Costs of pediatric liver transplantation among commercially insured and Medicaid-insured patients with cholestasis in the US.

Children with rare cholestatic liver diseases, such as Alagille syndrome, progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, and biliary atresia typically require liver transplantation (LT). The objective of this analysis was to assess the economic burden of LT on these patients. Health care resource utilization and costs associated with pediatric LT were retrospectively assessed using insurance claims data from the US IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicaid databases collected between October 2015 and December 2019. Inclusion criteria were as follows: ≥1 procedure code for LT, <18 years old at transplant, and ≥6 months of insurance eligibility at baseline. A cholestatic liver disease population who received LT was selected in the absence of specific diagnosis codes by excluding other severe liver conditions (ie, acute liver failure, malignancy) and by excluding severely decompensated individuals requiring ICU admission before LT. Annualized rates were reported. Over a mean study duration of 1.8 years, 53 commercially insured and 100 Medicaid-insured children received LT, with mean (SD) ages at baseline of 6.9 (6.0) and 5.7 (5.4) years, respectively. During this period, commercially insured and Medicaid-insured patients had annualized means of 65.3 and 52.8 medical visits, respectively. Most were outpatient visits, although the burden of inpatient visits was also high, with mean inpatient stays (inclusive of LT stay) of 37.2 and 31.6 days per year, respectively. Commercially insured and Medicaid-insured patients averaged US$512,124 and $211,863 in medical costs and $26,998 and $15,704 in pharmacy costs, respectively. These costs remained substantial throughout the first year after transplant. Overall, pediatric LT resulted in substantial health care resource utilization and cost burden in both commercially- and Medicaid-insured patients. Novel targeted medications that negate the need for pediatric LT could decrease the associated morbidity and costs.

Factors associated with improved patient and graft survival beyond 1 year in pediatric liver transplantation.

With advances in surgical techniques, medical management, and more equitable allocation systems, children who receive a liver transplantation (LT) today can expect remarkable outcomes early after LT. However, beyond 1 year after transplant, attrition rates have not improved. We reviewed two separate eras (Era 1: January 1995-June 2004 vs. Era 2: July 2004-March 2018) of the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation registry to explore the evolution and associated factors contributing to late graft loss (LGL) and late mortality (LM). The fraction of long-term pediatric LT recipients surviving after 1 year with their first graft significantly improved (81.5% in Era 1 vs. 85.7% in Era 2; p < 0.0001). This improvement occurred despite significant changes in patient selection toward higher risk populations (p < 0.001) and without notable improvement in perioperative complications such as hepatic artery thrombosis (p = 0.24) and early posttransplant reoperation (p = 0.94) that have historically contributed to poor late-allograft outcomes. Improved outcomes were associated with changes in patient characteristics and perioperative practices, which subsequently impacted both early post-LT complications as well as other sequalae known to contribute to adverse events in long-term pediatric LT recipients. In conclusion, despite significant changes in patient selection toward higher risk populations, and without notable improvement in several perioperative complications known to contribute to poor late-allograft outcomes, significant improvements in LGL and a trend toward improvement in LM was seen in a more contemporary cohort of children receiving an LT.

North American Biliary Stricture Management Strategies in Children After Liver Transplantation: A Multicenter Analysis From the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) Registry.

Biliary strictures affect 4%-12% of pediatric liver transplantations. Biliary strictures can contribute to graft loss if left untreated; however, there remains no consensus on the best course of treatment. Study objectives included analyses of outcomes associated with biliary stricture management strategies via percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), or surgery. We identified pediatric liver transplantation recipients (2011-2016) with biliary strictures from the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) registry and retrieved imaging, procedural, and operative reports from individual centers. Subanalyses were performed to specifically evaluate PTC and ERCP for "optimal biliary outcome" (OBO), defined as graft survival with stricture resolution and without recurrence or surgery. A total of 113 children with a median follow-up of 3.9 years had strictures diagnosed 100 days (interquartile range, 30-290) after liver transplantation; 81% were isolated anastomotic strictures. Stricture resolution was achieved in 92% within 101 days, more frequently with isolated anastomotic strictures (96%). 20% of strictures recurred, more commonly in association with hepatic artery thrombosis (32%). Patient and graft survival at 1 and 3 years were 99% and 98% and 94% and 92%, respectively. In a subgroup analysis of 79 patients with extrahepatic strictures managed by PTC/ERCP, 59% achieved OBO following a median of 4 PTC, and 75% following a median of 3 ERCP (P < 0.001). Among patients with OBO, those with ERCP had longer time intervals between successive procedures (41, 47, 54, 62, 71 days) than for PTC (27, 31, 36, 41, 48 days; P < 0.001). Allograft salvage was successful across all interventions. Stricture resolution was achieved in 92%, with 20% risk of recurrence. Resolution without recurrence was highest in patients with isolated anastomotic strictures and without hepatic artery thrombosis.

