine the role of the tests as monitoring tools. We cannot overemphasize the importance of context in selecting appropriate tests.
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Liguori A, Zoncap� M, Tsochatzis EA. Non-invasive liver fibrosis tests in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. REVISTA ESPANOLA DE ENFERMEDADES DIGESTIVAS 2022; 114:191-194. [DOI: 10.17235/reed.2022.8718/2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Chandra Kumar CV, Skantha R, Chan WK. Non-invasive assessment of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2022; 13:20420188221139614. [PMID: 36533184 PMCID: PMC9747884 DOI: 10.1177/20420188221139614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects an estimated one-quarter of the global adult population and has become one of the leading causes of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma with increased liver-related and overall morbidity and mortality. The new term, metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), has a set of positive diagnostic criteria and has been shown to have better clinical utility, but it has yet to be universally adopted. This review addresses the non-invasive tests for MAFLD and is based mostly on studies on NAFLD patients, as the MAFLD term is relatively new and there are limited studies on non-invasive tests based on this new term, while a large body of research work on non-invasive tests has accumulated in the literature for NAFLD. This review focuses on blood-based biomarkers and scores for the assessment of hepatic steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and fibrosis, and two of the most widely studied imaging biomarkers, namely vibration-controlled transient elastography and magnetic resonance imaging. Fibrotic NASH has become a diagnostic target of interest and novel serum biomarkers and scores incorporating imaging biomarker for diagnosis of fibrotic NASH are emerging. Nonetheless, the degree of liver fibrosis remains the key predictor of liver-related morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. A multitude of non-invasive biomarkers and scores have been studied for the detection of liver fibrosis, including use of sequential non-invasive tests for risk stratification of advanced liver fibrosis. In addition, this review will explore the utility of the non-invasive tests for prognostication and for monitoring of treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Vikneshwaran Chandra Kumar
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ruben Skantha
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Relationship of Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score with Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Histology and Response to Vitamin E or Metformin. J Pediatr 2021; 239:161-167.e5. [PMID: 34400208 PMCID: PMC8922020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the diagnostic performance of the enhanced liver fibrosis score (ELF) for detecting different stages of fibrosis and its usefulness in detecting histologic response to vitamin E or metformin in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease who participated in the Vitamin E or Metformin for the Treatment Of NAFLD In Children (TONIC) trial. STUDY DESIGN ELF was measured at baseline and weeks 24, 48, and 96 on sera from 166 TONIC participants. Associations between ELF with baseline and end of trial (EOT) fibrosis stages and other histologic features were assessed using χ2 tests and logistic regression models. RESULTS ELF was significantly associated with severity of fibrosis at baseline and EOT. ELF areas under the curve for discriminating patients with clinically significant and advanced fibrosis were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.60-0.80) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.69-0.89), respectively. A 1-unit decrease in ELF at EOT was associated with overall histologic improvement (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.11-3.14; P = .02), resolution of steatohepatitis (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.09-3.25; P = .02), improvement in steatosis grade (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.06-2.82; P = .03), and hepatocellular ballooning (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.06-3.00; P = .03), but not with improvement in fibrosis stage (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.78-2.03; P = .34). CONCLUSIONS ELF was associated with fibrosis stage in children who participated in TONIC. Although not associated with improvement in fibrosis, a decrease in ELF at EOT was associated with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis resolution and improvement in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease histology. ELF may be a useful noninvasive test to monitor treatment response in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
