ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of baseline red cell distribution width （RDW） and alkaline phosphatase （ALP） level after ursodeoxycholic acid （UDCA） treatment for one month in predicting the response to UDCA treatment in patients with primary biliary cholangitis （PBC）. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the data of 127 patients with PBC who were diagnosed in Department of Hepatology， The Third People’s Hospital of Jiangsu University， from January 2015 to July 2022， with data collected at baseline， after one month of treatment， and after one year of follow-up. Based on the Paris-I criteria， the patients were divided into good response group and poor response group， and the two groups were analyzed in terms of clinical and laboratory features and their association with response to UDCA. The Logistic regression method was used to investigate the independent risk factors for response to UDCA treatment. The area under the ROC curve （AUC） was used to determine the optimal cut-off values of related indicators； the patients were divided into two groups based on such values， and the two groups were compared in terms of baseline indicators and response. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups； the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. ResultsCompared with the good response group， the poor response group had significantly higher levels of total bilirubin， aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase， ALP， RDW， and RDW-CV at baseline and a significantly higher level of ALP after one month of UDCA treatment （Z=-4.792， -3.697， -2.399， -4.102， -3.220， and -4.236， all P<0.05）. Compared with the good response group， the poor response group had significantly lower levels of albumin， hemoglobin， lymphocytes， hematocrit， and body mass index at baseline （Z=-3.592， -3.603， -2.602， -3.829， -2.432， all P<0.05）， as well as significantly lower levels of prealbumin， albumin/globulin ratio， apolipoprotein A， and free triiodothyronine at baseline （t=4.530， 3.402， 3.485， and 3.639， all P<0.001）. Compared with the poor response group， the good response group had a significantly lower proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis， gallstones/cholecystitis， or anemia （χ2=20.815， 3.892， and 12.283， all P<0.05）. Baseline RDW （odds ratio ［OR］=1.157， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.028 — 1.301， P=0.015） and ALP level after one month of treatment （OR=1.012， 95%CI： 1.005 — 1.020， P=0.002） were independent risk factors for response to UDCA， with an AUC of 0.713 and 0.720， respectively. The patients with baseline RDW≥upper limit of normal （ULN） and ALP≥2.2×ULN after one month of UDCA treatment had a lower UDCA response rate （42.6% vs 8.2%， χ2=20.813， P<0.001）. ConclusionPatients with baseline RDW≥ULN and ALP≥2.2×ULN after one month of UDCA treatment tend to have a low biochemical response rate to UDCA.
ABSTRACT
Objective To survey the factors associated with deep venous thrombosis after artificial liver treatment in patients with liver failure. Methods A retrospective survey was used in our hospital from January 2014 to December 2016 consecutive liver failure patients by artificial liver treatment, collected patient data, including general demographic information, medical history. Results Medical history data were collected from 189 compliance cases, including deep venous thrombosis group (11 cases),no deep venous thrombosis group(178 cases),and 5.82%(11/189)of deep vein thrombosis.There were significant differences in age(χ2=7.17, P=0.027), catheterization(χ2=4.99, P=0.025), number of successful venipuncture(χ2=10.856, P=0.004),artificial liver frequency(χ2=67.481, P<0.01), activity status(χ2=9.607, P=0.022), D-dimer(t=12.318, P<0.01), infection(χ2=17.231, P=0.001)and other factors in thrombosis group and thrombus group(P<0.05).Logistic regression showed that age(OR=1.643, P=0.01),activity status(OR=1.643,P=0.01),number of successful venipuncture(OR=6.049,P<0.01),D-dimer(OR=2.532, P=0.005)and infection(OR=2.463, P=0.008)were independent risk factors for thrombosis. Conclusions Deep vein thrombosis after artificial liver injury in liver failure is not uncommon, and the prevention of deep vein thrombosis after artificial liver surgery is strengthened, especially for elderly, absolute bed, venous puncture injury patients, elevated D-dimer and infected patients.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the liver histological changes in chronic hepaitits B (CHB) patients with normal serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and the related factors. Methods Six hundred and thirty-two CHB patients with normal ALT levels had undergone ultrasound guided percutaneous liver biopsies. All specimen were examined by HE staining, collagen fiber Masson staining and immunohistochemical staining for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). The Knodell inflammation score and Ishak fibrosis score were both calculated and the relationship with age, serum levels of ALT and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, hepatic expressions of HBsAg and HBcAg were analyzed. The means between two groups were compared by t test and those among groups were compared by one-factor analysis of variance and q test. Enumeration data were analyzed by x2 test. Results Among 632 CHB patients with normal ALT levels, 167 (26.4%) showed moderate necrotic inflammation in liver tissues and 26 (4.1%) showed severe necrotic inflammation; 217 (34. 3 % ) showed moderate fibrosis and 52 (8. 2 % ) showed severe fibrosis (cirrhosis). The Knodell inflammation score and Ishak fibrosis score in high ALT group were higher than low ALT group, those in female high ALT group were higher than male high ALT group and those in patients ＞ 40 years old were higher than ≤20 years old (q= 19.63, P＜0. 05). The liver injuries in patients with active HBV replication were more severe than those with undetectable HBV DNA levels (Knodell score, q=3.87, 2.87, 6.34; Ishak score, q=2.64,2. 64,5.54, all P＜0. 05),while there was no significant difference between patients with high levels and low levels of HBV DNA (F= 1.35, P＞0. 05). There was no significant difference between expressions of HBsAg (F= 1.65,0. 73,respectively; both P＞0. 05) and HBcAg in liver tissues and Knodell inflammation score and Ishak fibrosis score (F=0. 17, 1.29, respectively; both P＞0. 05). Conclusions Liver biopsies should be considered in CHB patients with normal ALT levels and detectable HBV DNA levels, especially those ＞ 40 years old and with ALT of (0.75-1.00) × upper limits of normal (ULN).
