Cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension-related bleeding and an indication for early-TIPS: a large multicentre audit with real-life results.

BACKGROUND: The Baveno VI consensus meeting concluded that an early TIPS must be considered in high-risk cirrhotic patients presenting with variceal bleeding (VB) (Child B + active bleeding at endoscopy or Child C10-13 patients). Whether this therapeutic approach is feasible in a real-life setting remains unclear. AIMS: To determine (1) the proportion of patients eligible for early-TIPS among cirrhotic patients with VB, (2) the proportion of these patients who underwent early-TIPS placement and the main reasons for discarding TIPS, and (3) the outcomes of patients who experienced early-TIPS placement in a large, national, prospective, multicentre audit including academic and non-academic centres. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All French centres recruiting gastrointestinal bleeding were invited to participate. All consecutive patients with cirrhosis and PHT-related bleeding were included. RESULTS: 964 patients were included (58 centres: 26 academic, 32 non-academic; patient characteristics: male sex, 77%; age, 59.6 ± 12.1 years; aetiologies of cirrhosis (alcoholic,viral/other, 67%/15%/18%); source of bleeding (EV/GV/other, 80/11/9%); active bleeding at endoscopy 34%; Child A 21%/B 44%/C 35%. Overall, 35% of the patients were eligible for early-TIPS, but only 6.8%, displaying less severe cirrhosis underwent early-TIPS placement. The main reason for discarding TIPS was a lack of availability. The actuarial probability of survival at one year was significantly increased in early-TIPS patients (85.7±0.07% vs 58.9±0.03%, p=0.04). The severity of liver disease was the only parameter independently associated with improved one-year survival. CONCLUSION: In this real-life study, one-third of the cirrhotic patients admitted for VB fulfilled the criteria for early-TIPS placement, whereas only 7% had access to TIPS. TIPS was restricted to patients displaying less severe cirrhosis. The severity of liver disease was the only parameter that influenced survival.

Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated with Immunosuppressive Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Medical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has evolved significantly, and treatment with immunomodulators is recommended. These medications may alter the patient's immune response and increase the risk of opportunistic infections. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and the incidence of acute or chronic HEV infection in IBD patients under immunomodulatory treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, observational study between 2017 and 2018. IBD outpatients hospitalized for the infusion of immunomodulators were included in 16 French centers. During their daily hospitalization, blood samples were drawn for HEV serology (IgM and IgG) and HEV RNA detection. RESULTS: A total of 488 patients were included, of which 327 (67%) patients had Crohn's disease and 161 (33%) ulcerative colitis. HEV IgM was detected in 3 patients, but HEV RNA was undetectable in all patients. The HEV IgG seroprevalence rate was 14.2%. IgG-positive patients were older at sampling (p = 0.01) and IBD diagnosis (p = 0.03), had higher seafood consumption (p = 0.01) and higher doses of azathioprine (p = 0.03). Ileal and upper digestive tract involvement was more frequent in IgG-positive patients (p = 0.009), and ileocolic involvement was more frequent in IgG-negative patients (p = 0.01). Under multivariate analysis, age > 50 years [OR: 2.21 (1.26, to 3.85), p = 0.004] was associated with previous HEV infection. CONCLUSION: Systematic screening for HEV infection is not needed among IBD patients on immunomodulatory medications. However, in the event of abnormal liver test findings, HEV should be part of the classic diagnostic assessment.

Prognostic factors associated with upper gastrointestinal bleeding based on the French multicenter SANGHRIA trial.

Background and study aims Prognostic and risk factors for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) might have changed overtime because of the increased use of direct oral anticoagulants and improved gastroenterological care. This study was undertaken to assess the outcomes of UGIB in light of these new determinants by establishing a new national, multicenter cohort 10 years after the first. Methods Consecutive outpatients and inpatients with UGIB symptoms consulting at 46 French general hospitals were prospectively included between November 2017 and October 2018. They were followed for at least for 6 weeks to assess 6-week rebleeding and mortality rates and factors associated with each event. Results Among the 2498 enrolled patients (mean age 68.5 [16.3] years, 67.1 % men), 74.5 % were outpatients and 21 % had cirrhosis. Median Charlson score was 2 (IQR 1-4) and Rockall score was 5 (IQR 3-6). Within 24 hours, 83.4 % of the patients underwent endoscopy. The main causes of bleeding were peptic ulcers (44.9 %) and portal hypertension (18.9 %). The early in-hospital rebleeding rate was 10.5 %. The 6-week mortality rate was 12.5 %. Predictors significantly associated with 6-week mortality were initial transfusion (OR 1.54; 95 %CI 1.04-2.28), Charlson score > 4 (OR 1.80; 95 %CI 1.31-2.48), Rockall score > 5 (OR 1.98; 95 %CI 1.39-2.80), being an inpatient (OR 2.45; 95 %CI 1.76-3.41) and rebleeding (OR 2.6; 95 %CI 1.85-3.64). Anticoagulant therapy was not associated with dreaded outcomes. Conclusions The 6-week mortality rate remained high after UGIB, especially for inpatients. Predictors of mortality underlined the weight of comorbidities on outcomes.

Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall associated with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Clinical features, diagnostic procedures and therapeutic management in a retrospective multicenter series of 23 patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to collect data from patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall in order to better understand the outcome after medical, endoscopic and/or surgical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data from medical records of 23 patients consecutively seen in ten primary referral centers from January 1990 to July 2004 were studied. Clinical, biological, and endoscopic features as well as imaging findings were recorded. Response to treatment was noted. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (20 men), aged 45 years (range: 30-66), with chronic alcohol intake, cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall, and previously known (N=14) or simultaneously diagnosed (N=9) chronic pancreatitis were included. Symptoms most frequently encountered were abdominal pain (N=22) and weight loss (N=16). An abdominal ultrasound was available for 10 patients, abdominal computed tomography for 22, upper endoscopy for 18, and endoscopic ultrasonography for 22. Endoscopic ultrasonography enabled diagnosis of cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall in 19/22 patients. Six patients were symptom-free after alcohol withdrawal. Seven patients received octreotide 200 to 400 microg per day, 5 of whom subsequently underwent surgery (71%). Fourteen patients out of 23 were operated on (61%), 11 of whom underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and remained symptom-free for 47 months follow-up. Mean follow-up was 56 months (range: 2-78) for non surgical patients (39%) and 47 months (range: 12-108) for surgical patients (61%). CONCLUSION: Cystic dystrophy of the duodenal wall complicating chronic alcoholic pancreatitis may be the revealing sign of pancreatitis. Endoscopic ultrasongraphy is the most reliable imaging method for diagnosis. Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the most frequently employed definitive treatment.