Prognostic factors associated with mortality in patients with gastric fundal variceal bleeding

AIM To determine the prognostic factors associated with mortality in patients with gastric fundal variceal (GFV) bleeding.METHODS In total, 42 patients were endoscopically diagnosed with GFV bleeding from January 2000 to March 2014. We retrospectively reviewed the patients' medical records and assessed their history, etiology of liver cirrhosis, disease conditions, treatment options for GFV bleeding, medications administered before and after onset of GFV bleeding, blood test results(hemoglobin, albumin, and bilirubin concentrations), and imaging results(including computed tomography and abdominal ultrasonography). We also assessed the prognostic factors associated with short-term mortality(up to 90 d) and long-term mortality in all patients.RESULTS Multivariate analysis showed that prophylactic administration of antibiotics was an independent prognostic factor associated with decreases in short-term mortality (OR = 0.08, 95%CI: 0.01-0.52) and longterm mortality (OR = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.08-0.91) in patients with GFV bleeding. In contrast, concurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and regular use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were independent prognostic factors associated with increases in shortterm mortality(HCC: OR = 15.4, 95%CI: 2.08-114.75; PPI: OR = 12.76, 95%CI: 2.13-76.52) and long-term mortality (HCC: OR = 7.89, 95%CI: 1.98-31.58; PPI: OR = 10.91, 95%CI: 2.86-41.65) in patients with GFV bleeding. The long-term overall survival rate was significantly lower in patients who regularly used PPI than in those who did not use PPI(P = 0.0074).CONCLUSION Administration of antibiotics is associated with decreased short- and long-term mortality, while concurrent HCC and regular PPI administration are associated with increased short- and long-term mortality.

Indicators of sorafenib efficacy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To determine significant indicators for the efficacy of sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Hepatocellular carcinoma or interferon-based therapy history attenuates sofosbuvir/ribavirin for Japanese genotype 2 hepatitis C virus

AIM To investigate the real-world efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir/ribavirin(SOF/RBV) therapy for Japanese patients with genotype 2 hepatitis C virus(GT2-HCV).METHODS A total of 182 patients with GT2-HCV infection who received SOF/RBV therapy for 12 wk at our hospital were enrolled. The patients comprised 122 men and 60 women(age range: 17-84 years; mean age ± SD: 60.1 ± 12.1 years). Relationships between virological response and clinical data were examined by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The proportions of patients with liver cirrhosis and history of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) were 29.0% and 17.3%, respectively. The proportion of patients with prior interferon(IFN)-based therapy was 25.6%. SOF/RBV therapy rapidly decreased HCV RNA levels. Several patients required RBV dose reduction because of anemia or fatigue. Four patients discontinued the therapy. The rates of sustained virological response at 12 wk after the end of treatment were 87.9%(intention to treat: 160/182) and 94.1%(per protocol: 159/169). Multivariate analyses showed that history of HCC or IFN-based therapy independently reduced the efficacy of SOF/RBV therapy. CONCLUSION SOF/RBV therapy for GT2-HCV is safe, highly tolerated, and effective. History of HCC or IFN-based therapy independently reduces the efficacy of this treatment.

Multicentric recurrence of intraductal papillary neoplasm of bile duct after spontaneous detachment of primary tumor:A case report

BACKGROUND Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct(IPNB)rarely recurs in a multicentric manner.We encountered a patient with multiple recurrences of the gastric subtype of IPNB one year after spontaneous detachment of the primary tumor during peroral cholangioscopy(POCS).CASE SUMMARY A 68-year-old woman on maintenance hemodialysis because of lupus nephritis had several cardiovascular diseases and a pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm(IPMN).She was referred to our department for dilation of the common bile duct(CBD)and a tumor in the lumen,detected using ultrasonography.She had no complaints,and blood tests of hepatobiliary enzymes were normal.Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP)showed a papillary tumor in the CBD with a filling defect detected using endoscopic retrograde cholangiography(ERC).Intraductal ultrasonography revealed a papillary tumor and stalk at the CBD.During POCS,the tumor spontaneously detached with its stalk into the CBD.Pathology showed low-intermediate nuclear atypia of the gastric subtype of IPNB.After 1 year,follow-up MRCP showed multiple tumors distributed from the left hepatic duct to the CBD.ERC and POCS showed multicentric tumors.She was alive without hepatobiliary symptoms at least two years after initial diagnosis of IPNB.CONCLUSION The patient experienced gastric subtype of IPNB without curative resection.Observation may be reasonable for patients with this subtype.

