Hepatic steatosis, metabolic dysfunction and risk of mortality: findings from a multinational prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are implicated in the aetiology of non-communicable diseases. Our study aimed to evaluate associations between NAFLD and MetS with overall and cause-specific mortality. METHODS: We used dietary, lifestyle, anthropometric and metabolic biomarker data from a random subsample of 15,784 EPIC cohort participants. NAFLD was assessed using the fatty liver index (FLI) and MetS using the revised definition. Indices for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) were calculated. The individual associations of these indices with overall and cause-specific mortality were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). As a subobjective, risk associations with adaptations of new classifications of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic and alcohol-related liver disease (MetALD) were also assessed. RESULTS: Among the 15,784 sub-cohort participants, a total of 1997 deaths occurred (835 due to cancer, 520 to CVD, 642 to other causes) over a median 15.6 (IQR, 12.3-17.1) years of follow-up. Compared to an FLI < 30, FLI ≥ 60 was associated with increased risks of overall mortality (HR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.27-1.63), and deaths from cancer (HR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.09-1.60), CVD (HR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.61-2.63) or other causes (HR = 1.21, 95%CI = 0.97-1.51). Mortality risk associations were also elevated for individuals with MAFLD compared to those without. Individuals with MetS were at increased risk of all mortality endpoints, except cancer-specific mortality. MASLD and MetALD were associated with higher risk of overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings based on a prospective cohort suggest that individuals with hepatic steatosis or metabolic dysfunction have a higher overall and cause-specific mortality risk.

Forty years of successful national research collaboration in liver disease - the Swedish experience.

AIM: Sweden has historically provided a fruitful arena for research in clinical medicine. We here share 40 years of experience of collaboration in the Swedish hepatology research group (SWEHEP) (https://www.swehep.se). METHODS: We describe the way the Swedish hepatology pioneers started the group and how the network continuously developed over the years. Successful projects such as thorough studies of natural history and various clinical aspects of autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and steatosis are described. RESULTS: Over the years, more than 80 publications have been published by the group. A summary of new and ongoing research programs includes the randomized placebo-controlled trial of simvastatin in PSC (PiSCATIN), the prospective BIGMAP (Biochemical and genetic markers for the assessment and prognostication of liver cirrhosis) initiative in patients with liver cirrhosis, and the DETECT-HCC, a prospective multicenter cohort study comparing abbreviated MRI and ultrasound for surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma every six months over two years. The group philosophy, success factors for the longstanding collaboration as well as experience of failures are shared. CONCLUSION: The success of hepatology research in Sweden is based on longstanding collaboration over generations of hepatologists, where everyone contributes, regular research meetings, mutual trust, and perseverance.

AUDIT C compared to PEth in middle-aged volunteers.

AIMS: To compare Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT C) to phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in middle-aged randomly selected volunteers. Apply previously suggested lower cut-offs for PEth using moderate alcohol intake according to AUDIT C as a reference. METHODS: Within the Swedish CardioPulmonary BioImage Study, 2255 middle-aged (50-64 years of age) volunteers in northern Sweden participated in comparing AUDIT C to PEth 16:0/18:1. RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between PEth 16:0/18:1 and AUDIT C (r = 0.66). None of the participants with the AUDIT C-score 0 had a measurable PEth. Of moderate alcohol consumers, according to AUDIT C (AUDIT C 1-3 women, 1-4 men), 96% had a PEth below 0.3 µmol/L, 91% had a PEth below 0.16 µmol/L, and 84% had a PEth below 0.11 µmol/L. With PEth equivalent to excessive alcohol consumption (≥0.3 µmol/L), 26% had an AUDIT C-score below excessive alcohol consumption (<4 for women and <5 for men). Thirty percent of patients with a PEth ≥0.16 µmol/L had an AUDIT C-score below excessive alcohol consumption, and 37% had a PEth ≥0.11 µmol/L. We found no significant correlation between BMI and PEth or AUDIT C. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant correlation between AUDIT C and PEth. Using AUDIT C alone, 26% of high-consumers, according to PEth, are not found in our cohort, but an AUDIT C-score of 0 will exclude high consumption, according to PEth. Our findings support the current cut-off for PEth of 0.3 µmol/L, but a lower cut-off seems reasonable.

