A Single Tertiary Center 14-year Experience With Mesenteric Panniculitis in Turkey: A Retrospective Study of 716 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric panniculitis is a chronic inflammatory process seen in mesenteric tissue. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings, and malignancy in patients diagnosed with mesenteric panniculitis using computed tomography. METHODS: A total of 716 patients with mesenteric panniculitis were retrospectively evaluated by screening all computed tomography scans performed between January 2005 and December 2018. RESULTS: Among 65 278 patients undergoing CT, 716 were diagnosed with mesenteric panniculitis. The prevalence of mesenteric panniculitis was 1.1%. The mean age was 56 ± 14 (20-91) years. The malignant and nonmalignant groups comprised 354 (49.4%) and 362 (50.6%) patients, respectively. The mean age of the malignant group was significantly higher than the nonmalignant group (P < .001). The most common malignancy was breast cancer (12.2%). A history of abdominal surgery was present in 179 (25%) patients with mesenteric panniculitis and it is higher in the malignant group than the nonmalignant group (128 [36.1%], 51 [14%], respectively, P < .001). Mean hemoglobin level and leukocyte count were lower in the malignant group than in the nonmalignant group (P < .001, P < .001, respectively). The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was higher in the malignant group than in the nonmalignant group (P = .030). Radiological criterion 2 was less common and radiological criterion 5 was more common in the malignant group than the nonmalignant group (91.0%, 96.4%, P = .004; 35.9%, 27.1%, respectively, P = .011). CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended to conduct research for malignancy in patients with mesenteric panniculitis, especially in the presence of clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings with high-risk features.

Prognostic Value of Uric Acid for Pulmonary Thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary thromboembolism is a serious cardiovascular condition with considerable morbidity and mortality. Clinical studies have indicated that hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to investigate possible value of the serum levels of uric acid (UA) in predicting 30-d pulmonary thromboembolism-related mortality. METHODS: Pulmonary thromboembolism was confirmed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography, demographic data, troponin, systolic pressure and pulse on admission, and simplified pulmonary embolism severity index assessment. UA levels were analyzed on admission. The primary end point was all-cause mortality during the first 30 d. RESULTS: A total of 337 acute pulmonary thromboembolism subjects, of whom 59% were females, were enrolled. The median (interquartile range) serum UA level was 5.35 (4.1-7.3) mg/dL. Serum UA levels of deceased subjects were higher than those of alive subjects during the study period (6.9 [4.6-10.0] mg/dL vs 5.2 [4.1-7.0] mg/dL, P = .038). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve was 0.650 (CI 0.732-0.960) for UA levels for all-cause mortality. A level of serum UA ≥ 5 mg/dL showed 73% sensitivity and 88% negative predictive value for all-cause 30-d mortality. A weak correlation was determined between the UA levels and age (r = 0.25, P < .001) and any troponin (r = 0.267, P < .001). Serum UA level was an independent predictor of short-term mortality in pulmonary thromboembolism (odds ratio 1.2, P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Serum UA levels may be a potential biomarker for predicting outcome in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Liver Transplant.

OBJECTIVES: Curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma is liver transplant. To date, the Milan Criteria remain the best pretransplant clinical surrogate for tumor behavior and overall prognosis. Microvascular invasion portends a poor prognosis; however, it is often undetectable before transplant. Furthermore, its pretransplant indicators are not well established. In this study, we investigated the presurgical and pathologic predictors of microvascular invasion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 2000 and August 2013, 156 liver transplants were performed for hepatocellular carcinoma at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Information on clinical characteristics and pathology data, including microvascular invasion, were available for 107 patients on liver explants. Logistic regression was used to assess the effects of Milan Criteria, alpha-fetoprotein, tumor differentiation, and multilobar involvement on the presence of microvascular invasion on explant pathology. RESULTS: In 107 patients, 24 (22%) had microvascular invasion on pathology. In patients with microvascular invasion, 41% were outside of Milan Criteria versus 19.3% of patients within but without microvascular invasion. In patients with microvascular invasion, the rate of poor differentiation and alpha-fetoprotein level > 1000 ng/mL were more common than in patients without microvascular invasion; however, on univariate and multivariable analyses, Milan Criteria, alphafetoprotein level, multilobar involvement, and differentiation did not reach statistical significance in predicting microvascular invasion on pathology. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, potential predictors of microvascular invasion, including Milan Criteria, alphafetoprotein level, tumor differentiation, and multilobar involvement, were not predictive. Preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion remains a challenge, suggesting the need for future studies.

