Non-cirrhosis Patients Research Articles

Outcomes of peritoneal dialysis in cirrhosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cirrhosis and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are significant global health concerns, contributing to high mortality and morbidity. Haemodialysis (HD) is frequently used to treat ESKD in patients with cirrhosis. However, it often presents challenges such as haemodynamic instability during dialysis sessions, leading to less than optimal outcomes. Peritoneal dialysis (PD), while less commonly used in cirrhotic patients, raises concerns about the risks of peritonitis and mortality. Our systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess outcomes in PD patients with cirrhosis. We executed a comprehensive search in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases up to 25 September 2023. The search focused on identifying studies examining mortality and other clinical outcomes in ESKD patients with cirrhosis receiving PD or HD. In addition, we sought studies comparing PD outcomes in cirrhosis patients to those without cirrhosis. Data from each study were aggregated using a random-effects model and the inverse-variance method. Our meta-analysis included a total of 13 studies with 15,089 patients. Seven studies compared ESKD patients on PD with liver cirrhosis (2753 patients) against non-cirrhosis patients (9579 patients). The other six studies provided data on PD (824 patients) versus HD (1943 patients) in patients with cirrhosis and ESKD. The analysis revealed no significant difference in mortality between PD and HD in ESKD patients with cirrhosis (pooled odds ratio (OR) of 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.53-1.14). In PD patients with cirrhosis, the pooled OR for peritonitis compared to non-cirrhosis patients was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.03-1.18). The pooled ORs for hernia and chronic hypotension in cirrhosis patients compared to non-cirrhosis controls were 2.48 (95% CI: 0.08-73.04) and 17.50 (95% CI: 1.90-161.11), respectively. The pooled OR for transitioning from PD to HD among cirrhotic patients was 1.71 (95% CI: 0.76-3.85). Mortality in cirrhosis patients on PD was comparable to non-cirrhosis controls, with a pooled OR of 1.05 (95% CI: 0.53-2.10). Our meta-analysis demonstrates that PD provides comparable mortality outcomes to HD in ESKD patients with cirrhosis. In addition, the presence of cirrhosis does not significantly elevate the risk of mortality among patients undergoing PD. While there is a higher incidence of chronic hypotension and a slightly increased risk of peritonitis in cirrhosis patients on PD compared to those without cirrhosis, the risks of hernia and the need to transition from PD to HD are comparable between both groups. These findings suggest PD as a viable and effective treatment option for ESKD patients with cirrhosis.

Characteristics of Patients with Cirrhosis and Impact on Outcomes Following Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia; A Retrospective National Population-Based Study between 2016 and 2019

Introduction: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is characterized by thrombocytopenia and a prothrombotic state. It can occur following the use of heparin products of any form or dosage. Various factors predispose cirrhosis patients to thrombocytopenia, such as splenic platelet sequestration, lower levels and activity of thrombopoietin (TPO), bone marrow suppression secondary to chronic viral infections(e.g., Hepatitis C), and use of antiviral therapies such as interferons. As there is a paucity of data on the impact that cirrhosis confers on the outcomes following HIT, we conducted a retrospective nationwide analysis. Methods: A retrospective study of adult patients with HIT was performed using the2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample(NIS), a set of annual hospitalization databases produced by HCUP, AHRQ, and multiple partners. Patients with HIT were identified via the ICD-10 code “D7582”. We studied the differences in patient characteristics and multiple comorbidities among patients with and without cirrhosis, along with the impact on outcomes. Results: Our study included a total of 60800 cases of HIT, which included 3020(5.0%) cases with a diagnosis of cirrhosis (Table 1). The majority of cases involved patients classified as White, were Medicare-insured and underwent treatment in Urban-teaching centers. While patients with cirrhosis were younger (mean age 61.71 years vs. 64.39 years, p<0.01), they also reported disparities in patient characteristics and comorbidities. Cirrhosis cohort had fewer females (43.9% vs. 46.9%, p<0.01), lower prevalence of hypertension (22.2% vs. 29.4%, p<0.01), peripheral vascular disease (7.0% vs. 10.6%, p<0.01), lipid disorders (24.2% vs. 42.1%, p<0.01), and were overall younger (mean age 61.71 vs. 64.39 years, p<0.01). However, cirrhosis patients showed a higher prevalence of smoking (39.4% vs. 35.1%, p<0.01), chronic kidney disease (39.4% vs. 36.4%, p<0.01), and alcohol abuse ( 24.2% vs. 4.8%, p<0.01). Moreover, 4.1% of cirrhosis patients had a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (vs. 0.4% of non-cirrhosis patients, p<0.01). No differences in the two groups were observed for diabetes and obesity. Overall, cirrhosis patients reported a higher mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score (6.21 vs. 4.58, p<0.01) but had a shorter stay (13.84 days vs. 14.64 days, p<0.01), with a lower mean hospital charge ($167196 vs. $225959, p<0.01). After careful adjustment of confounders, lower odds of Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were seen among cirrhosis patients (14.2% vs. 19.3%,aOR 0.531, 95% CI 0.474-0.595, p<0.01). Moreover, cirrhosis patients also had lower odds of in-hospital death following events of HIT (11.4% vs. 10.9%, aOR 0.875, 95% CI 0.770-0.994, p=0.040). Conclusion: Our study found lower odds of MACEs and mortality among cirrhosis patients in cases of HIT. However, as the NIS has multiple limitations, such as the unavailability of medication codes and the inability to evaluate post-discharge outcomes, we highly encourage more in-depth studies to improve our understanding of the impact of cirrhosis in patients with HIT.

