Improvement in Survival After Transplantation for Critically Ill Patients With Cirrhosis in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: There is considerable debate over the indication of liver transplantation (LT) for critically ill patients with cirrhosis, in part due to their potentially poor post-LT prognosis. We analyzed the epidemiology and outcome of LT for critically ill patients with cirrhosis over 4 time periods of 4 years. METHODS: We included adult patients who underwent liver transplant alone between 2005 and 2020 using the United Network for Organ Sharing registry database. We defined critically ill patients with cirrhosis as being in the intensive care unit with 1 or more of the following characteristics at the time of LT: (i) grade III/IV hepatic encephalopathy, (ii) mechanical ventilation, (iii) dialysis, and (iv) vasopressors. RESULTS: A total of 85,594 LT recipients were included, 5,827 (6.8%) of whom were classified as being critically ill with cirrhosis at the time of LT. The number and percentage of critically ill LT recipients with cirrhosis increased over the study period: 819 (4.3%) in 2005-2008 vs 2,067 (7.9%) in 2017-2020, P < 0.001. There was a 17% absolute increase in 1-year survival after LT: 72.5% in 2005-2008 vs 89.5% in 2017-2020, P < 0.001. The 1-year post-LT survival gap between critically ill and noncritically ill patients with cirrhosis narrowed over the study period: 16.7 percentage points in 2005-2008 vs 4.6 percentage points in 2017-2020. The year of LT was independently associated with lower 1-year post-LT mortality (hazard ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.91-0.93, P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: The absolute number and relative percentage of LT recipients who were critically ill increased over time, as did 1-year post-LT survival. Meanwhile, the gap in survival between this group of patients and noncritically ill patients with cirrhosis decreased but persisted. Cautious access to selected LT candidates who are critically ill may be warranted, provided the gap in survival with noncritically ill patients remains as small as possible.

HCC EV ECG score: An extracellular vesicle-based protein assay for detection of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The sensitivity of current surveillance methods for detecting early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is suboptimal. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising circulating biomarkers for early cancer detection. In this study, we aim to develop an HCC EV-based surface protein assay for early detection of HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Tissue microarray was used to evaluate four potential HCC-associated protein markers. An HCC EV surface protein assay, composed of covalent chemistry-mediated HCC EV purification and real-time immuno-polymerase chain reaction readouts, was developed and optimized for quantifying subpopulations of EVs. An HCC EV ECG score, calculated from the readouts of three HCC EV subpopulations ( E pCAM + CD63 + , C D147 + CD63 + , and G PC3 + CD63 + HCC EVs), was established for detecting early-stage HCC. A phase 2 biomarker study was conducted to evaluate the performance of ECG score in a training cohort ( n  = 106) and an independent validation cohort ( n  = 72).Overall, 99.7% of tissue microarray stained positive for at least one of the four HCC-associated protein markers (EpCAM, CD147, GPC3, and ASGPR1) that were subsequently validated in HCC EVs. In the training cohort, HCC EV ECG score demonstrated an area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC) of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-0.99) for distinguishing early-stage HCC from cirrhosis with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 90%. The AUROCs of the HCC EV ECG score remained excellent in the validation cohort (0.93; 95% CI, 0.87-0.99) and in the subgroups by etiology (viral: 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90-1.00; nonviral: 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99). CONCLUSION: HCC EV ECG score demonstrated great potential for detecting early-stage HCC. It could augment current surveillance methods and improve patients' outcomes.