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Rasmussen DN, Thiele M, Johansen S, Kjærgaard M, Lindvig KP, Israelsen M, Antonsen S, Detlefsen S, Krag A. Prognostic performance of 7 biomarkers compared to liver biopsy in early alcohol-related liver disease. J Hepatol 2021; 75:1017-1025. [PMID: 34118335 PMCID: PMC8522804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Alcohol is the most common cause of liver-related mortality and morbidity. We therefore aimed to assess and compare the prognostic performance of elastography and blood-based markers to predict time to the first liver-related event, severe infection, and all-cause mortality in patients with a history of excess drinking. METHODS We performed a prospective cohort study in patients with early, compensated alcohol-related liver disease. At baseline, we obtained a liver biopsy, transient elastography (TE), 2-dimensional shear-wave elastography (2D-SWE), enhanced liver fibrosis test (ELF), FibroTest, fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), non-alcoholic fatty liver fibrosis score (NFS) and Forns index. We compared C-statistics and time-dependent AUC for prognostication. We used validated cut-off points to create 3 risk groups for each test: low, intermediate and high risk. RESULTS We followed 462 patients for a median of 49 months (IQR 31-70). Median age was 57 years, 76% were males, 20% had advanced fibrosis. Eighty-four patients (18%) developed a liver-related event after a median of 18 months (7-34). TE had the highest prognostic accuracy, with a C-statistic of 0.876, and time-dependent AUC at 5 years of 0.889, comparable to 2D-SWE and ELF. TE, ELF and 2D-SWE outperformed FibroTest, FIB4, NFS, Forns index and biopsy-verified fibrosis stage. Compared to patients with TE <10 kPa, the hazard ratios for liver-related events for TE 10-15 kPa were 8.1 (3.2-20.4), and 27.9 (13.8-56.8) for TE >15 kPa. Periods of excessive drinking during follow-up increased the risk of progressing to liver-related events, except for patients in the low-risk groups. CONCLUSION TE, ELF and 2D-SWE are highly accurate prognostic markers in patients with alcohol-related liver disease. Easy-to-use cut-offs can distinguish between substantially different risk profiles. LAY SUMMARY Alcohol is the leading cause of death and illness due to liver disease. In this study, we assessed the ability of biomarkers to predict the risk of developing symptomatic liver disease in patients with early stages of alcohol-related liver disease. We found that several tests accurately predicted the risk of liver-related events such as ascites, esophageal varices and hepatic encephalopathy during an average follow-up of 4.1 years. Liver stiffness measurements by ultrasound elastography and the enhanced liver fibrosis test performed best. By using them, we were able to stratify patients into 3 groups with significantly different risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ditlev Nytoft Rasmussen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark,Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Maja Thiele
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Stine Johansen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark,Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Maria Kjærgaard
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Katrine Prier Lindvig
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark,Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mads Israelsen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Steen Antonsen
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark,Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital Svendborg, Denmark
| | - Sönke Detlefsen
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark,Department of Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Aleksander Krag
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark,Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Torp N, Israelsen M, Madsen B, Lutz P, Jansen C, Strassburg C, Mortensen C, Knudsen AW, Sorensen GL, Holmskov U, Schlosser A, Thiele M, Trebicka J, Krag A. Corrigendum to 'Level of MFAP4 in ascites independently predicts 1-year transplant-free survival in patients with cirrhosis' [JHEP Reports 3 (2021) 100287]. JHEP Rep 2021; 3:100353. [PMID: 34693237 PMCID: PMC8514409 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Prognostic models of cirrhosis underestimate disease severity for patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an extracellular matrix protein linked to hepatic neoangiogenesis and fibrogenesis. We investigated ascites MFAP4 as a predictor of transplant-free survival in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Methods A dual-centre observational study of patients with cirrhosis and ascites recruited consecutively in relation to a paracentesis was carried out. Patients were followed up for 1 year, until death or liver transplantation (LTx). Ascites MFAP4 was tested with the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD-Na), CLIF Consortium Acute Decompensation (CLIF-C AD), and Child-Pugh score in Cox regression models. Results Ninety-three patients requiring paracentesis were included. Median ascites MFAP4 was 29.7 U/ml [22.3–41.3], and MELD-Na was 19 [16–23]. A low MELD-Na score (<20) was observed in 49 patients (53%). During follow-up, 20 patients died (22%), and 6 received LTx (6%). High ascites MFAP4 (>29.7 U/ml) was associated with 1-year transplant-free survival (p = 0.002). In Cox