Patients With Cirrhosis Have Higher Costs of Care, Longer Length of Stays, and More Perioperative Complications Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A National Inpatient Sample-Based Study.

Background Cirrhosis is a growing disease affecting millions of people in the United States annually. Many cirrhosis patients undergo significant procedures and are met with increased risks such as encephalopathy, impaired immune response, ascites, variceal bleeding, renal disease, and increased malnutrition. Many cirrhosis patients need to undergo major surgical procedures such as total knee arthroplasty (TKA); however, perioperative complications following TKA in cirrhosis patients have not been studied. The purpose of this study was to analyze the demographic characteristics and perioperative complications of cirrhosis patients following TKA. Methods Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database, we looked at retrospective data from the years 2016-2019 to analyze the incidence of perioperative complications, length of stay (LOS), and the cost of care (COC) among patients undergoing TKA who were categorized as cirrhosis patients, compared with those who are not. A propensity match was conducted to consider associated comorbidities that influence perioperative complications. Results Of the 558,256 patients analyzed who underwent TKA, 1670 (0.3%) were diagnosed with cirrhosis. After matching, cirrhosis patients had a longer LOS (4.22 vs. 3.68 days, p=0.016) and COC ($90,624 vs. 80676.87, p<0.001) than patients in the control group. Moreover, cirrhosis patients had a higher likelihood of developing acute renal failure (odds ratio (OR): 3.05, 95% CI: 2.07-4.50, p<0.001), blood loss anemia (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.34-1.92, p<0.001), periprosthetic fracture (OR: 3.27, 95% CI: 1.31-8.18, p=0.007), periprosthetic infection (OR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.99-4.95, p<0.001), and blood transfusions (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.12-2.35, p=0.009) than patients in the control group. Conclusion The cirrhosis group had a significantly higher COC, longer LOS, and higher rates of perioperative complications than non-cirrhosis patients. This data will help providers make informed decisions about patient care and resource allocation for cirrhosis patients undergoing TKA.

Efficacy, Safety, and Clinical Outcomes of Splenorenal Shunt Surgery as a Therapeutic Intervention for Portal Hypertension Patients

Highlights: 1. This study systematically reviewed the efficacy, clinical outcomes, and safety of the splenorenal shunt procedure with a comprehensive and meticulous approach.2. The splenorenal shunt procedure is an innovative surgical intervention that offers a viable option for the management of portal hypertension. Abstract Portal hypertension is the second most common gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis patients. The splenorenal shunt surgery is a potential intervention that may be considered for portal hypertension patients with clinical symptoms such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by the rupture of gastro-esophageal varices. In this study, the researchers aimed to analyze the efficacy, clinical outcomes, and safety of splenorenal shunt surgery in portal hypertension patients. The sources were obtained from electronic search databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, using the keywords "Efficacy," "Safety," and "Clinical Outcomes." in relation to splenorenal shunt surgery in portal hypertension patients. The researchers set specific criteria for inclusion and exclusion to select the articles. This systematic review revealed the efficacy of the splenorenal shunt procedure with favorable outcomes. The success rate of splenorenal shunt surgery in reducing the clinical symptoms of portal hypertension varied between 66% and 100%. The prevailing complications observed in this study were shunt thrombosis, rebleeding, and thrombocytopenia. However, notable improvements could be achieved with general treatment. In terms of short- and long-term clinical outcomes, the splenorenal shunt procedure demonstrated favorable results. It can be concluded that splenorenal shunt surgery provides excellent clinical outcomes and should be considered a viable treatment option for patients with both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension.

