Quantification of hepatic perfusion and hepatocyte function with dynamic gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in patients with chronic liver disease.

The purpose of the present study was to develop and perform initial validation of dynamic MRI enhanced with gadoxetic acid as hepatobiliary contrast agent to quantify hepatic perfusion and hepatocyte function in patients with chronic liver disease. Free-breathing, dynamic gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI was performed at 3.0 T using a 3D time-resolved angiography sequence with stochastic trajectories during 38 min. A dual-input three-compartment model was developed to derive hepatic perfusion and hepatocyte function parameters. Method feasibility was assessed in 23 patients with biopsy-proven chronic liver disease. Parameter analysis could be performed in 21 patients (91%). The hepatocyte function parameters were more discriminant than the perfusion parameters to differentiate between patients with minimal fibrosis (METAVIR F0-F1), intermediate fibrosis (F2-F3) and cirrhosis (F4). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) to diagnose significant fibrosis (METAVIR F ≥ 2) were: 0.95 (95% CI: 0.87-1; P<0.001) for biliary efflux, 0.88 (95% CI: 0.73-1; P<0.01) for sinusoidal backflux, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.61-1; P<0.05) for hepatocyte uptake fraction and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.54-1; P<0.05) for hepatic perfusion index (HPI), respectively. These initial results in patients with chronic liver diseases show that simultaneous quantification of hepatic perfusion and hepatocyte function is feasible with free breathing dynamic gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. Hepatocyte function parameters may be relevant to assess liver fibrosis severity.

Quantitative Imaging Features and Postoperative Hepatic Insufficiency: A Multi-Institutional Expanded Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Post-hepatectomy liver insufficiency (PHLI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after liver resection. Quantitative imaging analysis using CT scans measures variations in pixel intensity related to perfusion. A preliminary study demonstrated a correlation between quantitative imaging features of the future liver remnant (FLR) parenchyma from preoperative CT scans and PHLI. The objective of this study was to explore the potential application of quantitative imaging analysis in PHLI in an expanded, multi-institutional cohort. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively identified patients from 5 high-volume academic centers who developed PHLI after major hepatectomy, and matched them to control patients without PHLI (by extent of resection, preoperative chemotherapy treatment, age [±5 years], and sex). Quantitative imaging features were extracted from the FLR in the preoperative CT scan, and the most discriminatory features were identified using conditional logistic regression. Percent remnant liver volume (RLV) was defined as follows: (FLR volume)/(total liver volume) × 100. Significant clinical and imaging features were combined in a multivariate analysis using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2015, 74 patients with PHLI and 74 matched controls were identified. The most common indications for surgery were colorectal liver metastases (53%), hepatocellular carcinoma (37%), and cholangiocarcinoma (9%). Two CT imaging features (FD1_4: image complexity; ACM1_10: spatial distribution of pixel intensity) were strongly associated with PHLI and remained associated with PHLI on multivariate analysis (p = 0.018 and p = 0.023, respectively), independent of clinical variables, including preoperative bilirubin and %RLV. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative imaging features are independently associated with PHLI and are a promising preoperative risk stratification tool.

Agrimonia eupatoria L. (Agrimony) Extract Alters Liver Health in Subjects with Elevated Alanine Transaminase Levels: A Controlled, Randomized, and Double-Blind Trial.

Agrimonia eupatoria L. has been shown to protect against liver injury due to its lipid lowering and antioxidant activities. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of A. eupatoria L. aqueous extract (AEE) on 80 subjects with elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week study. This trial was conducted between January 2013 and July 2013 at the Oriental Medical Hospital (Jecheon) of Semyung University. The trial included subjects aged 20 years or older who were diagnosed with mildly to moderately elevated ALT levels (between 45 and 135 IU/L). Subjects received two capsules of placebo or AEE twice a day for 8 weeks. Adverse events were recorded. Eighty subjects were randomized to placebo or AEE groups who had similar baseline characteristics. During the 8 weeks of treatment, 11 subjects were excluded from the analysis for protocol violation or consent withdrawal; efficacy of treatment was, therefore, evaluated in 69 subjects (placebo = 35, AEE = 34). The AEE group showed a significant reduction in ALT and serum triglyceride (TG) at 8 weeks compared with the placebo group (ALT P = .044, TG P = .020). Significant group and time interactions were found in ALT (P = .038), aspartate aminotransferase (P = .040), and TG (P = .010). Alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were not different between the two groups. There were no reported severe adverse events during this study, and total protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, creatine, and total cholesterol levels were normal in both groups. AEE consumption was safe and generally well tolerated without severe adverse events.