Alanine Aminotransferase and Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase Predict Histologic Improvement in Pediatric Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Predictive, noninvasive tools are needed to monitor key features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children that relate to improvement in liver histology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between liver chemistries and liver histology using data from the CyNCh (Cysteamine Bitartrate Delayed-Release for the Treatment of NAFLD in Children) clinical trial. APPROACH AND RESULTS: This study included 146 children. Improvement in liver histology, defined as decrease in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) Activity Score ≥2 points without worsening of fibrosis, occurred in 43 participants (30%). There were 46 participants with borderline zone 1 nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at baseline, with resolution in 28% (12 of 46). Multivariate models were constructed using baseline and change in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) at 52 weeks, for improvement in (1) liver histology primary outcome, (2) borderline zone 1 NASH, and (3) fibrosis. For improvement in histology, the model (P < 0.0001) retained baseline and change in GGT (area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-0.87). For borderline zone 1 NASH, the model (P = 0.0004) retained baseline and change in ALT (AUROC, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.93). For fibrosis, the model (P < 0.001) retained baseline and change in ALT (AUROC, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.93). Additional clinical parameters were added to the models using Akaike's information criterion selection, and significantly boosted performance: improvement in histology with AUROC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95), borderline zone 1 NASH with AUROC of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.83-0.99), and fibrosis with AUROC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.82-0.94). Models were validated using data from the TONIC (Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children) trial. CONCLUSIONS: In children with NAFLD, dynamic changes in serum ALT and GGT are associated with change in liver histology and appear to be powerful indicators of histological response.

Recurrence of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis After Liver Transplant in Children: An International Observational Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recurrent primary sclerosing cholangitis (rPSC) following liver transplant (LT) has a negative impact on graft and patient survival; little is known about risk factors for rPSC or disease course in children. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We retrospectively evaluated risk factors for rPSC in 140 children from the Pediatric PSC Consortium, a multicenter international registry. Recipients underwent LT for PSC and had >90 days of follow-up. The primary outcome, rPSC, was defined using Graziadei criteria. Median follow-up after LT was 3 years (interquartile range 1.1-6.1). rPSC occurred in 36 children, representing 10% and 27% of the subjects at 2 years and 5 years following LT, respectively. Subjects with rPSC were younger at LT (12.9 vs. 16.2 years), had faster progression from PSC diagnosis to LT (2.5 vs. 4.1 years), and had higher alanine aminotransferase (112 vs. 66 IU/L) at LT (all P < 0.01). Inflammatory bowel disease was more prevalent in the rPSC group (86% vs. 66%; P = 0.025). After LT, rPSC subjects had more episodes of biopsy-proved acute rejection (mean 3 vs. 1; P < 0.001), and higher prevalence of steroid-refractory rejection (41% vs. 20%; P = 0.04). In those with rPSC, 43% developed complications of portal hypertension, were relisted for LT, or died within 2 years of the diagnosis. Mortality was higher in the rPSC group (11.1% vs. 2.9%; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of rPSC in this cohort was higher than previously reported, and was associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Patients with rPSC appeared to have a more aggressive, immune-reactive phenotype. These findings underscore the need to understand the immune mechanisms of rPSC, to lay the foundation for developing new therapies and improve outcomes in this challenging population.

