Early Postoperative Transaminase Activities Affecting Early and Late Liver Graft Survival

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the effect of transaminases’ activities in the first posttransplant day on early (90-day) and late (5-year) graft survival.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 612 patients after liver transplantation (LT) in the period between 2015 and 2019. Patients with acute liver failure and with vascular complications after LT were excluded. The natural logarithms of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were used for analyses using the logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models. The optimal cut-off point for transaminases was determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. The 5-year graft survival was calculated after previously excluding the patients with 90-day graft loss.ResultsThe ALT and AST were risk factors for 90-day graft loss (odds ratio 2.16; 95% CI 1.45-3.23; P < .001 and 2.23; 95% CI 1.55-3.19; P < .001, respectively). The optimal cut-off for ALT and AST in prediction of 90-day graft loss was ≥1030 and ≥3899 U/L; area under the curve 0.694 (95% CI 0.602-0.786; P < .001), with 11.3% and 97.1% positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive (NPV) value, and 0.673 (95% CI 0.575-0.772; P < .001), with 18.4% PPV and 95.6% NPV, respectively. The activities of AST and ALT on first posttransplant day were not identified as risk factors for late graft loss (P = .924 and P = .629, respectively).ConclusionsEarly post-transplant transaminase activities can be used to determine early liver graft loss; however, their utility is lost for assessing the late graft survival.     

Resection vs Transplant Listing for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Intention-to-Treat Analysis

BackgroundLiver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) are curative treatment options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within the Milan criteria. Severe organ shortage dictates the preference for LR. Our aim was to provide an intention-to-treat retrospective comparison of survival between patients who were placed on waiting lists for LT and those who underwent LR.MethodsThe medical records of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within the Milan criteria treated by LR or listed for LT between 2007 and 2016 were reviewed. We performed intention-to-treat analyses of overall survival and recurrence.ResultsThere were 54 patients on the waiting list for LT, and 30 of them underwent LR. Thirteen of the 54 patients (24%) were not transplanted because of disease-related mortality or tumor progression. The median waiting time to transplantation was 304 days. The 90-day mortality was higher in transplanted patients (9.8% vs 3.3%, P = .003). Intention-to-treat survival was similar for the LT and LR groups (5-year survival, 47.8% vs 55%, respectively, P = .185). There was a trend toward improved 5-year disease-free survival for listed patients (56.2% vs 26.3% for patients undergoing LR, P = .15).ConclusionIntention-to-treat survival is similar in patients undergoing LR and those on waiting lists for LT. There is a 24% risk to drop from the transplant list. The higher perioperative mortality among patients undergoing LT is balanced by a higher tumor recurrence rate after LR     

Repeat hepatectomy for patients with early and late recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma: A multicenter propensity score matching analysis

BackgroundRepeat hepatectomy is a feasible treatment modality for intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy of hepatocellular carcinoma, yet the survival benefit remains ill-defined. The objective of the current study was to define long-term, oncologic outcomes after repeat hepatectomy among patients with early and late recurrence.MethodsPatients undergoing curative-intent repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma were identified using a multi-intuitional database. Early and late recurrence was defined by setting 1 year after initial hepatectomy as the cutoff value. Patient clinical characteristics, overall survival, and disease-free survival were compared among patients with early and late recurrence before and after propensity score matching.ResultsAmong all the patients, 81 had early recurrence and 129 had late recurrence from which 74 matched pairs were included in the propensity score matching analytic cohort. Before propensity score matching, 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival after resection of an early recurrence were 41.7% and 17.9%, respectively, which were worse compared with patients who had resection of a late recurrence (57.0% and 39.4%, both P < .01). After propensity score matching, 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival among patients with early recurrence were worse compared with patients with late recurrence (41.0% and 19.2% vs 64.3% and 43.2%, both P < .01). After adjustment for other confounding factors on multivariable Cox-regression analysis, early recurrence remained independently associated with decreased overall survival and disease-free survival (hazard ratio 2.22, 95% confidence interval 1.35–3.34, P = .001; hazard ratio 1.86, 95% confidence 1.26–2.74, P = .002).ConclusionRepeat hepatectomy for early recurrence was associated with worse overall survival and disease-free survival compared with late recurrence. These data may help inform patients and selection of patients being considered for repeat hepatectomy of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Liver Transplantation in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Long-Term Survival Results