The novel SALT-M score predicts 1-year post-transplant mortality in patients with severe acute-on-chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Twenty-eight-day mortality ranges from 30-90% in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure grades 2/3 (severe ACLF). Though liver transplantation (LT) has demonstrated a survival benefit, the scarcity of donor organs and uncertainty regarding post-LT mortality among patients with severe ACLF may cause hesitancy. We developed and externally validated a model to predict 1-year post-LT mortality in severe ACLF, called the Sundaram ACLF-LT-Mortality (SALT-M) score, and estimated the median length of stay (LoS) after LT (ACLF-LT-LoS). METHODS: In 15 LT centers in the US, we retrospectively identified a cohort of patients with severe ACLF transplanted between 2014-2019, followed up to Jan'2022. Candidate predictors included demographics, clinical and laboratory values, and organ failures. We selected predictors in the final model using clinical criteria and externally validated them in two French cohorts. We provided measures of overall performance, discrimination, and calibration. We used multivariable median regression to estimate LoS after adjusting for clinically relevant factors. RESULTS: We included 735 patients, of whom 521 (70.8%) had severe ACLF (120 ACLF-3, external cohort). The median age was 55 years, and 104 with severe ACLF (19.9%) died within 1-year post-LT. Our final model included age >50 years, use of 1/≥2 inotropes, presence of respiratory failure, diabetes mellitus, and BMI (continuous). The c-statistic was 0.72 (derivation) and 0.80 (validation), indicating adequate discrimination and calibration based on the observed/expected probability plots. Age, respiratory failure, BMI, and presence of infection independently predicted median LoS. CONCLUSIONS: The SALT-M score predicts mortality within 1-year after LT in patients with ACLF. The ACLF-LT-LoS score predicted median post-LT stay. Future studies using these scores could assist in determining transplant benefits. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Liver transplantation (LT) may be the only life-saving procedure available to patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), but clinically instability can augment the perceived risk of post-transplant mortality at 1 year. We developed a parsimonious score with clinically and readily available parameters to objectively assess 1-year post-LT survival and predict median length of stay after LT. We developed and externally validated a clinical model called the Sundaram ACLF-LT-Mortality score in 521 US patients with ACLF with 2 or ≥3 organ failure(s) and 120 French patients with ACLF grade 3. The c-statistic was 0.72 in the development cohort and 0.80 in the validation cohort. We also provided an estimation of the median length of stay after LT in these patients. Our models can be used in discussions on the risks/benefits of LT in patients listed with severe ACLF. Nevertheless, the score is far from perfect and other factors, such as patient's preference and center-specific factors, need to be considered when using these tools.

Patients With Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure Have Greater Healthcare Resource Utilization After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although liver transplantation (LT) has been demonstrated to provide survival benefit for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), data are lacking regarding resource utilization for this population after LT. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from 10 centers in North America of patients transplanted between 2018 and 2019. ACLF was identified by using the European Association for the Study of the Liver-Chronic Liver Failure criteria. RESULTS: We studied 318 patients of whom 106 patients (33.3%) had no ACLF, 61 (19.1%) had ACLF-1, 74 (23.2%) had ACLF-2, and 77 (24.2%) had ACLF-3 at transplantation. Healthcare resource utilization after LT was greater among recipients with ACLF compared with patients without ACLF regarding median post-LT length of hospital stay (LOS) (P < .001), length of post-LT dialysis (P < .001), discharge to a rehabilitation center (P < .001), and 30-day readmission rates (P = .042). Multivariable negative binomial regression analysis demonstrated a significantly longer LOS for patients with ACLF-1 (1.9 days; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-7.51), ACLF-2 (6.7 days; 95% CI, 2.5-24.3), and ACLF-3 (19.3 days; 95% CI, 1.2-39.7), compared with recipients without ACLF. Presence of ACLF-3 at LT was also associated with longer length of dialysis after LT (9.7 days; 95% CI, 4.6-48.8) relative to lower grades. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed greater likelihood of discharge to a rehabilitation center among recipients with ACLF-1 (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% CI, 1.09-4.54), ACLF-2 (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.12-5.01), and ACLF-3 (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.40-5.73). Development of bacterial infection after LT also predicted LOS (20.9 days; 95% CI, 6.1-38.5) and 30-day readmissions (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.17-2.25). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ACLF at LT, particularly ACLF-3, have greater post-transplant healthcare resource utilization.