The predictors of post-transplant coronary events among liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Cardiac morbidities can occur during the peri- and post-liver transplant (LT) period, affecting the long-term survival. The purpose of this study was to identify the potential factors that predict a coronary event post-transplantation. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent liver transplantation at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2009 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. We looked at pre-liver transplant cardiac risk factors and the diagnostic tests utilized for coronary artery disease screening. Patients with and without post-liver transplant coronary events were compared. RESULTS: There were a total of 146 patients with a mean age at LT of 55.3 years. The prevalence of hypertension, tobacco use and diabetes within the patient population was 61.6 % (n = 90), 39 % (n = 57) and 37.6 % (n = 55), respectively. There were 29 deaths and 30 coronary events over a median follow-up period of 1.75 years. Age at the time of liver transplant was predictive of coronary event (OR 1.11, CI 1.01-1.20). The 1-year survival in patients with a coronary event was 47 versus 94 % in patients without a coronary event. The combined use of a dobutamine stress echocardiogram and coronary artery calcium score predicted a coronary event with a sensitivity of 62.5 % and specificity of 66.7 %. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, LT recipients with cardiac events had limited survival as compared to the cohort without coronary events. Identification of such patients with noninvasive screening may provide a practical alternative to an invasive cardiac workup. Further improvement in screening strategies may minimize the liver transplant cardiac morbidity.

Hepatitis C following liver transplantation: current approach and future research opportunities.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The treatment of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) in liver transplant recipients was very limited until direct-acting antivirals became widely available. We review the current approach to HCV treatment following liver transplantation and future research opportunities. RECENT FINDINGS: Current treatment of HCV infection with all oral new direct-acting antivirals in the postliver transplant setting is easier, shorter, tolerable, and more effective with high-sustained virological response rates. However, some challenges remain, including the optimal timing of therapy, drug-drug interactions, renal insufficiency, and HIV coinfection. SUMMARY: Patients with recurrent HCV following liver transplant will significantly benefit from all oral new direct acting antivirals. Ongoing studies will determine the optimal timing and combination in this unique population.

Hepatopulmonary Syndrome and Liver Transplantation: A Recent Review of the Literature.

A severe and common pulmonary vascular complication of liver disease is hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS). It is a triad of liver dysfunction and/or portal hypertension, intrapulmonary vascular dilatations, and increased alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient. Prevalence varies according to various study groups from 4%-47%. While the most common presenting symptom of HPS is dyspnea, it is usually asymptomatic, and thus all liver transplant candidates should be screened for its presence. Pulse oximetry is a useful screening method, but arterial blood gas examination is the gold standard. If there is an abnormal P (A-a)O2 gradient, microbubble transthoracic echocardiography should be done for diagnosis. Outcome is unpredictable, and there is currently no effective medical therapy. The only effective therapy is considered to be liver transplantation. Complete resolution of HPS after liver transplantation is seen within a year in most HPS patients.

Portopulmonary Hypertension and Liver Transplant: Recent Review of the Literature.

Portopulmonary hypertension is one of the main pulmonary conditions affecting patients with liver disease and/or portal hypertension. Other conditions include hepatopulmonary syndrome and hepatic hydrothorax. Portopulmonary hypertension is caused by pulmonary vasoconstriction and increased pulmonary vascular resistance. It develops as a result of portal hypertension with or without liver disease and is associated with a higher morbidity and mortality. However, portopulmonary hypertension is usually asymptomatic; the most common symptoms are dyspnea, fatigue, and peripheral edema. All liver transplant candidates should be screened for potential portopulmonary hypertension because its coexistence can affect survival rates after transplant. All patients with cirrhosis who present with dyspnea should also be screened. Transthoracic echocardiography is a noninvasive, useful method for screening, but right heart-sided catheterization remains the criterion standard for diagnosis. Portopulmonary hypertension carries a poor prognosis without liver transplant, and its severe form is considered to be a contraindication for liver transplant. Treating patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension-specific therapies before liver transplant for moderate and severe portopulmonary hypertension appears to be beneficial.

