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Singeap AM, Minea H, Petrea O, Robea MA, Balmuș IM, Duta R, Ilie OD, Cimpoesu CD, Stanciu C, Trifan A. Real-World Utilization of Corticosteroids in Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis: Eligibility, Response, and Outcomes. Medicina (Kaunas) 2024; 60:311. [PMID: 38399598 PMCID: PMC10890054 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60020311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) poses a medical challenge, causing moderately severe to life-threatening episodes with high short- and long-term mortality. This study aimed to explore real-world corticosteroid utilization in severe AH, response predictors, and patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients admitted for severe AH, defined as a Maddrey Discriminant Function score equal to or above 32, at a tertiary care center. We reviewed patients' medical observation charts to identify corticosteroid prescriptions, reasons for ineligibility, and response rates. Responders were defined based on the Lille score, and predictors of non-response were identified. Short-term (one-month) and long-term (one-year) mortality rates were calculated according to treatment and response. Results: Out of 310 patients enrolled with severe AH, 59% received corticosteroids, achieving a response rate of 75.4%. The reasons for not administering corticosteroids were as follows: uncontrolled infections (27.6%), renal dysfunction (20.4%), gastrointestinal bleeding (18.9%), acute pancreatitis (7.1%), uncontrolled diabetes (3.1%), and other or unknown causes (22.8%). The overall 1-month mortality rate was 12.2%, higher in non-responders (35.3%) and patients who did not receive corticosteroids (13.4%) compared to responders (3.6%). The overall 1-year mortality rate was 62.5%, similar between patients who did not receive corticosteroids (78.7%) and non-responders (77.7%) and higher compared to responders (42.8%). Predictive factors for non-response included older age (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.01-1.08), concomitant cirrhosis (OR= 2.11, 95% CI: 1.064-4.20), MELD scores exceeding 30 (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.21-4.80), severe hypoalbuminemia (OR = 2.46, 95%CI: 1.12-5.37), and increased serum creatinine (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.03). Among the prognostic scores, MELD 3.0 score exhibited superior efficacy for short-term (AUC = 0.734, 95% CI 0.656-0.811) and long-term mortality (AUC = 0.777, 95% CI: 0.724-0.830) compared to alternative scoring systems. Conclusions: Low eligibility rate and poor prognosis underscore the need for effective therapies. Our findings contribute to refining risk stratification and early prediction of non-response, aiding clinicians in identifying more beneficial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Maria Singeap
- Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.-M.S.); (C.S.); (A.T.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” University Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
- CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (M.-A.R.); (I.-M.B.); (R.D.); (O.-D.I.); (C.D.C.)
| | - Horia Minea
- Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.-M.S.); (C.S.); (A.T.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” University Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Oana Petrea
- Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.-M.S.); (C.S.); (A.T.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” University Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Madalina-Andreea Robea
- CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (M.-A.R.); (I.-M.B.); (R.D.); (O.-D.I.); (C.D.C.)
- Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 700057 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ioana-Miruna Balmuș
- CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (M.-A.R.); (I.-M.B.); (R.D.); (O.-D.I.); (C.D.C.)
- Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 700057 Iasi, Romania
| | - Raluca Duta
- CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (M.-A.R.); (I.-M.B.); (R.D.); (O.-D.I.); (C.D.C.)
- Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, 700057 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ovidiu-Dumitru Ilie
- CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (M.-A.R.); (I.-M.B.); (R.D.); (O.-D.I.); (C.D.C.)
- Department of Mother and Child, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street, No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Carmen Diana Cimpoesu
- CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (M.-A.R.); (I.-M.B.); (R.D.); (O.-D.I.); (C.D.C.)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, “St. Spiridon” University Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, Iasi, Blvd. Independentei 1, 700111 Iasi, Romania
| | - Carol Stanciu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.-M.S.); (C.S.); (A.T.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” University Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
- Centre of Biomedical Research, Romanian Academy, Carol I Avenue, No. 8, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Anca Trifan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (A.-M.S.); (C.S.); (A.T.)
- Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “St. Spiridon” University Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania
- CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (M.-A.R.); (I.-M.B.); (R.D.); (O.-D.I.); (C.D.C.)
- Centre of Biomedical Research, Romanian Academy, Carol I Avenue, No. 8, 700506 Iasi, Romania
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Suto K, Hayashi M, Fujita M, Abe K, Takahashi A, Ohira H. Bacillus cereus Sepsis in a Patient with Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis: A Case Report. Intern Med 2023:2553-23. [PMID: 37926546 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2553-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A 57-year-old woman with a liver injury was referred to our hospital. She had a history of heavy alcohol consumption and had developed severe alcoholic hepatitis. Blood cultures revealed bacteremia caused by Bacillus cereus. The patient was treated with short-term steroid therapy for liver injury and vancomycin administration for B. cereus sepsis, which led to recovery. The findings in the present case suggest the need for empirical therapy with vancomycin in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis and suspected B. cereus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuto Suto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Manabu Hayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Masashi Fujita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Kazumichi Abe
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Atsushi Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Ohira
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Japan
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Agrawal D, Ravula PK, Verma G. An unusual opportunistic infection causing lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding in a patient with severe alcoholic hepatitis, post-liver transplantation. Transpl Infect Dis 2023; 25:e14062. [PMID: 37073834 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dhiraj Agrawal
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, PACE Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Phani Krishna Ravula
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, PACE Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Govind Verma
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, PACE Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Munankami S, Amin S, Shrestha M, Paudel R, Pokhrel A. Alcoholic Hepatitis Mimicking Iron Overload Disorders With Hyperferritinemia and Severely Elevated Transferrin Saturation: A Case Report. Cureus 2023; 15:e41727. [PMID: 37575743 PMCID: PMC10415023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron overload disorders can present as non-specific symptoms and develop gradually but, if untreated, can be very fatal. The common causes include multiple blood transfusions for chronic anemia and increased iron absorption, including hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). HH is one of the common causes of iron overload disorders and usually presents with liver cirrhosis in a setting of significantly elevated ferritin and elevated transferrin saturation. Alcoholic hepatitis is a clinical syndrome of progressive inflammatory liver injury associated with long-term heavy intake of ethanol. However, in patients with alcohol abuse, excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt iron metabolism releasing large amounts of iron into circulation. This can cause severely elevated ferritin due to disruption of iron metabolism, simulating iron overload disorders such as HH, especially if the patient also has liver cirrhosis. Even though a high transferrin saturation of greater than 45% is recommended as a cutoff transferrin value as high sensitivity for detecting iron overload disorders, it has a low specificity and positive predictive value and often identifies people with other causes of acutely elevated ferritin levels such as alcohol liver disease and hepatitis. Recognizing this feature and timely management can spare the patient from unnecessary phlebotomies and prompt treatment for alcoholic hepatitis. We present an interesting case of severe alcoholic hepatitis mimicking HH with severely elevated ferritin levels and transferrin saturation with underlying liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shefali Amin
- Internal Medicine, Reading Tower Health, Reading, USA
| | | | - Rubina Paudel
- Internal Medicine, Reading Tower Health, Reading, USA
| | - Arpan Pokhrel
- Internal Medicine, Reading Tower Health, Reading, USA
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5
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Horhat A, Fischer P, Nicoara-Farcau O, Rusu I, Morar C, Bumbu A, Ignat M, Procopet B, Socaciu C, Sparchez Z, Stefanescu H. Enhanced diagnosis and prognosis of severe alcoholic hepatitis using novel metabolomic biomarkers. Alcohol Alcohol 2023:7152893. [PMID: 37154612 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Differentiating alcoholic hepatitis (AH) from acute decompensation of alcoholic cirrhosis (DC) is challenging, as the presentation and biochemistry are similar. We aimed to identify potential metabolomic biomarkers to differentiate between AH and DC, and to predict short-term mortality. METHODS We included consecutive biopsy proven AH and DC patients, which were managed according to current guidelines and followed up until the end of the study. Untargeted metabolomics was assessed in all patients at baseline. Specific analyses were successively performed to identify potential biomarkers, which were further semi-quantitatively