Pediatric living donor intestine transplant following an atypical complication of COVID-19: A unique case report from India.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection causing severe gastrointestinal complications is rare. A 9-year-old child after recovering from mild COVID-19 infection developed small bowel gangrene due to superior mesenteric artery thrombosis. He required resection of entire necrotic small bowel along with caecum causing ultra-short bowel syndrome. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) done on the resected specimen was positive for COVID-19. He was maintained on individualized parenteral nutrition for 3 months. A living donor intestinal transplant was performed using 200 cm of ileum donated by the patient's father. The graft function was satisfactory and was not complicated with thrombosis, infection, reactivation of latent COVID-19 or rejection. He could be weaned off completely from parenteral nutrition by postoperative day 21. The donor had an uneventful recovery. Six month follow-up was satisfactory with the child achieving complete enteral autonomy as well as target goal nutrition. Thrombotic phenomena associated with COVID-19 infection can affect larger vessel-like superior mesenteric artery leading to small bowel gangrene. Intestine transplant could be done safely after 3 months of recovery from COVID-19 without any adverse outcomes. Further studies are required to establish optimal timing and safety of small bowel transplant in this situation.

Estimation of liver volume in the western Indian population.

BACKGROUND: A number of formulae to estimate standard liver volume (SLV) exist. However, studies have shown that only certain formulae are applicable to a particular patient population, whereas the other formulae have not been accurate in estimating the SLV. Aim of this study was to assess which formula is most accurate in estimating SLV in the western Indian population. METHODS: Data for donors of living donor liver transplantation from September 2014 to July 2015 was analyzed. Liver volumes were measured using computed tomography volumetry (CTV). SLV was calculated using formulae by the currently existing formulae. The mean SLV and CTV, percentage error in the SLV, and the correlation between SLV and CTV were calculated. RESULTS: Fifty-nine healthy subjects underwent donor hepatectomy [28 (47.5 %) males]. The mean age, mean body mass index (BMI), and mean body surface area (BSA) were 31.8 ± 8.8 years, 23.8 ± 3.7 kg/m(2), and 1.6 ± 0.4, respectively. Mean CTV was 1178 ± 246.8 mL. Difference between mean SLV and mean CTV ranged from -133.5 (±189) mL to 632.2 (±190.2) mL. Mean SLV was significantly different from CTV by all the formulae except Urata. Percentage of population whose SLV was within 15 % of the mean CTV ranged from 1.7 % to 67.8 %, with the highest percentage obtained by using Fu-Gui's formula. However, there was wide inter-individual variation on scatter plots between SLV and CTV by both these formulae. CONCLUSION: Currently existing formulae were not accurate in estimating SLV in our population.

Hematological problems and liver disease.

There has been significant progress in the understanding of the pathophysiologic basis of common haematological problems like cytopenias, coagulopathies and thrombophilic disorders in the background of liver disease. Diagnosis has improved with newer tests like detection of JAK2 mutation and better radiological imaging. Additionally, therapeutic options have expanded with availability of drugs like activated factor VII and eltrombopeg and improved expertise in procedures like TIPSS for treatment of the Budd-Chiari syndrome. Thus, there is increasing need for coordinated management of these problems by the hematologist and gastroenterologist. This article overviews the interface between hepatology and hematology and elaborates on some of the common problems encountered.

Liver transplantation in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The increasing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States is only partially accounted for by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is not known; guidelines from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases do not recommend surveillance imaging. We sought to determine the prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma among patients undergoing liver transplantation for NASH-related cirrhosis and their outcome after surgery, compared with controls. METHODS: We reviewed the records of adult patients with NASH cirrhosis who underwent liver transplantation by using a prospectively collected database from a single center. Data from patients with NASH cirrhosis were compared with matched controls who received transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis/primary sclerosing cholangitis, alcoholic liver disease, or HCV. RESULTS: Seventeen of 98 patients (17%) with NASH cirrhosis were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. The mean age was 63 years, and 70% were male. Six patients were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma incidentally on explant. Survival after liver transplantation was 88% after mean follow-up of 2.5 years. The number of NASH patients known to have hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation was greater than the number of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis/primary sclerosing cholangitis and comparable to the number of patients with alcoholic liver disease and HCV. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NASH cirrhosis are at risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma; patients with NASH cirrhosis, especially men older than 50 years, should undergo surveillance imaging. Patients with NASH and hepatocellular carcinoma have good outcomes after liver transplantation.

Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: population based study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of chronic liver disease and liver transplantation in western countries. Increasing incidence of NAFLD has been well documented from Asian countries like Japan and China. Diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, hyperinsulinemia are predisposing factors for NAFLD. There is increase in incidence of DM, obesity and insulin resistance in India in last two decades. Hence it is logical to expect increase in incidence of NAFLD in India. There is limited data on the prevalence of NAFLD from India. Majority of data comes from hospital based studies including small number of patients. Therefore this study was planned to estimate the prevalence of NAFLD in general population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Residents of two Railway colonies were evaluated on history, clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, biochemical tests and abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: 1,168 participants were evaluated. Persons with any amount of alcohol consumption, HBs Ag positive, Anti HCV positive, persons with other known liver diseases and taking medications causing liver disease were excluded. Prevalence of NAFLD on ultrasound was 16.6%. Out of 730 subjects above the age of 20 years (341 male 384 female 389) mean age 39.08 +/- 12.3 years, 4% had diabetes, 57% had central obesity. Prevalence of NAFLD based on the ultrasound above 20 years of age was 18.9%. NAFLD was more prevalent in male than female (24.6% vs 13.6%, p < 0.001). Risk factors associated with NAFLD were age more than 40 years, male gender, central obesity, high BMR > 25, elevated fasting blood sugar, raised AST and ALT. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of NAFLD in Indian population is comparable to the west.

