Elevated calprotectin levels are associated with mortality in patients with acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Acute decompensation (AD) of cirrhosis is related to systemic inflammation and elevated circulating cytokines. In this context, biomarkers of inflammation, such as calprotectin, may be of prognostic value. AIM: To evaluate serum calprotectin levels in patients hospitalized for complications of cirrhosis. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study that included 200 subjects hospitalized for complications of cirrhosis, 20 outpatients with stable cirrhosis, and 20 healthy controls. Serum calprotectin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. RESULTS: Calprotectin levels were higher among groups with cirrhosis when compared to healthy controls. Higher median calprotectin was related to Child-Pugh C, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Higher calprotectin was related to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and infection in the bivariate, but not in multivariate analysis. Calprotectin was not associated with survival among patients with ACLF; however, in patients with AD without ACLF, higher calprotectin was associated with a lower 30-d survival, even after adjustment for chronic liver failure-consortium (CLIF-C) AD score. A high-risk group (CLIF-C AD score ≥ 60 and calprotectin ≥ 580 ng/mL) was identified, which had a 30-d survival (27.3%) similar to that of patients with grade 3 ACLF (23.3%). CONCLUSION: Serum calprotectin is associated with prognosis in patients with AD without ACLF and may be useful in clinical practice to early identify patients with a very low short-term survival.

MicroRNA profiles in serum samples from Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure patients and miR-25-3p as a potential biomarker for survival prediction.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a condition characterized by acute decompensation of cirrhosis, associated with organ failure(s), and high short-term mortality. The microRNAs or miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules, stable in circulating samples such as biological fluids, and the difference in expression levels may indicate the presence, absence and/or stage of the disease. We analyzed here the miRNA profiling to identify potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for ACLF. The major miRNAs discovered were validated in a cohort of patients with acute decompensation of cirrhosis grouped in no ACLF or ACLF according to EASL-CLIF definition. Relationship between serum miRNAs and variables associated with liver-damage and survival outcomes were verified to identify possible prognostic markers. Our results showed twenty altered miRNAs between no ACLF and ACLF patients, and twenty-seven in patients who died in 30 days compared with who survived. In validation phase, miR-223-3p and miR-25-3p were significantly altered in ACLF patients and in those who died in 30 days. miR-223-3p and miR-25-3p expression were associated with the lowest survival in 30 days. The decrease in miR-223-3p and miR-25-3p expression was associated with the presence of ACLF and poor prognosis. Of these, miR-25-3p was independently related to ACLF and 30-day mortality.

Dez anos da RDC 302/2005: avaliação da implantação em laboratórios de análises clínicas do estado de Santa Catarina / Ten years of RDC 302/2005: evaluation of implantation in laboratories of clinical analysis of Santa Catarina state

Objetivo: Avaliar dez anos após a publicação se os laboratórios de análises clínicas do estado de Santa Catarina atendem aos requisitos da RDC 302/2005. A população de laboratórios foi obtida no CNES. Métodos: Como ferramenta de pesquisa foi elaborado um questionário baseado na RDC 302/2005 e enviado aos laboratórios. Resultados: Dos 523 laboratórios clínicos aptos a participar do estudo, o contato foi exitoso com apenas 198 e, desses, somente 20 participaram. Os participantes relataram que a RDC 302/2005 é essencial para o funcionamento dos laboratórios. O tempo para iniciar a implantação da RDC levou, em média, um ano, e o tempo para a conclusão delongou mais um ano. Doze laboratórios relataram cumprir todos os requisitos da resolução. No entanto, apenas dois laboratórios cumprem integralmente os 38 requisitos da RDC pesquisados. Os requisitos de rotulagem de reagentes, registro de temperatura de equipamentos, gerenciamento de resíduos, comunicação de valores críticos, arquivamento de laudos e dados brutos e notificação de resultados que indiquem doença notificável foram cumpridos por todos os laboratórios. O registro da temperatura de transporte das amostras foi o requisito menos cumprido pelos laboratórios. As principais dificuldades relatadas para implantação dos requisitos foram nas áreas de gestão e garantia de qualidade, aplicação dos conhecimentos de biossegurança e resistência dos colaboradores ao processo de mudança. Conclusão: A formação dos profissionais voltada para conceitos e ferramentas de gestão, de sistema de qualidade e padronização de processos se faz necessária para os laboratórios e pode ser o início da solução para as dificuldades apresentadas pelos laboratórios pesquisados.