analysed against relevant clinical endpoints. RESULTS Thirty-four patients with AH and 37 with DC were included. UHPLC-MS analysis identified 83 molecules potentially differentiating between AH and DC. C16-Sphinganine-1P (S1P) was the most increased, whereas Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was the most decreased. The PGE2/S1P ratio < 1.03 excellently discriminates between AH and DC: AUC 0.965 (p < 0.001), Se 90%, Sp 100%, PPV 0.91, NPV 1, and diagnostic accuracy 95%. This ratio is not influenced by the presence of infection (AUC 0.967 vs. 0.962), correlates with the Lille score at 7 days (r = -0.60; P = 0.022) and tends to be lower in corticosteroid non-responders as compared with patients who responded [0.85(±0.02) vs. 0.89(±0.05), P = 0.069]. Additionally, decreased ursodeoxycholic acid levels are correlated with MELD and Maddrey scores and predict mortality with a 77.27% accuracy (NPV = 100%). CONCLUSION This study suggests the PGE2 (decreased)/S1P (increased) ratio as a biomarker to differentiate AH from DC. The study also finds that low levels of ursodeoxycholic acid could predict increased mortality in AH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelina Horhat
- Hepatology Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
- Third Medical Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400347, Romania
- Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Petra Fischer
- Hepatology Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
- Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Oana Nicoara-Farcau
- Hepatology Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
- Third Medical Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400347, Romania
- Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Ioana Rusu
- Pathology Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Corina Morar
- Research Centre for Applied Biotechnology in Diagnosis and Molecular Therapy BIODIATECH, Cluj-Napoca 400478, Romania
| | - Andreea Bumbu
- Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
- First Medical Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400347, Romania
| | - Mina Ignat
- Hepatology Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
- Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Bogdan Procopet
- Hepatology Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
- Third Medical Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400347, Romania
- Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
| | - Carmen Socaciu
- Research Centre for Applied Biotechnology in Diagnosis and Molecular Therapy BIODIATECH, Cluj-Napoca 400478, Romania
| | - Zeno Sparchez
- Hepatology Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
- Third Medical Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca 400347, Romania
| | - Horia Stefanescu
- Hepatology Unit, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
- Liver Research Club, Cluj-Napoca 400162, Romania
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Khatua CR, Panigrahi MK, Choudhury AK, Nath G, Khandelwal R, Anirvan P, Singh SP. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) at Admission Predicts Mortality in Patients With Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis (SAH). J Clin Exp Hepatol 2023; 13:225-232. [PMID: 36950492 PMCID: PMC10025676 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & aims Severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) is a grave condition, and the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI) further jeopardizes patient survival. However, the impact of AKI on survival in SAH has not been assessed from this region of Asia. Materials and methods This study was conducted on consecutive alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) patients hospitalized in Gastroenterology Department, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, India, between October 2016 and December 2018. On diagnosis of SAH (mDF score ≥32), demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were recorded, and survival was compared between patients with and without AKI (AKIN criteria). In addition, survival was compared among SAH patients defined by other criteria and prognostic models in the presence and absence of AKI. Results 309 (70.71%) of ALD patients had SAH, and 201 (65%) of them had AKI. SAH patients with AKI had higher total leucocyte count, total bilirubin, serum creatinine, serum urea, INR, MELD (UNOS), MELD (Na+), CTP score, mDF score, Glasgow score, ABIC score, and increased prevalence of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) as per EASL-CLIF Consortium criteria (P < 0.001). Further, they had prolonged hospital stay, and increased death during hospitalization, at 28 days as well as 90 days (P < 0.001). Significant differences in survival were also seen in SAH (as per MELD, ABIC, and GAHS criteria) patients above the marked cut offs in respect to AKI. Conclusions Over two-thirds of ALD patients had SAH, and about two-thirds had AKI. Patients with SAH and AKI had an increased prevalence of ACLF, longer hospital stay, and increased mortality during hospitalization at 28 days and 90 days. Lay summary SAH is a critical condition, and the presence of AKI negatively affects their survival. Hence, early identification of SAH and AKI, as well as early initiation of treatment, is crucial for better survival. Our study from the coastal part of eastern India is the first to demonstrate the prevalence of SAH among patients with ALD along with the prevalence of AKI among SAH patients in this region. This knowledge will be helpful in managing these patients from this region of world.
