Chronic Liver Failure-Sequential Organ Failure Assessment is better than the Asia-Pacific Association for the Study of Liver criteria for defining acute-on-chronic liver failure and predicting outcome

AIM:To compare the utility of the Chronic Liver FailureSequential Organ Failure Assessment(CLIF-SOFA)and Asia-Pacific Association for the Study of Liver(APASL)definitions of acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF)in predicting short-term prognosis of patients with ACLF.METHODS:Consecutive patients of cirrhosis with acute decompensation were prospectively included.They were grouped into ACLF and no ACLF groups as per CLIF-SOFA and APASL criteria.Patients were followed up for 3 mo from inclusion or mortality whichever was earlier.Mortality at 28-d and 90-d was compared between no ACLF and ACLF groups as per both criteria.Mortality was also compared between different grades of ACLF as per CLIF-SOFA criteria.Prognostic scores like CLIF-SOFA,Acute Physiology and ChronicHealth Evaluation(APACHE)-Ⅱ,Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease(MELD)scores were evaluated for their ability to predict 28-d mortality using area under receiver operating curves(AUROC).RESULTS:Of 50 patients,38 had ACLF as per CLIFSOFA and 19 as per APASL criteria.Males(86%)were predominant,alcoholic liver disease(68%)was the most common etiology of cirrhosis,sepsis(66%)was the most common cause of acute decompensation while infection(66%)was the most common precipitant of acute decompensation.The 28-d mortality in no ACLF and ACLF groups was 8.3%and 47.4%(P=0.018)as per CLIF-SOFA and 39%and 37%(P=0.895)as per APASL criteria.The 28-d mortality in patients with no ACLF(n=12),ACLF grade 1(n=11),ACLF grade 2(n=14)and ACLF grade 3(n=13)as per CLIF-SOFA criteria was 8.3%,18.2%,42.9%and76.9%(χ2 for trend,P=0.002)and 90-d mortality was 16.7%,27.3%,78.6%and 100%(χ2 for trend,P<0.0001)respectively.Patients with prior decompensation had similar 28-d and 90-d mortality(39.3%and 53.6%)as patients without prior decompensation(36.4%and 63.6%)(P=NS).AUROCs for 28-d mortality were 0.795,0.787,0.739 and 0.710 for CLIF-SOFA,APACHE-Ⅱ,Child-Pugh and MELD scores respectively.On multivariate analysis of these scores,CLIF-SOFA was the only significant independent predictor of mortality with an odds ratio 1.538(95%CI:1.078-2.194).CONCLUSION:CLIF-SOFA criteria is better than APASL criteria to classify patients into ACLF based on their prognosis.CLIF-SOFA score is the best predictor of short-term mortality.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in Asian Indians is neither associated with iron overload nor with HFE gene mutations

AIM: The pathogenesis of occurrence of liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is not completely understood. Other than insulin resistance, iron abnormalities have been thought to be one of the triggering factors. Therefore, our aim was to study the role of iron abnormalities and HFE gene mutations in patients with NASH.METHODS: Thirty-one patients of NASH diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination biochemistry, ultrasonography and liver biopsy (n = 14) were included in the study. Serum iron parameters (n = 23) (iron, ferritin, total iron-binding capacity and transferrin saturation), Peris' iron staining on liver biopsies (n = 14) and HFE gene mutations (C282Y and H63D) (n = 16) were studied in these patients. The association between iron staining, necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis stage on liver biopsies was also determined.RESULTS: Elevated serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation above 55% were observed in 4.3% of patients.On histology, 71% of the patients had negative iron staining,21.4% had 1+ staining, 7.2% had 2+ staining and none had 3+ or 4+ staining. There was no association between the degree of iron staining and necroinflammatory activity (P = 0.55) and fibrosis stage (P = 0.09) on histology. None of the patients had C282Y HFE gene mutation and four patients (25%) were found to be heterozygotes for H63D gene mutation.CONCLUSION: Our study does not favor iron overload and HFE gene mutations as major factors in the pathogenesis of NASH in Asian Indians.

Genetic polymorphism in CD14 gene, a co-receptor of TLR4 associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

AIM To evaluate the pathogenic role of toll-like receptor(TLR) gene polymorphisms in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS Two hundred and fifty subjects(NAFLD = 200, healthy volunteers = 50) underwent polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism to assess one polymorphism in the toll-like receptor 2(TLR2) gene(A753G), two polymorphisms in the TLR4 gene(TLR4 Asp299 Gly and Thr399 Ile allele), and two polymorphisms in the cluster of differentiation 14(CD14)(C-159 T and C-550T) gene, a co-receptor of TLR4. Association of TLR gene polymorphisms with NAFLD and its severity was evaluated by genetic models of association.RESULTS On both multiplicative and recessive models of gene polymorphism association, there was significant association of CD14 C(-159) T polymorphism with NAFLD; patients with TT genotype had a 2.6 fold increased risk of developing NAFLD in comparison to CC genotype. There was no association of TLR2 Arg753 Gln, TLR4 Asp299 Gly, Thr399 Ile, and CD14 C(-550) T polymorphisms with NAFLD. None of the TLR gene polymorphisms had an association with histological severity of NAFLD.CONCLUSION Patients with CD14 C(-159) T gene polymorphism, a co-receptor of TLR4, have an increased risk of NAFLD development.

