Racial and ethnic disparities in psychosocial evaluation and liver transplant waitlisting.

Health disparities have been well-described in all stages of the liver transplantation (LT) process. Using data from psychosocial evaluations and the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment, our objective was to investigate potential racial and ethnic inequities in overall LT waitlisting and not waitlisting for medical or psychosocial reasons. In a cohort of 2271 candidates evaluated for LT from 2014 to 2021 and with 1-8 years of follow-up, no significant associations were noted between race/ethnicity and overall waitlisting and not waitlisting for medical reasons. However, compared with White race, Black race (odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.56) and Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.16-3.78) were associated with not waitlisting for psychosocial reasons. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the relationship persisted in both populations: Black (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.12-3.38) and Hispanic/Latinx (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.08-4.86) (reference group, White). High-risk Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment scores were more prevalent in Black and Hispanic/Latinx patients, likely reflecting upstream factors and structural racism. Health systems and LT centers should design programs to combat these disparities and improve equity in access to LT.

The Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant Is Associated With Outcomes Before and After Liver Transplantation.

The Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant (SIPAT) is a standardized psychosocial evaluation tool used in liver transplantation (LT) evaluation. We assessed the impact of the SIPAT score and subdomains on transplant waitlisting decisions and post-LT outcomes including immunosuppression (IS) nonadherence, biopsy-proven rejection, andmortality/graft failure. We conducted a single-center observational cohort study of 1430 patients evaluated for LT. Patients were divided in 2 groups based on a SIPAT cutoff score of <21 or ≥21 (higher SIPAT scores indicate higher psychosocial risk). Regression models assessed relationships between total SIPAT score and domain scores and waitlisting decisions, IS nonadherence, allograft rejection, and death/graft failure. Elevated total SIPAT and SIPAT domain scores were associated not being added to the waitlist (total SIPAT core ≥21 adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.78 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.36-2.33]; readiness score ≥5 aOR, 2.01 [95% CI, 1.36-2.76]; social support score ≥4aOR, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.15-1.94]; psychopathology score ≥7 aOR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.07-1.94]; lifestyle/substance abuse score ≥12 aOR, 1.72 [95%CI, 1.23-2.39]) and were more likely to experience IS nonadherence as measured by the tacrolimus coefficient of variation (CoV) (total SIPAT score ≥21 aOR, 2.92 [95% CI, 1.69-5.03]; readiness score ≥5 aOR, 3.26 [95% CI, 1.63-6.52]; psychopathology score ≥7 aOR, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.00-3.50]; lifestyle substance abuse score ≥12 aOR, 3.03 [95% CI, 1.56-5.86]). SIPAT readinessscore ≥5 was associated with biopsy-proven allograft rejection (aOR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.20-5.91). The SIPAT score was independently associated with LT listing decisions and IS nonadherence, and the readiness domain was associated with the risk of allograft rejection. These findings offer insights into higher risk recipients who require additional support before and aftertransplantation.

Kidney transplantation and donation in the transgender population: A single-institution case series.

The medical needs of the transgender population are increasingly recognized within the US health care system. Hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery present distinct anatomic, hormonal, infectious, and psychosocial issues among transgender kidney transplant donors and recipients. We present the first reported experience with kidney transplantation and donation in transgender patients. A single-center case series (January 2014-December 2018) comprising 4 transgender kidney transplant recipients and 2 transgender living donors was constructed and analyzed. Experts in transplant surgery, transplant psychiatry, transplant infectious disease, pharmacy, and endocrinology were consulted to discuss aspects of care for these patients. Four transgender patients identified as male-to-female and 2 as female-to-male. Three of 6 had gender-affirming surgeries prior to transplant surgery, 1 of whom had further procedures posttransplant. Additionally, 4 patients were on hormone therapy. All 6 had psychiatric comorbidities. The 4 grafts have done well, with an average serum creatinine of 1.45 mg/dL at 2 years (range 1.01-1.85 mg/dL). However, patients encountered various postoperative complications, 1 of which was attributable to modified anatomy. Thus, transgender kidney transplant patients can present novel challenges in regard to surgical considerations as well as pre- and posttransplant care. Dedicated expertise is needed to optimize outcomes for this population.

