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Balcar L, Scheiner B, Urheu M, Weinberger P, Paternostro R, Simbrunner B, Hartl L, Jachs M, Bauer D, Semmler G, Willheim C, Pinter M, Ferenci P, Trauner M, Reiberger T, Stättermayer AF, Mandorfer M. Alpha-1 antitrypsin Pi∗Z allele is an independent risk factor for liver transplantation and death in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. JHEP Rep 2022; 4:100562. [PMID: 36176936 PMCID: PMC9513767 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2022.100562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency causes/predisposes individuals to advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD). However, the role of the SERPINA1 Pi∗Z allele in patients who have already progressed to ACLD is unclear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the Pi∗Z allele on the risk of liver transplantation/liver-related death in patients with ACLD, while adjusting for the severity of liver disease at inclusion. Methods A total of 1,118 patients with ACLD who underwent hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement and genotyping for the Pi∗Z/Pi∗S allele at the Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab were included in this retrospective analysis. The outcome of interest was liver transplantation/liver-related death, while non-liver-related death and removal/suppression of the primary etiological factor were considered as competing risks. Results Viral hepatitis was the most common etiology (44%), followed by alcohol-related (31%) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (11%). Forty-two (4%) and forty-six (4%) patients harboured the Pi∗Z and Pi∗S variants, respectively. Pi∗Z carriers had more severe portal hypertension (HVPG: 19±6 vs.15±7 mmHg; p <0.001) and hepatic dysfunction (Child-Turcotte-Pugh: 7.1±1.9 vs. 6.5±1.9 points; p = 0.050) at inclusion, compared to non-carriers. Contrarily, the Pi∗S allele was unrelated to liver disease severity. In competing risk regression analysis, harbouring the Pi∗Z allele was significantly associated with an increased probability of liver transplantation/liver-related death, even after adjusting for liver disease severity at inclusion. The detrimental impact of the common Pi∗MZ genotype (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio: ≈1.56 vs. Pi∗MM) was confirmed in a fully adjusted subgroup analysis. In contrast, Pi∗S carriers had no increased risk of events. Conclusion Genotyping for the Pi∗Z allele identifies patients with ACLD at increased risk of adverse liver-related outcomes, thereby improving prognostication. Therapies targeting the accumulation of abnormal AAT should be evaluated as disease-modifying treatments in Pi∗Z allele carriers with ACLD. Lay summary Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disease that affects the lung and the liver. Carrying two dysfunctional copies of the gene causes advanced liver disease. Harbouring one dysfunctional copy increases disease severity in patients with other liver illness. However, the significance of this genetic defect in patients who already suffer from advanced liver disease is unclear. Our study found that harbouring at least one dysfunctional copy of the alpha-1 antitrypsin gene increases the risk of requiring a liver transplantation or dying from a liver disease. This indicates the need for medical therapies aimed at treating the hepatic consequences of this genetic defect. Pi∗Z allele is significantly associated with liver-related events in patients with ACLD. This finding extends to patients harbouring the Pi∗MZ genotype. Genotyping for the Pi∗Z allele might improve prognostication in patients with ACLD. Therapies targeting accumulation of abnormal AAT should be assessed in Pi∗Z carriers with ACLD.
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Key Words
- (a[S])HR, (Adjusted [subdistribution]) hazard ratio
- AAT, Alpha-1 antitrypsin
- AATD
- AATD, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- ACLD, Advanced chronic liver disease
- CTP, Child-turcotte-pugh score
- ER, Endoplasmic reticulum
- GWAS, Genome wide association studies
- HCC, Hepatocellular carcinoma
- HVPG, Hepatic venous pressure gradient
- NAFLD, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- SERPINA1, Serpin family a member 1
- UNOS MELD (2016), United network for organ sharing model for end-stage liver disease
- cirrhosis
- genetic risk
- prognostication
- rare disease
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Balcar
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernhard Scheiner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Markus Urheu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Weinberger
- 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Willheim
- 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
| | - Peter Ferenci
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, 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, 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, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mattias Mandorfer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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