Frequency of primary iron overload and HFE gene mutations (C282Y,H63D and S65C) in chronic liver disease patients in north India

AIM:To identify the frequency of iron overload and study the three mutations in the HFE gene (C282Y,H63D,and S65C) in patients with chronic liver disorders (CLD) and controls. METHODS:To identify patients with iron overload (transferrin saturation > 45% in females and > 50% in males and serum ferritin > 1000 ng/mL) we evaluated 236 patients with CLD,including 59 with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH),22 with alcoholic liver disease (ALD),19 of cirrhosis due to viruses (HBV,HCV),and 136 with cryptogenic cirrhosis. Mutations of the HFE gene were analyzed by PCR-RE. hundred controls were screened for iron status and the mutations. RESULTS:Seventeen patients with CLD showed evidence of iron overload. Fifteen cases of iron overload had cryptogenic cirrhosis and two had ALD. None of the controls showed iron overload. We did not find any individual with 282Y or 65C either in the cases or in the controls. The prevalence of H63D heterozygosity was 12% in normal individuals,14.8% in 236 patients (16.9% in NASH,13.6% in ALD,26.3% in viral and 12.5% in cryptogenic cirrhosis) and the overall prevalence was 13.98%. Only two of the 17 patients with primary iron overload were heterozygous for H63D. One patient with NASH and one normal individual who were homozygous for H63D showed no iron overload.CONCLUSION:Primary iron overload in Indians is nonHFE type,which is different from that in Europeans and further molecular studies are required to determine the defect in various iron regulatory genes.

Gamma-glutamyl transferase and cardiovascular risk in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease:The Gut and Obesity Asia initiative

BACKGROUND Gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT)is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease(CVD)in the general population.AIM To identify the association of baseline GGT level and QRISK2 score among patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).METHODS This was a retrospective study involving 1535 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients from 10 Asian centers in 8 countries using data collected by the Gut and Obesity in Asia(referred to as“GO ASIA”)workgroup.All patients with available baseline GGT levels and all 16 variables for the QRISK2 calculation(QRISK2-2017;developed by researchers at the United Kingdom National Health Service;https://qrisk.org/2017/;10-year cardiovascular risk estimation)were included and compared to healthy controls with the same age,sex,and ethnicity.Relative risk was reported.QRISK2 score>10%was defined as the high-CVD-risk group.Fibrosis stages 3 and 4(F3 and F4)were considered advanced fibrosis.RESULTS A total of 1122 patients(73%)had complete data and were included in the final analysis;314(28%)had advanced fibrosis.The median age(interquartile range[IQR])of the study population was 53(44-60)years,532(47.4%)were females,and 492(43.9%)were of Chinese ethnicity.The median 10-year CVD risk(IQR)was 5.9%(2.6-10.9),and the median relative risk of CVD over 10 years(IQR)was 1.65(1.13-2.2)compared to healthy individuals with the same age,sex,and ethnicity.The high-CVD-risk group was significantly older than the low-risk group(median[IQR]:63[59-67]vs 49[41-55]years;P<0.001).Higher fibrosis stages in biopsy-proven NAFLD patients brought a significantly higher CVD risk(P<0.001).Median GGT level was not different between the two groups(GGT[U/L]:Median[IQR],high risk 60[37-113]vs low risk 66[38-103],P=0.56).There was no correlation between baseline GGT level and 10-year CVD risk based on the QRISK2 score(r=0.02).CONCLUSION The CVD risk of NAFLD patients is higher than that of healthy individuals.Baseline GGT level cannot predict CVD risk in NAFLD patients.However,advanced fibrosis is a predictor of a high CVD risk.

Dominating expression of negative regulatory factors downmodulates major histocompatibility complex Class-Ⅱexpression on dendritic cells in chronic hepatitis C infection