Predictors for Liver Cirrhosis in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cirrhosis is one of the most critical health problems with a great economic burden on the health system. Objectives: This study evaluated cirrhosis predictors in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Methods: A total of 608 patients with HCV were included in the present study within 2011 and 2017 and divided into two groups based on the presence and absence of cirrhosis. Demographic and laboratory data (e.g., blood group, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), prothrombin time (PT), platelet count, anti-HCV antibodies, and virus level count) were collected by referring to patients’ files and compared between the two groups. Predictive factors were determined using the regression model. Results: In this study, 85 patients (13.9%) had liver cirrhosis. Univariate analysis showed that hepatic enzymes AST, ALT, platelet count, PT, partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio, and HCV ribonucleic acid levels in cirrhosis patients were significantly higher than in non-cirrhosis patients (P &lt; 0.05). Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed age &lt; 45 years (adjusted odds ratio (ORAdj): 1.11, P = 0.028), male gender (ORAdj: 2.08, P = 0.023), co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (ORAdj: 2.58, P = 0.001), and alcohol consumption (ORAdj: 1.87, P = 0.001) were predictive factors for cirrhosis in patients with HCV Conclusions: This study showed that in patients with hepatitis C, age &gt; 45 years, male gender, alcohol consumption, and co-infection with HBV significantly increased the risk of liver cirrhosis.

The association between soluble CD163, disease severity, and ursodiol treatment in patients with primary biliary cholangitis.

The macrophage activation marker soluble (s)CD163 is associated with disease severity and prognosis in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment attenuates fibrosis progression in PBC patients, but its effect on macrophage activation is unclear. We examined the effect of UDCA on macrophage activation, as determined by sCD163 levels. We included 2 cohorts of PBC patients; 1 cohort with prevalent PBC patients, and 1 cohort of incident PBC patients before start of UDCA treatment and with follow-up after 4 weeks and 6 months. We measured sCD163 and liver stiffness in both cohorts. Further, we measured sCD163 and TNF-α shedding in vitro in monocyte-derived macrophages after UDCA and lipopolysaccharide incubation. We included 100 patients with prevalent PBC [93% women, median age 63y (interquartile range: 51-70)] and 47 patients with incident PBC [77% women, median age 60y (49-67)]. Prevalent PBC patients had a lower median sCD163 of 3.54mg/L (2.77-4.72) than incident PBC patients with a median sCD163 of 4.33mg/L (2.83-5.99) at inclusion. Patients with an incomplete response to UDCA and patients with cirrhosis had higher sCD163 than responders to UDCA and noncirrhosis patients. After 4 weeks and 6 months of UDCA treatment median sCD163 decreased by 4.6% and 9.0%, respectively. In in vitro experiments, UDCA attenuated shedding of TNF-α, but not sCD163, from monocyte-derived macrophages. In PBC patients, sCD163 levels correlated with liver disease severity and treatment response to UDCA. Further, after 6 months of UDCA treatment, we observed a decrease in sCD163, which may be related to the treatment.

Sarcopenia negatively affects postoperative short-term outcomes of patients with non-cirrhosis liver cancer

BackgroundLiterature review have shown that sarcopenia substantially alters the postoperative outcomes after liver resection for malignant tumors. However, these retrospective studies do not distinguish cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver cancer patients, nor combine the assessment of muscle strength in addition to muscle mass. The purpose of this study is to study the relationship between sarcopenia and short-term outcomes after hepatectomy in patients with non-cirrhotic liver cancer.MethodsFrom December 2020 to October 2021, 431 consecutive inpatients were prospectively enrolled in this study. Muscle strength and mass were assessed by handgrip strength and the skeletal muscle index (SMI) on preoperative computed tomographic scans, respectively. Based on the SMI and the handgrip strength, patients were divided into four groups: group A (low muscle mass and strength), group B (low muscle mass and normal muscle strength), group C (low muscle strength and normal muscle mass), and group D (normal muscle mass and strength). The main outcome was major complications and the secondary outcome was 90-d Readmission rate.ResultsAfter strictly exclusion, 171 non-cirrhosis patients (median age, 59.00 [IQR, 50.00–67.00] years; 72 females [42.1%]) were selected in the final analysis. Patients in group A had a statistically significantly higher incidence of major postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo classification ≥ III) (26.1%, p = 0.032), blood transfusion rate (65.2%, p < 0.001), 90-day readmission rate (21.7%, p = 0.037) and hospitalization expenses (60,842.00 [IQR, 35,563.10–87,575.30], p < 0.001) than other groups. Sarcopenia (hazard ratio, 4.21; 95% CI, 1.44–9.48; p = 0.025) and open approach (hazard ratio, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.01–6.49; p = 0.004) were independent risk factors associated with major postoperative complications.ConclusionsSarcopenia is closely related to poor short-term postoperative outcomes in non-cirrhosis liver cancer patients and the assessment that combines muscle strength and muscle mass can simply and comprehensively identify it.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT04637048. (19/11/2020).