BackgroundLiver transplant (LT) is the treatment of choice for patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria. Its applicability is limited by the risk for recurrence and the impact on waiting lists. We aimed to describe our results in patients with LT due to HCC and to evaluate its long-term survival outcomes.MethodsA retrospective observational study was carried out on all patients undergoing LT between January 2010 and December 2020.ResultsAmong 336 patients undergoing LT, 99 had early-stage HCC with underlying cirrhosis in 93.9%. Average time from HCC diagnosis to transplant was 161 days [99-248 days]. In this period, 91 (91.9%) patients received adjuvant treatment. Seven (7.1%) of 99 patients had HCC recurrence and 33 (33.3%) died during the follow-up period. In terms of survival, LT in patients with and without HCC resulted in 6-month survival of 87.9% and 84.3%, 1-year patient survival of 84.7% and 79.4%, 3-year survival rate of 71.2% and 70.6%, and 5-year survival rate of 64.6% and 65.3% (P = .493), respectively.ConclusionBased on Milan criteria as the benchmark for selecting HCC candidates to LT, both short- and long-term transplant survival rates achieved similar results when compared with patients without HCC. These results sustain transplantation as the treatment of choice for patients with cirrhosis and in the early stage of HCC.     

Liver Retransplantation in Children: A SPLIT Database Analysis of Outcome and Predictive Factors for Survival

To examine outcomes and identify prognostic factors affecting survival after pediatric liver transplantation, data from 246 children who underwent a second liver transplantation (rLT) between 1996 and 2004 were analyzed from the SPLIT registry, a multi-center database currently comprised of 45 North American pediatric liver transplant programs. The main causes for loss of primary graft necessitating rLT were primary nonfunction, vascular complications, chronic rejection and biliary complications. Three-month, 1- and 2-year patient survival rates were inferior after rLT (74%, 67% and 65%) compared with primary LT (92%, 88% and 85%, respectively). Multivariate analysis of pretransplant variables revealed donor age less than 1 year, use of a technical variant allograft and INR at time of rLT as independent predictive factors for survival after rLT. Survival of patients who underwent early rLT (ErLT, <30 days after LT) was poorer than those who received rLT >30 days after LT (late rLT, LrLT): 3-month, 1- and 2-year patient survival rates 66%, 59%, and 56% versus 80%, 74% and 61%, respectively, log-rank p = 0.0141. Liver retransplantation in children is associated with decreased survival compared with primary LT, particularly, in the clinical settings of those patients requiring ErLT.     

Advanced recipient age (>60 years) alone should not be a contraindication to liver retransplantation

Advanced age has been shown to be a risk factor for survival in primary liver transplantation. We sought to determine the independent influence of recipient age on retransplantation survival. The UNOS dataset was analyzed for adult, nonstatus 1, liver retransplantations since February 27, 2002. The univariate effect of age on 90-day and 1-year survival was analyzed. Multivariate survival models were used to determine 90-day, 1-year, and overall survival. Recipient age, donor age, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and hepatitis C status were used to construct multivariable survival models. Some 2141 liver retransplantations were analyzed. Overall, increasing recipient age was independently predictive of increasing mortality after liver retransplantation. In recipients between 18 and 60, there remained a direct relationship between age and mortality. However, in recipients aged over 60, increasing age was not independently associated with 90-day mortality ( P  = 0.88) and 1-year mortality ( P  = 0.74), despite adjusting for donor age, MELD score, and viral hepatitis status, suggesting that their original liver condition, their co-morbidities or perioperative condition plays an important role in retransplantation survival. Increasing recipient age up to 60, adversely affects liver retransplantation survival. After 60, there are no additional risks. Advanced age alone should not be an exclusionary factor when considering liver retransplantation; only the overall ability of the patient to tolerate a major surgery should be the determining factor.     

Etiology and Complications of Early Aseptic Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty Within 90 Days