regression, ascites MFAP4 and MELD-Na independently predicted 1-year transplant-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.97, p = 0.03, and HR = 1.08, p = 0.01, respectively). Ascites MFAP4 and CLIF-C AD also predicted survival independently (HR = 0.96, p = 0.02, and HR = 1.05, p = 0.03, respectively), whereas only ascites MFAP4 did, controlling for the Child-Pugh score (HR = 0.97, p = 0.03, and HR = 1.18, p = 0.16, respectively). For patients with MELD-Na <20, ascites MFAP4 but not ascites protein predicted 1-year transplant-free survival (HR 0.91, p = 0.02, and HR = 0.94, p = 0.17, respectively). Conclusions Ascites MFAP4 predicts 1-year transplant-free survival in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. In patients with low MELD-Na scores, ascites MFAP4, but not total ascites protein, significantly predicted 1-year transplant-free survival. Lay summary Patients with cirrhosis who have fluid in the abdomen, ascites, are at an increased risk of death and in need for liver transplantation. Our study identified patients with ascites and a poor prognosis by measuring microfibrillar associated protein 4 (MFAP4), a protein present in the abdominal fluid. Patients with low levels of the MFAP4 protein are at particularly increased risk of death or liver transplantation, suggesting that clinical care should be intensified in this group of patients. MFAP4 is a protein linked to liver fibrosis that can be found in the ascitic fluid in patients with cirrhosis. MFAP4 in the ascitic fluid correlates with MELD-Na, Child-Pugh, and CLIF-C AD. Ascites MFAP4 independently predicts 1-year transplant-free survival in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Ascites MFAP4 but not total ascites protein is associated with transplant-free survival in patients with MELD-Na <20. Future prognostic models in decompensated cirrhosis may be enhanced by the incorporation of ascites MFAP4.
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Key Words
- Biomarker
- CLIF-C AD, CLIF Consortium Acute Decompensation
- CPS, Child-Pugh score
- CRP, C-reactive protein
- CT, computed tomography
- Decompensated
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- Fibrosis
- GFR, glomerular filtration rate
- HR, hazard ratio
- INR, internationalised normal ratio
- LTx, liver transplantation
- Liver disease
- MELD-Na, model for end-stage liver disease
- MFAP4, microfibrillar associated protein 4
- Mortality
- NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- Prognosis
- SBP, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- eGFR, estimated GFR
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaj Torp
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mads Israelsen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Bjørn Madsen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Philipp Lutz
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Jansen
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Christian Mortensen
- Gastro Unit, Medical Division, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Anne Wilkens Knudsen
- Gastro Unit, Medical Division, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Grith Lykke Sorensen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Uffe Holmskov
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anders Schlosser
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Maja Thiele
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jonel Trebicka
- Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure (EF-CLIF), Barcelona, Spain.,Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleksander Krag
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Dietrich CG, Rau M, Geier A. Screening for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-when, who and how? World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:5803-5821. [PMID: 34629804 PMCID: PMC8475001 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i35.5803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a frequent liver disease, especially in patients with metabolic syndrome and especially in Western countries. Complications of NAFLD comprise progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD also represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, extrahepatic neoplasia and other organ damage, such as renal insufficiency. Given the epidemiological importance of the disease, new developments in specific treatment of the disease and the wide availability of noninvasive techniques in estimating steatosis and fibrosis, NAFLD should be subject to screening programs, at least in countries with a high prevalence of the disease. The review discusses prerequisites for screening, cost-effectiveness, current guideline recommendations, suitability of techniques for screening and propositions for the following questions: Who should be screened? Who should perform screening? How should screening be performed? It is time for a screening program in patients at risk for NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph G Dietrich
- Department of Internal Medicine, Bethlehem Health Center, Stolberg 52222, Germany
| | - Monika Rau
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