HCV Infection and Liver Cirrhosis Are Associated with a Less-Favorable Serum Cholesteryl Ester Profile Which Improves through the Successful Treatment of HCV.

Background: Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) lowers serum cholesterol levels, which rapidly recover during therapy with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Serum cholesterol is also reduced in patients with liver cirrhosis. Studies investigating serum cholesterol in patients with chronic liver diseases are generally based on enzymatic assays providing total cholesterol levels. Hence, these studies do not account for the individual cholesteryl ester (CE) species, which have different properties according to acyl chain length and desaturation. Methods: Free cholesterol (FC) and 15 CE species were quantified by flow injection analysis high-resolution Fourier Transform mass spectrometry (FIA-FTMS) in the serum of 178 patients with chronic HCV before therapy and during treatment with DAAs. Results: Serum CEs were low in HCV patients with liver cirrhosis and, compared to patients without cirrhosis, proportions of CE 16:0 and 16:1 were higher whereas % CE 20:4 and 20:5 were reduced. FC levels were unchanged, and the CE/FC ratio was consequently low in cirrhosis. FC and CEs did not correlate with viral load. Four CE species were reduced in genotype 3 compared to genotype 1-infected patients. During DAA therapy, 9 of the 15 measured CE species, and the CE/FC ratio, increased. Relative to total CE levels, % CE 16:0 declined and % CE 18:3 was higher at therapy end. At this time, % CE 14:0, 16:0 and 16:1 were higher and % CE 20:4 and 22:6 were lower in the cirrhosis than the non-cirrhosis patients. Viral genotype associated changes of CEs disappeared at therapy end. Conclusions: The serum CE composition differs between patients with and without liver cirrhosis, and changes through the efficient elimination of HCV. Overall, HCV infection and cirrhosis are associated with a higher proportion of CE species with a lower number of carbon atoms and double bonds, reflecting a less-favorable CE profile.

Poor immune response to coronavirus disease vaccines in decompensated cirrhosis patients and liver transplant recipients

Background and aimsRecent studies have reported poor humoral immune response to mRNA vaccines in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). However, the immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 (vector-based) and BBV152 (inactivated virus) vaccines in patients with CLD and liver transplant recipients (LTRs) is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess the immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 and BBV152 vaccines in patients with CLD (including cirrhosis patients) and LTRs. MethodsIn this single-center prospective study, consecutive completely vaccinated (ChAdOx1 or BBV152) non-cirrhosis CLD patients, those with cirrhosis, and LTRs were compared with matched healthy controls for anti-spike antibody and cellular response. ResultsSixty healthy individuals, 50 NCCLD patients, 63 compensated and 50 decompensated cirrhosis, and 17 LTRs were included. The proportion of non-responders was similar among the healthy control (8 %), non-cirrhosis CLD (16 %), and compensated cirrhosis groups (17.5 %;p = 0.3). However, a higher proportion of patients with decompensated cirrhosis (34 %) and LTRs (59 %) were non-responders than the healthy controls (p = 0.001). Cluster of differentiation (CD) 4-effector cells were lower in patients with non-cirrhosis CLD and compensated cirrhosis. CD4-naïve, CD4-effector, B, and B-memory cells were lower in the decompensated cirrhosis group. Although the central memory cells were higher in the decompensated cirrhosis group, they could not differentiate into effector cells. CD4- and CD8-naïve cells were higher in the marrow in the LTRs, while the CD4-effector memory cells and CD4- and CD8-effector cells were lower in the LTRs. Furthermore, B cells were more deficient in the LTRs, suggesting poor antibody response. ConclusionPatients with decompensated cirrhosis and LTRs demonstrated suboptimal humoral and cellular immune responses against recombinant and inactivated COVID-19 vaccines.