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Key Words
- ABIC, Age serum, bilirubin, INR, and serum creatinine
- ACLF, Acute on chronic liver failure
- AH, Alcoholic hepatitis
- AKI, Acute kidney injury
- AKIN, Acute kidney injury network
- ALD, Alcohol-associated liver disease
- ALT, Alanine aminotransferase
- AST, Aspartate aminotransferase
- CS, Corticosteroids
- CTP, Child–Turcotte–Pugh
- EASL-CLIF Consortium, European Association for the Study of the Liver-Chronic Liver Failure
- GAHS, Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score
- HE, Hepatic encephalopathy
- INR, International normalized ratio
- MDRI, Multidrug-resistant infection
- MELD, Model for end-stage liver disease
- PT, Prothrombin time
- PTX, Pentoxifylline
- SAH, Severe alcoholic hepatitis
- SCr, Serum creatinine
- SIRS, Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
- alcohol-associated liver disease
- mDF, Modified Maddrey discriminant function
- modified maddrey discriminant function
- severe alcoholic hepatitis
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitta R. Khatua
- MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur- 760004, Odisha, India
| | | | - Ashok K. Choudhury
- Department of Liver Transplant, Hepatology and Medical Gastroenterology, Narayana Health Super-speciality Hospital, DLF-3 Gurugram, India
| | - Gautam Nath
- Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack- 753007, Odisha, India
| | - Reshu Khandelwal
- Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack- 753007, Odisha, India
| | - Prajna Anirvan
- Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack- 753007, Odisha, India
| | - Shivaram P. Singh
- Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack- 753007, Odisha, India
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Mochida S, Nakayama N, Terai S, Yoshiji H, Shimizu M, Ido A, Inoue K, Genda T, Takikawa Y, Takami T, Kato N, Abe M, Abe R, Inui A, Ohira H, Kasahara M, Chayama K, Hasegawa K, Tanaka A. Diagnostic criteria for acute-on-chronic liver failure and related disease conditions in Japan. Hepatol Res 2022; 52:417-421. [PMID: 35591813 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Intractable Hepato-Biliary Disease Study Group of Japan, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Wealth, proposed in 2018 that patients with cirrhosis and a Child-Pugh score of 5-9 should be diagnosed as having acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) when a deterioration of liver function ("serum bilirubin level of 5.0 mg/dl or more" and "prothrombin time value of 40% or less of the standardized values and/or international normalization rates of 1.5 or more") caused by severe liver damage develops within 28 days after an acute insult, including alcohol abuse, bacterial infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, and the exacerbation of underlying liver diseases. Disease severity can be classified into 4 grades depending on the extent of the deterioration in organ functions, including liver, kidney, cerebral, blood coagulation, circulatory and respiratory functions. The Study Group has since performed an annual nationwide survey of patients with ACLF diagnosed according to the proposed diagnostic criteria as well as those with disease conditions related to ACLF. A total of 501 patients, including 183 patients diagnosed as having ACLF, seen between 2017 and 2019 were enrolled, and univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the proposed diagnostic criteria were useful for identifying cirrhotic patients with an unfavorable outcome following an acute insult. Consequently, the Study Group determined that the proposed diagnostic criteria should be used in both clinical practice and clinical research as formal diagnostic criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Mochida
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Saitama Medical University, Moroyama-machi, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Nakayama
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Saitama Medical University, Moroyama-machi, Japan
| | - Shuji Terai
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Yoshiji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Masahito Shimizu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Akio Ido
- Digestive and Life-Style Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Inoue
- Department of Gastroenterology, International University of Health and Welfare, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takuya Genda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Izunokuni, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takikawa
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Taro Takami
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan
| | - Naoya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masanori Abe
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan
| | - Ryuzo Abe
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba-city, Japan
| | - Ayano Inui
- Department of Pediatric Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Saiseikai Yokohamashi Tobu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Ohira
- Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Mureo Kasahara
- Transplantation Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Collaborative Research Laboratory of Medical Innovation, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Tanaka
