A prospective longitudinal assessment of de novo metabolic syndrome after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: De novo metabolic syndrome (MS) is a frequent complication after liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this prospective study is to identify potential risk factors longitudinally associated to post-LT de novo MS. Patients without pre-LT MS who underwent LT between April 2013 and October 2017 were prospectively included. Metabolic variables were collected at LT and at 6, 12, and 24 months post-LT. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (76% male, mean age 53.6±9.5 years). The prevalence of de novo MS was 46%, 43%, and 49% at 6, 12, and 24 months after LT, respectively. Among other MS components, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia significantly increased after LT. Considering the baseline characteristics at the adjusted analysis, alcoholic liver disease (OR 4.17, 95%CI 1.20-14.51; p = .03) and hypertension pre-LT (OR 11.3, 95% CI 1.49-85.46; p = .02) were confirmed as independent risk factors of post-LT de novo MS. In the time-varying analysis, only eGFR (OR .97, 95% CI .97-.98; p < .0001) was found associated with post-LT de novo MS. CONCLUSIONS: De novo MS frequently occurs shortly after LT, affecting nearly half of patients at 24 months post-LT. Lifestyle modifications should be recommended starting early post-LT, particularly for patients with established risk factors.

De Novo Malignancy After Liver Transplantation: Risk Assessment, Prevention, and Management-Guidelines From the ILTS-SETH Consensus Conference.

De novo malignancies (DNMs) following liver transplantation (LT) have been reported as 1 of the major causes of late mortality, being the most common cause of death in the second decade after LT. The overall incidence of DNMs is reported to be in the range of 3.1% to 14.4%, and the incidence is 2- to 3-fold higher in transplant recipients than in age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Long-term immunosuppressive therapy, which is the key in maintaining host tolerance and achieving good long-term outcomes, is known to contribute to a higher risk of DNMs. However, the incidence and type of DNM also depends on different risk factors, including patient demographics, cause of the underlying chronic liver disease, behavior (smoking and alcohol abuse), and pre-existing premalignant conditions. The estimated standardized incidence ratio for different DNMs is also variable. The International Liver Transplantation Society-Spanish Society of Liver Transplantation Consensus Conference working group on DNM has summarized and discussed the current available literature on epidemiology, risk factors, management, and survival after DNMs. Recommendations for screening and surveillance for specific tumors, as well as immunosuppression and cancer-specific management in patients with DNM, are summarized.

Efficacy of dermal redensification in chronoaged face: Quantitative volumetric assessment.

BACKGROUND: Mesotherapy for chronoaged skin shows heterogeneous results. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of dermal redensification on the face and neck. METHODS: Patients with mild-moderate-severe chronoaging of face and neck were included and, every 14 days, treated with four sessions of dermal redensification, consisting of 1 mL of hyaluronic acid (15 mg/mL) plus a dermo-restructuring complex. Skin improvements were analyzed at 8 weeks for amelioration by Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale and quantification of superficial wrinkles and texture by high-resolution 3D camera. All patients underwent a self-assessment questionnaire and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients were enrolled (median age 55 [42-67] years). Eight weeks after treatment all patients reported a significant improvement, being Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale ≥2 in 69% of the subjects. Patients' perception of improvement of their skin quality was highly satisfactory in all items explored on the self-assessment questionnaire relating to radiance, elasticity, texture, and smoothness. Subjects with fine and moderate/deep wrinkles had an improvement >25% and 50%, respectively. Quantification of wrinkles with filters for superficial plane (1 mm) showed a statistically significant median decrease, both in width (1.53 [1.41-1.72] mm vs 1.27 [1.12-1.34] P < 0.001) and depth (0.46 [0.27-0.61] vs 0.12 [0.6-0.18] P < 0.001). Indentation decreased by a median of 20%. CONCLUSIONS: The synergic effects of hyaluronic acid and dermo-restructuring complex show an objective amelioration of skin texture, wrinkles, and self-evaluation of skin appearance.

The animal naming test: An easy tool for the assessment of hepatic encephalopathy.