| | - Andreas Geier
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg 97080, Germany
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Fossdal G, Mjelle AB, Wiencke K, Bjørk I, Gilja OH, Folseraas T, Karlsen TH, Rosenberg W, Giil LM, Vesterhus M. Fluctuating biomarkers in primary sclerosing cholangitis: A longitudinal comparison of alkaline phosphatase, liver stiffness, and ELF. JHEP Rep 2021; 3:100328. [PMID: 34485881 PMCID: PMC8403583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive liver disease characterised by fluctuating liver biochemistries and highly variable disease progression. The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF®) test and liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) reflect fibrosis and predict clinical outcomes in PSC; however, longitudinal assessments are missing. We aimed to characterise the systematic change in ELF and LSM over time in a prospective cohort of patients with PSC, along with their longitudinal relationship to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin. Methods We included 113 non-transplant PSC patients (86 males [76.1%]; mean age 43.3 ± 15.7 years) with annual study visits between 2013 and 2019 at 2 Norwegian centres. ELF test, LSM, clinical data, liver biochemistries, and revised Mayo risk score were measured. We used linear mixed-effects models to estimate change over time, intraclass correlations (ICCs), and their relationship with ALP and bilirubin. Results At baseline, the median (range) ELF test was 9.3 (7.5–12.9) and median LSM 1.26 m/s (0.66–3.04 m/s). ELF and LSM increased over time (0.09 point/year, 95% CI [0.03, 0.15], p = 0.005, vs. 0.12 point/year, 95% CI [0.03, 0.21], p = 0.009). Between-patient effects explained 78% of ELF variation (ICC 0.78) and 56% of LSM variation (ICC 0.56). ALP also increased and showed the highest ICC (0.86). Conclusions ELF and LSM increased over a 5-year period. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated differences regarding within- and between-patient effects, suggesting that the ELF test may have superior reliability for risk stratification compared with LSM in PSC. Lay summary Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterised by substantial disease variability between patients and fluctuating liver biochemistries. Hence, new biomarkers are needed to identify individuals with an increased risk of developing end-stage liver disease. We explore the change over time of 2 putative prognostic biomarkers in PSC, the serum Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF®) test and LSMs by ultrasound, demonstrating differences that may reflect differing abilities to discriminate risk. ELF and LSM increased in patients with PSC, but only in patients with ALP >1.5× ULN. ELF may be more reliable for PSC risk stratification (low within-patient variation). A subgroup showed concomitant spontaneous reduction in ALP, ELF, and LSM.
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Key Words
- ALP, alkaline phosphatase
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- Alkaline phosphatase
- Biomarker
- CRP, C-reactive protein
- ELF, enhanced liver fibrosis
- Elastography
- Enhanced liver fibrosis test
- FIB-4, Fibrosis-4 Index for Liver Fibrosis
- GGT, gamma-glutamyl transferase
- HA, hyaluronic acid
- ICC, intraclass correlation
- INR, international normalised ratio
- IgG4, immunoglobulin G4
- LSM, liver stiffness measurement
- Liver stiffness
- PIIINP, propeptide of type III procollagen
- PSC, primary sclerosing cholangitis
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
- ROI, region of interest
- Risk stratification
- TE, transient elastography
- TIMP-1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1
- UDCA, ursodeoxycholic acid
- ULN, upper limit of normal
- pSWE, point shear wave elastography
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Affiliation(s)
- Guri Fossdal
- Norwegian PSC Research Centre, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Division of Surgery, Inflammatory Diseases and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders B Mjelle
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kristine Wiencke
- Norwegian PSC Research Centre, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Division of Surgery, Inflammatory Diseases and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.,Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ida Bjørk
- Department of Radiology, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Odd Helge Gilja
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Trine Folseraas
- Norwegian PSC Research Centre, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Division of Surgery, Inflammatory Diseases and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.,Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom Hemming Karlsen
- Norwegian PSC Research Centre, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Division of Surgery, Inflammatory Diseases and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.,Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Research Institute of Internal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - William Rosenberg