- Department of Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Jiménez C, Ventura-Cots M, Sala M, Calafat M, Garcia-Retortillo M, Cirera I, Cañete N, Soriano G, Poca M, Simón-Talero M, Altamirano J, Lucey M, Garcia-Tsao G, Brown RS, Schwabe RF, Verna EC, Schnabl B, Bosques-Padilla F, Mathurin P, Caballería J, Louvet A, Shawcross DL, Abraldes JG, Genescà J, Bataller R, Vargas V. Effect of rifaximin on infections, acute-on-chronic liver failure and mortality in alcoholic hepatitis: A pilot study (RIFA-AH). Liver Int 2022; 42:1109-1120. [PMID: 35220659 PMCID: PMC9311407 DOI: 10.1111/liv.15207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is associated with a high incidence of infection and mortality. Rifaximin reduces bacterial overgrowth and translocation. We aimed to study whether the administration of rifaximin as an adjuvant treatment to corticosteroids decreases the number of bacterial infections at 90 days in patients with severe AH compared to a control cohort. METHODS This was a multicentre, open, comparative pilot study of the addition of rifaximin (1200 mg/day/90 days) to the standard treatment for severe AH. The results were compared with a carefully matched historical cohort of patients treated with standard therapy and matching by age and model of end-stage liver disease (MELD). We evaluated bacterial infections, liver-related complications, mortality and liver function tests after 90 days. RESULTS Twenty-one and 42 patients were included in the rifaximin and control groups respectively. No significant baseline differences were found between groups. The mean number of infections per patient was 0.29 and 0.62 in the rifaximin and control groups, respectively (p = .049), with a lower incidence of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) linked to infections within the treatment group. Liver-related complications were lower within the rifaximin group (0.43 vs. 1.26 complications/patient respectively) (p = .01). Mortality was lower in the treated versus the control groups (14.2% vs. 30.9, p = .15) without significant differences. No serious adverse events were associated with rifaximin treatment. CONCLUSIONS Rifaximin is safe in severe AH with a significant reduction in clinical complications. A lower number of infections and a trend towards a lower ACLF and mortality favours its use in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Jiménez
- Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Liver Unit; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Liver Unit, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Medicine, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Ventura-Cots
- Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Liver Unit; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Liver Unit, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Medicine, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain.,Center for Liver Diseases, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Margarita Sala
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain.,Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Margalida Calafat
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain.,Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Garcia-Retortillo
- Liver Section, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital del Mar, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Cirera
- Liver Section, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital del Mar, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Cañete
- Liver Section, Gastroenterology Department, Hospital del Mar, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Germán Soriano
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Gastroenterology Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Barcelona Spain, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau IIB Sant Pau, Gastroenterology, Barcelona, Catalunya, ES, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Medicine, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - María Poca
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Gastroenterology Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Barcelona Spain, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau IIB Sant Pau, Gastroenterology, Barcelona, Catalunya, ES, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Medicine, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Macarena Simón-Talero
- Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Liver Unit; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Liver Unit, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Medicine, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Altamirano
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Quironsalud, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael Lucey
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Guadalupe Garcia-Tsao
- Section of Digestive Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Robert S Brown
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Robert F Schwabe
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Verna
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Bernd Schnabl
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | | | - Philippe Mathurin
- Service des Maladies de L'appareil Digestif et Unité INSERM U995, Lille, France
| | - Juan Caballería
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain.,Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandre Louvet
- Service des Maladies de L'appareil Digestif et Unité INSERM U995, Lille, France
| | - Debbie L Shawcross
