Usefulness of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Evaluating Acute Cellular Rejection and Monitoring Treatment Response in Liver Transplant Recipients.

Acute cellular rejection (ACR) is a significant immune issue among recipients following liver transplantation. Although diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is widely used for diagnosing liver disease, it has not yet been utilized for monitoring ACR in patients after liver transplantation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of DWI in monitoring treatment response among recipients with ACR. This study enrolled 25 recipients with highly suspected ACR rejection, and all subjects underwent both biochemistry and DWI scans before and after treatment. A pathological biopsy was performed 4 to 24 h after the first MRI examination to confirm ACR and degree of rejection. All patients were followed up and underwent a repeated MRI scan when their liver function returned to the normal range. After data acquisition, the DWI data were post-processed to obtain the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map on a voxel-by-voxel basis. Five regions of interest were identified on the liver parenchyma to measure the mean ADC values from each patient. Finally, the mean ADC values and biochemical markers were statistically compared between ACR and non-ACR groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate the performance of the ADC and biochemical data in detecting ACR, and correlation analysis was used to understand the relationship between the ADC values, biochemical markers, and the degree of rejection. The histopathologic results revealed that 20 recipients had ACR, including 10 mild, 9 moderate, and 1 severe rejection. The results demonstrated that the ACR patients had significantly lower hepatic ADC values than those in patients without ACR. After treatment, the hepatic ADC values in ACR patients significantly increased to levels similar to those in non-ACR patients with treatment. The ROC analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity for detecting ACR were 80% and 95%, respectively. Furthermore, the correlation analysis revealed that the mean ADC value and alanine aminotransferase level had strong and moderate negative correlation with the degree of rejection, respectively (r = -0.72 and -0.47). The ADC values were useful for detecting hepatic ACR and monitoring treatment response after immunosuppressive therapy.

Immunosuppressant and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: optimal treatment duration and risk of discontinuation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Preventing relapse by immunosuppressants (ISs) is critical for the prognosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD); however, the optimal duration of IS treatment is still under discussion. The objective was to explore the optimal duration of IS treatment and the risk of IS discontinuation for NMOSD. METHOD: This cohort study was conducted at a major neurological center that housed the largest NMOSD database in South China. Eligible participants were patients with NMOSD undergoing IS treatment. The main outcome measures were changes in relapse risk based on IS treatment duration, clinical outcomes and predictors of relapse following IS discontinuation. RESULTS: In total, 343 patients were included in this study. The duration of IS treatment was strongly associated with a decrease in relapse risk (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53, p < 0.001). Continuous IS treatment resulted in decreased relapse HRs within 5 years of receiving IS medication, with a mild rebound starting at 5 years. Rituximab reduced the risk of NMOSD relapse to approximately zero within 3 years. The rate of relapse after IS withdrawal was high (77.5%). As opposed to other ISs, a delayed relapse following rituximab withdrawal was observed in this study. Longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (HR = 2.023, p = 0.006) was associated with a higher risk of relapse after IS discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term IS medication for NMOSD is generally suitable. Patients with longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis had a higher risk of relapse after IS discontinuation. Future studies should explore individualized strategies of rituximab maintenance treatment.

Indicators of active disease and steroid dependency in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases not treated with biologics in a German real-world-setting.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: While a minority of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients receives biologics in Germany, little is known about therapeutic needs of patients receiving non-biologic therapies. This study aimed to identify indicators of active disease/steroid dependency in patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) treated with conventional therapies and to describe health care resource use (HCRU)/cost. METHODS: CD/UC patients treated with immunosuppressants (IS) and/or systemic or locally acting oral corticosteroids (CS) were identified in German claims data (2013-2017) and followed for 12 months post-therapy start. Indicators of active disease/steroid dependency during follow-up period were (i) ≥ 2 prescriptions of CS (sensitivity ≥ 4) or (ii) ≥ 1 IBD-related surgery or (iii) > 7 days IBD-related hospitalization(s). RESULTS: Of 9871 included IBD patients (5170 CD, 4701 UC), 25.7%/19.9% (CD/UC) received ≥ 2 prescriptions of CS (sensitivity, 17.4%/15.7%) (i), 3.2% experienced IBD-related surgeries (ii), and 2.5% > 7 days of hospitalizations (iii). Altogether, 44.4% had indicators of active disease/steroid dependency (sensitivity, 23.9%). Among patients with active disease/steroid dependency, 78.0% received CS monotherapy at baseline. Of these, 89.6% received a CS monotherapy in the follow-up period, too. Proportionally, fewer patients with CS monotherapy (57.4%) than IS therapy (91.0%) visited a specialist. HCRU/cost per patient year was significantly higher in patients with than without active disease/steroid dependency. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial percentage of biologic-naïve IBD patients suffers from active disease/steroid dependency. The majority receives a monotherapy with systemic CS. Referral to gastroenterologists for treatment optimization is recommended, also because active disease/steroid dependency is associated with increased HCRU/cost.

Methotrexate for severe nummular eczema in children: Efficacy and tolerability in a retrospective study of 28 patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nummular eczema in children is a chronic condition characterized by pruritic coin-shaped eczematous lesions that affect any part of the body and often become exudative. Mid- to high-potency topical corticosteroids are considered the mainstay treatment, but there are limited data on the use of systemic therapy for nummular eczema in children. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of methotrexate in children with severe nummular eczema. METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of children with nummular eczema treated with methotrexate between January 2007 and May 2017. RESULTS: The records of 28 patients (24 male, 4 female) with a mean age at the beginning of treatment of 7.8 ± 1.6 years (95% confidence interval (CI) = 6.1-9.4 years) were reviewed. The median duration of treatment was 12.6 ± 3.3 months (95% CI = 9.2-16 months), and 14 patients were still undergoing methotrexate therapy at the time of last review. Ten patients (35.7%) had complete or almost complete clearance of eczema (> 90% improvement), 13 (46.4%) had marked improvement (50%-89%), four had mild improvement (< 50%), and one failed methotrexate therapy. Gastrointestinal intolerance (21.4%) and a nonsignificant increase in liver enzymes (17.9%) were the most frequent side effects. No serious adverse events were noted. CONCLUSION: Methotrexate is an effective, well-tolerated treatment in children with moderate to severe nummular eczema that has failed to respond to conventional topical therapy.

[Anaesthesia for noncardiac surgery in a heart-transplanted patient: a clinical case and review of the literature]. / Anesthésie d'un greffé cardiaque en chirurgie non cardiaque: à propos d'un cas clinique et revue de la littérature.

The number and the overall survival rate of heart transplant patients are increasing. Some of these patients undergo general surgery other than heart transplant on a regular basis. Anesthesia may be difficult in these patients because of the physiological characteristics of the denervated heart and of the management of immunosuppressive therapy on the basis of the risk of rejection and infection. Our study aims to discuss the anesthetic management of a 60-year-old heart-transplant patient undergoing abdominal hernia repair surgery and to write a literature review.