Alcoholic liver disease: Treatment

The excess consumption of alcohol is associated with alcoholic liver diseases(ALD). ALD is a major healthcare problem, personal and social burden, and significant reason for economic loss worldwide. The ALD spectrum includes alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis of ALD is based on a combination of clinical features, including a history of significant alcohol intake, evidence of liver disease, and laboratory findings. Abstinence is the most important treatment for ALD and the treatment plan varies according to the stage of the disease. Various treatments including abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery are currently available. For severe alcoholic hepatitis, corticosteroid or pentoxifylline are recommended based on the guidelines. In addition, new therapeutic targets are being under investigation.

Invasive and non-invasive diagnosis of cirrhosis and portal hypertension

With advances in the management and treatment of advanced liver disease,including the use of antiviral therapy,a simple,one stage description for advanced fibrotic liver disease has become inadequate.Although refining the diagnosis of cirrhosis to reflect disease heterogeneity is essential,current diagnostic tests have not kept pace with the progression of this new paradigm.Liver biopsy and hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement are the gold standards for the estimation of hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension(PHT),respectively,and they have diagnostic and prognostic value.However,they are invasive and,as such,cannot be used repeatedly in clinical practice.The ideal noninvasive test should be safe,easy to perform,inexpensive,reproducible as well as to give numerical and accurate results in real time.It should be predictive of long term outcomes related with fibrosis and PHT to allow prognostic stratification.Recently,many types of noninvasive alternative tests have been developed and are under investigation.In particular,imaging and ultrasound based tests,such as transient elastography,have shown promising results.Although most of these noninvasive tests effectively identify severe fibrosis and PHT,the methods available for diagnosing moderate disease status are still insufficient,and further investigation is essential to predict outcomes and individualize therapy in this field.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for cirrhosis: Present and future perspectives

Cirrhosis occurs as a result of various chronic liver injuries,which may be caused by viral infections,alcohol abuse and the administration of drugs and chemicals. Recently,bone marrow cells(BMCs),hematopoietic stem cells(HSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) have been used for developing treatments for cirrhosis. Clinical trials have investigated the therapeutic potential of BMCs,HSCs and MSCs for the treatment of cirrhosis based on their potential to differentiate into hepatocytes. Although the therapeutic mechanisms of BMC,HSC and MSC treatments are still not fully characterized,the evidence thus far has indicated that the potential therapeutic mechanisms of MSCs are clearer than those of BMCs or HSCs with respect to liver regenerative medicine. MSCs suppress inflammatory responses,reduce hepatocyte apoptosis,increase hepatocyte regeneration,reverse liver fibrosis and enhance liver functionality. This paper summarizes the clinical studies that have used BMCs,HSCs and MSCs in patients with liver failure or cirrhosis. We also present the potential therapeutic mechanisms of BMCs,HSCs and MSCs for the improvement of liver function.

Assessment of scoring systems for acute-on-chronic liver failure at predicting short-term mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitis

AIM To assess the performance of proposed scores specific for acute-on-chronic liver failure in predicting shortterm mortality among patients with alcoholic hepatitis.METHODS We retrospectively collected data from 264 patients with clinically diagnosed alcoholic hepatitis from January to December 2013 at 21 academic hospitals in Korea. The performance for predicting short-term mortality was calculated for Chronic Liver FailureSequential Organ Failure Assessment(CLIF-SOFA), CLIF Consortium Organ Failure score(CLIF-C OFs), Maddrey'sdiscriminant function(DF), age, bilirubin, international normalized ratio and creatinine score(ABIC), Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score(GAHS), model for end-stage liver disease(MELD), and MELD-Na.RESULTS Of 264 patients, 32(12%) patients died within 28 d. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of CLIF-SOFA, CLIF-C OFs, DF, ABIC, GAHS, MELD, and MELD-Na was 0.86(0.81-0.90), 0.89(0.84-0.92), 0.79(0.74-0.84), 0.78(0.72-0.83), 0.81(0.76-0.86), 0.83(0.78-0.88), and 0.83(0.78-0.88), respectively, for 28-d mortality. The performance of CLIF-SOFA had no statistically significant differences for 28-d mortality. The performance of CLIF-C OFs was superior to that of DF, ABIC, and GAHS, while comparable to that of MELD and MELD-Na in predicting 28-d mortality. A CLIF-SOFA score of 8 had 78.1% sensitivity and 79.7% specificity, and CLIF-C OFs of 10 had 68.8% sensitivity and 91.4% specificity for predicting 28-d mortality.CONCLUSION CLIF-SOFA and CLIF-C OF scores performed well, with comparable predictive ability for short-term mortality compared to the commonly used scoring systems in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Computed tomography findings for predicting severe acute hepatitis with prolonged cholestasis

