Acute-on-chronic liver failure: Controversies and consensus.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a poorly defined syndrome characterised by rapid clinical deterioration in patients with chronic liver disease. Consequences include high short-term morbidity, mortality, and healthcare resource utilisation. ACLF encompasses a dysregulated, systemic inflammatory response, which can precipitate extra hepatic organ failures. Common precipitants include infection, alcoholic hepatitis, and reactivation of viral hepatitis although frequently no cause is identified. Heterogenous definitions, diagnostic criteria, and treatment guidelines, have been proposed by international hepatology societies. This can result in delayed or missed diagnoses of ACLF, significant variability in clinical management, and under-estimation of disease burden. Liver transplantation may be considered but the mainstay of treatment is organ support, often in the intensive care unit. This review will provide clarity around where are the controversies and consensus in ACLF including: Epidemiology and resource utilisation, key clinical and diagnostic features, strategies for management, and research gaps.

ANCA negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) presenting with left ventricular thrombus: An appreciation of distinct phenotypes and eosinophilic driven pathogenesis.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare multisystem disorder, included in the spectrum of the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitides. There are heterogeneous clinical features and a lack of consensus in standardized diagnostic criteria, with an underappreciation of eosinophilic manifestations. There are now reported phenotypical differences between ANCA-positive and negative EGPA, with myocardial involvement, lung infiltrates and gastrointestinal symptoms predominating in ANCA-negative cases. We report a rare presentation of ANCA-negative EGPA in a woman with respiratory, neurological and cardiac involvement, manifesting as a large left ventricular thrombus without significant cardiac dysfunction.