Racial and ethnic disparities in early treatment with immunotherapy for advanced HCC in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Immunotherapy has emerged as an effective treatment for patients with advanced-stage HCC. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of immunotherapy for advanced HCC in a nationwide cohort and racial and ethnic disparities in access to immunotherapy. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We used the US National Cancer Database to identify patients with tumor-node-metastasis stage 3 or 4 HCC between 2017 and 2018. We performed multivariable Cox regression to identify factors associated with overall survival (OS) and logistic regression to identify factors associated with receipt of immunotherapy. Of the 3,990 patients treated for advanced HCC, 3,248 (81.4%) patients received chemotherapy and 742 (18.6%) patients received immunotherapy as a first-line treatment. Immunotherapy was associated with improved OS compared with chemotherapy (adjusted HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65-0.88) after adjusting for covariates. There were racial and ethnic disparities in access to immunotherapy, with Hispanic (adjusted OR [aOR]: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46-0.83) and Black patients (aOR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54-0.89) less likely to receive immunotherapy compared with White patients. There was a significant interaction between race-ethnicity and facility type, with higher disparity observed in nonacademic centers (interaction p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Immunotherapy was associated with improved OS compared with chemotherapy in advanced HCC. There are significant disparities in early access to immunotherapy, likely due to differential access to clinical trials and experimental therapies. A comprehensive approach to monitoring and eliminating racial-ethnic disparities in the management of advanced HCC is urgently needed.

Pickle Juice Intervention for Cirrhotic Cramps Reduction: The PICCLES Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Muscle cramps are common among persons with cirrhosis and associated with poor health-related quality of life. Treatment options are limited. We sought to determine whether pickle juice can improve muscle cramp severity. METHODS: We enrolled 82 patients with cirrhosis and a history of >4 muscle cramps in the previous month from December 2020 to December 2021. Patients were randomized 1:1 to sips of pickle juice vs tap water at cramp onset. Our primary outcome assessed at 28 days was the change in cramp severity measured by the visual analog scale for cramps (VAS-cramps, scaled 0-10). Cramps were assessed 10 times over 28 days using interactive text messages. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of days with VAS-cramps <5, change in sleep quality, and global health-related quality of life measured using the EQ-5D. RESULTS: Overall, 74 patients completed the trial, aged 56.6 ± 11.5 years, 54% male, 41% with ascites, 38% with encephalopathy, and model for end-stage liver disease-sodium score 11.2 ± 4.9. Many patients were receiving other cramp therapies at baseline. The baseline VAS for cramps was 4.2 ± 3.4, the EQ-5D was 0.80 ± 0.10, and 43% rated sleep as poor. At trial completion, the respective values for the pickle juice and control arms were -2.25 ± 3.61 points on the VAS for cramps, compared with control tap water (-0.36 ± 2.87), P = 0.03; a proportion of cramp-days with VAS-cramps <5 were 46% vs 35% (P = 0.2); and the change in sleep quality was not different (P = 0.1). The end-of-trial EQ-5D was 0.78 ± 0.10 vs 0.80 ± 0.10 (P = 0.3). No differences in weight change were observed for those with and without ascites. DISCUSSION: In a randomized trial, sips of pickle brine consumed at cramp onset improve cramp severity without adverse events.

A Randomized, Dose-Finding, Proof-of-Concept Study of Berberine Ursodeoxycholate in Patients With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

