Lymphocyte-to-white blood cell ratio is associated with outcome in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND The lymphocyte-to-white blood cell ratio(LWR)is a blood marker of the systemic inflammatory response.The prognostic value of LWR in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure(HBV-ACLF)remains unclear.AIM To explore whether LWR could stratify the risk of poor outcomes in HBV-ACLF patients.METHODS This study was conducted by recruiting 330 patients with HBV-ACLF at the Department of Gastroenterology in a large tertiary hospital.Patients were divided into survivor and non-survivor groups according to their 28-d prognosis.The independent risk factors for 28-d mortality were calculated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.Patients were divided into low-and high-LWR groups according to the cutoff values.Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed according to the level of LWR.RESULTS During the 28-d follow-up time,135 patients died,and the mortality rate was 40.90%.The LWR level in non-surviving patients was significantly decreased compared to that in surviving patients.A lower LWR level was an independent risk factor for poor 28-d outcomes(hazard ratio=0.052,95%confidence interval:0.005-0.535).The LWR level was significantly negatively correlated with the Child-Turcotte-Pugh,model for end-stage liver disease,and Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B-ACLF II scores.In addition,the 28-d mortality was higher for patients with LWR<0.11 than for those with LWR≥0.11.CONCLUSION LWR may serve as a simple and useful tool for stratifying the risk of poor 28-d outcomes in HBVACLF patients.

Combined use of non-biological artif icial liver treatments for patients with acute liver failure complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome

BACKGROUND:Acute liver failure(ALF) caused by viral and non-viral hepatitis is often accompanied with severe metabolic disorders,the accumulation of toxic substances and continuous release and accumulation of a large number of endogenous toxins and inflammatory mediators. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of various combined non-biological artif icial liver treatments for patients with acute liver failure(ALF) complicated by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS).METHODS:Thirty-one patients with mid- or late-stage liver failure complicated by MODS(score 4) were randomly divided into three treatment groups:plasmapheresis(PE) combined with hemoperfusion(HP) and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration(CVVHDF),PE+CVVHDF,and HP+CVVHDF,respectively. Heart rate(HR) before and after treatment,mean arterial pressure(MAP),respiratory index(PaO2/FiO2),hepatic function,platelet count,and blood coagulation were determined.RESULTS:Signifi cant improvement was observed in HR,MAP,PaO2/FiO2,total bilirubin(TBIL) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels after treatment(P<0.05). TBIL and ALT decreased more signifi cantly after treatment in the PE+CVVHDF and PE+HP+CVVHDF groups(P<0.01). Prothrombin time(PT) and albumin were signifi cantly improved only in the PE+CVVHDF and PE+HP+CVVHDF groups(P<0.05). TBIL decreased more significantly in the PE+HP+CVVHDF group than in the HP+CVVHDF and PE+CVVHDF groups(P<0.05). The survival rate of the patients was 58.1%(18/31),viral survival rate 36.4%(4/11),and non-viral survival rate 70%(14/20).CONCLUSION:Liver function was relatively improved after treatment,but PE+HP+CVVHDF was more efficient for the removal of toxic metabolites,especially bilirubin. The survival rate was signifi cantly higher in the patients with non-viral liver failure than in those with viral liver failure.

Fulminant Hepatitis Associated with Chronic Consumption of 3,4-Methylenedioxy-Methamphetamine;Case Report

The amphetamine derivative 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also called ecstasy, is a neurotoxin widely consumed among young people that has increased in recent years because it is a recreational drug, of which immediate effects are known such as a greater sensation of well-being, extroversion, increased sensory perception. However, its long-term effects have been described very little in the medical literature, including damage to the heart, central nervous system, kidney, etc. One of its little-known effects is hepatotoxicity, of which few cases are known associated with fulminant hepatitis, which is a rapidly deteriorating condition that is generally associated with a syndrome of multiple organ dysfunction and death. Therefore, it is very important to know this type of damage in the short and long term. The following case is of a 39-year-old man who came to our service due to jaundice syndrome and the only history of MDMA consumption, who as the days went by met the criteria for fulminant liver failure, with damage to multiple organs (organ dysfunction syndrome).