Immediate virological response predicts the success of shortterm peg-interferon monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C

AIM:To investigate the efficacy of short-term peginterferon(PEG-IFN)monotherapy for chronic hepatitis C patients who achieved an immediate virological response.METHODS:Defining an"immediate virological response(IVR)"as the loss of serum hepatitis C virus(HCV) RNA 7 d after the first administration of PEG-IFNα,we conducted a 12-wk course of PEG-IFNα2a monotherapy without the addition of ribavirin for 38 patients who had low pretreatment HCV RNA load and exhibited IVR.The patients included 21 men and 17 women,whose ages ranged from 22 to 77 years(mean±SD:52.0±17.8 years).There were 4 patients with HCV genotype 1b,23 patients with genotype 2a and 4 patients with genotype 2b.HCV genotype was not determined for the remaining 7 patients.Patients were categorized into a sustained virological response(SVR)group,if serum HCV RNA remained negative for 24 wk after the end of treatment,or into a relapse group.RESULTS:Based on the intention-to-treat analysis,35 patients(92.1%)achieved SVR.One patient(2.6%)relapsed with serum HCV RNA 12 wk after the end of treatment.Two patients(5.3%)withdrew from the study during the 24-wk follow-up period.With regard to the HCV RNA genotype,the SVR rates were 100%(4/4) for genotype 1b,95.7%(22/23)for genotype 2a and 100%(4/4)for genotype 2b.The SVR rate in 7 patients,whose HCV RNA genotypes were not determined,was 71.4%(5/7).CONCLUSION:Short-term PEG-IFNα2a monotherapy is highly effective for chronic hepatitis C patients who have low pretreatment HCV RNA load and exhibit IVR.

Efficacy of tolvaptan for the patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

To investigate the factors influenced the efficacy of tolvaptan (TLV) in liver cirrhosis. METHODSWe retrospectively enrolled 61 consecutive patients with refractory hepatic ascites. All of them had been treated with furosemide and spironolactone before admission, and treated with TLV for 7 d in our hospital. The effect of TLV was defined by the rate of body weight loss, and the factors that influenced TLV efficacy were analyzed using multiple regression. RESULTSCoexistent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was the only significant predictive variable that attenuated the efficacy of TLV. In stratified analysis, high doses of furosemide decreased the efficacy of TLV in patients with HCC, and increased efficacy in those without HCC. In the latter, a high Child-Pugh-Turcotte score had a positive influence and a high concentration of lactate dehydrogenase had a negative influence on the effectiveness of TLV. CONCLUSIONDevelopment of ascites may differ between patients with liver failure and those with HCC progression. A sufficient preceding dose of furosemide decreases diuretic effect of TLV.

Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence in HCV patients treated with direct-acting antivirals after curative treatment

Aim:The increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)recurrence in hepatitis C virus(HCV)-infected patients treated with direct-acting antivirals(DAAs)after curative treatment for HCC is controversial.The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of HCC recurrence after DAA therapy.Methods:We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 312 consecutive patients with HCV-related HCC who received DAA therapy in participating institutions between September 2014 and July 2016.All patients received curative ;hepatectomy or radio-frequency ablation.We calculated the annual incidence of HCC recurrence after DAA therapy and identified the risk factors for HCC recurrence using Cox regression models.Results:The median age was 74 years old,and a sustained virological response was achieved by 288 patients.The 3-year-overall survival rate was 95.4%in a median follow-up period of 855 days.HCC recurred in 135 patients.The 1-,2-and 3-year recurrence rates were 18.3%,38.8%and 55.4%,respectively.A multivariate analysis revealed that the following factors were associated with HCC recurrence:multiple tumors at the first HCC treatment[hazard ratio(HR)=2.21;95%CI:1.41-3.49],a history of multiple treatments for HCC(HR=1.97;95%CI:1.28-3.02),andα-fetoprotein(AFP-L3)≥10%at the initiation of DAA therapy(HR=4.74;95%CI:2.10-10.7).Conclusion:Among patients treated with DAAs after the curative treatment of HCC,multiple tumors at the first HCC treatment,multiple prior HCC treatments and a high AFP-L3 level before DAA therapy were associated with recurrence,and the rate of recurrence was comparable to that before the DAA era.