Oral Vancomycin, Ursodeoxycholic Acid, or No Therapy for Pediatric Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: A Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Many children with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) receive oral vancomycin therapy (OVT) or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). There is a paucity of data on whether these medications improve outcomes. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We analyzed retrospective data from the Pediatric PSC Consortium. Children treated with OVT were matched 1:1:1 to those treated with UDCA or managed with observation (no treatment) based on the closest propensity score, ensuring similar baseline characteristics. Two hundred sixty-four patients (88 each with OVT, UDCA, or observation) had matching propensity scores and were similar in demographics, phenotype, immunosuppression, baseline biochemistry, and hepatic fibrosis. After 1 year in an intention-to-treat analysis, all outcome metrics were similar regardless of treatment group. In OVT, UDCA, and untreated groups, respectively: Gamma-glutamyltransferase normalized in 53%, 49%, and 52% (P = not significant [NS]), liver fibrosis stage was improved in 20%, 13%, and 18% and worsened in 11%, 29%, and 18% (P = NS), and the 5-year probability of liver transplant listing was 21%, 10%, and 12% (P = NS). Favorable outcome was associated with having a mild phenotype of PSC and minimal hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: We presented the largest-ever description of outcomes on OVT in PSC and compared them to carefully matched patients on UDCA or no therapy. Neither OVT nor UDCA showed improvement in outcomes compared to a strategy of observation. Patients progressed to end-stage liver disease at similar rates. Spontaneous normalization of biochemistry is common in children receiving no therapy, particularly in the majority of children with a mild phenotype and an early stage of disease. Placebo-controlled treatment trials are needed to identify effective treatments for pediatric PSC.

The Sclerosing Cholangitis Outcomes in Pediatrics (SCOPE) Index: A Prognostic Tool for Children.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Disease progression in children with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is variable. Prognostic and risk-stratification tools exist for adult-onset PSC, but not for children. We aimed to create a tool that accounts for the biochemical and phenotypic features and early disease stage of pediatric PSC. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We used retrospective data from the Pediatric PSC Consortium. The training cohort contained 1,012 patients from 40 centers. We generated a multivariate risk index (Sclerosing Cholangitis Outcomes in Pediatrics [SCOPE] index) that contained total bilirubin, albumin, platelet count, gamma glutamyltransferase, and cholangiography to predict a primary outcome of liver transplantation or death (TD) and a broader secondary outcome that included portal hypertensive, biliary, and cancer complications termed hepatobiliary complications (HBCs). The model stratified patients as low, medium, or high risk based on progression to TD at rates of <1%, 3%, and 9% annually and to HBCs at rates of 2%, 6%, and 13% annually, respectively (P < 0.001). C-statistics to discriminate outcomes at 1 and 5 years were 0.95 and 0.82 for TD and 0.80 and 0.76 for HBCs, respectively. Baseline hepatic fibrosis stage was worse with increasing risk score, with extensive fibrosis in 8% of the lowest versus 100% with the highest risk index (P < 0.001). The model was validated in 240 children from 11 additional centers and performed well. CONCLUSIONS: The SCOPE index is a pediatric-specific prognostic tool for PSC. It uses routinely obtained, objective data to predict a complicated clinical course. It correlates strongly with biopsy-proven liver fibrosis. SCOPE can be used with families for shared decision making on clinical care based on a patient's individual risk, and to account for variable disease progression when designing future clinical trials.

Progression of Fatty Liver Disease in Children Receiving Standard of Care Lifestyle Advice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common pediatric chronic liver disease. Little is known about outcomes in recognized youth. METHODS: We compared paired liver biopsies from 122 of 139 children with NAFLD (74% male; 64% white; 71% Hispanic; mean age, 13 ± 3 years; age range, 8-17 years) who received placebo and standard of care lifestyle advice in 2 double-blind, randomized clinical trials within the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) clinical research network from 2005 through 2015. We analyzed histologic changes with respect to baseline and longitudinal change in clinical variables using regression analysis. RESULTS: At enrollment, 31% of the children had definite NASH, 34% had borderline zone 1 NASH, 13% had borderline zone 3 NASH, and 21% had fatty liver but not NASH. Over a mean period of 1.6 ± 0.4 years, borderline or definite NASH resolved in 29% of the children, whereas 18% of the children with fatty liver or borderline NASH developed definite NASH. Fibrosis improved in 34% of the children but worsened in 23%. Any progression to definite NASH and/or in fibrosis was associated with adolescent age, and higher waist circumference, levels of alanine or aspartate aminotransferase, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at baseline (<0.05), and over follow-up time, with increasing level of alanine aminotransferase, hemoglobin A1C (P<.05), gamma-glutamyl transferase and development of type 2 diabetes (P<.01). Increasing level of gamma-glutamyl transferase was also associated with reduced odds of any improvement (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: One-third of children with NAFLD enrolled in placebo groups of clinical trials had histologic features of progression within 2 years, in association with increasing obesity and serum levels of aminotransferases and loss of glucose homeostasis.