INTRODUCTION: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a fibroinflammatory disease of the bile ducts leading to cirrhosis and hepatic decompensation. There are no approved pharmaceutical therapies for PSC. Berberine ursodeoxycholate (HTD1801) is an ionic salt of berberine and ursodeoxycholic acid with pleiotropic mechanisms of action. METHODS: An 18-week proof-of-concept study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of HTD1801 in PSC. This study had three 6-week periods: (i) a placebo-controlled period, (ii) a treatment extension period, and (iii) a randomized treatment withdrawal period. The primary end point was change from baseline in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at week 6. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were randomized and treated; 35 (64%) had inflammatory bowel disease and 22 (40%) had previously received ursodeoxycholic acid. Patients were initially randomized to placebo (n = 16), HTD1801 500 mg BID (n = 15), or HTD1801 1000 mg BID (n = 24). At baseline, mean (range) ALP values were 414 U/L (138-1,048), 397 U/L (237-773), and 335 U/L (122-882) for the placebo, HTD1801 500 mg BID, and HTD1801 1,000 mg BID groups, respectively. At week 6, a significant decrease in ALP was observed with HTD1801 (least square mean; HTD1801 500 mg BID = -53 U/L, P = 0.016; HTD1801 1000 mg BID = -37 U/L, P = 0.019) compared with placebo (98 U/L). ALP reductions were sustained through week 18 in those who remained on therapy, whereas ALP increased in those who crossed over to placebo during period 3. HTD1801 was generally well tolerated; 4 patients experienced serious adverse events, none attributed to HTD1801. DISCUSSION: HTD1801 is associated with significant improvement in ALP and warrants further study as a treatment for PSC.

Risk Factors for Posttransplantation Mortality in Recipients With Grade 3 Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: Analysis of a North American Consortium.

Although liver transplantation (LT) yields survival benefit for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure grade 3 (ACLF-3), knowledge gaps remain regarding risk factors for post-LT mortality. We retrospectively reviewed data from 10 centers in the United States and Canada for patients transplanted between 2018 and 2019 and who required care in the intensive care unit prior to LT. ACLF was identified using the European Association for the Study of the Liver-Chronic Liver Failure (EASL-CLIF) criteria. A total of 318 patients were studied, of whom 106 (33.3%) had no ACLF, 61 (19.1%) had ACLF-1, 74 (23.2%) had ACLF-2, and 77 (24.2%) had ACLF-3 at transplantation. Survival probability 1 year after LT was significantly higher in patients without ACLF (94.3%) compared with patients with ACLF (87.3%; P = 0.02), but similar between ACLF-1 (88.5%), ACLF-2 (87.8%), and ACLF-3 (85.7%; P = 0.26). Recipients with ACLF-3 and circulatory failure (n = 29) had similar 1-year post-LT survival (82.3%) compared with patients with ACLF-3 without circulatory failure (89.6%; P = 0.32), including those requiring multiple vasopressors. For patients transplanted with ACLF-3 including respiratory failure (n = 20), there was a trend toward significantly lower post-LT survival (P =  0.07) among those with respiratory failure (74.1%) compared with those without (91.0%). The presence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) at LT for patients with ACLF-3 (n = 15), however, yielded significantly lower survival (91.9% versus 57.1%; P < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that PVT was significantly associated with post-LT mortality within 1 year (odds ratio, 7.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-28.3). No correlation was found between survival after LT and the location or extent of PVT, presence of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, or anticoagulation. LT in patients with ACLF-3 requiring vasopressors yields excellent 1-year survival. LT should be approached cautiously among candidates with ACLF-3 and PVT.

Acute on Chronic Liver Failure From Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Growing and Aging Cohort With Rising Mortality.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We assessed the burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) among transplant candidates in the United States, along with waitlist outcomes for this population. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We analyzed the United Network for Organ Sharing registry from 2005 to 2017. Patients with ACLF were identified using the European Association for the Study of the Liver/Chronic Liver Failure criteria and categorized into NAFLD, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We used linear regression and Chow's test to determine significance in trends and evaluated waitlist outcomes using Fine and Gray's competing risks regression and Cox proportional hazards regression. Between 2005 and 2017, waitlist registrants for NAFLD-ACLF rose by 331.6% from 134 to 574 candidates (P < 0.001), representing the largest percentage increase in the study population. ALD-ACLF also increased by 206.3% (348-1,066 registrants; P < 0.001), whereas HCV-ACLF declined by 45.2% (P < 0.001). As of 2017, the NAFLD-ACLF population consisted primarily of persons aged ≥60 years (54.1%), and linear regression demonstrated a significant rise in the proportion of patients aged ≥65 in this group (ß = 0.90; P = 0.011). Since 2014, NAFLD-ACLF grade 1 was associated with a greater risk of waitlist mortality relative to ALD-ACLF (subhazard ratio [SHR] = 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.44) and HCV-ACLF (SHR = 1.35; 95% CI, 1.08-1.71), among patients aged ≥60 years. Mortality was similar among the three groups for patients with ACLF grade 2 or 3. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is the fastest rising etiology of cirrhosis associated with ACLF among patients listed in the United States. As the NAFLD population continues to grow and age, patients with NAFLD-ACLF will likely have the highest risk of waitlist mortality.