BackgroundThe etiology, complications, and rerevision risks of early aseptic revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) within 90 days are insufficiently documented.MethodsA national insurance claims database (PearlDiver Technologies, Fort Wayne, IN) was queried for patients who underwent unilateral aseptic revision THA within 90 days of the index procedure using administrative codes. Patients who underwent revision for infection, without minimum 2-year follow-up, and younger than 18 years were excluded. This cohort was matched based on gender, age, and Charlson Comorbidity Index to a control group of patients who underwent primary THA without revision within 90 days. Two-year rerevision and 90-day complication rates were recorded. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used as appropriate for statistical comparison.ResultsFour hundred two patients met the inclusion criteria for early aseptic revision within 90 days of the index procedure and were matched to the control group. The overall 2-year rerevision rate was higher in the early revision group compared with control group (14.9% vs 2.5%, P < .001). Complications within 90 days occurred more frequently in the early revision group, including blood transfusion (10.2% vs 3.2%, P < .001), deep vein thrombosis (9.0% vs 3.2%, P = .001), and pulmonary embolism (2.74% vs 0.75%, P = .031). The most common reasons for early aseptic revision were dislocation (41.5%), fracture (38.1%), and loosening (17.4%).ConclusionEarly aseptic revision THA is associated with significantly higher 90-day complication rates and 2-year rerevision rates compared with a control group of primary THA without revision. The most common reasons for acute early revision were dislocation, fracture, and mechanical loosening.Level of EvidenceLevel III.     

Liver transplantation: would it be the best and last chance of cure for hepatocellular carcinoma with major venous invasion?

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumour thrombus (PVTT) signifies advanced disease, whether LT confers any survival superiority over resection remains uncertain.MethodsA propensity score matched (PSM) analysis of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for HCC with PVTT was performed.ResultsA consecutive series of 88 patients who received either LT (10 DDLTs and 3 LDLTs) or LR (n=75) respectively were recruited. Before PSM, the LT group has a higher MELD score (17.3 vs. 7.8, P<0.001), lower serum AFP levels (96 vs. 2,164 ng/mL, P=0.017) and smaller tumour size (4 vs. 10 cm, P<0.001). The 5-year overall survival for LT and LR were 55.4% and 15.9% respectively (P=0.007). After matching for serum AFP levels and tumour size, 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival for LT were 81 ng/mL, 3.9 cm, 80%, 70% and 70% and the corresponding rates for LR were 1,417 ng/mL, 5.3 cm, 51.8%, 19,6% and 9.8% (P value =0.12, 0.27 and 0.009 respectively).ConclusionsLT is associated with significantly better oncological outcomes in HCC patients with PVTT involving the lobar or segmental level. A modest expansion of selection criteria to include small HCC with segmental PVTT should be considered.     

Late relapses (>2 years) in patients with stage I testicular germ cell tumors: Predictive factors and survival

ObjectivesLate relapses (>2 years) after completion of chemotherapy are rare and often platinum-resistant. There are limited data concerning late relapses in chemotherapy-naïve patients with stage I germ cell tumors. This retrospective analysis was performed to compare the outcome between patients with stage I germ cell tumors, who had late (≥2 years) and early (≥3 months and <2 years) relapse after orchiectomy.Methods and materialsWe analyzed data of 1,069 chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced germ cell tumors of testis treated in our department from 1986 to 2008. All patients had cisplatin- and etoposide-based chemotherapy. We identified 169 (15.8%) patients with prior stage I disease, who had not received adjuvant treatment: 140 and 29 patients had early and late relapse, respectively. Among patients with late relapse, pure seminoma was revealed in 14 patients, and nonseminoma in 15 patients. Median follow-up time for 169 patients was 35 (range, 2–218) months.ResultsPatients with late relapse were older, 35 years (23–57) and had more frequent pure seminoma in primary tumor, 14/29 (48.3%), than patients with early relapse, 30 years (16–63) (P = 0.0008) and 46/140 (32,8%, P = 0.08), respectively. At the time of disease progression, both groups were very similar according to well-known prognostic factors including IGCCCG classification. The only difference was larger size of retroperitoneal lymph nodes in late (9 cm) than in early relapse (4 cm, P < 0.0001). The outcome in patients with late relapse was significantly worse than in patients with early relapse: complete response rate after induction chemotherapy was 20.7% (6/29) vs. 42.1% (59/140) (P = 0.01), 3-year progression-free survival 66% vs. 84% (P = 0.02, HR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–8.8) and 3-year overall survival, 72% vs. 88% (P = 0.04, HR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.05–10.25), respectively. In patients with pure seminoma, this difference in overall survival was even more significant: 65% vs. 91% (P = 0.04, HR = 3.8, 95% CI 1.06–32.4).ConclusionsLate relapses following stage I germ cell tumors were associated with seminoma, older age, and worse outcome after induction chemotherapy.     