Prior Relapse, Ongoing Alcohol Consumption, and Failure to Engage in Treatment Predict Alcohol Relapse After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is the leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the USA. Alcohol relapse post-LT can negatively impact long-term outcomes, and prognostic scoring systems are available for further study. AIMS: Our study aims were to: (1) evaluate the relationship between alcohol relapse and rejection and mortality, (2) investigate risk factors for relapse, and (3) assess predictive validity of the SIPAT (Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant) and SALT (Sustained Alcohol Use Post-Liver Transplant) scores on post-LT alcohol relapse. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 155 patients transplanted for chronic ALD at a single transplant center. Cox proportional hazard models assessed the relationship between alcohol relapse and allograft rejection and psychosocial risk factors for relapse. RESULTS: 20% of patients met criteria for alcohol relapse. Alcohol relapse was associated with allograft rejection (HR 2.33, 95% CI 1.11-4.91, p = .03). Three variables most strongly associated with alcohol relapse: prior relapse, failure to engage in recommended alcohol treatment, and continued drinking with liver disease, which were combined into a psychosocial model. SIPAT score≥ 21 and SALT score ≥ 7 were associated with alcohol relapse (HR 6.40, 95% CI 1.36-30.18, p = .019 and HR 2.30, 95% CI 1.12-4.75, p = .024). Receiver operator characteristic analysis compared predictive ability of our psychosocial model to SIPAT (C-statistic .83 compared to .71) and SALT (C-statistic = .77 compared to .62). CONCLUSION: We identified important psychosocial predictors of post-LT alcohol relapse and validated SIPAT and SALT scores as pre-transplant risk factors for alcohol relapse.

A randomized, controlled study of treatment for alcohol dependence in patients awaiting liver transplantation.

Alcohol is the second most common cause of cirrhosis necessitating liver transplantation in the United States, yet rates of posttransplant drinking approach 50% and no controlled clinical trials of alcoholism treatment exist in this population. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), or referral to local treatment sources ("treatment as usual" [TAU]). Addictive behavior, mood states, and general health were compared. Candor concerning alcohol use was encouraged by keeping drinking questionnaires in confidence, except in medical emergencies. Ninety-one subjects were studied; 46 received MET, 45 received TAU, 29 proceeded to transplantation (MET, n = 13; TAU, n = 16). A total of 69 subjects completed 24 weeks of observation, and 25 subjects were assessed at 96 weeks. No difference in study attendance was observed, but significantly more MET subjects attended 1 or more treatment sessions. Twenty-three subjects (25% of sample) drank after randomization but before transplant. Excluding an extreme outlier, MET drinkers had significantly fewer drinks per drinking days than TAU drinkers. Neither treatment plan resulted in significant variances in measures of psychosocial health. In conclusion, although MET afforded no significant benefit over TAU for mood or general health outcomes, this study provides some degree of support for MET to limit the quantity and frequency of pretransplant alcohol consumption among liver transplant candidates with alcohol dependence. However, because of the limited number of study subjects, these data must be interpreted cautiously. Further research to validate our findings or to identify better methods to identify and intervene with patients at risk of pretransplant and posttransplant drinking should continue.

Uncertainty and liver transplantation: women with primary biliary cirrhosis before and after transplant.

Uncertainty is a frequent feature of chronic illness and can have a particularly important impact in the case of organ transplantation. This study of 100 women with primary biliary cirrhosis who were either waiting for or had already had a liver transplant focused on both changes in uncertainty with transplant and the correlates of uncertainty both pre- and post-transplant. While those who were post-transplant had significantly lower uncertainty scores (measured by the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale-Adult Version-MUIS-A) than those on the waiting list, uncertainty was still persistent and associated with a reduced quality of life. The most significant factors in relation to uncertainty were fatigue, depression, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with medical information received. It is important for both patients and transplant team members to recognize the impact of uncertainty on a patient's well-being, both before and after a transplant, and to address the underlying factors that continue to compromise quality of life even after a life-saving procedure.

Psychiatric consultation of patients with hyperemesis gravidarum.

The request for a psychiatric examination of patients with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a unique challenge for the psychiatric consultant. Unfortunately, there are little data in the psychosomatic medicine literature to guide diagnostic evaluations and treatment of patients with HG. In this article, we summarize the existing literature and propose a practical approach to such patients based on the literature and our clinical experience.

Outcomes of donor evaluation in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of donor evaluation for adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is to discover medical conditions that could increase the donor postoperative risk of complications and to determine whether the donor can yield a suitable graft for the recipient. We report the outcomes of LDLT donor candidates evaluated in a large multicenter study of LDLT. The records of all donor candidates and their respective recipients between 1998 and 2003 were reviewed as part of the Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study (A2ALL). The outcomes of the evaluation were recorded along with demographic data on the donors and recipients. Of the 1011 donor candidates evaluated, 405 (40%) were accepted for donation. The donor characteristics associated with acceptance (P < 0.05) were younger age, lower body mass index, and biological or spousal relationship to the recipient. Recipient characteristics associated with donor acceptance were younger age, lower Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, and shorter time from listing to first donor evaluation. Other predictors of donor acceptance included earlier year of evaluation and transplant center. CONCLUSION: Both donor and recipient features appear to affect acceptance for LDLT. These findings may aid the donor evaluation process and allow an objective assessment of the likelihood of donor candidate acceptance.

