Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt does not affect the efficacy and safety of direct-acting antivirals in patients with advanced cirrhosis: A real-life,case-control study

BackgroundTransjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) is a well-established treatment for complications of portal hypertension.AimsTo analyze the impact of TIPS on virologic response and safety profile in patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).MethodsWe analyzed data from HCV-positive cirrhotic patients treated with DAAs. Twenty-one patients with previous TIPS placement were compared with 42 matched subjects without TIPS. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of hepatic function worsening and adverse events.ResultsNo differences were found between the two groups in particular regarding sustained virologic response (92.5 and 97.6% in TIPS vs no-TIPS, p = 0.559). Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) of both TIPS and no-TIPS groups declined from baseline to week 24 of follow-up (from 12.5 ± 3.5 to 10.8 ± 3.4 and from 11.1 ± 3.5 to 10.3 ± 3.4, p = 0.044 and 0.025). There were no differences in adverse event rates. At univariate analysis, age was associated with MELD increase from baseline to week 24 (OR 1.111, 95% CI 1.019-1.211, p = 0.017), and patients with higher baseline MELD developed serious adverse events more frequently (OR 0.815, 95% CI 0.658–1.010, p = 0.062). Patients with or without TIPS did not show differences in transplant-free survival.ConclusionTIPS placement does not affect virologic response and clinical outcome of patients receiving DAAs.     

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study hepatic metabolism in diffuse liver diseases, diabetes and cancer

This review provides an overview of the current state of the art of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in in vivo investigations of diffuse liver disease. So far, MRS of the human liver in vivo has mainly been used as a research tool rather than a clinical tool. The liver is particularly suitable for static and dynamic metabolic studies due to its high metabolic activity. Furthermore, its relatively superfi cial position allows excellent MRS localization, while its large volume allows detection of signal...     

Prognostic value of von-Willebrand factor in patients with liver cirrhosis and its relation to other prognostic indicators

BACKGROUNDVon-Willebrand factor (vWF) disposes certain prognostic value in patients with liver cirrhosis, but its relation to other prognostic indicators has not been fully investigated. AIMTo analyze the relation between vWF and other prognostic indicators in cirrhotic patients and to evaluate its prognostic value for mortality. METHODSThis analytic prospective study was carried out in a tertiary center and initially enrolled 71 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. It analyzed the relation between vWF and the stage of the disease and several inflammatory and prognostic indicators. The prospective analysis, performed on a sample of 63 patients, evaluated the association between the selected variables [vWF, Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, vitamin D, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, D-dimer concentration] and the survival time as well as their predictive value in terms of 3-mo, 6-mo and 1-year mortality.RESULTSvWF was significantly higher in patients with higher Child-Turcotte-Pugh class (P = 0.0045), MELD group (P = 0.0057), ferritin group (P = 0.0278), and D-dimer concentration (P = 0.0232). vWF significantly correlated with D-dimer concentration, ferritin, CRP, International Normalized Ratio, and MELD, Child-Turcotte-Pugh, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and CLIF-consortium organ failure (CLIF-C OF) scores. vWF, MELD score, and CRP were significantly associated with death and were significant predictors of 3-mo, 6-mo, and 1-year mortality. Each vWF unit significantly increased the probability for 3-mo mortality by 1.005 times (P = 0.008), for 6-mo mortality by 1.006 times (P = 0.005), and for 1-year mortality by 1.007 times (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference between the diagnostic performance of vWF and MELD score and also between vWF and CRP regarding the 3-mo, 6-mo, and 1-year mortality.CONCLUSIONIn patients with liver cirrhosis, vWF is significantly related to other prognostic indicators and is a significant predictor of 3-mo, 6-mo, and 1-year mortality similar to MELD score and CRP.     

Autoantibodies to cytoplasmic rods and rings in patients with hepatitis C virus infection treated with direct-acting antivirals: The role of prior treatment with interferon plus ribavirin

Introduction

The cytoplasmic rods-rings (RR) pattern is found in hepatitis C (HCV) patients treated with interferon-ribavirin when studied with ANA-IIF. Ribavirin aggregates/induces antigenic changes in IMPDH-2, an enzyme necessary for ribavirin action.

Prevention of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation in cirrhotic patients treated with lamivudine and passive immunoprophylaxis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Treatment with hepatitis B virus immune globulins (HBIG) or lamivudine has reduced the rate of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation to approximately 50%. METHODS: To further decrease hepatitis B recurrence, 33 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhotic patients were treated with lamivudine before liver transplantation and with lamivudine together with low-dose HBIG (46 500 IU the first month followed by 5,000 lU/monthly) after surgery. RESULTS: While on lamivudine, serum HBV DNA level decreased significantly in all patients and in 11 (33%) the Child-Pugh score improved. Twenty-six patients were transplanted. Among the 25 who survived for longer than 12 months, only one (4%) experienced a hepatitis B recurrence over an average follow-up of 31 months, a rate significantly lower (P = 0.0002) than the 50% recurrence rate among a historical control group of 12 patients. However, low-level HBV replication was detected sporadically throughout the follow-up in 64% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Over the medium-term, combined prophylaxis with lamivudine and HBIG significantly decreases the risk of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation. Though low-level HBV infection recurred in two thirds of patients, the pathogenic expression of HBV was prevented.     

真实世界中不同ALT、AST水平慢性丙型肝炎患者对直接抗病毒药物治疗的病毒学应答及肝纤维化指标变化情况

目的探讨真实世界中不同ALT、AST水平的慢性丙型肝炎患者对直接抗病毒药物(DAA)治疗的病毒学应答,以及治疗后肝硬度测定(LSM)值、4项因素的肝纤维化指数(FIB-4)和AST/PLT比值指数(APRI)的变化情况。方法纳入2017年12月—2020年5月在北京大学第一医院感染疾病科门诊就诊的慢性丙型肝炎患者,计算患者治疗病毒学应答率。采用Wilcoxon秩和检验对比不同组间基线及治疗结束第12周LSM、FIB-4和APRI的变化;计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验。结果共纳入48例慢性丙型肝炎患者,其中基线ALT或AST出现异常的患者为33.3%。所有患者DAA治疗第4周病毒学应答率为85.4%,治疗结束时、治疗结束12、24、48周均为100%;治疗结束第12周较基线LSM[6.1(5.1~12.4)kPa vs 8.6(5.7~16.9)kPa,Z=-1.676,P=0.043]、APRI[0.24(0.19~0.48)vs 0.42(0.23~1.17),Z=-2.050,P=0.027]差异有统计学意义。ALT或AST异常的患者治疗结束12周与基线LSM[8.9(5.6~13.1)kPa vs 14.4(8.0~28.2)kPa,Z=-1.679,P=0.047]、APRI[0.44(0.25~0.50)vs 1.29(0.99~2.09),Z=-3.427,P=0.001]差异有统计学意义。结论慢性丙型肝炎患者DAA治疗后持续病毒学应答率高,基线ALT或AST有异常较无异常的患者在治疗后LSM及APRI改善更明显。