High-risk liver transplant recipients with grade 3 acute on chronic liver failure should receive the good quality graft.

BACKGROUND & AIM: We aimed to develop a risk score for LT recipients and donor selection among patients with ACLF-3. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 7166 adult LT recipients (mean age 53 years, 63% males, 56% Caucasians, 42% obese, median MELD score 36.5) using deceased donor grafts in the UNOS database (01/2002-06/2018) who were in ACLF-3 at LT as per EASL-CLIF criteria were analysed. Cox regression model on the derivation dataset (N = 3583) showed recipient age, non-alcohol aetiology, pulmonary failure, brain failure and cardiovascular failure to be associated with 1-year patient survival. Observed and expected post-transplant 1-year survival showed excellent correlation (R = .920). Risk score from cox model on derivation dataset stratified 3583 recipients in validation cohort using cut-off scores 7.55 and 11.57 to low (N = 1211), medium (N = 1168) and high risk (N = 1199), with 1-year patient survival of 89%, 82% and 80% respectively. Based on poor versus good quality graft (donor risk index cut-off at 1.50), 1-year patient survival for low, medium and high-risk categories were 90 versus 89% (p = .490), 83 versus 82% (p = .390) and 83 versus 78% (p = .038) respectively. Among recipients with a high-risk score, donor factors of age ≥60 years, grafts obtained from national sharing and macro-steatosis >15% were associated with 1-year patient survival below 66%. CONCLUSION: Among ACLF-3 liver transplant recipients, those with high risk at the time of transplant receiving better quality graft will improve post-transplant outcomes. Prospective studies using additional characteristics are needed to derive an accurate risk score model in predicting post-transplant outcomes among recipients with ACLF-3.

Duodenal Microbiome and Serum Metabolites Predict Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Multicenter Cohort of Patients with Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rapidly increasing in the U.S. and is a leading cause of mortality for patients with cirrhosis. Discovering novel biomarkers for risk stratification of HCC is paramount. We examined biomarkers of the gut-liver axis in a prospective multicenter cohort. METHODS: Patients with cirrhosis without a history of HCC were recruited between May 2015 and March 2020 and prospectively followed at 3 tertiary care hospitals in Los Angeles. Microbiome analysis was performed on duodenal biopsies and metabolomic analysis was performed on serum samples, collected at the time of enrollment. Optimal microbiome-based survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were used to determine microbiota and metabolite associations with HCC development, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 227 participants with liver cirrhosis contributed a total of 459.58 person-years of follow-up, with 14 incident HCC diagnoses. Male sex (HR = 7.06, 95% CI = 1.02-54.86) and baseline hepatic encephalopathy (HE, HR = 4.65, 95% CI = 1.60-13.52) were associated with developing HCC over follow-up. Adjusting for age, sex, baseline HE, and alkaline phosphatase, an increased risk of HCC were observed for participants with the highest versus lowest three quartiles for duodenal Alloprevotella (HR = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.06-9.73) and serum taurocholic acid (HR = 6.87, 95% CI = 2.32-20.27), methionine (HR = 9.97, 95% CI = 3.02-32.94), and methioninesulfoxide (HR = 5.60, 95% CI = 1.84-17.10). Being in the highest quartile for Alloprevotella or methionine had a sensitivity and specificity for developing HCC of 85.71% and 60.56%, respectively, with an odds ratio of 10.92 (95% CI = 2.23-53.48). CONCLUSION: Alloprevotella and methionine, methioninesulfoxide, and taurocholic acid predicted future HCC development in a high-risk population of participants with liver cirrhosis.