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London & Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Lasse M Giil
- Department of Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Mette Vesterhus
- Norwegian PSC Research Centre, Department of Transplantation Medicine, Division of Surgery, Inflammatory Diseases and Transplantation, Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Medicine, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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Lunova M, Frankova S, Gottfriedova H, Senkerikova R, Neroldova M, Kovac J, Kieslichova E, Lanska V, Sticova E, Spicak J, Jirsa M, Sperl J. Portal hypertension is the main driver of liver stiffness in advanced liver cirrhosis. Physiol Res 2021; 70:563-577. [PMID: 34062072 DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver stiffness (LS) is a novel non-invasive parameter widely used in clinical hepatology. LS correlates with liver fibrosis stage in non-cirrhotic patients. In cirrhotic patients it also shows good correlation with Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG). Our aim was to assess the contribution of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension to LS in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Eighty-one liver transplant candidates with liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies underwent direct HVPG and LS measurement by 2D shear-wave elastography (Aixplorer Multiwave, Supersonic Imagine, France). Liver collagen content was assessed in the explanted liver as collagen proportionate area (CPA) and hydroxyproline content (HP). The studied cohort included predominantly patients with Child-Pugh class B and C (63/81, 77.8%), minority of patients were Child-Pugh A (18/81, 22.2%). LS showed the best correlation with HVPG (r=0.719, p< 0.001), correlation of LS with CPA (r=0.441, p< 0.001) and HP/Amino Acids (r=0.414, p< 0.001) was weaker. Both variables expressing liver collagen content showed good correlation with each other (r=0.574, p<0.001). Multiple linear regression identified the strongest association between LS and HVPG (p < 0.0001) and weaker association of LS with CPA (p = 0.01883). Stepwise modelling showed minimal increase in r2 after addition of CPA to HVPG (0.5073 vs. 0.5513). The derived formula expressing LS value formation is: LS = 2.48 + (1.29 x HVPG) + (0.26 x CPA). We conclude that LS is determined predominantly by HVPG in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis whereas contribution of liver collagen content is relatively low.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lunova
- Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Transplant Centre; Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Chang E, Chang JS, Kong ID, Baik SK, Kim MY, Park KS. Multidimensional Biomarker Analysis Including Mitochondrial Stress Indicators for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Gut Liver 2021; 16:171-189. [PMID: 34420934 PMCID: PMC8924798 DOI: 10.5009/gnl210106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is accompanied by a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis with sequential progressions from inflammation to fibrosis and then to cancer. This heterogeneity interferes with the development of precise diagnostic and prognostic strategies for NAFLD. The current approach for the diagnosis of simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis mainly consists of ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, elastography, and various serological analyses. However, individual dry and wet biomarkers have limitations demanding an integrative approach for the assessment of disease progression. Here, we review diagnostic strategies for simple steatosis, steatohepatitis and hepatic fibrosis, followed by potential biomarkers associated with fat accumulation and mitochondrial stress. For mitochondrial stress indicators, we focused on fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), angiopoietin-related growth factor and mitochondrial-derived peptides. Each biomarker may not strongly indicate the severity of steatosis or steatohepatitis. Instead, multidimensional analysis of different groups of biomarkers based on pathogenic mechanisms may provide decisive diagnostic/prognostic information to develop a therapeutic plan for patients with NAFLD. For this purpose, mitochondrial stress indicators, such as FGF21 or GDF15, could be an important component in the multiplexed and contextual interpretation of NAFLD. Further validation of the integrative evaluation of mitochondrial stress indicators combined with other biomarkers is needed in the diagnosis/prognosis of NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunha Chang
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.,Department of Mitohormesis Research Center, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - Jae Seung Chang
- Department of Mitohormesis Research Center, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - In Deok Kong
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - Soon Koo Baik
- Department of Mitohormesis Research Center, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.,Department of Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - Moon Young Kim
