Presepsin teardown- pitfalls of biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of bacterial infection in cirrhosis

AIM To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of presepsin in cirrhosis-associated bacterial infections. METHODS Two hundred and sixteen patients with cirrhosis were enrolled. At admission, the presence of bacterial infections and level of plasma presepsin, serum C-reactive protein(CRP) and procalcitonin(PCT) were evaluated. Patients were followed for three months to assess the possible association between presepsin level and short-term mortality.RESULTS Present 34.7 of patients had bacterial infection. Presepsin levels were significantly higher in patients with infection than without(median, 1002 pg/m L vs 477 pg/m L, P < 0.001), increasing with the severity of infection [organ failure(OF): Yes vs No, 2358 pg/m L vs 710 pg/m L, P < 0.001]. Diagnostic accuracy of presepsin for severe infections was similar to PCT and superior to CRP(AUC-ROC: 0.85, 0.85 and 0.66, respectively, P = NS for presepsin vs PCT and P < 0.01 for presepsin vs CRP). At the optimal cut-off value of presepsin > 1206 pg/m L sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values were as follows: 87.5%, 74.5%, 61.8% and 92.7%. The accuracy of presepsin, however, decreased in advanced stage of the disease or in the presence of renal failure, most probably because of the significantly elevated presepsin levels in non-infected patients. 28-d mortality rate was higher among patients with > 1277 pg/m L compared to those with ≤ 1277 pg/m L(46.9% vs 11.6%, P < 0.001). In a binary logistic regression analysis, however, only PCT(OR = 1.81, 95%CI: 1.09-3.01, P = 0.022) but neither presepsin nor CRP were independent risk factor for 28-d mortality after adjusting with MELD score and leukocyte count.CONCLUSION Presepsin is a valuable new biomarker for defining severe infections in cirrhosis, proving same efficacy as PCT. However, it is not a useful marker of short-term mortality.

Immune dysfunction in cirrhosis

Innate and adaptive immune dysfunction,also referred to as cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction syndrome,is a major component of cirrhosis,and plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of both the acute and chronic worsening of liver function.During the evolution of the disease,acute decompensation events associated with organ failure(s),so-called acute-on chronic liver failure,and chronic decompensation with progression of liver fibrosis and also development of disease specific complications,comprise distinct clinical entities with different immunopathology mechanisms.Enhanced bacterial translocation associated with systemic endotoxemia and increased occurrence of systemic bacterial infections have substantial impacts on both clinical situations.Acute and chronic exposure to bacteria and/or their products,however,can result in variable clinical consequences.The immune status of patients is not constant during the illness;consequently,alterations of the balance between pro-and anti-in-flammatory processes result in very different dynamic courses.In this review we give a detailed overview of acquired immune dysfunction and its consequences for cirrhosis.We demonstrate the substantial influence of inherited innate immune dysfunction on acute and chronic inflammatory processes in cirrhosis caused by the pre-existing acquired immune dysfunction with limited compensatory mechanisms.Moreover,we highlight the current facts and future perspectives of how the assessment of immune dysfunction can assist clinicians in everyday practical decision-making when establishing treatment and care strategies for the patients with end-stage liver disease.Early and efficient recognition of inappropriate performance of the immune system is essential for overcoming complications,delaying progression and reducing mortality.

Gut barrier failure biomarkers are associated with poor disease outcome in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

To assess the prevalence of a panel of serologic markers that reflect gut barrier dysfunction in a mixed cohort of pediatric and adult primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients. METHODSSera of 67 PSC patients [median age (range): 32 (5-79) years, concomitant IBD: 67% and cirrhosis: 20%] were assayed for the presence of antibodies against to F-actin (AAA IgA/IgG) and gliadin (AGA IgA/IgG)] and for serum level of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) by ELISA. Markers of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure [LPS binding protein (LBP)] and various anti-microbial antibodies [anti-OMP Plus IgA and endotoxin core IgA antibody (EndoCAb)] were also determined. Poor disease outcome was defined as orthotopic liver transplantation and/or liver-related death during the follow-up [median: 99 (14-106) mo]. One hundred and fifty-three healthy subjects (HCONT) and 172 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were the controls. RESULTSA total of 28.4%, 28.0%, 9% and 20.9% of PSC patients were positive for AAA IgA, AAA IgG, AGA IgA and AGA IgG, respectively. Frequencies of AAA IgA and AAA IgG (P < 0.001, for both) and AGA IgG (P = 0.01, for both) but not AGA IgA were significantly higher compared to both of the HCONT and the UC groups. In survival analysis, AAA IgA-positivity was revealed as an independent predictor of poor disease outcome after adjusting either for the presence of cirrhosis [HR = 5.15 (1.27-20.86), P = 0.022 or for the Mayo risk score (HR = 4.24 (0.99-18.21), P = 0.052]. AAA IgA-positivity was significantly associated with higher frequency of anti-microbial antibodies (P < 0.001 for EndoCab IgA and P = 0.012 for anti-OMP Plus IgA) and higher level of the enterocyte damage marker (median I-FABPAAA IgA posvsneg: 365 vs 166 pg/mL, P = 0.011), but not with serum LBP level. CONCLUSIONPresence of IgA type AAA identified PSC patients with progressive disease. Moreover, it is associated with enhanced mucosal immune response to various microbial antigens and enterocyte damage further highlighting the importance of the gut-liver interaction in PSC.