The impact of COVID-19 on the cascade of care of HCV in the US and China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic imperiled the global health system. We aimed to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the care continuum of HCV-infected patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-six patients who were prescribed a course of DAA therapy at three tertiary medical centers in the US and China between January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 were included. We assessed the proportions of patients who completed DAA therapy and had HCV RNA testing during and after the end of therapy. We also assessed the impact of utilization of telemedicine. RESULTS: The proportion of patients undergoing HCV RNA testing during DAA treatment decreased from >81.7% before pandemic to 67.8% during the pandemic (P=0.006), with a more prominent decrease in the US. There were significant decreases in HCV RNA testing >12 (P<0.001) and >20 weeks (P<0.001) post-treatment during COVID-19 era. Compared to pre-COVID period, post-treatment clinic encounters during COVID-19 era decreased significantly in China (Xi'an: 13.6% to 7.4%; Nanjing: 16.7% to 12.5%) but increased in the US (12.5% to 16.7%), mainly due to the use of telemedicine. There was a 4-fold increase in utilization of telemedicine in the US. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 pandemic carried profound impact on care for HCV patients in both the US and China. HCV cure rate assessment decreased by half during COVID era but the proportion of patients finishing DAA therapy was not significantly affected. Increased utilization of telemedicine led to increased compliance with DAA therapy but did not encourage patients to have their laboratory assessment for HCV cure.

Heterogeneity of liver fibrosis in patients with congestive hepatopathy: A biopsy and explant comparison series.

PURPOSE: Patients with end-stage heart failure and concomitant irreversible liver injury may be candidates for combined heart liver transplant (CHLT). Determining appropriate candidates for CHLT is essential given organ scarcity. Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) is used to evaluate the severity of parenchymal liver injury in transplant candidates. In patients with congestive hepatopathy (CH), the fibrosis pattern may be heterogenous. METHODS: We reviewed all CHLT cases between 2007 and 2017, as well as lone-heart transplant cases with post-mortem autopsy. Pre-transplant TJLB was compared to explant to assess the performance of biopsy fibrosis staging. RESULTS: 12 patients were included. Median age at time of transplant was 58 and the cohort was predominantly male (75%). Seven (64%) TJLB were predominantly stage 4 fibrosis and 4 (36%) were stage 1. Advanced fibrosis was the dominant pattern in 7 (70%) explants and 5 (50%) explants had heterogenous fibrosis. In 50% of CH cases, there was discordance between the TJLB and explant. In the autopsy cases, the TJLB and autopsy findings differed. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of matched TJLB and explanted livers, we found variable performance of TJLB in predicting the predominant fibrosis stage present in the liver.

Liver transplantation for alcoholic hepatitis in the United States: Excellent outcomes with profound temporal and geographic variation in frequency.

Medical-refractory severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) has a high mortality. The national frequency, longer term outcomes and regional practices of AH liver transplantation (LT) in the United States are not well described, despite the increasing mortality from alcohol-associated liver disease. We analyzed the trends in frequency and outcomes of UNOS data on 39 455 adult patients who underwent LT from 2014 to 2019, including AH LT recipients. LTs for AH increased 5-fold, from 28 in 2014 to 138 in 2019, varying 8-fold between UNOS regions. Three transplant centers accounted for 50%-90% of AH LTs within each region. The number of transplant centers performing AH LTs increased from 14 in 2014 to 47 in 2019. AH patients were younger (mean = 39.4 years), had higher MELD scores (mean = 36.8), and were more often on dialysis (46.0%) and in ICU (38.4%), compared to other indications (all P < .05). One- and 5-year graft survivals for AH LT recipients were 91.7% and 81.9%, respectively. The frequency of AH LT is increasing rapidly, with excellent medium-term outcomes. An impact of AH recurrence on patient or graft survival is not apparent in this national analysis. There are marked geographic variations in practices, highlighting the lack of selection criteria standardization.