Moderate and high affinity serotonin reuptake inhibitors increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal toxicity.

OBJECTIVE: Serotonin release from platelets is important for regulating hemostasis. Some prior studies suggest an association between use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and gastrointestinal bleeding and a possible synergistic effect of these medications with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This study examined the effect of medications that inhibit serotonin uptake on upper gastrointestinal toxicity. METHODS: 359 case subjects hospitalized for upper gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, or benign gastric outlet obstruction were recruited from 28 hospitals. 1889 control subjects were recruited by random digit dialing from the same region. Data were collected during structured telephone interviews. Antidepressant medications were characterized according to their affinity for serotonin receptors. Exposure to medications required use on at least 1 day during the week prior to the index date. RESULTS: Any moderate or high affinity serotonin reuptake inhibitor (MHA-SRI) use was reported by 61 cases (17.1%) and 197 controls (10.4%). After adjusting for potential confounders, MHA-SRI use was associated with a significantly increased odds of hospitalization for upper gastrointestinal toxicity (adjusted OR = 2.0, 95%CI 1.4-3.0). A dose-response relationship in terms of affinity for serotonin uptake receptors was not observed (p = 0.17). No statistical interaction was observed for use of high dose NSAIDs or aspirin concomitantly with MHA-SRIs (p = 0.5). When MHA-SRIs were used concomitantly with high dose NSAIDs, the adjusted odds ratio for the association with upper gastrointestinal toxicity was 3.5 (95%CI 1.9-6.6). CONCLUSIONS: Use of MHA-SRIs is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for upper gastrointestinal toxicity.

Expanding Treatment Opportunities for Hospitalized Patients with Opioid Use Disorders.

The prevalence of opioid use disorders (OUDs) is rising across the United States. Patients with OUDs are often hospitalized for medical conditions other than addiction, such as infection, injury, or pregnancy. These hospital admissions provide an opportunity for healthcare providers to initiate opioid agonist therapy with methadone or buprenorphine. Randomized trials have demonstrated the superior effectiveness of this treatment strategy, but its adoption by hospital providers has been slow. A number of barriers have impeded its implementation, including misperceptions about the regulation of opioid prescribing, limited resources for the transition to community- based treatment, and a lack of familiarity among clinicians about the appropriate initiation and dose adjustment of these opioid agonists for maintenance therapy. We discuss changes in policy and practice to expand opportunities to engage patients with OUDs in opioid agonist treatment during their inpatient hospitalizations.

Severe psychiatric problems in right hepatic lobe donors for living donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality from donation of a right hepatic lobe for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an important issue for this procedure. We report the prevalence of severe psychiatric postoperative complications from the Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort study (A2ALL), which was established to define the risks and benefits of LDLT for donors and recipients. METHODS: Severe psychiatric complications were evaluated in all donors from the A2ALL study who were evaluated between 1998 and February 2003. RESULTS: Of the 392 donors, 16 (4.1%) had one or multiple psychiatric complications, including three severe psychiatric complications (suicide, accidental drug overdose, and suicide attempt). CONCLUSIONS: Despite extensive preoperative screening, some donors experience severe psychiatric complications, including suicide, after liver donation. Psychiatric assessment and monitoring of liver donors may help to understand and prevent such tragic events.

A critical review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-associated bleeding: balancing the risk of treating hepatitis C-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are increasingly being used to treat interferon-associated side effects in patients receiving hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy. Because there is an increased risk of bleeding in HCV-infected patients who have developed cirrhosis and either portal hypertension or hepatic failure or both, we critically reviewed the literature on SSRI-associated bleeding. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: We performed a MEDLINE search of literature from 1966 to the present using hemorrhage, SSRI, and antidepressants as search terms and followed up on relevant citations. We reviewed 6 retrospective studies, 5 of which were case-control studies, and 18 case reports of bleeding in 37 people. Our review is supplemented with a case report of a possible connection between SSRI treatment and a fatal gastrointestinal bleed in an HCV-infected man. DATA SYNTHESIS: Bleeding events in 12/18 reports (67%) describing 19/24 people (79%) were closely associated with the use of SSRIs. CONCLUSION: Combining aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with SSRIs for the treatment of interferon-associated neuropsychiatric side effects increases the risks of hemorrhage in patients with HCV who have developed cirrhosis and either portal hypertension or hepatic failure or both. We recommend that clinicians exercise caution when prescribing medications that can promote spontaneous bleeding to patients with multiple risk factors for internal hemorrhage.

