Prevalence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of hypoxic hepatitis in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic hepatitis (HH) is an important clinical entity in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The aims of the study were to assess the etiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes of HH in the ICU of a tertiary hospital. Secondary aim was to analyze the effects of concomitant ischemia in other organs than the liver. METHODS: All patients with HH, 2011-2018, in a university hospital ICU were included. Data were collected on etiology, relevant clinical data and outcome. HH was defined by an increase in aminotransferases ≥10 times the upper limit of normal within 48 h from a clinical event of cardiac, circulatory or respiratory failure. Other causes of liver cell necrosis were excluded. RESULTS: Of 9,931 patients hospitalized in the ICU, 159 (1.6%) fulfilled criteria for HH. In-hospital mortality occurred in 85 (53%) and 60 (38%) survived one year. Median ICU stay was five days (interquartile range (IQR) 3-10) and median hospital stay 16 days (IQR 7-32). Shock (48%), cardiac arrest (25%) and hypoxia (13%) were the most common causes of HH. Acute kidney injury (81%), rhabdomyolysis (50%), intestinal ischemia (6%) and ischemic pancreatitis (3%) occurred concomitantly. Age (odds ratio (OR) 1.05 (95% CI 1.02-1.09)), serum lactate (OR 2.61 (95% CI 1.23-5.50)) and lactate dehydrogenase (OR 1.14 (95% CI 1.02-1.27)) were predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxic hepatitis was related to shock in approximately 50% of cases and associated with high in-hospital mortality. HH was commonly associated with ischemia in other organs. In-hospital mortality was associated with age, lactate and LD.

A nationwide study on hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Population based studies on the epidemiology of HCC are scarce. We aimed to compare CG (cirrhotic HCC group) with NCG (non-cirrhotic HCC group), analyze incidence, etiology and survival among patients diagnosed in Iceland in a population-based cohort. A previous study from Iceland (1984-1998) showed an incidence of HCC of 1.1/100.000, mostly with NCG. METHODS: A nationwide, population based retrospective study. Information on patients with HCC during 1998-2017 was obtained and medical records viewed. RESULTS: Overall 152 patients with HCC were identified. The mean incidence was 1.7/100.000 and increased by 8% annually. Alcohol and hepatitis C combined was more common as a risk factor in CG than in the NCG (13 % vs. 2%, p = 0.03). Tumor size was larger in NCG (11 cm vs 5 cm, p < 0.01) and portal vein thrombosis less common (11 % vs. 30 %, p = 0.03). Overall, 44 % in NCG underwent surgical treatment vs. 23 % in CG (p = 0.02). The proportion of patients diagnosed by surveillance in 1998-2007 was 3% and 19 % in 2008-2017 (p = 0.03). The disease specific median survival for cirrhotic patients diagnosed by surveillance was 519 days and 86 days in other cirrhotic patients, hazard ratio 0.45 (p = 0.007, CI 0.25-0.81). CONCLUSIONS: A major increase in the incidence of patients with HCC has occurred. The non-cirrhotic HCC presented with larger size tumors, lower proportion of portal vein thrombosis and were more likely to be surgical candidates, although not affecting prognosis. Diagnosis by surveillance in patients with cirrhosis has increased and the survival of those patients is better compared to others.