S1215 Infections in Patients With Cirrhosis Have a Changing Profile Over Time and Are Linked to a Higher Risk of Death Compared to Patients Without Cirrhosis

S1215 Infections in Patients With Cirrhosis Have a Changing Profile Over Time and Are Linked to a Higher Risk of Death Compared to Patients Without Cirrhosis

Cutoff values of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma.

Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) is a promising serum marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There are limited data on its cutoff value in HCC for Taiwanese cirrhosis patients. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of PIVKA-II levels in patients with suspected HCC. In total, 88 patients with chronic hepatitis and suspected HCC by ultrasound, elevated α-fetoprotein (AFP) or PIVKA-II levels were consecutively enrolled. Their baseline characteristics and findings on dynamic phases of computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were examined. Sixty participants had cirrhosis and 34 had HCC. The median levels of PIVKA-II in non-cirrhosis and cirrhosis patients without or with HCC were 28.0, 48.0, and 847.0 mAU/mL, respectively. The optimal cutoff value of PIVKA-II in predicting HCC was 78.0 mAU/mL. Combining AFP with PIVKAII mildly increased its diagnostic performance for HCC, yielding higher specificity and positive predictive value. Significant factors predicting HCC in multivariate regression analysis were PIVKA >78.0 mAU/mL and fatty liver. Monitoring PIVKA-II level is suitable for noninvasively assessing HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis, particularly with AFP.

Serum Ceramide Species Are Associated with Liver Cirrhosis and Viral Genotype in Patients with Hepatitis C Infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects ceramide metabolism, and, here, we have evaluated associations of eight serum ceramide species with viral load, viral genotype, and disease markers in 178 patients with chronic HCV. In this cohort, ceramide d18:1;O2/16:0 was higher in the serum of the 20 diabetic patients compared to the patients without this complication. Moreover, ceramide d18:1;O2/24:0 was negatively correlated with age. Of note, all but ceramide d18:1;O2/16:0 and 26:0 were diminished in the serum of patients with liver cirrhosis and, with the exception of ceramide d18:1;O2/16:0, were negatively correlated with the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Most of the serum ceramides are carried in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which rises following effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Ceramide d18:1;O2/24:0 recovered in parallel with LDL, whereas ceramide d18:1;O2/18:0 declined. Genotype-3-infected patients had the lowest ceramide levels, which were comparable to other genotypes after DAA treatment. Notably, ceramide d18:1;O2/23:0 and 24:0 were negatively correlated with the MELD score in patients with liver cirrhosis at the end of DAA therapy. Long-chain (LC) ceramides show adverse effects, whereas very-long-chain (VL) species have protective functions in the liver. The ratio of VL/LC ceramides was higher in non-cirrhosis patients than cirrhosis patients and further increased at the end of therapy in this subgroup. In summary, our study shows that serum ceramide levels are related to liver cirrhosis and viral genotype. Whether the more favorable serum ceramide profile in non-cirrhosis patients, before and after DAA therapy, is of pathophysiological importance needs further investigation.

Growth differentiation factor 15 as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic marker for autoimmune hepatitis

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) has been reported to be associated with fibrosis and cancer in liver disease. Diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is often difficult because of the lack of specific markers. We investigated whether GDF15 is useful for diagnosing AIH and determined its therapeutic effects. We enrolled 171 Japanese patients as follows: AIH (n = 45), hepatitis B (HB) (n = 17), hepatitis C (HC) (n = 15), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) (n = 20), and 74 healthy controls. Serum GDF15 levels were measured, and immunohistological analyses of GDF15 were performed using liver tissue of AIH patients. (1) GDF15 levels (pg/ml) were higher in AIH (1994.3 ± 1258.0) and HC (1568.0 ± 822.3) than in HB (953.2 ± 871.4), PBC (643.9 ± 247.0), and controls (475.3 ± 145.3) (p < 0.0001), as well as in cirrhosis patients (n = 31) than in non-cirrhosis patients (n = 66) (1926.6 ± 1026.0 vs. 1249.1 ± 1124.1, p < 0.0001). In non-cirrhosis patients, GDF15 levels were higher in AIH (1914.0 ± 1327.2) than in HC (955.7 ± 502.7), HB (519.3 ± 197.5), and PBC (643.9 ± 247.0) (p < 0.0001). (2) GDF15 was positively correlated with M2BPGi (r = 0.7728), total bilirubin (r = 0.6231), and PT-INR (r = 0.6332). (3) GDF15 levels could be used to distinguish AIH from other liver diseases in non-cirrhosis patients, with an area under the curve of 0.9373 (sensitivity 93.6%, specificity 79.3%, cut-off value 931.3). (4) GDF15 in AIH decreased after treatment. (5) Immunohistological analyses in AIH liver tissues revealed that GDF15 was strongly expressed in inflammatory cells, hepatic cytoplasm, and sinusoidal endothelial cells, but decreased after treatment. GDF15 is a novel diagnostic marker for AIH and is also expected to be a therapeutic marker for AIH.Clinical Trials Registration: The study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of Kurume University (Approval No.: 19049).