Cocaine withdrawal severity and urine toxicology results from treatment entry predict outcome in medication trials for cocaine dependence.

Both cocaine withdrawal symptoms, measured by an instrument called the Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment (CSSA), and urine toxicology results obtained at the start of treatment have been shown to predict treatment outcome in outpatient cocaine dependence treatment. This study further evaluates the predictive validity of the CSSA and urine toxicology results, alone and in combination. Subjects included 76 cocaine-dependent individuals who participated in 7-week, outpatient, pilot medication trials for cocaine dependence. Predictor variables included CSSA scores and results from a urine toxicology screen obtained on the first day of medication treatment. Successful outcome was defined as 3 continuous weeks of self-reported abstinence from cocaine confirmed by urine toxicology screens. Predictive validity was assessed by logistic regression analysis. Both the urine toxicology screen and the CSSA scores were significant predictors of 3 weeks of continuous abstinence from cocaine, and the inclusion of both variables significantly improved the predictive validity of either variable alone. Urine toxicology results and CSSA scores obtained at treatment entry are useful predictors of outcome in outpatient cocaine dependence treatment.

Perceived barriers to hepatitis C therapy for patients receiving opioid agonist treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To explore attitudes toward hepatitis C antiviral therapy in a real-world setting, we asked patients in opioid agonist treatment who were offered antiviral therapy about perceived barriers to initiating therapy. METHODS: We recruited patients in opioid agonist treatment who had previously been offered cost-free hepatitis C antiviral therapy in a clinical trial. We collected demographic and open-ended interview data. The semistructured interview guide included questions about attitudes toward hepatitis C therapy and barriers to initiating treatment. Each interview was audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used the qualitative editing method to analyze the interview transcripts. RESULTS: We enrolled 19 patients who had been approached to initiate hepatitis C therapy in a clinical trial. All participants were low-income men, with one third self-identifying as racial minorities. When asked about possible barriers to treatment, multiple problems emerged, including the fear of treatment side effects, difficulties with health care providers, limited access to medical care and health information, and misperceptions about antiviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Despite intense educational efforts, concerns over antiviral therapy, relations with providers, and access to the health care system remain critical barriers. These factors should be addressed to improve antiviral therapy rates for patients receiving opioid agonist treatment.

A critical review of candidacy for orthotopic liver transplantation in alcoholic liver disease.

The majority of candidates with end-stage alcoholic liver disease (ESALD) in the United States who are eligible for referral for liver transplantation (LT) are not being referred. There is a lack of firm consensus for the duration of abstinence from alcohol as well as what constitutes good psychosocial criteria for listing for LT. Evidence shows that the general public and the practicing physicians outside the transplant community perceive that patients with a history of alcohol abuse will make poor transplant candidates. However, physicians in the transplant community perceive selected patients with ESALD as good candidates. When considering patients for listing for LT, 3 months of alcohol abstinence may be more ideal than 6 months. Patients with a lack of social support, active smoking, psychotic or personality disorders, or a pattern of nonadherence should be listed only with reservation. Those who have a diagnosis of alcohol abuse as opposed to alcohol dependence may make better transplant candidates. Patients who have regular appointments with a psychiatrist or psychologist in addictions treatment training also seem to do more favorably.

Treatment of addictive behaviors in liver transplant patients.

Very little addiction treatment research has been done concerning smoking cessation, illicit drugs, or even alcohol abuse in liver transplant patients. Our data suggest that a surprising number of patients who are awaiting a liver transplant for alcohol-related end-stage liver disease will return to drinking before transplantation. We found that motivational enhancement therapy afforded no marked benefit over treatment as usual for drinking, smoking, mood, or general health outcomes in alcoholics awaiting liver transplantation. Stably abstinent methadone-maintained opiate-dependent patients should not be tapered off methadone; are generally good candidates for liver transplant; show low relapse rates into illicit use of opiates; and may be at risk for more medical complications than their counterparts. Pre- and posttransplantation smoking rates are high and cause marked morbidity and mortality. Transplant teams should encourage smoking cessation treatments.Marijuana use in liver transplant recipients is not uncommon, and apart from the risk of developing aspergillosis, additional health risks have not yet been identified.