Related Factors of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence Associated With Hyperglycemia After Liver Transplantation

BackgroundRecurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main factor affecting the prognosis of patients with HCC undergoing liver transplantation (LT). In this study, we investigated the influencing factors of tumor recurrence and survival after LT for HCC, especially the long-term correlation with elevated fasting blood glucose (FBG).MethodsClinical data from 165 patients with HCC after LT in the General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA between January 2013 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates, demographic characteristics, tumor characteristics, and surgical and postoperative data were evaluated.ResultsAmong 165 patients, 144 completed over 60 months of follow-up; the median follow-up period was more than 36 months. DFS rates were 76.97%, 51.52%, and 34.73% for 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The OS rate for 5 years was 40.28%. Independent risk factors for 1-year DFS were maximum tumor diameter >5 cm, age <49 years, and platelet transfusion. Independent risk factors for 3- and 5-year DFS were maximum tumor diameter >5 cm, capsular invasion, and FBG ≥6.1 mmol/L. Independent risk factors for OS were maximum tumor diameter >5 cm, capsular invasion, and FBG ≥6.1 mmol/L.ConclusionElevated FBG after LT for HCC may promote medium- to long-term tumor recurrence and affect OS. Age <49 years, platelet transfusion, maximum tumor diameter, capsular invasion, and microvascular invasion in patients with HCC also impact survival and tumor recurrence after LT.     

Comparison of short- and long-term outcomes after early versus late liver retransplantation: a single-center experience

Background

As the survival of patients after liver transplantation (LT) improves, the requirement of liver retransplantation (reLT) for late graft failure has grown. Although some have reported that the short-term outcome of late reLT was comparable with that of early reLT, it remains unknown whether long-term survival of late reLT is inferior to that of early reLT patients.

Materials and methods

We reviewed early (<6 mo after primary LT) and late (≥6 mo after primary LT) reLT cases performed between January 2000 and December 2010.

Results

Sixteen early and 32 late reLT cases were analyzed. There was no significant difference regarding the number of units of red blood cells transfused during the transplantation between the groups, whereas operative time was significantly longer in the late reLT cases. Graft loss within 3 mo after early and late reLT was 18.6% and 15.6%, respectively. Patient and graft survival rates after 1, 3, 5, and 10 y in the late reLT group were 80.6%, 73.3%, 73.3%, and 67.7% and 80.7%, 69.1%, 63.3%, and 54.3%, respectively, whereas those in the early reLT group were 75.0%, 75.0%, 64.3%, and 64.3% and 81.3%, 75.0%, 64.3%, and 32.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference in patient or graft survival rates between the groups (P = 0.91 and 0.91, respectively).

Conclusions

Acceptable short- and long-term survival were provided in early and late reLT. The time between the primary LT and reLT does not seem to play significant role in the prognosis of reLT in the long term.     

The pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) model as a predictor of survival benefit and posttransplant survival in pediatric liver transplant recipients.

The pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) model accurately estimates 90-day waitlist mortality for pediatric liver transplant candidates, but it has been unclear if PELD can identify patients who will derive survival benefit from undergoing liver transplantation (LT), if it correlates with posttransplant survival, or if it can identify patients for whom LT would be futile. Pediatric patients who underwent LT between 2001 and 2004 were enrolled through the United Network for Organ Sharing Organ Procurement and Transplant Network database. Survival benefit was measured in terms of life-years gained during the first year after LT. Complete data were available for 1,247 patients: 53% were listed as Status 1 at the time of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), while the remaining 47% had PELD scores. Only in patients with a PELD of 17+ or those designated as United Network for Organ Sharing Status 1 derived a survival benefit within 1 year of LT; patients with a PELD score of < or = 16 did not. In addition, a statistically significant association was seen between 1-year post-OLT survival and PELD at LT (P = 0.03). No "threshold" PELD score, beyond which risk of post-LT mortality increased dramatically, was apparent. In conclusion, pediatric patients with a PELD score of 17+ derive survival benefit early after LT, and increasing PELD scores are associated with increasing transplant benefit after liver transplantation. PELD does correlate with posttransplant survival but should not be used as a marker for futility.     