Limitations of current liver donor allocation systems and the impact of newer indications for liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation represents a life-saving treatment for patients with decompensated cirrhosis, a severe condition associated with a high risk of waiting list mortality. When decompensation occurs rapidly in the presence of extrahepatic organ failures, the condition is called acute-on-chronic liver failure, which is associated with an even higher risk of death, though liver transplantation can also markedly improve survival in affected patients. However, there are still gaps in our understanding of how to optimise prioritisation and organ allocation, as well as survival among patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (both before and after transplant). Moreover, it is urgent to address inequalities in access to liver transplantation in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Several controversies still exist regarding gender and regional disparities, as well as the use of suboptimal donor grafts. In this review, we aim to provide a critical perspective on the role of liver transplantation in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and address areas of ongoing uncertainty.

Rural-Urban Geographical Disparities in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Incidence Among US Adults, 2004-2017.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate impact of urbanicity and household income on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence among US adults. METHODS: HCC incidence was evaluated by rural-urban geography and median annual household income using 2004-2017 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data. RESULTS: Although overall HCC incidence was highest in large metropolitan regions, average annual percent change in HCC incidence was greatest among more rural regions. Individuals in lower income categories had highest HCC incidence and greatest average annual percent change in HCC incidence. DISCUSSION: Disparities in HCC incidence by urbanicity and income likely reflect differences in risk factors, health-related behaviors, and barriers in access to healthcare services.

Patient Frailty Is Independently Associated With the Risk of Hospitalization for Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

There is significant interest in identifying risk factors associated with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). In transplant candidates, frailty predicts wait-list mortality and posttransplant outcomes. However, the impact of frailty on ACLF development and mortality is unknown. This was a retrospective study of US veterans with cirrhosis identified between 2008 and 2016. First hospitalizations were characterized as ACLF or non-ACLF admissions. Prehospitalization patient frailty was ascertained using a validated score based on administrative coding data. We used logistic regression to investigate the impact of an increasing frailty score on the odds of ACLF hospitalization and short-term ACLF mortality. Cox regression was used to analyze the association between frailty and longterm survival from hospitalization. We identified 16,561 cirrhosis hospitalizations over a median follow-up of 4.19 years (interquartile range, 2.47-6.34 years). In adjusted models, increasing frailty score was associated with significantly increased odds of ACLF hospitalization versus non-ACLF hospitalization (odds ratio, 1.03 per point; 95% CI 1.02-1.03; P < 0.001). By contrast, frailty score was not associated with ACLF 28- or 90-day mortality (P = 0.13 and P = 0.33, respectively). In an adjusted Cox analysis of all hospitalizations, increasing frailty scores were associated with poorer longterm survival from the time of hospitalization (hazard ratio, 1.02 per 5 points; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.03; P = 0.004). Frailty increases the likelihood of ACLF hospitalization among patients with cirrhosis, but it does not impact short-term ACLF mortality. These findings have implications for clinicians caring for frail outpatients with cirrhosis, including tailored follow-up, risk mitigation strategies, and possible expedited transplant evaluation.