The relationship between zinc deficiency and infectious complications in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

The prevalence of zinc deficiency is high in patients with chronic liver disease, but few studies have hitherto explored the relationship between the serum zinc level and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). This study aimed to assess the association between zinc deficiency and infectious complications, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in patients with HBV-related ACLF. Patients with HBV-related ACLF from the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China) between January 2019 and December 2019 were retrospectively analysed in this study. Their demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were retrieved from the hospital information system and analysed. The Student's t-test was used for normally distributed continuous variables between two groups and the Chi-square test was used for categorical data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify independent parameters. A total of 284 patients were included in this study, including 205 liver cirrhosis and 79 non-cirrhosis patients. The proportion of patients with zinc deficiency was the highest (84.5%), followed by subclinical zinc deficiency (14.1%) and normal zinc level (1.4%). Patients in the zinc deficiency group had a higher MELD score than the subclinical zinc deficiency or normal zinc group (P = 0.021). Age, total bilirubin, and serum zinc level were independent factors for infection (Ps < 0.05). The serum zinc level in patients without complications at admission was significantly higher than that in patients with complications (P = 0.004). Moreover, the serum zinc level in patients with prothrombin time activity (PTA) of <20% was significantly lower than that in patients with 20% ≤ PTA < 30% (P = 0.007) and that in patients with 30% ≤ PTA < 40% (P < 0.001). Zinc deficiency is common in patients with HBV-related ACLF. Zinc deficiency is closely associated with infectious complications and MELD score in patients with HBV-related ACLF.

SERUM LEVEL OF IL-6, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10 IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS DUE TO CHRONIC HEPATITIS B

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the serum level of interleukin - 6 (IL - 6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF - α), interleukin - 4 (IL - 4) and interleukin - 10 (IL - 10) in a sample of patients affected by chronic HBV infection in various stage of liver cirrhosis to evaluate differences of the aforementioned cytokines between Child - Pugh classes, as well as between chronic hepatitis B (CHB)patients and healthy controls.Patients and methods: 78 chronic hepatitis B patients who were divided into three groups according to the Child - Pugh scoring system: group A comprised 24 patients with Child Pugh class A; group B comprised 39 patients with Child Pugh class B; and group C comprised 15 patients with Child Pugh class C. The study also included 10 healthy controls for comparing. Biochemical markers of liver disease were measured by clinical routine methods approved by IFCC. Serum concentrations of IL - 6, TNF - α, IL - 4, and IL - 10 were measured with the Human Cytokine/Chemokine ELISA Kit, Arigo Biolaboratories Corporation, Taiwan.Results: CHB patients showed statistically significant difference in TNF - α (p &lt; 0.001), IL - 4 (p &lt;0.01) and IL - 10 (p &lt; 0.01) levels versus healthy controls. Non-cirrhosis patients (Group A) showed statistically significant difference in TNF - α (p &lt; 0.001), IL - 10 (p &lt; 0.05) levels versus cirrhosis patients (Group B and C). Serum IL - 4 levels were significantly different between group B and group C patients (p &lt; 0.05). There was not any correlation between cytokines and biochemical markers of livercirrhosis.Conclusions: This study evaluated the serum cytokine levels (IL - 6, TNF - α, IL - 10, and IL - 4) of chronic hepatitis B patients, as well as the differences in such levels between patients and healthy controls. Although no correlations of cytokine levels with biochemical markers of liver disease were observed, serum levels of TNF - α, IL - 4, IL - 10 increase significantly in chronic hepatitis B patient, especially elevating in cirrhosis group (TNF - α, IL - 10); IL - 4 only increased in severe cirrhosis group (group C). TNF - α, IL - 4, IL - 10 but not IL - 6 may be a possible mediator in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis.

