Predisposing factors for advanced liver fibrosis in patients with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common monogenic disorders worldwide and liver complications are common in this group of patients. Our study aims to highlight the prevalence of chronic liver complications and the main predisposing factors for advanced liver fibrosis in SCD patients. For this purpose, 219 patients from eight Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Units across Greece enrolled in our study and history of liver related disease complications was recorded, as well as a full laboratory and imaging analysis concerning their liver function. 13.6% of the patients had advanced liver fibrosis. The presence of liver fibrosis was significantly correlated with advanced age, male gender, cholelithiasis and higher LDH, γ-GT, INR, direct and indirect bilirubin levels. These patients had exhibited significantly more episodes of liver crises and acute intrahepatic cholestasis. No correlation was observed with right heart failure or previous viral hepatitis. Patients with advanced liver fibrosis were receiving a more intensive transfusion therapy for a longer period of time and had higher Liver Iron Concentration levels. Our study shows that liver complications and cirrhosis is a significant cause of morbidity in patients with SCD and it is primarily associated with intravascular hemolysis and vaso-occlusive phenomena and secondarily with iron overload.

Intracellular ROS profile in hematopoietic progenitors of MDS patients: association with blast count and iron overload

Objectives: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are under scrutiny as a participant in the pathophysiology of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and the progression of MDS to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Measurement of intracellular ROS (iROS) is particularly important since iROS is a direct indicator of cellular health and integrity.Methods: We developed a technique to measure standardize iROS (siROS) level in lymphocytes and bone marrow (BM) CD34⁺ hematopoietic progenitors using the fluorescent probe dichlorofluorescein (DCF). We then quantified the siROS in 38 consecutive BM specimens from 27 MDS patients over the course of 10 months. Disease outcome of these patients were also assessed.Results: High serum ferritin, high blast count and poor IPSS were associated with inferior survival and AML progression in this cohort. High blast MDS patients had lower siROS in their BM CD34+ cells than those of low blast patients, consistent with increased reliance on glycolysis and enhanced ROS defense in high blast MDS. We also observed narrower siROS distribution in the BM CD34+ cells of high blast patients, suggesting that loss of heterogeneity in ROS content accompanies the clonal evolution of MDS. Furthermore, we observed a strong correlation between CD34+ cells siROS and serum ferritin level in high blast patients. In one case, iron chelation therapy (ICT) resulted in parallel decreases in serum ferritin and CD34⁺ cells siROS.Conclusion: Our findings established the siROS profile in early hematopoietic cells of MDS patients and its relationship with blast count and iron overload.

Hemochromatosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Secondary to Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease with Hepatopathy: A Case Report

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a recently characterized illness in which lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrate various anatomical sites. IgG4-hepatopathy, a manifestation of IgG4-RD, is a broader term covering various patterns of liver injury. The clinical course, including the malignant potential of IgG4-RD, remains unclear. Here we report the first case of secondary hemochromatosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developing from IgG4-hepatopathy. A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for treatment of deteriorating glucose tolerance. Blood test results showed hypergammaglobulinemia, especially IgG4. He was readmitted 2 months later with dyspnea due to lung disease and pleural effusion, and elevated transaminase levels. He underwent liver and lung biopsies. IgG4-RD was diagnosed and he was treated with steroid therapy, which improved serum IgG4 levels and imaging abnormalities. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan conducted 38 months later revealed a tumor (diameter, 50 mm) in liver segments 7 and 8. The resected specimen revealed HCC and abundant siderosis in the background liver, indicating a diagnosis of hemochromatosis. IgG4-positive cells were scarce, probably because of corticosteroid therapy. In the present case, IgG4-RD was well controlled with prednisolone (PSL) and an immunosuppressive agent, and chronic hepatitis was not severe, even though the patient subsequently developed HCC. However, extensive siderosis consistent with hemochromatosis was unexpectedly noted. These findings suggest that secondary hemochromatosis and HCC developed during IgG4-RD with hepatopathy. We believe this case sheds light on IgG4-RD.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Arising in a Non-cirrhotic Liver with Secondary Hemochromatosis

A 70-year-old man was admitted for treatment of a single liver nodule that was detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Twenty years earlier, the patient had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory anemia and secondary hemochromatosis but had not received erythrocyte transfusions. The current histological, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging findings revealed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-cirrhotic liver hemochromatosis. The liver tumor was treated using radiofrequency ablation therapy. Secondary hemochromatosis may be a risk factor for HCC, even if the liver is not cirrhotic. In such cases, additional surveillance may be required to detect the development of HCC.

An unfortunate case of acquired hemochromatosis: a case report review of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and prognosis

BACKGROUND

While blood transfusions are commonly used for prophylaxis and treatment for acute chest syndromes and strokes in sickle cell patients, accumulation of excess iron resulting in secondary hemochromatosis remains a rare disease. Chelation is the mainstay for preventing and treating iron overload to deter potential end-organ damages; it is rare when therapy fails.

CASE REPORT

A 52-year-old African American woman with chronic anemia secondary to sickle cell anemia and history of multiple blood transfusions presented with elevated serum ferritin (8000 ng/mL) and bilirubin (16.8 mg/dL). She had no previous personal or family history of liver disease. A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and a liver biopsy confirmed the secondary hemochromatosis with marked fibrosis and 4+ iron deposits, but since she was therapeutically on deferasirox, her treatment regimen involved only closer monitoring. Her hemochromatosis led to readmission within a year for rapid progression of cardiac and hepatic failure.

CONCLUSION

Since chronically transfused sickle cell patients are at a significantly higher risk of mortality due to the secondary hemochromatosis and end-stage organ damage, knowledge of prophylactic iron chelation is important. Minimizing unnecessary transfusions should be strongly emphasized to reduce the sequelae as iron burden remains a threat. The effectiveness of iron-chelating therapy is best monitored via periodic magnetic resonance imaging, liver transaminases, bilirubin, creatinine, ferritin, and cardiac function tests. Despite the prophylactic treatment and quarterly blood work, in this case the initial presentation did not correlate with the severity of end-stage liver failure. The damage was not discovered until proven by liver biopsy and MRCP, too late to deter the sequelae and the mortality exactly 1 year after diagnosis of the secondary hemochromatosis.