Colorectal Dysplasia and Cancer in Pediatric-Onset Ulcerative Colitis Associated With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially when associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), is a risk factor for developing colorectal cancer (CRC).1-3 We aimed to determine the incidence of CRC in a large cohort of pediatric-onset PSC-ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: A Manifestation of the Telomere Biology Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features, therapeutic interventions, and patient outcomes of gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage in individuals with a telomere biology disorder, including dyskeratosis congenita, Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome, Revesz syndrome, and Coats plus. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical Care Consortium for Telomere Associated Ailments members were invited to contribute data on individuals with telomere biology disorders at their institutions who experienced GI bleeding. Patient demographic, laboratory, imaging, procedural, and treatment information and outcomes were extracted from the medical record. RESULTS: Sixteen patients who experienced GI hemorrhage were identified at 11 centers. Among 14 patients who underwent genetic testing, 8 had mutations in TINF2, 4 had mutations in CTC1 or STN1, and 1 patient each had a mutation in TERC and RTEL1. Ten patients had a history of hematopoietic cell transplantation. The patients with Coats plus and those without Coats plus had similar clinical features and courses. Angiodysplasia of the stomach and/or small bowel was described in 8 of the 12 patients who underwent endoscopy; only 4 had esophageal varices. Various medical interventions were trialed. No single intervention was uniformly associated with cessation of bleeding, although 1 patient had a sustained response to treatment with bevacizumab. Recurrence was common, and the overall long-term outcome for affected patients was poor. CONCLUSIONS: GI bleeding in patients with telomere biology disorders is associated with significant morbidity and with vascular ectasias rather than varices.

Presentation and Outcomes of Autoimmune Hepatitis Type 1 and Type 2 in Children: A Single-center Study.

OBJECTIVE: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is designated as type 1 or 2 (AIH-1/2) on the basis of serum autoantibody (Ab) profiles. In children, AIH may present as acute or chronic liver failure or cirrhotic AIH (ALF/CLF/CAIH) with or without overlap sclerosing cholangitis (SC). The aim of this study was to compare demographics, presentation, and outcomes between groups in children. METHODS: A retrospective electronic chart review of children with AIH who met standard diagnostic criteria with histologic confirmation at Texas Children's Hospital was performed, with de novo AIH after liver transplant (LT) excluded. Patients were identified and divided into AIH-1, AIH-2, ALF, CAIH, AIH-SC, and LT and compared using chi-square analysis, Student t-test, and Mood median test. RESULTS: Among 91 children with AIH, 72 (79.1%) had AIH-1, 19 (20.9%) had AIH-2, 13 (14.3%) had ALF, 25 (27.5%) had CAIH, and 14 (15.4%) had AIH-SC. Both AIH-1/2 had female and Hispanic predominance (72.2/89.5%, 40.3/57.9%). AIH-2 presented at younger mean age in years than AIH-1 (6.8, 12.1, P < 0.05). Both AIH-1/2 had low rates of remission after 1 year of IS (25.4, 35.7%) and most recent (30.6, 54.5%) follow-up. Twenty-two (24.2) patients received LT: 16 had AIH-1 (72.7%), 6 had AIH-2 (27.3%), 9 (40.9%) had ALF, and 13 (59.1%) had CAIH. One-year patient and graft survivals were 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology and clinical presentation of AIH-1 and -2 had a few subtle differences. AIH-1 was associated with more complications after LT. More data are needed to better characterize the 2 as separate disease entities.