Late liver function test abnormalities post-adult liver transplantation: a review of the etiology, investigation, and management.

Approximately 24,000 liver transplants are performed annually worldwide, almost 7000 of which are performed in the USA. Survival is excellent and continues to improve, with 1-year survival currently exceeding 85 %, but effective management of patients after liver transplantation is critical to achieve optimal results. A plethora of diseases can affect the transplanted allograft, ranging from recurrence of the original disease to de novo liver pathology, and diagnosis can be complicated by nonclassical presentation, de novo disease, or inconclusive histology. Patients can remain asymptomatic despite significant damage to the transplanted liver, so prompt identification and treatment of liver disease after transplantation is crucial to preserve allograft function. Liver function tests are routinely taken throughout the postoperative period to monitor the graft. Although nonspecific, they are inexpensive, noninvasive, and sensitive for allograft disease and can quickly alert physicians to the presence of asymptomatic pathology. This review will outline possible causes of liver function test abnormalities in the late posttransplant period and provide guidance for investigation, diagnosis, and management.

Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with TNF inhibitors does not have adverse effect on results of liver function tests: a longitudinal study.

AIM: To retrospectively investigate and compare the effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors (TNFi) on hepatic enzymes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the records of 94 AS (66 male, 28 female) patients using TNFi was performed. Patients' clinical data, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity (BASDAI) scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were all examined. Liver function test (LFTs) results of patients before the treatment and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment with TNFi were investigated. Aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were investigated as indicators of LFTs. RESULTS: The TNFi drugs used were infliximab (n = 28), adalimumab (n = 32) and etanercept (n = 34). Pre-treatment values of ESR, CRP and BASDAI scores were 28.3 ± 20.1 mm/h, 1.5 ± 1.2 ng/dL and 5.2 ± 0.8, respectively. Following TNFi use there was a statistically significant decrease in disease activity score (P = 0.001). There was a significant increase in LFT at the third month evaluation compared to the initial values, while the average value was within normal range (baseline AST 19.6 ± 10.8 U/L, ALT 19.1 ± 6.4 U/L, third month AST 31.3 ± 21.6 U/L, ALT 28.1 ± 18.1 U/L, P = 0.001). Drug group comparison analysis revealed a significant difference in the adalimumab group value at the end of the first year, but no other significant difference in the data for the other months (P > 0.05). No significant correlation was determined between initial disease activity scores and LFT. CONCLUSION: TNFi use-associated rises in hepatic enzymes were determined compared to pre-treatment but the mean values remained within normal limits. Considering the cases in the literature, in daily practice patients must be carefully monitored for liver function before treatment and at follow-up.

Negative correlation between viral load and HBsAg levels in chronic HBV-infected patients.

The objective of this study is to reveal the relationship between viral load (as HBV DNA) and HBsAg levels. Ninety-two chronically HBV-infected patients were included in the study. The patients were divided in two different groups: the cirrhotic group (n = 32) and the non-cirrhotic group (n = 60). The correlation between study groups was also examined with regard to HBeAg status. Hepatitis B viral markers (HBsAg, HBeAg, Anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HBe) and HBV viral load of the patients were measured. A significant negative correlation between HBV DNA and HBsAg levels was found in the non-cirrhotic group (p < 0.01). The anti-HBc level was higher in the non-cirrhotic group than in the cirrhotic group (p < 0.016). The viral load was significantly higher in HBeAg (+) patients in comparison with HBeAg (-) cases (p < 0.0001). The HBsAg level was low in HBeAg (+) patients, whereas it was higher in HBeAg (-) cases (p < 0.001). In conclusion, a significant negative correlation between viral load and HBsAg levels was detected in the non-cirrhotic chronically HBV-infected group. Therefore, concomitantly low HBsAg and HBV DNA levels may indicate a better prognosis compared to high HBsAg and low HBV DNA levels.