Prospective surveillance for cholangiocarcinoma in unselected individuals with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The evidence for hepatobiliary tumour surveillance in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is scarce. In this study, we aimed to prospectively evaluate cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) surveillance with yearly MRI with cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) in a nationwide cohort. METHODS: In total, 512 patients with PSC from 11 Swedish hospitals were recruited. The study protocol included yearly clinical follow-ups, liver function tests and contrast-enhanced MRI/MRCP and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9. Patients with severe/progressive bile duct changes on MRI/MRCP were further investigated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Patients were followed for 5 years or until a diagnosis of CCA, liver transplantation (LT) and/or death. Risk factors associated with CCA were analysed with Cox regression. RESULTS: Eleven patients (2%) were diagnosed with CCA, and two (0.5%) with high-grade bile duct dysplasia. Severe/progressive bile duct changes on MRI/MRCP were detected in 122 patients (24%), of whom 10% had an underlying malignancy. The primary indication for LT (n = 54) was biliary dysplasia in nine patients (17%) and end-stage liver disease in 45 patients (83%), of whom three patients (7%) had unexpected malignancy in the explants. The median survival for patients with CCA was 13 months (3-22 months). Time to diagnosis of high-grade dysplasia and/or hepatobiliary malignancy was significantly associated with severe/progressive bile duct changes on MRI/MRCP (hazard ratio 10.50; 95% CI 2.49-44.31) and increased levels of CA19-9 (hazard ratio 1.00; 95% CI 1.00-1.01). CONCLUSION: In an unselected cohort of patients with PSC, yearly CA19-9 and MRI/MRCP surveillance followed by ERCP was ineffective in detecting cancer early enough to support long-term survival. Given the low occurrence of CCA, studies on individualised strategies for follow-up and improved diagnostic methods for PSC-related CCA are warranted. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: A prospective nationwide 5-year study was conducted to evaluate yearly cholangiocarcinoma surveillance using MRI and CA19-9 in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Only 2% of the patients were diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma during follow-up and their prognosis remained poor despite surveillance. This surveillance strategy failed to detect cancer early enough to support long-term survival. Therefore, individualised strategies and improved diagnostic methods will be required to improve the early detection of cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Impact on follow-up strategies in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Evidence for the benefit of scheduled imaging for early detection of hepatobiliary malignancies in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is limited. We aimed to compare different follow-up strategies in PSC with the hypothesis that regular imaging improves survival. METHODS: We collected retrospective data from 2975 PSC patients from 27 centres. Patients were followed from the start of scheduled imaging or in case of clinical follow-up from 1 January 2000, until death or last clinical follow-up alive. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A broad variety of different follow-up strategies were reported. All except one centre used regular imaging, ultrasound (US) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two centres used scheduled endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in addition to imaging for surveillance purposes. The overall HR (CI95%) for death, adjusted for sex, age and start year of follow-up, was 0.61 (0.47-0.80) for scheduled imaging with and without ERCP; 0.64 (0.48-0.86) for US/MRI and 0.53 (0.37-0.75) for follow-up strategies including scheduled ERCP. The lower risk of death remained for scheduled imaging with and without ERCP after adjustment for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or high-grade dysplasia as a time-dependent covariate, HR 0.57 (0.44-0.75). Hepatobiliary malignancy was diagnosed in 175 (5.9%) of the patients at 7.9 years of follow-up. Asymptomatic patients (25%) with CCA had better survival if scheduled imaging had been performed. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up strategies vary considerably across centres. Scheduled imaging was associated with improved survival. Multiple factors may contribute to this result including early tumour detection and increased endoscopic treatment of asymptomatic benign biliary strictures.

Clinical outcomes and sick leave in relation to UDCA treatment in Swedish patients with primary biliary cholangitis.