Higher Waitlist Mortality in Pediatric Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure in the UNOS Database.

OBJECTIVES: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), whereas increasingly well-defined in adults, has been poorly characterized in pediatric patients other than having a poor prognosis. This study aimed to identify ACLF and evaluate prognosis in the American pediatric population. METHODS: Modified ACLF definitions (p-CLIF) were applied to 11,300 children listed for liver transplantation from March 2002 through 2017 in the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) database. RESULTS: Pediatric ACLF patients have greater mortality within 90 days from listing (46.6% by p-CLIF) than other types of failure (<30%), including acute liver failure, as well as greater mortality within the first 30 and 90 days after transplantation than all other types of liver failure, but do not have increased mortality rates relative to other groups between 90 and 365 days from transplant. Although some ACLF listings also received 1B status, ACLF mortality at 90 days was greater than the general 1B population (50 vs 29.4%). Model for End-Stage Liver Disease/Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease scores of ACLF patients are lower than 1B listings, and do not predict waitlist or posttransplant death. Greater number of organ failures does correlate with increased mortality. Biliary atresia is the leading etiology of pediatric chronic liver disease, accounting for over 30% of chronic and 45% of ACLF listings, yet is protective against mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.142 for ACLF). Receiving exception approval is independently but similarly protective in ACLF (HR = 0.145). CONCLUSIONS: These findings pose a challenge for allocation decisions but indicate greater attention to ACLF is needed, as scoring systems may not capture these children's risk of early death, which appears to currently be mitigated by exceptions. Multicenter, clinical, preferably prospective study of ACLF is necessary to determine how to prioritize ACLF relative to other liver failure types to address its relatively higher early mortality.

Use of Dietary Supplements in Pediatric Liver Disease and Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Dietary supplements are frequently used by healthy individuals and those with chronic medical conditions but may cause damage to the liver. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and attitudes of dietary supplement use, and the frequency of disclosure to healthcare providers among parents/caregivers for children with chronic liver disease. METHODS: We developed an anonymous survey for parents/caregivers of children (<18 years old) with chronic liver disease or liver transplant recipients and distributed the survey through social media groups organized around pediatric liver diseases. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 101 parents/caregivers (48 without transplant and 53 posttransplant).Among respondents, 87% agreed they would use dietary supplements to help their child, but parents/caregivers of transplant recipients were less likely to consider use (77% vs 98%; P = 0.01). In the past 12 months, 83% reported dietary supplement use including 47% who used nonvitamin/mineral supplements. In two-thirds of parents/caregivers, use was initiated by their personal belief. Although 77% of respondents disclosed their use to their liver team, disclosure varied depending on the supplement with no individual that used cannabinoid products disclosing the use. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplements are frequently used by children with liver disease and may exceed use in other pediatric conditions. Though most parents report use to their liver team, disclosure may vary depending on the specific supplement. Providers should take extra measures to review use of supplements with their patients and work to develop trust with their families to obtain accurate disclosure of use.

The pediatric solid organ transplant experience with COVID-19: An initial multi-center, multi-organ case series.

The clinical course of COVID-19 in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients remains ambiguous. Though preliminary experiences with adult transplant recipients have been published, literature centered on the pediatric population is limited. We herein report a multi-center, multi-organ cohort analysis of COVID-19-positive transplant recipients ≤ 18 years at time of transplant. Data were collected via institutions' respective electronic medical record systems. Local review boards approved this cross-institutional study. Among 5 transplant centers, 26 patients (62% male) were reviewed with a median age of 8 years. Six were heart recipients, 8 kidney, 10 liver, and 2 lung. Presenting symptoms included cough (n = 12 (46%)), fever (n = 9 (35%)), dry/sore throat (n = 3 (12%)), rhinorrhea (n = 3 (12%)), anosmia (n = 2 (8%)), chest pain (n = 2 (8%)), diarrhea (n = 2 (8%)), dyspnea (n = 1 (4%)), and headache (n = 1 (4%)). Six patients (23%) were asymptomatic. No patient required supplemental oxygen, intubation, or ECMO. Eight patients (31%) were hospitalized at time of diagnosis, 3 of whom were already admitted for unrelated problems. Post-transplant immunosuppression was reduced for only 2 patients (8%). All symptomatic patients recovered within 7 days. Our multi-institutional experience suggests the prognoses of pediatric transplant recipients infected with COVID-19 may mirror those of immunocompetent children, with infrequent hospitalization and minimal treatment, if any, required.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Infection in Children With Liver Transplant and Native Liver Disease: An International Observational Registry Study.