- Department of Inflammation Biology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Institute of Liver Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Juan G Abraldes
- Division of Gastroenterology, Liver Unit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Joan Genescà
- Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Liver Unit; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Liver Unit, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Medicine, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ramon Bataller
- Center for Liver Diseases, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Víctor Vargas
- Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Liver Unit; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca, Liver Unit, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Medicine, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
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9
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Aloise DM, Izquierdo G. Uncertainty of Liver Cirrhosis Diagnosis and Use of Elastography. Cureus 2021; 13:e18411. [PMID: 34725628 PMCID: PMC8555918 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A case of severe jaundice in a patient with a long history of alcohol abuse led to a questionable diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. To determine its diagnostic utility in the setting of liver disease, elastography was utilized on our patient to confirm the clinically suspected diagnosis of cirrhosis. A 59-year-old male presented to our emergency department (ED) with two days of progressive jaundice and right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain. The patient admitted to drinking > 500 mL of vodka daily for the last seven years, with his last drink on the morning of admission. Physical exam revealed a man in mild acute distress with severe jaundice and an abdomen diffusely tender to palpation. Two spider angiomas were present on the torso along with caput medusae and mild asterixis. Labs revealed aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 408, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 69, prothrombin time (PT) 16.3, partial thromboplastin time (PTT) 36, total bilirubin 22.6, and direct bilirubin 19.9 mg/dL. While admitted, total bilirubin rose as high as 31.5 mg/dL. Examination showed a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score of 22 and a Maddrey score of 37. Ultrasound revealed moderate hepatosplenomegaly with no signs of pancreatitis. Based on the patient’s history of alcohol abuse paired with physical exam findings and elevated laboratory markers, we were able to diagnose with a high level of suspicion that this patient was suffering from chronic alcoholic liver disease, exacerbated by an acute episode of alcoholic hepatitis, which led to hepatic encephalopathy. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was suspected; however, this diagnosis required further confirmation. We utilized ultrasound elastography to measure the velocity of shear wave transmission in the liver of our patient. A literature review was conducted on the use of elastography for the diagnosis of liver disease, and a significant correlation between the velocity of shear wave transmission and hepatic histological findings was identified. Elastography revealed a mean velocity of shear wave transmission of 1.77 m/s in our patient. This finding is consistent with a Meta-analysis of Histological Data in Viral Hepatitis (METAVIR) score of F = 4, indicating significant fibrosis and confirming the suspected diagnosis of alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis. As a non-invasive and inexpensive diagnostic tool, elastography demonstrates significant potential for clinical utility in patients with liver disease. Clinicians may benefit from the use of elastography in diagnosis, while patients may receive both therapeutic and prognostic benefits secondary to its use. In similar cases with clinical uncertainty, elastography can reliably identify the presence of fibrous tissue in the liver without tissue biopsy, thus aiding in clinical diagnoses and enabling the use of optimal therapeutic regimens for future patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Aloise
- Translational Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, USA
| | - Guillermo Izquierdo
- Internal Medicine, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, USA
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10
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Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) remains the only therapeutic option offering gold standard treatment for end-stage liver disease (ESLD) and acute liver failure (ALF), as well as for certain early-stage liver tumors. Currently, the greatest challenge facing LT is the simple fact that there are not enough adequate livers for all the potential patients that could benefit from LT. Despite efforts to expand the donor pool to include living and deceased donors, organ shortage is still a major problem in many countries. To solve this problem, the use of marginal liver grafts has become an inevitable choice. Although the definition of marginal grafts or criteria for expanded donor selection has not been clarified yet, they are usually defined as grafts that may potentially cause primary nonfunction, impaired function, or late loss of function. These include steatotic livers, older donors, donors with positive viral serology, split livers, and donation after cardiac death (DCD). Therefore, to