OBJECTIVES: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease that may progress into liver cirrhosis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is known to prevent or delay the disease progression, but little is known about work incapacity in PBC patients. We aimed to compare clinical outcomes (transplantation-free survival; cirrhosis development) and sick leave in patients with PBC with and without UDCA therapy. METHODS: The medical records of 526 patients with PBC diagnosed from 2004 to 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Sick leave data retrieved from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency were analysed for a sub-cohort of patients and matched controls. Cox regression was used for analysis of clinical outcomes. Logistic and conditional logistic regressions were used for sick leave analysis. RESULTS: A total of 10.6% of patients died and 3.4% received liver transplantation over a median follow-up time of 5.7 years. UDCA-untreated patients (HR 3.62 (95%CI 2.02-6.49)) and UDCA non-responders (HR 3.78 (95% CI 1.87-7.66)) had higher mortality or transplantation rates than UDCA responders. Patients with PBC had higher odds of sick leave (OR 2.50; 95% CI 1.69-3.70) than matched controls. Untreated patients were more likely to be on sick leave (OR 3.22; 95% CI 1.12-9.25) two years after diagnosis than UDCA responders. CONCLUSION: Both untreated patients and UDCA non-responders had lower liver transplantation-free survival rates than UDCA responders. Patients with PBC were more likely to be on sick leave compared to matched controls from the general population.

What is the significance of the Hill classification?

This study aimed to investigate the significance of Hill classification to predict esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptomatology, and future prescriptions of proton pump inhibitors in clinical practice. A total of 922 patients (546 women and 376 men; mean age 54.3 [SD 18.4] years) who underwent gastroscopy between 2012 and 2015 were analyzed. Patient questionnaire regarding symptoms were compared with endoscopy findings. A medical chart review was done that focused on the prescription of PPIs, additional gastroscopies, and GERD surgery in a 3-year period before the index gastroscopy and in a 6-year period afterward. In patients naïve to PPI prescriptions (n = 466), Hill grade III was significantly associated with esophagitis (AOR 2.20; 95% CI 1.00-4.84) and > 2 PPI prescriptions 6 year after the index gastroscopy (AOR 1.95; 95% CI 1.01-3.75), whereas Hill grade IV was significantly associated with esophagitis (AOR 4.41; 95% CI 1.92-10.1), with Barrett's esophagus (AOR 12.7; 95% CI 1.45-112), with reported heartburn (AOR 2.28; 95% CI 1.10-4.74), and with >2 PPI prescriptions (AOR 2.16; 95% CI 1.02-4.55). In patients 'non-naïve' to PPI prescription (n = 556), only Hill grade IV was significantly associated with esophagitis, reported heartburn, and with >2 PPI prescriptions. The gastroscopic classification in Hill grades III and IV is important in clinical practice because they are associated with esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, symptoms of GERD, and prescriptions of PPIs, whereas a differentiation between Hill grades I and II is not.

Prediagnostic alterations in circulating bile acid profiles in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Bile acids (BAs) play different roles in cancer development. Some are carcinogenic and BA signaling is also involved in various metabolic, inflammatory and immune-related processes. The liver is the primary site of BA synthesis. Liver dysfunction and microbiome compositional changes, such as during hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development, may modulate BA metabolism increasing concentration of carcinogenic BAs. Observations from prospective cohorts are sparse. We conducted a study (233 HCC case-control pairs) nested within a large observational prospective cohort with blood samples taken at recruitment when healthy with follow-up over time for later cancer development. A targeted metabolomics method was used to quantify 17 BAs (primary/secondary/tertiary; conjugated/unconjugated) in prediagnostic plasma. Odd ratios (OR) for HCC risk associations were calculated by multivariable conditional logistic regression models. Positive HCC risk associations were observed for the molar sum of all BAs (ORdoubling  = 2.30, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.76-3.00), and choline- and taurine-conjugated BAs. Relative concentrations of BAs showed positive HCC risk associations for glycoholic acid and most taurine-conjugated BAs. We observe an association between increased HCC risk and higher levels of major circulating BAs, from several years prior to tumor diagnosis and after multivariable adjustment for confounders and liver functionality. Increase in BA concentration is accompanied by a shift in BA profile toward higher proportions of taurine-conjugated BAs, indicating early alterations of BA metabolism with HCC development. Future studies are needed to assess BA profiles for improved stratification of patients at high HCC risk and to determine whether supplementation with certain BAs may ameliorate liver dysfunction.