OBJECTIVE: Increased mortality risk because of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2) infection in adults with native liver disease (LD) and liver transplant (LT) is associated with advanced age and comorbid conditions. We aim to report outcomes for children with LD and LT enrolled in the NASPGHAN/SPLIT SARS-CoV2 registry. METHODS: In this multicenter observational cohort study, we collected data from 91 patients <21 years (LD 44, LT 47) with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection between April 21 and September 17, 2020. RESULTS: Patients with LD were more likely to require admission (70% vs 43% LT, P = 0.007) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) management (32% vs 4% LT, P = 0.001). Seven LD patients required mechanical ventilation (MV) and 2 patients died; no patients in the LT cohort died or required MV. Four LD patients presented in pediatric acute liver failure (PALF), 2 with concurrent multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C); all recovered without LT. Two LD patients had MIS-C alone and 1 patient died. Bivariable logistic-regression analysis found that patients with nonalcoholic fatty LD (NAFLD) (odds ratio [OR] 5.6, P = 0.02) and LD (OR 6.1, P = 0.01, vs LT) had higher odds of severe disease (PICU, vasopressor support, MV, renal replacement therapy or death). CONCLUSIONS: Although not directly comparable, LT recipients had lower odds of severe SARS-CoV2 infection (vs LD), despite immunosuppression burden. NAFLD patients reported to the registry had higher odds of severe SARS-CoV2 disease. Future controlled studies are needed to evaluate effective treatments and further stratify LD and LT patients with SARS-CoV2 infection.

Systemic causes of non-dermatologic chronic pruritus in the pediatric population and their management: An unexplored area.

Chronic pruritus associated with systemic diseases in the pediatric population has been infrequently addressed in the literature. This review focuses on chronic pruritus presenting without cutaneous manifestations. Common systemic etiologies include diseases with hepatic, renal, and hematologic origins. This encompasses several congenital liver disorders, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and lymphoproliferative disorders such as Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this paper, an expert panel describes the clinical characteristics, pathophysiology, and therapeutic treatment ladders for chronic pruritus associated with the aforementioned systemic etiologies. Novel therapies are also reviewed. Our aim is to shed light on this unexplored area of pediatric dermatology and instigate further research.

Clinical Consequences of Cardiomyopathy in Children With Biliary Atresia Requiring Liver Transplantation.

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM), a comorbidity of end-stage cirrhotic liver disease, remains uncharacterized in children, largely because of a lack of an established pediatric definition. The aim of this retrospective cohort analysis is to derive objective two-dimensional echocardiographic (2DE) criteria to define CCM associated with biliary atresia (BA), or BA-CCM, and correlate presence of BA-CCM with liver transplant (LT) outcomes in this population. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, optimal cut-off values for left ventricular (LV) geometrical parameters that were highly sensitive and specific for the primary outcomes: A composite of serious adverse events (CSAE) and peritransplant death were determined. These results were used to propose a working definition for BA-CCM: (1) LV mass index (LVMI) ≥95 g/m2.7 or (2) relative wall thickness of LV ≥0.42. Applying these criteria, BA-CCM was found in 34 of 69 (49%) patients with BA listed for LT and was associated with increased multiorgan dysfunction, mechanical and vasopressor support, and longer intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays. BA-CCM was present in all 4 waitlist deaths, 7 posttransplant deaths, and 20 patients with a CSAE (P < 0.01). On multivariable regression analysis, BA-CCM remained independently associated with both death and a CSAE (P < 0.01). Utilizing ROC analysis, LVMI was found to be a stronger predictor for adverse outcomes compared with current well-established markers, including Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) score. Conclusion: BA-CCM is highly sensitive and specific for morbidity and mortality in children with BA listed for LT. 2DE screening for BA-CCM may provide pertinent clinical information for prioritization and optimal peritransplant management of these children.