Impact of compensated cirrhosis on survival in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure

Background and aimsAcute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is considered a main prognostic event in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). We analyzed the 28-day and 90-day mortality in ACLF patients with or without underlying cirrhosis enrolled in the ACLF Research Consortium (AARC) database.MethodsA total of 1,621 patients were prospectively enrolled and 637 (39.3%) of these patients had cirrhosis. Baseline characteristics, complications and mortality were compared between patients with and without cirrhosis.ResultsAlcohol consumption was more common in cirrhosis than non-cirrhosis (66.4% vs. 44.2%, p < 0.0001), while non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/cryptogenic CLD (10.9% vs 5.8%, p < 0.0001) and chronic HBV reactivation (18.8% vs 11.8%, p < 0.0001) were more common in non-cirrhosis. Only 0.8% of patients underwent liver transplantation. Overall, 28-day and 90-day mortality rates were 39.3% and 49.9%, respectively. Patients with cirrhosis had a greater chance of survival compared to those without cirrhosis both at 28-day (HR = 0.48; 95% CI 0.36–0.63, p < 0.0001) and 90-day (HR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.43–0.72, p < 0.0001), respectively. In alcohol CLD, non-cirrhosis patients had a higher 28-day (49.9% vs. 23.6%, p < 0.001) and 90-day (58.4% vs. 35.2%, p < 0.001) mortality rate than cirrhosis patients. ACLF patients with cirrhosis had longer mean survival than non-cirrhosis patients (25.5 vs. 18.8 days at 28-day and 65.2 vs. 41.2 days at 90-day). Exaggerated systemic inflammation might be the reason why non-cirrhosis patients had a poorer prognosis than those with cirrhosis after ACLF had occurred.ConclusionsThe 28-day and 90-day mortality rates of ACLF patients without cirrhosis were significantly higher than those with cirrhosis in alcoholic CLD. The presence of cirrhosis and its stage should be evaluated at baseline to guide for management. Thai Clinical Trials Registry, TCTR20191226002.

Outcomes of septic cirrhosis patients admitted to the intensive care unit: A retrospective cohort study.

The aim of this study is to examine the outcome of septic patients with cirrhosis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and predictors of mortality.Single center, retrospective cohort study.The study was conducted in Intensive care Department of King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Data was extracted from a prospectively collected ICU database managed by a full time data collector. All patients with an admission diagnosis of sepsis according to the sepsis-3 definition were included from 2002 to 2017. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of cirrhosis.The primary outcome of the study was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included ICU mortality, ICU and hospital lengths of stay and mechanical ventilation duration.A total of 7906 patients were admitted to the ICU with sepsis during the study period, of whom 497 (6.29%) patients had cirrhosis. 64.78% of cirrhotic patients died during their hospital stay compared to 31.54% of non-cirrhotic. On multivariate analysis, cirrhosis patients were at greater odds of dying within their hospital stay as compared to non-cirrhosis patients (Odds ratio {OR} 2.53; 95% confidence interval {CI} 2.04 – 3.15) independent of co-morbidities, organ dysfunction or hemodynamic status. Among cirrhosis patients, elevated international normalization ratio (INR) (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.29-2.23), hemodialysis (OR 3.09; 95% CI 1.76-5.42) and mechanical ventilation (OR 2.61; 95% CI 1.60–4.28) were the independent predictors of mortality.Septic cirrhosis patients admitted to the intensive care unit have greater odds of dying during their hospital stay. Among septic cirrhosis patients, elevated INR and the need for hemodialysis and mechanical ventilation were associated with increased mortality.

Serum lactate levels in cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis patients with septic shock.