Transient elastography as a noninvasive assessment tool for hepatopathies of different etiology in pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To identify the prevalence and effect of hepatopathies of different etiologies among pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using transient elastography (TE) and its relation to glycemic control. METHODS: One hundred T1DM patients were studied focusing on liver functions, fasting lipid profile, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), hepatitis C virus (HCV), serum immunoglobulins, autoimmune antibodies; anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA), and anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody (anti-LKM). Abdominal ultrasound was performed and TE was done for patients with HCV, positive autoimmune antibody and/or abnormal ultrasound findings. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were found to have one or more hepatic abnormalities; clinical hepatomegaly in 8%, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in 10%, HCV in 6%, autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in 11% (10 were positive for ASMA and 2 were positive for ANA while anti-LKM antibodies were negative) and abnormal hepatic ultrasound in 20% (12 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, 5 AIH, 2 HCV, 1 Mauriac syndrome). Mean liver stiffness in those 31 patients was 7.0±2.1kPa (range, 3.1-11.8kPa); 24 were Metavir F0-F1, 7 were F2-F3 while none was F4. Type 1 diabetic patients with abnormal hepatic ultrasound had higher fasting blood glucose, HbA1c and total cholesterol than those with normal findings. Liver stiffness was significantly higher in patients with abnormal liver ultrasound compared with normal sonography. Liver stiffness was positively correlated to HbA1c and ALT. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic abnormalities are prevalent in T1DM and related to poor metabolic control. TE provides a non-invasive method for detection of hepatopathy-induced fibrosis.

Feasibility of Preoperative FDG PET/CT Total Hepatic Glycolysis in the Remnant Liver for the Prediction of Postoperative Liver Function.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to investigate the prognostic value of total glycolysis of the remnant liver, which reflects both metabolic and anatomic liver function, for predicting postoperative hepatic insufficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and abdominal CT within 1 month of major hepatectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Total liver volume, remnant liver volume, the ratio of the remnant hepatic volume to the preoperative hepatic volume (RFRHV), and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) were measured, and total glycolysis of the remnant liver was calculated. Clinical hepatic function reserve values, including the indocyanine green retention rate at 15 minutes, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), were calculated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, and an optimal model for predicting hepatic insufficiency was developed. ROC curves were used to compare diagnostic performance. RESULTS: Of 149 patients, seven patients had hepatic insufficiency. The SUVmean showed the highest sensitivity (100%; specificity, 31.7%) for predicting hepatic insufficiency, and total glycolysis of the remnant liver showed the highest specificity (96.5%; sensitivity, 57.1%) for predicting hepatic insufficiency. On multivariate analysis, the odds ratio of APRI (> 5.4) and total glycolysis of the remnant liver (≤ 625.6) was 46.3 and 82.9, respectively, for predicting hepatic insufficiency. On ROC curve analysis, a new model composed of APRI and total glycolysis of the remnant liver showed a higher area under the ROC curve (Az) value (Az = 0.899) than SUVmean (0.659), MELD score (0.618), APRI (0.693), RFRHV (0.797), and remnant liver volume (0.762). CONCLUSION: The total glycolysis of the remnant liver has moderate sensitivity and high specificity for predicting hepatic insufficiency. Combining the total glycolysis of the remnant liver and APRI yielded the best diagnostic performance for predicting hepatic insufficiency.

[STATE OF HEPATIC HEMODYNAMICS IN TRANSPLANTATION OF ITS RIGHT PART WITH MEDIAN HEPATIC VEIN].

Peculiarities of regional hemodynamics in transplantation of right hepatic part with median hepatic vein were studied. The blood flow parameters ­ the volume portal blood flow (VPBF), linear speed of blood flow (LSBF), the resistance index (RI) in hepatic artery; phasic structure of the blood flow along hepatic veins were determined in 31 patients in accordance to ultrasonographic flowmetry data. Maximal value of VPBF was observed on a second postoperative day, minimal one ­on the fourth day. Аrterial blood flow have had enhanced immediately after transplantation up to maximal one on the second day, and from second to the fourth day ­ have had reduced to minimal one. Phasic structure of blood flow along hepatic vein have had changed postoperatively in 12 (38%) patients. Changes in the hepatosplanchnic blood flow after transplantation constitutes a consequence of the vascular resistance reduction, the venous outflow and regenerative activity of the transplanted hepatic part improvement.

[ROENTGEN-ENDOVASCULAR EMBOLIZATION OF THE PORTAL VEIN BRANCHES AS A PATIENTS CONDITIONING FOR EXTENSIVE HEPATIC RESECTION].

The results of surgical treatment of 316 patients, suffering focal hepatic diseases, in whom for preoperative preparation a portal vein embolization (PVE) was performed, were analyzed. PVE was applied in a small planned hepatic residual volume. The patients have aged from 21 to 77 yrs, (57 ± 10.6) yrs at average. During (22 ± 7) days after the procedure a hypertrophy of a planned postresectional hepatic volume by 58.6% was observed, while a hypertrophy degree have depended on the embolization volume performed: 57.3%--after embolization of branches of C(V)-C(VIII) hepatic segments, 66%--the segments C(V)-C(VIII) + C(IV). In 281 (89%) patients the extensive hepatic resection was performed, a fatal postresection hepatic insufficiency was not observed. A three-year and five-year disease-free survival have constituted 43.8 and 16.4% accordingly. Thus, a PVE constitutes a miniinvasive intervention, permitting to achieve a planned residual hepatic volume, to expand a diapazon of application of radical extensive hepatic resection in patients, suffering focal hepatic diseases while a small planned residual hepatic volume.