Liver-Related and Cardiovascular Outcome of Patients Transplanted for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A European Single-Center Study

BackgroundThe increasing rate of liver transplantation (LT) for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) raises concerns on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality after LT in these patients.MethodsWe collected variables regarding the presence of metabolic risk factors, NAFLD recurrence, cardiovascular morbidity, and overall survival at time of listing and after LT of 112 patients with NAFLD and a control group of 120 patients with hepatitis C (HCV).ResultsMetabolic syndrome and cardiovascular morbidity component rates (24.1% vs 12.5%) at the time of LT listing were higher in patients with NAFLD compared with patients with HCV (for all, P < .0390). Median follow-up after LT was 5.6 years in patients with NAFLD vs 13.5 years in patients with HCV (P = .0009). There was no difference in 6-weeks postoperative mortality (1.7% vs 2.5%) (P =1.0000). Metabolic syndrome components after LT were more frequent in patients with NAFLD than in patients with HCV (for all, P < .0008). The incidence of NAFLD 5 years after LT was higher in patients transplanted for NAFLD compared with HCV (43.5% vs 4.2%) (P < .0001). Patients with recurrent NAFLD more often had myocardial infarction compared with those without recurrence (8.3% vs 0%) (P = .0313). Five years after LT, cardiovascular morbidity was more frequent in the NAFLD group than in the HCV group (12.8% vs 9.3%) (P = .0256), whereas no difference in overall survival was observed.ConclusionLT for NAFLD is associated with satisfactory 5-year outcomes; however, our data underscore the need for close monitoring and aggressive management of cardiovascular risk factors in these patients.     

Pediatric Liver Transplantation Experience and Outcome in Chile

IntroductionIn 1994 our group began its experience with pediatric liver transplantation. The experience gained during this period is the largest in the country, positioning the Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna and Clinica Las Condes as major referral centers in the public and private sectors. The aim of this study was to report our experience of our pediatric liver transplantation program during this period.MethodsThe liver transplantation database of Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna and Clinica Las Condes between January 1994 and July 2011 was reviewed recording age, gender, indications for transplantation, surgical technique, complications, and survival. Survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.ResultsDuring the period described 230 transplantations were performed in 189 pediatric patients. Fifty-five percent were male patients. The average age was 5 years. The main causes of transplantation were biliary atresia (50%), fulminant hepatic failure (25%), and other cholestatic diseases by 10%. Vascular and biliary complications were the leading cause of graft loss and retransplantation. The overall rate of retransplantation at 5 years was 20%. The technique of living donor was used in 28% of the cases. The 1-year patient actuarial survival rate was 80%, 73% at 5 years, and 68% at 10 years. In the last 3 years the survival rate at 1 year exceeds 90%.DiscussionOur program includes more than 90% of the national liver experience. The incorporation of living donor is a milestone that has enabled us to save many patients who previously died while waiting for an organ. Its use in cases of full acute liver failure has allowed us to dramatically reduce mortality on the waiting list. Our results in the last 3 years reflect the experience that results in a significant decrease in mortality, comparing favorably to other series published in the international literature.     

The Utility of Early Allograft Dysfunction Components in Determining 90-Day Liver Graft Survival

BackgroundEarly allograft dysfunction (EAD) had been established as a useful tool to asses graft and patient survival after liver transplant. We wanted to evaluate effect of EAD components on early graft survival.MethodsThis retrospective study included 264 patients with EAD after liver transplant in the period between 2015 and 2019. The patients with retransplants were excluded from analyses. The EAD was determined with Olthoff criteria. The logistic regression model was used for analyses. The 90-day graft survival was set as a primary outcome measure.ResultsThe main indications for transplant in the analyzed group were hepatitis C virus infection (53 patients, 20.1%), hepatitis B infection (22, 8.3%), primary sclerosing cholangitis (28, 10.1%), and alcoholic liver disease (62, 23.5%), with a median model for end-stage liver disease score of 13.5 points. The 90-day graft loss occurred in 51 patients (19.3%). Each of the components used in EAD diagnosis was found to be correlated with 90-day graft loss. The bilirubin concentration on day 7 (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% CI, 1.4-6.7; P < .001), international normalized ratio on day 7 (OR, 179; 95% CI, 39-815; P < .001), and the natural logarithm of alanine aminotransferase (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6-6.4) and aspartate aminotransferase (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.4-4.9) predicted 90-day graft loss.ConclusionsIn patients with EAD, international normalized ratio ≥ 1.6 on day 7 was the strongest predictor of early graft-loss among all EAD components.     