Morbidity, risk of cancer and mortality in 3645 HFE mutations carriers.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Mutations in the HFE gene can lead to hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) and have been suggested to increase the risk of extra-hepatic diseases, especially breast and colorectal cancer. Here we investigated long-term outcomes of Swedish patients with HFE mutations. METHODS: We identified 3645 patients with a homozygous p.C282Y (62%) or a compound heterozygous p.C282Y/p.H63D (38%) mutation from eight centres in Sweden between 1997 and 2017. These were matched 1:10 by age, sex and county of residence to reference individuals from the general population. We ascertained incident outcomes until the end of 2017 by linkage to national registers. Studied outcomes were HH, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), breast cancer (in women), colorectal cancer, type 1 and 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, Parkinson's disease and mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios for these outcomes. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 52 years, 44% were females. During a mean follow-up of 7.9 years, we found an increased risk for HCC, HH, cirrhosis, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and death. Excess mortality was only seen in men. No increased risk was seen for colorectal or breast cancer. Liver-related outcomes were rare, with a cumulative incidence of <1%. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals found to be HFE mutation carriers in a university hospital setting had an increased risk for mortality in men, along with increased risks of cirrhosis, HCC, diabetes type 2, and osteoarthritis. In general, the absolute risk for adverse outcomes was low and no increased risk for colon or breast cancer was observed.

Self-monitoring with home based fecal calprotectin is associated with increased medical treatment. A randomized controlled trial on patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES: Self-monitoring of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with the assistant of telemedicine and home-based fecal calprotectin (FC) tests is evolving in the management of IBD. We performed a randomized controlled trial to investigate the compliance and effects of the model IBD-Home in patients with IBD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were randomized to IBD-Home + standard care (n = 84) or standard care alone (n = 74). Intervention with IBD-Home included IBDoc® FC test kits and a digital application used for answering symptom questionnaires (Abbvie/Telia). They were instructed to use these on demand during a 12-month period. Data was collected retrospectively from medical records. Patients who completed the intervention were phoned and asked to answer a survey about the experience of IBD-Home. RESULTS: The compliance to IBD-Home was low (29%). Women were more compliant compared with men (43% vs 17%, p < .001). A significantly higher proportion of patients in the IBD-Home group increased their medical treatment during the study period in comparison to control subjects (33% vs 15% p = .007) and there was an association between an increase in treatment and compliance to IBD home (multivariate odds ratio 3.22; 95th confidence interval 1.04 - 9.95). Overall patients reported a positive experience with slight technical difficulties. CONCLUSION: Self-monitoring with home based fecal calprotectin and a digital application was found feasible and appreciated by compliers. Compliance to the IBD-Home model was more common in women and associated with an increased treatment for IBD.

Extrahepatic autoimmune diseases in primary biliary cholangitis: Prevalence and significance for clinical presentation and disease outcome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The prevalence and clinical significance of extrahepatic autoimmune diseases (EHAIDs) have not been evaluated in a large cohort of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). METHODS: The medical records of 1554 patients with PBC from 20 international centers were retrospectively reviewed. Development of decompensated cirrhosis (ascites, variceal bleeding, and/or hepatic encephalopathy) and hepatocellular carcinoma were considered clinical endpoints. RESULTS: A total of 35 different EHAIDs were diagnosed in 440 (28.3%) patients with PBC. Patients with EHAIDs were more often female (92.5% vs 86.1%, P < 0.001) and seropositive for anti-mitochondrial antibodies (88% vs 84%, P = 0.05) and antinuclear antibodies and/or smooth muscle antibodies (53.8% vs 43.6%, P = 0.005). At presentation, patients with EHAIDs had significantly lower levels of alkaline phosphatase (1.76 vs 1.98 × upper limit of normal [ULN], P = 0.006), aspartate aminotransferase (1.29 vs 1.50 × ULN, P < 0.001), and total bilirubin (0.53 vs 0.58 × ULN, P = 0.002). Patients with EHAIDs and without EHAIDs had similar rates of GLOBE high-risk status (12.3% vs 16.1%, P = 0.07) and Paris II response (71.4% vs 69.4%, P = 0.59). Overall, event-free survival was not different in patients with and without EHAIDs (90.8% vs 90.7%, P = 0.53, log rank). Coexistence of each autoimmune thyroid diseases (10.6%), Sjögren disease (8.3%), systemic sclerosis (2.9%), rheumatoid arthritis (2.7%), systemic lupus erythematosus (1.7%), celiac disease (1.7%), psoriasis (1.5%), and inflammatory bowel diseases (1.3%) did not influence the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that EHAIDs are frequently diagnosed in patients with PBC. The presence of EHAIDs may influence the clinical phenotype of PBC at presentation but has no impact on PBC outcome.