Grade 1 Acute on Chronic Liver Failure Is a Predictor for Subsequent Grade 3 Failure.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) results in extremely high short-term mortality in patients with underlying cirrhosis. The European Association for the Study of the Liver criteria grade ACLF severity from 1 (least severe) to 3 (most severe) based on organ failures (OFs) that develop after an acute decompensation (AD). However, the implications of surviving low-grade ACLF in terms of risk of subsequent high-grade ACLF are unclear. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with compensated cirrhosis in the Veterans Health Administration database from January 2008 to June 2016. Propensity matching for grade 1 (G1) ACLF, followed by Cox regression, was used to model risk of subsequent grade 3 (G3) ACLF. Stratified analyses of different ADs and OFs were also performed. We identified 4,878 patients with well-matched propensity scores. G1 ACLF events conferred a significantly increased risk of subsequent G3 ACLF relative no previous G1 ACLF (hazard ratio, 8.69; P < 0.001). When stratified by AD, patients with ascites or hepatic encephalopathy were significantly more likely to develop G3 ACLF relative to those with gastrointestinal bleed or infection as an AD (P < 0.001). Risk of G3 ACLF also varied significantly by type of OF characterizing previous G1 ACLF, with liver, coagulation, and circulatory failure posing the highest increased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who recover from G1 ACLF have substantially increased risk of later developing G3 ACLF as compared to those who never have G1 ACLF. Moreover, reversible decompensations for G1 ACLF have a lower risk of G3 ACLF, and liver-intrinsic OFs confer a much higher risk of G3 ACLF. These findings have implications for prognosis, future surveillance, and triaging early transplant evaluation.

Treatment of Severe Acute on Chronic Liver Failure: Management of Organ Failures, Investigational Therapeutics, and the Role of Liver Transplantation.

Acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a unique syndrome that afflicts patients with chronic liver disease and results in high short-term mortality, in the setting of organ system failures. Given this prognosis, there is an urgent need to understand risk factors for this condition, for appropriate medical management of organ failures, and for selection criteria for patients who may benefit from liver transplantation (LT). Although several definitions exist to identify ACLF, all of them are designed to identify patients with uniquely high mortality. Currently, management of severe ACLF relies on best supportive care for specific organ failures. Thromboelastography should guide the evaluation of coagulation pathways and hyperfibrinolysis in ACLF; prophylactic blood product transfusions and thrombopoetin agonists are not recommended. Combination therapy with terlipressin and albumin has been shown to be efficacious in the management of the hepatorenal syndrome but should be administered with caution in patients with ACLF-3. Recent data have characterized the role of beta-blockers and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement in the management of ACLF. Investigational therapies such as extracorporeal liver support and hepatocyte stem cell therapies have shown promise; larger scale studies may better define the subpopulations of patients with ACLF mostly likely to benefit from these evolving therapeutics. Regarding LT in ACLF, data suggest that even patients with 3 or more organ system failures may have a 1-year survival >80%. However, further efforts are needed to understand the predictors of post-LT survival to facilitate LT criteria for this condition.

Mortality, sepsis, and organ failure in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis vary by type of infection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Infection is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis, but presumably, not all infections carry the same risk of mortality. We compared outcomes of different sites of infection in a nationally representative sample of inpatients with cirrhosis. METHODS: We queried the Nationwide Readmissions Database for patients with cirrhosis from 2011 to 2014. Cirrhosis and infection diagnoses were identified by previously used algorithms of ICD-9 codes. The following infections were compared: urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, cellulitis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), and Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. Secondary outcomes included sepsis, any organ failure, multiple organ failures, and 30-day readmission. Outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression and included a priori covariates. RESULTS: A total of 1 798 830 weighted index admissions were identified. Infection was present in 29.2% overall-including UTI (13.7%), pneumonia (8.9%), cellulitis (5.2%), CDI (2.8%), and SBP (2.0%). Mortality was significantly higher in pneumonia (19.6%), SBP (18.6%), and CDI (17.4%) compared with cellulitis (7.6%) and UTI (11.8%). Sepsis, any, and multiple organ failures were most commonly seen in pneumonia, SBP, and CDI. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that pneumonia had the highest associated mortality (odds ratio [OR] 2.73, confidence interval [CI] 2.68-2.80) and multiple organ failures (OR 3.59, CI 3.50-3.68). Significantly increased 30-day readmission was seen only with SBP (24.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of inpatients with cirrhosis vary significantly depending on the type of infection. The severity and epidemiology of infection in cirrhosis appears to be shifting with pneumonia, not SBP, having the highest prevalence of multiple organ failures and inpatient mortality.