Guillain-Barre syndrome associated with acute hepatitis E.

A 58-year-old woman presented with a brief icteric illness followed by progressive bilateral symmetrical hypotonic areflexic muscular weakness and unilateral infranuclear facial palsy. She was diagnosed to be suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome and acute hepatitis E. Such an association has not been described till date.

Monitoring and management of antituberculosis drug induced hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Hepatotoxicity to antituberculosis therapy (ATT) poses a major challenge. This often results in inadequate therapy. The risk of fulminant hepatic failure and mortality is high once icteric hepatitis develops. There is no consensus on monitoring protocols and for the reintroduction of ATT. METHODS: All patients (from the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Jagjivanram Hospital and the Department of Gastroenterology, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, India) with a diagnosis of tuberculosis, who were to receive ATT during the study period, were included in the present study for prospective periodic laboratory monitoring for the development of hepatotoxicity. Those patients who developed hepatotoxicity formed Group A (n = 21), whereas those who did not develop hepatotoxicity were included in Group C (n = 179). For the purpose of comparison with Group A, all the patients who presented directly with ATT induced hepatotoxicity during the study period were categorized as Group B (n = 24). Group A and B were further studied after normalization of liver functions for sequential reintroduction with therapeutic doses at a weekly interval. RESULTS: In Group A, 66.6% (14 patients) of the patients were diagnosed in the asymptomatic period. Seven patients had symptomatic hepatitis, but none had icteric illness. There were no mortalities in Group A. In contrast, all the patients in Group B had symptomatic hepatitis (75% icteric hepatitis). There was a mortality rate of 16.6% (four patients). Of the 41 patients from Groups A and B who survived, reintroduction was successful in 38/39 (97.4%). In the remaining two patients who were in Group B, reintroduction was not attempted because of decompensated liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: Periodic laboratory monitoring is important in detecting hepatotoxicity at an early stage, thereby preventing mortality. Sequential reintroduction is often successful.

Gastrointestinal luminal tuberculosis: establishing the diagnosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To study the profile of gastrointestinal luminal tuberculosis (GITB) patients who have been treated on a confirmed and a presumptive diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 260 patients who had an initial diagnosis of GITB were included in this retrospective analysis. Clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, histopathologic and microbiologic features of these patients were studied in detail. RESULTS: GITB was confirmed in 66.5% patients (cGITB), while 29.5% had presumed GITB (pGITB). In 3.9% patients, Crohn's disease (CD) was misdiagnosed initially as GITB. There was no significant difference in the clinical and radiologic features except a higher incidence of a radiologically abnormal ileocecal region in cGITB patients. Endoscopic biopsies from ulcerated masses and ulcers had the highest yield of confirmation (100% and 68%, respectively) when subjected to histopathology, acid-fast bacilli smear and culture studies. Confirmed diagnosis was obtained in 100% of cases occurring in the upper gastrointestinal tract, 66% of cases in the ileocecal region/colon and 40% of cases that had small bowel involvement. In 21% of cases, extraluminal sites helped to confirm the diagnosis. As the presence of diarrhea, bleeding, fistulae, perianal disease and extraintestinal manifestations favored a diagnosis of CD, the presence of these features initially or on subsequent follow up helped to minimize the misdiagnosis of GITB. CONCLUSIONS: As a differential diagnosis, CD must be ruled out before starting treatment for GITB. In our study, an intense search for histologic and microbiologic proof of the presence of TB from luminal and extraluminal sites established the diagnosis in 66.5% of cases. Surgery for establishing the diagnosis should be reserved for complicated cases.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is commonly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Prevalence of NASH in type 2 DM has not been well studied and there is an epidemic rise in type 2 DM in Asian and Western populations. Its association with chronic liver disease in the form of NASH makes it an important health problem. Hence we have studied its prevalence and correlation of biochemical parameters with histological grades of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in otherwise asymptomatic type 2 DM patients. METHODS: One hundred and forty-eight individuals were screened. Forty-eight individuals were excluded due to history of alcohol intake or liver disease as a result of other causes. One hundred non-alcoholic individuals with type 2 DM underwent abdominal ultrasonography (US abdomen). Forty-nine patients had evidence of fatty liver on US abdomen, and 32 of these 49 patients underwent liver biopsy. RESULTS: Four of 32 (12.5%) individuals had steatosis alone. Mild, moderate and severe NASH was present in 21/32 (65.5%), 4/32 (12.5%) and 3/32 (9.35%), respectively. Fibrosis was present in 7/32 (21.8%) patients (four grade 1 and three grade 3). There was no significant difference in body mass index (BMI), transaminase levels, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the prevalence of NASH is high in type 2 DM patients and liver biopsy is the only investigation to differentiate between non-alcoholic fatty liver and steatohepatitis.