Association between physical activity and risk of hepatobiliary cancers: A multinational cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To date, evidence on the association between physical activity and risk of hepatobiliary cancers has been inconclusive. We examined this association in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort (EPIC). METHODS: We identified 275 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases, 93 intrahepatic bile duct cancers (IHBCs), and 164 non-gallbladder extrahepatic bile duct cancers (NGBCs) among 467,336 EPIC participants (median follow-up 14.9 years). We estimated cause-specific hazard ratios (HRs) for total physical activity and vigorous physical activity and performed mediation analysis and secondary analyses to assess robustness to confounding (e.g. due to hepatitis virus infection). RESULTS: In the EPIC cohort, the multivariable-adjusted HR of HCC was 0.55 (95% CI 0.38-0.80) comparing active and inactive individuals. Regarding vigorous physical activity, for those reporting >2 hours/week compared to those with no vigorous activity, the HR for HCC was 0.50 (95% CI 0.33-0.76). Estimates were similar in sensitivity analyses for confounding. Total and vigorous physical activity were unrelated to IHBC and NGBC. In mediation analysis, waist circumference explained about 40% and body mass index 30% of the overall association of total physical activity and HCC. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest an inverse association between physical activity and risk of HCC, which is potentially mediated by obesity. LAY SUMMARY: In a pan-European study of 467,336 men and women, we found that physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of developing liver cancers over the next decade. This risk was independent of other liver cancer risk factors, and did not vary by age, gender, smoking status, body weight, and alcohol consumption.

Validation of Risk Scoring Systems in Ursodeoxycholic Acid-Treated Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

INTRODUCTION: Risk stratification based on biochemical variables is a useful tool for monitoring ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-treated patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Several UDCA response criteria and scoring systems have been proposed for risk prediction in PBC, but these have not been validated in large external cohorts. METHODS: We performed a study on data of 1746 UDCA-treated patients with PBC from 25 centers in Europe, United States, and Canada. The prognostic performance of the risk scoring systems (GLOBE and UK-PBC) and the UDCA response criteria (Barcelona, Paris I, Paris II, Rotterdam, and Toronto) were evaluated. We regarded cirrhosis-related complications (ascites, variceal bleeding, and/or hepatic encephalopathy) as clinical end points. RESULTS: A total of 171 patients reached a clinical end point during a median 7 years (range 1-16 years) of follow-up. The 5-, 10- and 15-year adverse outcome-free survivals were 95%, 85%, and 77%. The GLOBE and UK-PBC scores predicted cirrhosis-related complications better than the UDCA response criteria. The hazard ratio (HR) for a 1 standard deviation increase was HR 5.05 (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.43-5.74, P < 0.001) for the GLOBE score and HR 3.39 (95% CI: 3.10-3.72, P < 0.001) for the UK-PBC score. Overall, the GLOBE and UK-PBC risk scores showed similar and excellent prognostic performance (C-statistic, 0.93; 95% CI: 0.91%-95% vs 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91%-0.96%). DISCUSSION: In our international, multicenter PBC cohort, the GLOBE and UK-PBC risk scoring systems were good predictors of future cirrhosis-related complications.

Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate Mofetil as Second-Line Therapies for Pediatric Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: We studied the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus as second-line therapy in pediatric patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who were intolerant or non-responders to standard therapy (corticosteroid and azathioprine). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of data from 13 centers in Europe, USA, and Canada. Thirty-eight patients (< 18 years old) who received second-line therapy (18 MMF and 20 tacrolimus), for a median of 72 months (range 8-182) were evaluated. Patients were categorized into two groups: Group 1 (n = 17) were intolerant to corticosteroid or azathioprine, and group 2 (n = 21) were non-responders to standard therapy. RESULTS: Overall complete response rates were similar in patients treated with MMF and tacrolimus (55.6 vs. 65%, p = 0.552). In group 1, MMF and tacrolimus maintained a biochemical remission in 88.9 and 87.5% of patients, respectively (p = 0.929). More patients in group 2 given tacrolimus compared to MMF had a complete response, but the difference was not statistically significant (50.0 vs. 22.2%, p = 0.195). Biochemical remission was achieved in 71.1% (27/38) of patients by tacrolimus and/or MMF. Decompensated cirrhosis was more commonly seen in MMF and/or tacrolimus non-responders than in responders (45.5 vs. 7.4%, p = 0.006). Five patients who received second-line therapy (2 MMF and 3 tacrolimus) developed side effects that led to therapy withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term therapy with MMF or tacrolimus was generally well tolerated by pediatric patients with AIH. Both MMF and tacrolimus had excellent efficacy in patients intolerant to corticosteroid or azathioprine. Tacrolimus might be more effective than MMF in patients failing previous therapy.