AIM: To evaluate the significance of computed tomography (CT) findings in relation to liver chemistry and the clinical course of acute hepatitis. METHODS: Four hundred and twelve patients with acute hepatitis who underwent enhanced CT scanning were enrolled retrospectively. Imaging findings were analyzed for the following variables: gallbladder wall thickness (GWT), arterial heterogeneity, periportal tracking, number and maximum size of lymph nodes, presence of ascites, and size of spleen. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin time were measured on the day of admission and CT scan, and laboratory data were evaluated every 2-4 d for all subjects during hospitalization. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 34.4 years, and the most common cause of hepatitis was hepatitis A virus (77.4%). The mean GWT was 5.2 mm. The number of patients who had findings of arterial heterogeneity, periportal tracking, lymph node enlargement > 7 mm, and ascites was 294 (80.1%), 348 (84.7%), 346 (84.5%), and 56 (13.6%), respectively. On multivariate logistic regression, male gender [odds ratio (OR) = 2.569, 95%CI: 1.477-4.469, P = 0.001], toxic hepatitis (OR = 3.531, 95%CI: 1.444-8.635, P = 0.006), level of albumin (OR = 2.154, 95%CI: 1.279-3.629, P = 0.004), and GWT (OR = 1.061, 95%CI: 1.015-1.110, P = 0.009) were independent predictive factors for severe hepatitis. The level of bilirubin (OR = 1.628, 95%CI: 1.331-1.991, P < 0.001) and GWT (OR = 1.172, 95%CI: 1.024-1.342,P = 0.021) were independent factors for prolonged cholestasis in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: In patients with acute hepatitis, GWT on CT scan was an independent predictor of severe hepatitis and prolonged cholestasis.

Predictive factors for interferon and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C

AIM： To confirm the predictive factors for interferon （IFN）-α and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis patients with hepatitis C virus （HCV） genotype lb. METHODS： HCV RNA from 50 patients infected with HCV genotype lb was studied by cloning and sequencing of interferon sensitivity determining region （ISDR）, PKR- eIF2α phosphorylation homology domain （PePHD）. Patients were treated with IFN-α and ribavirin for 6 mo and grouped by effectiveness of the therapy. A variety of factors were analyzed. RESULTS： Our data showed that age, HCV RNA titer, and ISDR type could be used as the predictive factors for combined IFN-α and ribavirin efficacy. Characteristically, mutations in PePHD appeared only when the combination therapy was effective. Other factors, such as sex and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） level, were not related to its efficacy. Adjusting for age and HCV RNA titer indicated that the ISDR type was the most potent predictive factor. CONCLUSION： HCV RNA ISDR type is an important factor for predicting efficacy of IFN-α and ribavirin combination therapy in Korean patients.

AKT regulates IL-1β-induced proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells

Background:Activated hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)are closely involved in the initiation,perpetuation,and resolution of liver fibrosis.Pro-inflammatory cytokine levels are positively correlated with the transition from liver injury to fibrogenesis and contribute to HSC pathophysiology in liver fibrosis.Methods:In this study,we investigated the effect of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin(IL)-1βon the proliferation and signaling pathways involved in fibrogenesis in LX-2 cells,an HSC cell line,using western blotting and cell proliferation assays.Results:IL-1βincreased the proliferation rate andα-smooth muscle actin(SMA)expression of LX-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner.Within 1 h after IL-1βtreatment,c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),p38,and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling was activated in LX-2 cells.Subsequently,protein kinase B(AKT)phosphorylation and an increase inα-SMA expression were observed in LX-2 cells.Each inhibitor of JNK,p38,or NF-κB decreased cell proliferation,AKT phosphorylation,andα-SMA expression in IL-1β-treated LX-2 cells.Conclusion:These results indicate that JNK,p38,and NF-κB signals converge at AKT phosphorylation,leading to LX-2 activation by IL-1β.Therefore,the AKT signaling pathway can be used as a target for alleviating liver fibrosis by the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β.

Efficacy of Pegylated Interferon Monotherapy versus Sequential Therapy of Entecavir and Pegylated Interferon in Hepatitis B e Antigen-Positive Hepatitis B Patients： A Randomized, Multicenter, Phase IIIb Open-Label Study （POTENT Study）

Background： Until now, various types of combined therapy with nucleotide analogs and pegylated interferon （Peg-INF） in patients with hepatitis B patients have been tried. Howe6ver, studies regarding the benefits of de novo combination, late-add on, and sequential treatmentare very limited. The objective of the current study was to identify the efficacy of sequential treatment of Peg-INF after short-term antiviral treatment. Methods： Between June 2010 and June 2015, hepatitis 13 e antigen （HBeAg）-positive patients （n = 162） received Peg-IFN for 48 weeks （mono-treatment group, n = 81） and entecavir （ETV） for 12 weeks with a 48-week course of Peg-IFN starting at week 5 of ETV therapy （sequential treatment group, n = 81）. The primary endpoint was HBeAg seroconversion at the end of follow-up period after the 24-week treatment. The primary endpoint was analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher＇s exact test, and regression analysis.Results： HBeAg seroconversion rate （18.2% vs. 18.2%, t = 0.03, P = 1.000） and seroclearance rate （19.7% vs. 19.7%, t = 0.03, P = 1.000） were same in both mono-treatment and sequential treatment groups. The rate of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） normalization （45.5% vs. 54.5%, t = 1.12, P = 0.296） and serum hepatitis B virus （HBV）-DNA 〈2000 U/L （28.8% vs. 28.8%, t = 0.10, P = 1.000） was not different in sequential and mono-treatment groups at 24 weeks of Peg-INF. Viral response rate （HBeAg seroconversion and serum HBV-DNA 〈2000 U/L） was not different in the two groups （12.1% vs. 16.7%, t = 1.83, P = 0.457）. Baseline HBV-DNA level （7 log10 U/ml vs. 7.5 log10 U/ml, t = 1.70, P = 0.019） and hepatitis B surface antigen titer （3.6 log10 U/ml vs. 4.0 log10 U/ml, t = 2.19, P = 0.020） were lower and predictors of responder in mono-treatment and sequential treatment groups, respectively. Conclusions： The current study shows no differences in HBeAg seroconversion rate, ALT normalization, and HBV-DNA levels between mono-therapy and sequential therapy regimens.