[Acute, severe liver insufficiency caused by extrahepatic biliary atresia in a newborn]. / Akut, svær leverinsufficiens forårsaget af binyretumor hos nyfødt.

A newborn female was hospitalized due to metabolic acidosis and conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. Extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) was suspected why a (99m)Tc-mebrofenin cholescintigraphy was performed. It showed poor hepatocyte tracer uptake and no drainage to the gut. The hepatocyte dysfunction was caused by an obstructing adrenal gland neuroblastoma later visualised by ultrasound and MRI. The cholescintigraphy is a non-invasive modality to exclude or confirm the suspicion of EHBA. Furthermore neonatal conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia demands the use of a multimodality imaging strategy for differential diagnosis to EHBA.

[Modern tendencies in surgical treatment of patients with obturation jaundice complicated by hepatic insufficiency].

The article is devoted to the problem of efficacy of the hepatic insufficiency (HI) prophylaxis and treatment methods in obturation jaundice. The role of energy-depending processes and the oxygen deficiency in tissues in the HI occurrence and progressing, the possibilities of medicinal correction of such disorders were studied up. The authors follow the concept of expediency of the oxygen-bearing preparations, which improve the erythrocytes function and oxygen delivery to the tissues in combination with miniinvasive decompression of bilioefferent ways, incorporation into the treatment complex of HI of mechanic genesis.

Comparison of two methods of future liver remnant volume measurement.

BACKGROUND: In liver transplantation, a minimum graft to patient body weight (BW) ratio is required for graft survival; in liver resection, total liver volume (TLV) calculated from body surface area (BSA) is used to determine the future liver remnant (FLR) volume needed for safe hepatic resection. These two methods of estimating liver volume have not previously been compared. The purpose of this study was to compare FLR volumes standardized to BW versus BSA and to assess their utility in predicting postoperative hepatic dysfunction after hepatic resection. METHODS: Records were reviewed of 68 consecutive noncirrhotic patients who underwent major hepatectomy after portal vein embolization between 1998 and 2006. FLR (cubic centimeter) was measured preoperatively with three-dimensional helical computed tomography; TLV (cubic centimeter) was calculated from the patients' BSA. The relationship between FLR/TLV and FLR/BW (cubic centimeter per kilogram) was examined using linear regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine FLR/TLV and FLR/BW cutoff values for predicting postoperative hepatic dysfunction (defined as peak bilirubin level>3 mg/dl or prothrombin time>18 s). RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that the FLR/TLV and FLR/BW ratios were highly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient, 0.98). The area under the ROC curve was 0.85 for FLR/TLV and 0.84 for FLR/BW (95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.97). Sixteen of the 68 patients developed postoperative hepatic dysfunction. The ROC curve analysis yielded a cutoff FLR/BW value of

Sistema extracorpóreo para soporte de la falla hepática fulminante como puente al trasplante de hígado (xenohemodiafiltración): informe del primer caso clínico con un procedimiento desarrollado en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires / Extracorporeal system for fulminant hepatic failure support as a bridge to liver transplantation (xenohemodiafiltration): case report of a procedure developed at Hospital Italiano in Buenos Aires

Antecedentes: La falla hepática es una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad en Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. Las terapias convencionales no son lo suficientemente efectivas. El trasplante hepático es el tratamiento definitivo para esta entidad, pero debido a la falta de donantes se hacía necesario desarrollar una "terapia puente" o de sostén de la vida hasta que aquél se realizara. La xenohemodiafiltración hepática extracorpórea pretende ser el soporte transitorio de un paciente con falla hepática fulminante. Objetivo: Presentamos el primer caso de xenohemodiafiltración hepática extracorpórea. Lugar de aplicación: Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Diseño: Descripción del primer caso clínico de xenohemodialfiltración. Población: Mujer de 42 años portadora de falla hepática fulminante, con grave alteración de la coagulación, déficit de factor V y severa hipertensión intracraneana. Método: El sistema consiste en una circulación cruzada entre un hígado porcino y un paciente con falla hepática fulminante a través de una membrana de poliacrilonitril. Resultados: El procedimiento duró 5 horas y alcanzó mejoras hemodinámicas, bioquímicas y metabólicas. La presión intracraneana disminuyó de 34 a 5 cm H2O, el amoníaco sérico cayó de 673 a 370 ng/dl, ácido láctico de 11 a 5.3 mmol/L y la bilirrubina de 7.4 a 2.5 mg/dl. Los valores hemodinámicos se mantuvieron estables durante el procedimiento. La paciente pudo recibir el trasplante y continúa viva 11 meses después. Conclusiones: La xenohemodiafiltración hepática extracorpórea es un método clínico experimental que puede constituir una terapia clínica alternativa para soporte de pacientes con falla hepática fulminante hasta que se obtenga un órgano apto para trasplante. (AU)