Circulating copper and zinc levels and risk of hepatobiliary cancers in Europeans.

BACKGROUND: Copper and zinc are essential micronutrients and cofactors of many enzymatic reactions that may be involved in liver-cancer development. We aimed to assess pre-diagnostic circulating levels of copper, zinc and their ratio (Cu/Zn) in relation to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) and gall bladder and biliary tract (GBTC) cancers. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Serum zinc and copper levels were measured in baseline blood samples by total reflection X-ray fluorescence in cancer cases (HCC n=106, IHDB n=34, GBTC n=96) and their matched controls (1:1). The Cu/Zn ratio, an indicator of the balance between the micronutrients, was computed. Multivariable adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR; 95% CI) were used to estimate cancer risk. RESULTS: For HCC, the highest vs lowest tertile showed a strong inverse association for zinc (OR=0.36; 95% CI: 0.13-0.98, Ptrend=0.0123), but no association for copper (OR=1.06; 95% CI: 0.45-2.46, Ptrend=0.8878) in multivariable models. The calculated Cu/Zn ratio showed a positive association for HCC (OR=4.63; 95% CI: 1.41-15.27, Ptrend=0.0135). For IHBC and GBTC, no significant associations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc may have a role in preventing liver-cancer development, but this finding requires further investigation in other settings.

Efficacy and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil and Tacrolimus as Second-line Therapy for Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Predniso(lo)ne, alone or in combination with azathioprine, is the standard-of-care (SOC) therapy for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). However, the SOC therapy is poorly tolerated or does not control disease activity in up to 20% of patients. We assessed the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus as second-line therapy for patients with AIH. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of data (from 19 centers in Europe, the United States, Canada, and China) from 201 patients with AIH who received second-line therapy (121 received MMF and 80 received tacrolimus), for a median of 62 months (range, 6-190 mo). Patients were categorized according to their response to SOC. Patients in group 1 (n = 108) had a complete response to the SOC, but were switched to second-line therapy as a result of side effects of predniso(lo)ne or azathioprine, whereas patients in group 2 (n = 93) had not responded to SOC. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with a complete response to MMF (69.4%) vs tacrolimus (72.5%) (P = .639). In group 1, MMF and tacrolimus maintained a biochemical remission in 91.9% and 94.1% of patients, respectively (P = .682). Significantly more group 2 patients given tacrolimus compared with MMF had a complete response (56.5% vs 34%, respectively; P = .029) There were similar proportions of liver-related deaths or liver transplantation among patients given MMF (13.2%) vs tacrolimus (10.3%) (log-rank, P = .472). Ten patients receiving MMF (8.3%) and 10 patients receiving tacrolimus (12.5%) developed side effects that required therapy withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term therapy with MMF or tacrolimus generally was well tolerated by patients with AIH. The agents were equally effective in previous complete responders who did not tolerate SOC therapy. Tacrolimus led to a complete response in a greater proportion of previous nonresponder patients compared with MMF.

Exposure to bacterial products lipopolysaccharide and flagellin and hepatocellular carcinoma: a nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Leakage of bacterial products across the gut barrier may play a role in liver diseases which often precede the development of liver cancer. However, human studies, particularly from prospective settings, are lacking. METHODS: We used a case-control study design nested within a large prospective cohort to assess the association between circulating levels of anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and anti-flagellin immunoglobulin A (IgA) and G (IgG) (reflecting long-term exposures to LPS and flagellin, respectively) and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. A total of 139 men and women diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma between 1992 and 2010 were matched to 139 control subjects. Multivariable rate ratios (RRs), including adjustment for potential confounders, hepatitis B/C positivity, and degree of liver dysfunction, were calculated with conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Antibody response to LPS and flagellin was associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (highest vs. lowest quartile: RR = 11.76, 95% confidence interval = 1.70-81.40; P trend = 0.021). This finding did not vary substantially by time from enrollment to diagnosis, and did not change after adjustment for chronic infection with hepatitis B and C viruses. CONCLUSIONS: These novel findings, based on exposures up to several years prior to diagnosis, support a role for gut-derived bacterial products in hepatocellular carcinoma development. Further study into the role of gut barrier failure and exposure to bacterial products in liver diseases is warranted.

