Predictors of survival in autoimmune liver disease overlap syndromes

BACKGROUND Survival in patients with autoimmune liver disease overlap syndromes(AILDOS)compared to those with single autoimmune liver disease is unclear.AIM To investigate the survival of patients with AILDOS and assess the accuracy of non-invasive serum models for predicting liver-related death.METHODS Patients with AILDOS were defined as either autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis overlap(AIH-PBC)or autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap(AIH-PSC)and were identified from three tertiary centres for this cohort study.Liver-related death or transplantation(liver-related mortality)was determined using a population-based data linkage system.Prognostic scores for liver-related death were compared for accuracy[including liver outcome score(LOS),Hepascore,Mayo Score,model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score and MELD incorporated with serum sodium(MELD-Na)score].RESULTS Twenty-two AILDOS patients were followed for a median of 3.1 years(range,0.35-7.7).Fourteen were female,the median age was 46.7 years(range,17.8 to 82.1)and median Hepascore was 1(range,0.07-1).At five years post enrolment,57%of patients remained free from liver-related mortality(74%AIH-PBC,27%AIH-PSC).There was no significant difference in survival between AIH-PBC and AIH-PSC.LOS was a significant predictor of liver-related mortality(P<0.05)in patients with AIH-PBC(n=14)but not AIH-PSC(n=8).A LOS cut-point of 6 discriminated liver-related mortality in AIH-PBC patients(P=0.012,log-rank test,100%sensitivity,77.8%specificity)(Harrell's C-statistic 0.867).The MELD score,MELD-Na score and Mayo Score were not predictive of liver-related mortality in any group.CONCLUSION Survival in the rare,AILDOS is unclear.The current study supports the LOS as a predictor of liver-related mortality in AIH-PBC patients.Further trials investigating predictors of survival in AILDOS are required.

Effect of airplane transport of donor livers on post-liver transplantation survival

AIM To evaluate the effect of long haul airplane transport of donor livers on post-transplant outcomes. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of patients who received a liver transplantation was performed in Perth, Australia from 1992 to 2012. Donor and recipient characteristics information were extracted from Western Australian liver transplantation service database. Patients were followed up for a mean of six years. Patient and graft survival were evaluated and compared between patients who received a local donor liver and those who received an airplane transported donor liver. Predictors of survival were determined by univariate and multivariate analysis using cox regression.RESULTS One hundred and ninety-three patients received alocal donor liver and 93 patients received an airplane transported donor liver. Airplane transported livers had a significantly lower alanine transaminase(mean: 45 U/L vs 84 U/L, P = 0.035), higher donor risk index(mean: 1.88 vs 1.42, P < 0.001) and longer cold ischemic time(CIT)(mean: 10.1 h vs 6.4 h, P < 0.001). There was a weak correlation between CIT and transport distance(r2 = 0.29, P < 0.001). Mean follow up was six years and 93 patients had graft failure. Multivariate analysis found only airplane transport retained significance for graft loss(HR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.16-3.17). One year graft survival was 0.88 for those with a local liver and was 0.71 for those with an airplane transported liver. One year graft loss was due to primary graft non-function or associated with preservation injury in 20.8% of recipients of an airplane transported liver compared with 4.6% in those with a local liver(P = 0.027). CONCLUSION Airplane transport of donor livers was independently associated with reduced graft survival following liver transplantation.

Improved Hepascore in hepatitis C predicts reversal in risk of adverse outcome

AIM To establish if serial Hepascore tests(referred to as delta Hepascore) in those with chronic hepatitis C(CHC) correlate with the increase and/or decrease in risk of liver related complications.METHODS Three hundred and forty-six CHC patients who had two Hepascore tests performed were studied. During 1944 patient years follow-up 28(8.1%) reached an endpoint. The Hepascore is a serum test that provides clinically useful data regarding the stage of liver fibrosis andsubsequent clinical outcomes in chronic liver disease.RESULTS Patients with a baseline Hepascore > 0.75 had a significantly increased rate of reaching a composite endpoint consisting of hepatocellular carcinoma, liver death, and/or decompensation(P < 0.001). In those with an initial Hepascore > 0.75, a subsequent improved Hepascore showed a significantly decreased risk for the composite endpoint(P = 0.004). There were no negative outcomes in those with a stable or improved delta Hepascore. The minimum time between tests that was found to give a statically significant result was in those greater than one year(P = 0.03).CONCLUSION In conclusion, Hepascore is an accurate predictor of liver related mortality and liver related morbidity in CHC patients. Of note, we have found that there is a decreased risk of mortality and morbidity in CHC patients when the patient has an improving delta Hepascore. Repeat Hepascore tests, when performed at a minimum one-year interval, may be of value in routine clinical practice to predict liver related clinical outcomes and to guide patient management.

非酒精性脂肪性肝病和非酒精性脂肪性肝炎的无创性诊断

非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)在美国和世界上许多其他地区都是最常见的慢性肝病,其患病率持续上升,目前美国约1/4的成人和10%的儿童患NAFLD。NAFLD包括多种疾病状态,从通常呈良性、非进展性临床过程的单纯性脂肪肝直至更为严重的、可进展为肝硬化和终末期肝病的非酒精性脂肪性肝炎(NASH)。目前,NASH的诊断依赖于创伤性肝活检,而肝活检存在取样和读片误差的缺陷。NASH的临床危险因素包括糖尿病和代谢综合征,但这些因素本身不足以预测NASH。常规肝酶水平预测可靠性低,新型血浆肝细胞死亡标记物单独或与临床危险因素联合今后可能成为无创性诊断工具。本文对无创性诊断工具在鉴别单纯性脂肪肝与NASH以及确定肝纤维化的存在及其范围中的作用作一概述。

Hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplant:An Australian single-centre study

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Liver transplantation(LT)offers the most effective treatment.HCC recurrence is the strongest risk factor that decreases post-LT survival in patients transplanted for HCC.The rate of HCC recurrence is generally reported as 8%-20%in the literature.Many predictors of HCC have already been researched,however,to our knowledge there are no published studies on this topic using Australian data.AIM To determine the rate and identify predictors of HCC recurrence in a contemporary Western Australian LT cohort.METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of all liver transplants in patients with HCC at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital between 2006 and 2021.Data was collected from various health record databases and included recipient demographics,serum biochemistry,radiology,operation notes,explant histopathology and details of recurrence.Overall survival of HCC patients post-LT,stratified for recurrence,was calculated by Kaplan Meier analysis.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was used to determine predictors of HCC recurrence post-LT.RESULTS Between 1/1/2006 and 12/31/2021,119 patients were transplanted with HCC.8.4%of subjects developed recurrent HCC after LT with median follow-up time of 5.4 years.The median time to recurrence was 2.9 years±0.75 years.When comparing baseline characteristics,a greater proportion of subjects with recurrence had common characteristics on explant histopathology,including>3 viable nodules(P=0.001),vascular invasion(P=0.003)and poorly differentiated HCC(P=0.03).Unadjusted survival curves showed lower 1-year,3-year,5-year and 10-year survival rates in subjects with HCC recurrence compared to those without HCC recurrence(90%vs 92%,70%vs 88%,42%vs 80%,14%vs 76%,respectively;log rank P<0.001).CONCLUSION HCC recurrence was low at 8.4%in this contemporary Australian cohort,however it significantly impacted post-LT survival.Further studies are required to confirm predictors of recurrence and improve recipient outcomes.