AIM: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms leading to development of functionally impaired dendritic cells(DCs) in chronic hepatitis C(CHC) patients infected with genotype 3 virus.METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on the cohorts of CHC individuals identified as responders or non-responders to antiviral therapy. Myeloid DCs were isolated from the peripheral blood of each subject using CD1c(BDCA1)+ DC isolation Kit. Monocytes from healthy donor were cultured with DC growth factors such as IL-4 and GM-CSF either in the presence or absence of hepatitis C virus(HCV) viral proteins followed by LPS stimulation. Phenotyping was done by flowcytometry and gene expression profiling was evaluated by real-time PCR.RESULTS: Non-responders [sustained virological response(SVR)-ve] to conventional antiviral therapy had significantly higher expression of genes associated with interferon responsive element such as IDO1 and PD-L1(6-fold) and negative regulators of JAK-STAT pathway such as SOCS(6-fold) as compared to responders(SVR+ve) to antiviral therapy. The downregulated genes in non-responders included factors involved in antigen processing and presentation mainly belonging to major histocompatibility complex(MHC) Class-Ⅱ family as HLA-DP, HLA-DQ(2-fold) and superoxide dismutase(2-fold). Cells grown in the presence of HCV viral proteins had genes downregulated for factors involved in innate response, interferon signaling, DC maturation and co-stimulatory signaling to T-cells, while the genes for cytokine signaling and Toll-like receptors(4-fold) were upregulated as compared to cells grown in absence of viral proteins.CONCLUSION: Underexpressed MHC class-Ⅱ genes and upregulated negative regulators in non-responders indicate diminished capacity to present antigen and may constitute mechanism of functionally defective state of DCs.

An international Delphi consensus statement on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and risk of chronic kidney disease

Background:With the rising global prevalence of fatty liver disease related to metabolic dysfunction,the association of this common liver condition with chronic kidney disease(CKD)has become increasingly evident.In 2020,the more inclusive term metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)was proposed to replace the term non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).The observed association between MAFLD and CKD and our understanding that CKD can be a consequence of underlying metabolic dysfunction support the notion that individuals with MAFLD are at higher risk of having and developing CKD compared with those without MAFLD.However,to date,there is no appropriate guidance on CKD in individuals with MAFLD.Furthermore,there has been little attention paid to the link between MAFLD and CKD in the Nephrology community.Methods and Results:Using a Delphi-based approach,a multidisciplinary panel of 50 international experts from 26 countries reached a consensus on some of the open research questions regarding the link between MAFLD and CKD.Conclusions:This Delphi-based consensus statement provided guidance on the epidemiology,mechanisms,management and treatment of MAFLD and CKD,as well as the relationship between the severity of MAFLD and risk of CKD,which establish a framework for the early prevention and management of these two common and interconnected diseases.

Clinical Validation of Global Coagulation Tests to Guide Blood Component Transfusions in Cirrhosis and ACLF

Background and Aims:Patients with cirrhosis and acuteon-chronic liver failure(ACLF)may have bleeding complications and need for invasive procedures.Point-of-care(POC)coagulation tests like thromboelastography(TEG)and Sonoclot may be better for guiding patient management than the standard coagulation tests(SCTs),like prothrombin time,platelet count and international normalized ratio.Methods:We prospectively compared and validated the POC tests and SCTs in 70 persons with ACLF and 72 persons with decompensated cirrhosis who had clinical bleeding and checked for episodes of re-bleeding and transfusion requirements.We assessed pre-procedure requirement of blood components when correction was done based on an SCT or POC strategy.Results:Episodes of bleeding were seen in 45%and 28%of ACLF and cirrhosis patient,respectively(p=0.036),with the major site of bleeding being gastrointestinal(31%and 16%,respectively).Platelet counts correlated with TEG-maximum amplitude in cirrhosis(p=0.045)and prothrombin time correlated positively with TEG-reaction(R)time(p=0.032),TEG-Clot kinetics(K)time(p=0.042),Son-activated clotting time(p=0.038)and negatively with clot rate(p=0.043)in ACLF,making these correctable target variables in POC transfusion algorithms.Of 223 procedures,transfusion of fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrate was reduced by 25%(p=0.035)and 20.8%(p=0.045)by using a POC strategy in 76 patients.Correction of deranged Son-activated clotting time and TEG-reaction time was noted in 68%and 72%after 24 h of fresh frozen plasma transfusion in ACLF and 85%and 80%in cirrhosis,respectively.Conclusions:Our study clinically validates that POC tests can better detect coagulation defects and transfusion thresholds in ACLF and cirrhosis,whereas use of conventional tests appear to be less suitable in patients with clinical bleeding.Trial Registration:NCT04332484.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease development:A multifactorial pathogenic phenomena

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),characterized by the accumulation of excessive intrahepatic fat,is a leading metabolic disorder also considered as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome(MS).Though more commonly observed in obese individuals and those with metabolic risk factors,it also develops in a considerable number of non-obese individuals as well as participants without having any component of MS.The basic mechanism involved in the development of fatty liver is the imbalance between lipid uptake,synthesis,and metabolism in the liver,normally controlled by several mechanisms to maintain lipid homeostasis.As a complex progressive liver disorder,the NAFLD pathogenesis is multifactorial,and several new pathogenic phenomena were discovered over time.The available literature suggests the role of both genetic and environmental factors and associated metabolic factors;however,the mechanism of progression is not completely understood.In this review,we discuss different pathogenic mechanisms and their interplay to provide an elaborate idea regarding NAFLD development and progression.Better understanding of pathogenic mechanisms will be useful in finding new treatment for patients with NAFLD.