Screening for hepatic encephalopathy (HE) that does not cause obvious disorientation or asterixis (minimal HE [MHE]/grade 1 HE) is important. We examined if the animal naming test (ANT1 ) (maximum number of animals listed in 1 minute) is useful in this context. In total, 208 healthy controls, 40 controls with inflammatory bowel disease, and 327 consecutive patients with cirrhosis underwent the ANT1 . Patients were tested for MHE by the psychometric HE score, and 146 were assessed by electroencephalography; 202 patients were followed up regarding the occurrence of overt HE and death. In the healthy controls, ANT1 was influenced by limited education (<8 years) and advanced age (>80 years, P < 0.001). Using an age and education adjusting procedure, the simplified ANT1 (S-ANT1 ) was obtained. An S-ANT1 of <10 animals was abnormal. Of the patients, 169 were considered unimpaired, 32 as having HE ≥grade 2, and 126 as having MHE/grade 1 HE. This group had lower S-ANT1 than unimpaired patients (12 ± 0.4 versus 16 ± 0.7, P < 0.001) and higher S-ANT1 than those with HE ≥grade 2 (4 ± 0.9). In grade 1 HE the S-ANT1 was lower than in MHE. Following receiver operating characteristic analysis (Youden's index), 15 animals produced the best discrimination between unimpaired and MHE/grade 1 HE patients. Thus, a three-level score (0 for S-ANT1 ≥15, 1 for 10 ≤ S-ANT1 < 15, 2 for S-ANT1 <10) was obtained. This score was correlated both to the psychometric HE score (P < 0.0001) and to electroencephalography (P = 0.007). By sample random split validation, both S-ANT1 and its three-level score showed prognostic value regarding the 1-year risk of overt HE and death. No inflammatory bowel disease control had S-ANT <15. CONCLUSION: The S-ANT1 is an easily obtainable measure useful for the assessment of HE. (Hepatology 2017;66:198-208).

RIFLE classification as predictive factor of mortality in patients with cirrhosis admitted to intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To evaluate the association of the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss and End-stage renal failure (RIFLE) score on mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: A cohort of 412 patients with cirrhosis consecutively admitted to ICU was classified according to the RIFLE score. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors associated with mortality. Liver-specific, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and RIFLE scores on admission, were compared by receiver-operator characteristic curves. RESULTS: The overall mortality during ICU stay or within 6 weeks after discharge from ICU was 61.2%, but decreased over time (76% during first interval, 1989-1992 vs 50% during the last, 2005-2006, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that RIFLE score (odds ratio: 2.1, P < 0.001) was an independent factor significantly associated with mortality. Although SOFA had the best discrimination (area under receiver-operator characteristic curve = 0.84), and the APACHE II had the best calibration, the RIFLE score had the best sensitivity (90%) to predict death in patients during follow up. CONCLUSIONS: RIFLE score was significantly associated with mortality, confirming the importance of renal failure in this large cohort of patients with cirrhosis admitted to ICU, but it is less useful than other scores.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the management of ascites and hepatorenal syndrome.

Ascites is the most common complication of liver cirrhosis and when it develops mortality is 50% at 5 years, apart from liver transplantation. Large volume paracentesis has been the only option for ascites refractory to medical treatment. The role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in the management of diuretic-resistant ascites has been evaluated in many cohort studies and five randomized trials up to now, clearly showing improvement in natriuresis and clinical efficacy. It, however, remains unclear how transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt affects survival and quality of life, because hospital admissions owing to worsening encephalopathy may counterbalance the reduced need of paracentesis. What is clear is that the patient selection is critical. About 30% of patients with ascites develop hepatorenal syndrome at 5 years, leading to high mortality in its severe and progressive form. As its main pathogenetic factor is derangement of circulatory function owing to portal hypertension, these patients may benefit from transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, but this has been shown only in small series, in which mortality remains very high, owing to the underlying poor liver function.

Update on the classification, assessment of prognosis and therapy of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) occurs as a result of obstruction of hepatic venous outflow at any level from the small hepatic veins to the junction of the inferior vena cava with the right atrium. Diagnosis can be difficult because of the wide spectrum of presentation of the disease and the varying severity of liver damage. The traditional classification of BCS--as fulminant, acute or chronic--is not prognostically useful. This makes assessing the benefit of therapy difficult, especially as there is no evidence from randomized studies. This article highlights advances in the prognosis and therapy of BCS. Identification of the site of venous obstruction has a major effect on prognosis. Portal-vein thrombosis occurs in 20-30% of cases, and acute presentation of BCS reflects an acute or chronic syndrome in 60% of BCS cases. BCS can be diagnosed and treated on a single occasion in the setting of the radiology department, with hepatic venography, transjugular liver biopsy, retrograde CO2 portography and inferior vena cava pressure measurements performed simultaneously with therapies such as dilation or stenting of webs in the inferior vena cava or hepatic veins, and placement of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Disruption of a portal vein thrombus can also be done during the same session. Surgical shunts have been superseded by the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. Liver transplantation is reserved for fulminant and progressive chronic forms of BCS. Anticoagulation therapy must be used routinely, before and after specific therapy, regardless of whether a thrombophilic disorder is diagnosed.