Comparison of cystatin C and creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate formulas with 51Cr-EDTA clearance in patients with cirrhosis

Renal function is an important predictor of survival in cirrhosis and liver transplantation. GFR estimates using serum cystatin C (CysC) are proposed as better predictors of renal function than ones on the basis of serum creatinine (Cr). Our aims were: (1) evaluate correlations between serum CysC and different methods of creatinine measurements; (2) compare CysC and Cr GFR formulas with (51)Cr-EDTA; and (3) evaluate liver-related parameters potentially influencing GFR.254 blood samples in 65 patients with cirrhosis correlating CysC with four Cr methods were used; another 74 patients comparing (51)Cr-EDTA GFR to Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Larsson and Hoek formulas for CysC wer…

Liver collagen proportionate area predicts decompensation in patients with recurrent hepatitis C virus cirrhosis after liver transplantation

Background and Aims:  Current histological scoring systems do not subclassify cirrhosis. Computer-assisted digital image analysis (DIA) of Sirius Red-stained sections measures fibrosis morphologically producing a fibrosis ratio (collagen proportionate area [CPA]). CPA could have prognostic value within a disease stage, such as cirrhosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate CPA in patients with recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) allograft cirrhosis and assess its relationship with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). Methods:  In 121 consecutively-transplanted HCV patients with HVPG, measured contemporaneously with transjugular liver biopsies, 65 had Ishak stage 5 or 6 disease (4…

Pegylated-interferon and ribavirin in liver transplant candidates and recipients with HCV cirrhosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective controlled studies.

SUMMARY Pegylated interferon with ribavirin (Peg/R) is the most effective therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) but its utility and effectiveness after liver transplantation has been difficult to assess. We evaluated efficacy, tolerability, and safety of Peg/R in liver transplant candidates and recipients with HCV cirrhosis. We searched medical databases and conference proceedings between January 1999 and January 2008 selecting randomized and nonrandomized studies. Primary end points meta-analytically were: (1) sustained viral response (SVR) and (2) histological response. Secondary end points were: (1) treatment discontinuation, (2) mortality, and (3) rejection episodes. Pegylated int…

Computer-assisted image analysis of liver collagen: relationship to Ishak scoring and hepatic venous pressure gradient.

Histopathological scoring of disease stage uses descriptive categories without measuring the amount of fibrosis. Collagen, the major component of fibrous tissue, can be quantified by computer-assisted digital image analysis (DIA) using histological sections. We determined relationships between DIA, Ishak stage, and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) reflecting severity of fibrosis. One hundred fifteen patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who had undergone transplantation had 250 consecutive transjugular liver biopsies combined with HVPG (median length, 22 mm; median total portal tracts, 12), evaluated using the Ishak system and stained with Sirus red for DIA. Liver collagen was expres…

Assessment of blood coagulation in severe liver disease using thromboelastography: use of citrate storage versus native blood.

Thromboelastography evaluates the viscoelastic properties of blood coagulation. Using native blood, measurement must start soon after sampling. With normal coagulation, native and citrated blood values correlate well. No data exists from cirrhotic patients. We compared native and citrate thromboelastography parameters in 30 cirrhotic patients (20 Child-Pugh C class, two liver failure). Thromboelastography was performed within 4 min using native blood and after recalcification within 1-2 h of citrate storage. Thromboelastography variables (r, a, k, ma) were compared using the Mann-Whitney test, correlation investigated with the Pearson method and the degree of agreement with the Bland-Altman…

TIPS for acute and chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome: a single-centre experience.

Abstract Background/Aims : Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a technically challenging but feasible treatment for Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS). However, information about the outcome, particularly in patients with liver failure, is scarce. We report our experience of TIPS for BCS. Methods : Fifteen patients with BCS underwent TIPS. Eight had hepatic failure and seven underwent TIPS for BCS uncontrolled by medical treatment. Results : Fourteen out of 15 had successful TIPS placement. Out of the eight hepatic failure patients, four died soon after TIPS: one liver rupture, one portal vein rupture, one liver failure and one pulmonary oedema. Another patient had a significant…

Corrigendum to ‘Baveno VII – Renewing consensus in portal hypertension’ [J Hepatol (2022) 959-974]

Baveno VII – Renewing consensus in portal hypertension

To expand on the work of previous meetings, a virtual Baveno VII workshop was organised for October 2021. Among patients with compensated cirrhosis or compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD – defined at the Baveno VI conference), the presence or absence of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) is associated with differing outcomes, including risk of death, and different diagnostic and therapeutic needs. Accordingly, the Baveno VII workshop was entitled “Personalized Care for Portal Hypertension”. The main fields of discussion were the relevance and indications for measuring the hepatic venous pressure gradient as a gold standard, the use of non-invasive tools for the …

Double-balloon enteroscopy-facilitated cyanoacrylate-injection endotherapy of small-bowel varices: an international experience from 2 European tertiary centers (with videos).