BackgroundIn septic shock patients with cirrhosis, impaired liver function might decrease lactate elimination and produce a higher lactate level. This study investigated differences in initial lactate, lactate clearance, and lactate utility between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic septic shock patients.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study conducted at a referral, university-affiliated medical center. We enrolled adults admitted during 2012–2018 who satisfied the septic shock diagnostic criteria of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign: 2012. Patients previously diagnosed with cirrhosis by an imaging modality were classified into the cirrhosis group. The initial lactate levels and levels 6 hours after resuscitation were measured and used to calculate lactate clearance. We compared initial lactate, lactate at 6 hours, and lactate clearance between the cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis groups. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.ResultsOverall 777 patients were enrolled, of whom 91 had previously been diagnosed with cirrhosis. Initial lactate and lactate at 6 hours were both significantly higher in cirrhosis patients, but there was no difference between the groups in lactate clearance. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for predictors of in-hospital mortality revealed cut-off values for initial lactate, lactate at 6 hours, and lactate clearance of >4 mmol/L, >2 mmol/L, and <10%, respectively, among non-cirrhosis patients. Among patients with cirrhosis, the cut-off values predicting in-hospital mortality were >5 mmol/L, >5 mmol/L, and <20%, respectively. Neither lactate level nor lactate clearance was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality among cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic septic shock patients.ConclusionsThe initial lactate level and lactate at 6 hours were significantly higher in cirrhosis patients than in non-cirrhosis patients.

Cirrhosis Inpatients Receive More Opioids and Fewer Nonopioid Analgesics Than Patients Without Cirrhosis.

Pain is common among cirrhosis patients, particularly those hospitalized with acute illness. Managing pain in this population is challenging due to concern for adverse events and lack of guidelines for analgesic use. We sought to characterize analgesic use among inpatients with cirrhosis compared with matched noncirrhosis controls, as well as hospital-level variation in prescribing patterns. We utilized the Vizient Clinical Database, which includes clinical and billing data from hospitalizations at >500 US academic medical centers. We identified cirrhosis patients hospitalized in 2017-2018, and a matched cohort of noncirrhosis patients. Types of analgesic given-acetaminophen (APAP), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and adjuvants (eg, gabapentinoids, antidepressants) were defined from inpatient prescription records. Conditional logistic regression was used to associate cirrhosis diagnosis with analgesic use. Of 116,363 cirrhosis inpatients, 83% received at least 1 dose of an analgesic and 58% had regular inpatient analgesic use, rates that were clinically similar to noncirrhosis controls. Cirrhosis inpatients were half as likely to receive APAP (26% vs. 42%, P <0.01) or NSAIDs (3% vs. 7%, P <0.01), but were more likely to receive opioids (59% vs. 54%, P <0.01), particularly decompensated patients (60%). There was notable variation in analgesic prescribing patterns between hospitals, especially among cirrhosis patients. Analgesic use was common among inpatients, with similar rates among patients with and without cirrhosis. Cirrhosis patients-particularly decompensated patients-were less likely to receive APAP and NSAIDs and more likely to receive opioid analgesics. Because of lack of evidence-based guidance for management of cirrhosis patients with pain, providers may avoid nonopioid analgesics due to perceived risks and consequently may overutilize opioids in this high-risk population.

Efficacy and safety of danoprevir plus sofosbuvir in GT 1, 2, 3, or 6 chronic hepatitis C patients with or without cirrhosis in China.

All-oral direct-acting antiviral therapies are becoming the choice for hepatitis C (HCV) treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ritonavir-boosted danoprevir (DNVr) plus sofosbuvir±ribavirin on HCV genotype 1, 2, 3, or 6 in the real world in China.In this observational, prospective, multicenter cohort, we enrolled a total of 58 patients with HCV genotype 1, 2, 3, or 6 patients from July 2018 to December 2019. All patients were treated with DNVr plus sofosbuvir ± ribavirin for 12 weeks and then followed up for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the rate of sustained virologic response at week 12 after the end of treatment (SVR12). The secondary endpoint was virologic response rate at end-of-treatment and adverse event outcome.Of the 58 patients who were enrolled, 5.2% (n = 3) had genotype 1a; 43.1% (n = 25) had HCV genotype 1b; 17.2% (n = 10) had genotype 2a; 5.2% (n = 3) had genotype 3a; 8.6% (n = 5) had genotype 3b; and 20.7% (n = 12) had genotype 6a. The virologic response rate at end-of-treatment was 100% (58/58). The HCV-RNA results of 5 patients were absent at week 12 after treatment. Among the 53 patients, SVR12 rate achieved 100% (53/53) with DNVr plus sofosbuvir ± ribavirin treatment in patients with HCV genotype 1b, 2a, 3, and 6a. For compensated cirrhosis and noncirrhosis patients, SVR12 was 100% with DNVr plus sofosbuvir ± ribavirin treatment. No serious event was observed during the treatment and follow-up. Only 5 patients had mild adverse events.DNVr plus sofosbuvir ± ribavirin for 12 weeks provided 100% SVR12 in a broad patient population and were well tolerated, which may be a promising regimen for CHC treatment.