get the best outcome from these liver grafts, donor-recipient selection should be vigilant. Alcohol- related liver disease (ALD) is one of the most common indications for LT in Europe and North America. Traditionally, LT for alcoholic liver disease was kept limited for patients who have achieved 6 months of abstinence, in part due to social and ethical concerns regarding the use of a limited resource. However, the majority of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who fail medical therapy will not live long enough to meet this requirement. Besides, the initial results of early liver transplantation (ELT) without waiting for 6 months of abstinence period are satisfactory in severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH). It will be important to take care of these patients from a newer perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga METİN
- Department of Internal Medicine, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, İstanbulTurkey
| | - Cem ŞİMŞEK
- Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, AnkaraTurkey
| | - Ahmet GÜRAKAR
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Liver Transplant Program Baltimore, MarylandUSA
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11
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Suzuki Y, Kakisaka K, Suzuki A, Takahara T, Sasaki T, Sato T, Yonezawa T, Nitta H, Takikawa Y. A Lille model for predicting the response of severe alcoholic hepatitis to corticosteroid treatment in Japanese patients. Hepatol Res 2019; 49:758-764. [PMID: 30901152 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM Corticosteroids are the most widely used agents for the treatment of severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH). The therapeutic effectiveness of corticosteroids is assessed by the Lille model, which has been validated well in patient cohorts in North America and Europe; however, its usefulness has not yet been confirmed independently in Japanese patients. The present study aimed to determine whether the Lille model could predict the prognosis of SAH in Japanese patients. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study including 32 SAH patients who were admitted to our institute from April 2011 to February 2018. According to the previously validated Lille model cut-off value, patients who received corticosteroids were classified as corticosteroid responders or non-responders (with responders obtaining a Lille score ≥ 0.45), followed by assessment for the 6-month prognosis. RESULTS Out of 32 patients, 26 were treated with corticosteroids. The 28-day and 6-month mortality rates in the corticosteroid-treated group were 23.1% and 46.2%, respectively. The median Lille score was significantly higher in patients who died or underwent liver transplantation (0.647) than in those who survived without undergoing transplantation (0.226; P < 0.0182). The 6-month transplant-free survival rate of non-responders (Lille score ≥ 0.45) was significantly lower (27.3%; 95% confidence interval, 9.0-58.6%) than that of responders (Lille score < 0.45, 73.3%; 95% confidence interval, 46.7-90.0%; P = 0.0149, log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS The Lille score could be useful for predicting the 6-month prognosis of Japanese SAH patients after corticosteroid therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Suzuki
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kakisaka
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan
| | - Akiko Suzuki
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Takahara
- Department of Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Tokio Sasaki
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan
| | - Takuro Sato
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan
| | - Takehiro Yonezawa
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Nitta
- Department of Surgery, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Iwate, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takikawa
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan
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12
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Abstract
A 49-year-old woman with a history of heavy alcohol drinking was admitted to our hospital due to jaundice and abdominal distention. A blood test showed leukophilia, mild hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hepatobiliary injury and coagulopathy. Image studies showed an extremely enlarged fatty liver and splenomegaly. The Japan alcoholic hepatitis score and Maddrey's discriminant function were 10 and 54 points, respectively. We diagnosed her with severe alcoholic hepatitis and treated her with corticosteroids, but her liver function did not improve. We therefore administered the vitamin E product tochopheryl acetate (150 mg/day) as an add-on therapy, after which her leukophilia, liver enzymes and coagulopathy improved immediately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Miyashima
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Michihiko Shibata
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Yuichi Honma
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Hidehiko Matsuoka
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Masaaki Hiura
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Shintaro Abe
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
| | - Masaru Harada
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
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