Evaluation of Early and Late Effects of Surgical Treatment of Early Hepatic Artery Thrombosis After Liver Transplantation

BackgroundHepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) is the most severe vascular complication after liver transplantation and one of the major causes of early graft loss and mortality after transplantation. The number of retransplantations and recipient deaths can be decreased with an urgent thrombectomy of the hepatic artery.The aim of the study was to analyze the early and long-term outcomes of the surgical revascularization of early hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation.MethodsFour hundred eleven orthotopic liver transplantations in 380 patients were performed at our center between 2005 and 2020. A Doppler evaluation of the graft vessels patency was performed daily for the first 5 days after transplantation in all recipients. After angio–computed tomography confirmation, most of the cases of HAT qualified for surgical revascularization.ResultsEarly HAT was diagnosed in 20 cases (4.9%), occurring most frequently between the first and third day after transplantation. Sixteen patients underwent revascularization surgery. Among them, in the early post-transplantation period, 4 died and 2 more had retransplantation. Of the remaining 10 recipients, 2 had no biliary complications, 1 had bile leakage, and 7 had common bile duct stenosis, all treated endoscopically. Among 4 nonoperated patients, 1 died and the other 2 had retransplantation in the early post-transplantation period; the last of these 4 recipients had bile duct stenosis.ConclusionsThe urgent surgical revascularization in liver recipients with early HAT allows the avoidance of early retransplantation. However, these patients require intensified surveillance owing to the high risk of biliary complications that may affect shortened graft and patient survival.     

Real‐world effectiveness of fulvestrant monotherapy as first endocrine treatment in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Fulvestrant monotherapy is approved for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor‐positive, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who progressed following antiendocrine therapy, or those with hormone receptor‐positive, human epidermal receptor 2‐negative advanced breast cancer (BC) not previously treated with endocrine therapy (ET). However, real‐world data are lacking. Retrospective reviews of 10 United States community oncology practices identified patients diagnosed with MBC between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015 who received fulvestrant as the first ET, either as initial therapy for metastatic disease or after progression following one line of chemotherapy. Endpoints were progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients were classified as ET‐naïve or by relapse status following adjuvant ET (“early” recurrence during or ≤12 months of completing adjuvant ET, or “late” >12 months after completing adjuvant ET). Outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan‐Meier methods. Among 121 patients, median PFS (95% confidence interval) was 8.3 months (4.8‐12.3) for early relapse, 15.4 months (10.2‐21.2) for late relapse, and 18.7 months (10.1‐20.8) among ET‐naïve patients (P = .018). Median OS was 39.8 months (25.0‐55.1) for early relapse and 61.4 months (47.1‐61.4) for late relapse, but was not reached (NR; 55.6–NR) for ET‐naïve patients (P = .002). Fulvestrant monotherapy as the first ET after MBC diagnosis demonstrates PFS comparable to clinical study results; outcomes appeared better in patients without prior ET exposure and in patients with disease recurrence >12 months following adjuvant ET. These findings support fulvestrant monotherapy in patients with hormone receptor‐positive MBC.     

Mild Preoperative Systolic Dysfunction Associated With the Use of Intraoperative Vasopressors but Not Postoperative Survival in Liver Transplantation

BackgroundMild left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is common in patients waiting for liver transplantation (LT), but its impact on intraoperative management and survival is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated if mild pretransplant LVSD was associated with the use of intraoperative vasopressors and 1-year survival after LT.MethodsAfter institutional review board approval, preoperative echocardiographic and perioperative data of adult patients undergoing LT between January 2006 and October 2013 were reviewed. Patients with or without mild LVSD were compared using the t test or Pearson’s χ² test. Independent risk factors were identified using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsOf 1055 adult patients, 11 (1.0%) had mild LVSD. Preoperative variables were similar between the 2 groups except for age and preoperative vasopressor use. Intraoperatively, a greater portion of patients with LVSD required vasopressors following anesthesia induction (71.4% vs 20.5%), immediately after reperfusion (100% vs 62.1%), and at the end of the transplant (100% vs 38.5%) compared with patients without LVSD (all P < .05). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that LVSD was an independent risk factor (odds ratio, 4.7; 95% CI 1.0–21.3; P = .043) for increased requirement of intraoperative vasopressor along with other risk factors, including encephalopathy, preoperative pressors, male sex, high model for end-stage liver disease score, and long cold ischemia time. Patients with mild LVSD had similar 1-year survival rates compared with non-LVSD patients.ConclusionsPatients with mild preoperative LVSD, with proper intraoperative management, could undergo LT surgery and had comparable 1-year survival. Patients with mild preoperative LVSD alone should not be excluded from LT.