Epidemiology and causes of death in a Swedish cohort of patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) show varying figures on prevalence and incidence, and data on the long-term prognosis are scarce. Objective To investigate the epidemiology, long-term prognosis and causes of death in a Swedish AIH cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data collected from 634 AIH patients were matched to the Cause of Death Registry, and survival analyses were made. Prevalence and incidence were calculated for university hospitals with full coverage of cases and compared to the County of Västerbotten in Northern Sweden. RESULTS: AIH point prevalence was 17.3/100,000 inhabitants in 2009, and the yearly incidence 1990-2009 was 1.2/100,000 inhabitants and year. The time between diagnosis and end of follow-up, liver transplantation or death was in median 11.3 years (range 0-51.5 years). Men were diagnosed earlier (p < .001) and died younger than women (p = .002). No gender differences were found concerning transplant-free, overall survival and liver-related death. Cirrhosis at diagnosis was linked to an inferior survival (p < .001). Liver-related death was the most common cause of death (32.7%). The relative survival started to diverge from the general population 4 years after diagnosis but a distinct decline was not observed until after more than 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival was reduced in patients with AIH. No gender difference regarding prognosis was seen but men died younger, probably as a result of earlier onset of disease. Cirrhosis at diagnosis was a risk factor for poor prognosis and the overall risk of liver-related death was increased.

Safety of azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease naïve to thiopurine treatment
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OBJECTIVES: To determine if 6-mercaptopurine (MP) is better tolerated than azathioprine (AZA) as the initial thiopurine treatment in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Switching patients with IBD from AZA to MP is advocated in patients intolerant to AZA. However, no study has determined if MP is more suited than AZA as a first-line treatment for patients who are naïve to thiopurine treatment. STUDY: The tolerance of AZA and MP treatments in clinical practice was retrospectively evaluated from start to 12 months after initiating treatment in 113 patients with IBD who were all naïve to thiopurines (82 patients treated with AZA and 31 patients with MP). RESULTS: 65% of the patients treated with AZA and 61% of the patients treated with MP tolerated their treatment during 12 months (i.e., no group difference, p = 0.742). No difference in reported side effects between the two treatments was observed. The mean equivalent initial dose (0.92 vs. 0.61 mg/kg; p < 0.001) and the mean equivalent dose at 12 months (1.98 vs. 1.65 mg/kg; p = 0.014) was significantly higher in the MP group vs. the AZA group. The proportion of patients with ΔMCV ≥ 7 at 12 months was numerically higher in the MP group than in the AZA group (53% vs. 31%; p = 0.090). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective observational study, no differences in tolerance or adherence between AZA and MP were observed in patients naïve to thiopurines. However, MP treatment was at a higher equivalent thiopurine dose than AZA treatment, which tended to be associated with better treatment response.
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Alteration of amino acid and biogenic amine metabolism in hepatobiliary cancers: Findings from a prospective cohort study.

Perturbations in levels of amino acids (AA) and their derivatives are observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yet, it is unclear whether these alterations precede or are a consequence of the disease, nor whether they pertain to anatomically related cancers of the intrahepatic bile duct (IHBC), and gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract (GBTC). Circulating standard AA, biogenic amines and hexoses were measured (Biocrates AbsoluteIDQ-p180Kit) in a case-control study nested within a large prospective cohort (147 HCC, 43 IHBC and 134 GBTC cases). Liver function and hepatitis status biomarkers were determined separately. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR; 95%CI) for log-transformed standardised (mean = 0, SD = 1) serum metabolite levels and relevant ratios in relation to HCC, IHBC or GBTC risk. Fourteen metabolites were significantly associated with HCC risk, of which seven metabolites and four ratios were the strongest predictors in continuous models. Leucine, lysine, glutamine and the ratio of branched chain to aromatic AA (Fischer's ratio) were inversely, while phenylalanine, tyrosine and their ratio, glutamate, glutamate/glutamine ratio, kynurenine and its ratio to tryptophan were positively associated with HCC risk. Confounding by hepatitis status and liver enzyme levels was observed. For the other cancers no significant associations were observed. In conclusion, imbalances of specific AA and biogenic amines may be involved in HCC development.