- Department of Mitohormesis Research Center, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.,Department of Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
| | - Kyu-Sang Park
- Department of Physiology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.,Department of Mitohormesis Research Center, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea
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Antifibrotic Effects of Kangxian Ruangan Capsule on Rats with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Fibrosis and Hepatic Stellate Cells through Regulation of TGF- β and TLR4 Signaling Pathways. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:5649575. [PMID: 34422075 PMCID: PMC8371615 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5649575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Kangxian ruangan (KXRG) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula consisting of 12 herbs. TCM syndrome differentiation proposes that KXRG exerts pharmacological effects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis. This work investigates the effect of KXRG on NAFLD fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, the NAFLD fibrosis model was constructed in Wistar rats using methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet, followed by KXRG (0.92 g/kg/d) treatment for 8 weeks. In vitro, primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were activated using platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and treated with KXRG. Molecular mechanisms underlying fibrosis were investigated. After 8 weeks, compared with the control groups, the histological lesions, degree of fibrosis, and inflammatory reaction increased with the MCD diet as demonstrated by histological changes and increased fibrosis-related (α-SMA, TGF-β, COL1A1, and desmin, P < 0.01) and inflammation-related factors (TNF-α, MCP-1, and F4/80, P < 0.01), whereas they decreased with KXRG treatment (P < 0.01). KXRG not only inhibited the proliferation of activated HSCs and promoted their apoptosis but also resulted in G0-G1 arrest. Furthermore, KXRG suppressed HSC activation (P < 0.01), collagen synthesis (P < 0.01), and α-SMA expression (P < 0.01) with PDGF stimulation. In both the MCD diet-induced animal model and PDGF-induced cell model, KXRG inhibited TGF-β and TLR4 signaling (P < 0.01), similar to corresponding small-molecule inhibitors. These results demonstrated that KXRG might exert suppressive effects against NAFLD fibrosis via regulating TGF-β and TLR4 signaling. KXRG may act as a natural and potent therapeutic agent against NAFLD.
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Abdel-Hameed EA, Rouster SD, Kottilil S, Sherman KE. The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Index Predicts Hepatic Fibrosis Superior to FIB4 and APRI in HIV/HCV Infected Patients. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:450-459. [PMID: 32459305 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate noninvasive biomarkers of fibrotic progression are important for hepatitis C virus (HCV) management, but commonly used modalities may have decreased efficacy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected persons. The enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) index is a highly sensitive noninvasive marker of hepatic fibrosis that has had limited assessment in the HIV/HCV population. We compared ELF index performance to FIB4 and aspartate to platelet ratio index (APRI) at different stages of liver fibrosis as determined by liver histology, and validated the efficacy of the three noninvasive biomarkers in HIV/HCV-coinfected versus HCV-monoinfected. METHODS The ELF index was determined in 147 HIV/HCV-coinfected and 98 HCV-monoinfected persons using commercial ELISA assays for the component elements of the index. Area under the receiver-operator curve was used to validate ELF and to compare its performance to liver histology as well as to other noninvasive biomarkers of liver fibrosis, FIB4, and APRI. RESULTS The ELF index increased with histological stage of liver fibrosis and exhibited a linear relationship with Metavir score in all subjects. ELF performance was comparable between HIV/HCV and HCV with advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. In the HIV/HCV cohort ELF cutoffs of 8.45 and 9.23 predicted mild and moderate fibrosis with 85% sensitivity, whereas the ELF cutoff of 9.8 had the highest specificity for advanced fibrosis and the cutoff of 10.4 was 99% specific for cirrhosis. ELF performance was superior to FIB4 and APRI in all subjects regardless of HIV status. CONCLUSIONS ELF index demonstrated excellent characteristics toward accurate prediction of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis with superior performance to APRI and FIB4 in HIV/HCV coinfection. Applying this noninvasive biomarker index for diagnosis of liver fibrosis and progression in HIV/HCV is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susan D Rouster
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Shyam Kottilil
- Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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