Management of Wilson Disease Diagnosed in Infancy: An Appraisal of Available Experience to Generate Discussion.

Increased access to molecular genetic testing is changing the demographics for diagnosing inherited disorders and imposing new challenges for medical management. Wilson disease (WD), typically diagnosed in older children and adults, can now be detected in utero and in infants (children younger than 24 months, including neonates) via genetic testing. An evidence-based approach to management of these neonates and extremely young children, who are typically asymptomatic, has been hampered by lack of clinical experience. We present a case of an infantile diagnosis of WD, review available experience, and discuss current trends in antenatal genetic testing of parents and fetus that may lead to a very early diagnosis of WD. Based on physiological and nutritional considerations, we propose an algorithmic approach to management of infantile WD as a starting point for further discussion. Future collaboration amongst specialists is essential to identify evidence-based approaches and best practice for managing treatment of infants with genetically diagnosed WD.

Vedolizumab Therapy in Children With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis: Data From the Pediatric Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Consortium.

OBJECTIVES: Most patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) also have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The liver and colon express MAdCAM-1, a target of lymphocyte homing integrins. Vedolizumab (VDZ) is an α4ß7 integrin antibody used to treat IBD. We investigated liver outcomes in children with PSC-IBD treated with VDZ. METHODS: Patients were identified within the Pediatric PSC Consortium, a multicenter research registry. Retrospective demographic, phenotypic, biochemical, radiological, histopathologic and IBD data for up to 1 year of VDZ therapy were collected. Liver biochemical and IBD responses were defined as: a 75% or greater reduction in initial γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), or a GGT that fell to <50 IU/L and improved Mayo endoscopy grade or IBD activity scores after 9 to 12 months. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were identified from 19 centers. VDZ was initiated at median age of 16 years [IQR 15-18], 69% were male, 65% had large duct involvement, 19% had (Metavir F3/F4) fibrosis and 59% had ulcerative colitis. Of 32 patients with abnormal GGT at baseline, 22% had a liver biochemical response after 9 to 12 months. For IBD, 32% achieved remission, 30% had a clinical response, and 38% had no response. Final GGT after 9 to 12 months was 51 [IQR 28-71] in IBD patients in remission versus 127 [IQR 63-226] in those with active IBD, (P = 0.066). CONCLUSIONS: Liver biochemistry worsened over time in IBD unresponsive to VDZ but remained unchanged in IBD patients in remission. VDZ did not improve liver biochemistry in pediatric PSC-IBD. Progressive liver disease may be more common in patients with medically refractory IBD.

Assessing the Validity of Adult-derived Prognostic Models for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Outcomes in Children.

BACKGROUND: Natural history models for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are derived from adult patient data, but have never been validated in children. It is unclear how accurate such models are for children with PSC. METHODS: We utilized the pediatric PSC consortium database to assess the Revised Mayo Clinic, Amsterdam-Oxford, and Boberg models. We calculated the risk stratum and predicted survival for each patient within each model using patient data at PSC diagnosis, and compared it with observed survival. We evaluated model fit using the c-statistic. RESULTS: Model fit was good at 1 year (c-statistics 0.93, 0.87, 0.82) and fair at 10 years (0.78, 0.75, 0.69) in the Mayo, Boberg, and Amsterdam-Oxford models, respectively. The Mayo model correctly classified most children as low risk, whereas the Amsterdam-Oxford model incorrectly classified most as high risk. All of the models underestimated survival of patients classified as high risk. Albumin, bilirubin, AST, and platelets were most associated with outcomes. Autoimmune hepatitis was more prevalent in higher risk groups, and over-weighting of AST in these patients accounted for the observed versus predicted survival discrepancy. CONCLUSIONS: All 3 models offered good short-term discrimination of outcomes but only fair long-term discrimination. None of the models account for the high prevalence of features of autoimmune hepatitis overlap in children and the associated elevated aminotransferases. A pediatric-specific model is needed. AST, bilirubin, albumin, and platelets will be important predictors, but must be weighted to account for the unique features of PSC in children.