Background and Aims Small-bowel varices (SBVs) are an uncommon consequence of portal hypertension. Radiologic intervention is usually considered for first-line management. When radiologic intervention is not possible, management options become very limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE)-facilitated cyanoacrylate-injection endotherapy of SBVs. Methods This was a retrospective review of DBE-facilitated cyanoacrylate-injection endotherapy of SBVs (December 2015 to October 2016). Results Ten DBEs were performed in 6 patients (4 women; median age, 68.5 years). No radiologic or surgical options were deemed feasible. Thirteen nests of SBVs…

Predictors of Re‐bleeding and Mortality Among Patients with Refractory Variceal Bleeding Undergoing Salvage Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)

Abstract Background Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has proven clinical efcacy as rescue therapy for cirrhotic patients with acute portal hypertensive bleeding who fail endoscopic treatment. Aims To investigate predictive factors of 6-week and 1-year mortality in patients undergoing salvage TIPS for refractory portal hypertensive bleeding. Methods A total of 144 consecutive patients were retrospectively evaluated. Three logistic regression multivariate models were estimated to individualize prognostic factors for 6-week and 12-month mortality. Log-rank test was used to evaluate survival according to Child–Pugh classes and Bureau’s criteria. Results Mean age 51±10 years,…

Digital image analysis of liver collagen predicts clinical outcome of recurrent hepatitis C virus 1 year after liver transplantation.

Clinical outcomes of recurrent hepatitis C virus after liver transplantation are difficult to predict. We evaluated collagen proportionate area (CPA), a quantitative histological index, at 1 year with respect to the first episode of clinical decompensation. Patients with biopsies at 1 year after liver transplantation were evaluated by Ishak stage/grade, and biopsy samples stained with Sirius red for digital image analysis were evaluated for CPA. Cox regression was used to evaluate variables associated with first appearance of clinical decompensation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were also used. A total of 135 patients with median follow-up of 76 months were evaluated. At 1…

RIFLE classification as predictive factor of mortality in patients with cirrhosis admitted to intensive care unit.

Background and Aim: To evaluate the association of the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss and End-stage renal failure (RIFLE) score on mortality in patients with decompensated cirrho- sis admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A cohort of 412 patients with cirrhosis consecutively admitted to ICU was classified according to the RIFLE score. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors associated with mortality. Liver-specific, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and RIFLE scores on admission, were compared by receiver-operator characteristic curves. Results: The overall mortality during ICU st…

Impact of Tips Preliver Transplantation for the Outcome Posttransplantation

The effects of transjugular intrahepatic portocaval shunt (TIPS) on the survival of grafts and patients after liver transplantation (LTx) have only been documented in small series and with only a comparative description with non-TIPS recipients. We evaluated 61 TIPS patients who had a subsequent LTx and compared these with 591 patients transplanted with cirrhosis without TIPS. Pretransplant characteristics were similar between groups. Graft survival at 1, 3 and 5 years post-LTx was 85.2%, 77% and 72.1% (TIPS) and 75.3%, 69.8% and 66.1% (controls). Patient survival at the same points was 91.7%, 85% and 81.7%, respectively (TIPS) and 85.4%, 80.3% and 76.2% (controls). Cox regression showed th…

Models for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a link with vascular risk.

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is often part of the metabolic syndrome which includes central obesity, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. In turn, NAFLD may be associated with an increased vascular risk. Several experimental models which express histological steatosis or steatohepatitis with fibrosis have been described. This review identifies those models of NAFLD with features of vascular risk.

Budd-Chiari syndrome with portal, splenic, and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis treated with TIPS: who dares wins.

A 20 year old man presented with severe ascites and malnutrition due to Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) with portal vein (PV), and splenic and mesenteric vein (SMV) thrombosis in the proximal 3 cm. He had received regular and more frequent paracenteses of up to 17 litres each for eight months. He had a poor BCS prognostic index of 8.41 (table 1). After referral, despite full anticoagulation and diuretic drugs, he deteriorated over three weeks. No thrombophilic disorder was found. View this table: Table 1 Comparison of laboratory and clinical data before and two months after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt (TIPS) He underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt…

Digital image analysis of collagen assessment of progression of fibrosis in recurrent HCV after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Histological assessment of fibrosis progression is currently performed by staging systems which are not continuous quantitative measurements. We aimed at assessing a quantitative measurement of fibrosis collagen proportionate area (CPA), to evaluate fibrosis progression and compare it to Ishak stage progression. METHODS: We studied a consecutive cohort of 155 patients with recurrent HCV hepatitis after liver transplantation (LT), who had liver biopsies at one year and were subsequently evaluated for progression of fibrosis using CPA and Ishak staging, and correlated with clinical decompensation. The upper quartile of distribution of fibrosis rates (difference in CPA or Is…

The relationship between transient elastography and histological collagen proportionate area for assessing fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis

Collagen proportionate area (CPA) has a better correlation with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) than with Ishak stage. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is proposed as non invasive marker of portal hypertension/disease progression. Our aim was to compare LSM and CPA with Ishak staging in chronic viral hepatitis, and HVPG in HCV hepatitis after transplantation. One hundred and sixty-nine consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections pre/post liver transplantation (LT), had a liver biopsy combined with LSM (transient elastography), CPA (biopsies stained with Sirius Red and evaluated by digital image analysis and expressed as CPA) and H…