Therapeutic plasma-exchange improves short-term, but not long-term, outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure: A propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is associated with a high short-term mortality rate in the absence of liver transplantation. The role of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in improving the outcomes of ACLF and acute decompensation (AD) is unclear. In this retrospective analysis, we aimed to determine the impact of TPE on mortality in patients with ACLF. METHODS: ACLF patients receiving TPE with standard medical treatment (SMT) were propensity score matched (PSM) with those receiving SMT alone (1:1) for sex, grades of ACLF, CLIF C ACLF scores, and the presence of hepatic encephalopathy. The primary outcomes assessed were mortality at 30 and 90 days. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan Meier survival curves. RESULTS: A total of 1151 patients (ACLF n = 864 [75%], AD [without organ failure] n = 287 [25%]) were included. Of the patients with ACLF (n = 864), grade 1, 2, and 3 ACLF was present in 167 (19.3%), 325 (37.6%), and 372 (43.0%) patients, respectively. Thirty-nine patients received TPE and SMT, and 1112 patients received only SMT. On PSM analysis, there were 38 patients in each group (SMT plus TPE vs SMT alone). In the matched cohort, the 30-days mortality was lower in the TPE arm compared to SMT (21% vs 50%, P = .008), however, the 90-day mortality was not significantly different between the two groups (36.8% vs 52.6%, P = .166); HR, 0.82 (0.44-1.52), P = .549. CONCLUSION: TPE improves short-term survival in patients with ACLF, but has no significant impact on long-term outcomes. Randomized control trials are needed to obtain a robust conclusion in this regard.

Increased oxidative stress and deficient antioxidant levels may be involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic recurrent acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Increased Oxidative Stress (OS) is implicated in the pathogenesis of Chronic Pancreatitis (CP). Whether or not OS contributes to disease progression through the stages of Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis(RAP), to CP is not known. Increased OS, if present in RAP could be an important therapeutic target in preventing progression of RAP to CP. OBJECTIVE: To assess the oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients with idiopathic RAP. METHODS: 50 consecutive patients with Idiopathic Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis (IRAP) were included. Markers of OS [4-hydroxynonenol (4-HNE), malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum SOD (S-SOD)] and antioxidant status [ferric reducing the ability of plasma (FRAP), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Vitamin C (Vit C)] were measured in quiescent phase and during an episode of pancreatitis. Their levels were compared with those in age and sex matched healthy controls and patients with CP. RESULTS: The mean age of patients with IRAP was 22.2 ± 7.7 years and 39 (78%) were males. Levels of 4-HNE were significantly increased in patients with IRAP compared with healthy controls (3.03 ± 2.35 vs. 2.12 ± 1.29 ng/ml; p = 0.03) and were even higher during an episode of acute pancreatitis (5.21 ± 3.51 ng/ml; p = 0.03). Antioxidant levels were reduced in IRAP compared with healthy controls as measured by FRAP (707.0 ± 144.9 vs. 528.8 ± 120.0 µmol/Fe2+liberated; p = 0.0001) and GPX (1472 ± 375.7 vs. 910.0 ± 558.5 pg/ml; p = 0.001). OS and antioxidant profiles were similar in IRAP and CP with no significant difference. CONCLUSION: OS is increased in patients with IRAP, more so during an acute episode. Antioxidant levels are also reduced suggesting that OS may play a role in the pathogenesis of IRAP and its progression to CP.