Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in posttransplantation liver: Review article.

INTRODUCTION: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) associated or not with cirrhosis is the third leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) around the world. After transplants, NASH has a high prevalence and occurs as both recurrent and de novo manifestations. De novo NASH can also occur in allografts of patients transplanted for non-NASH liver disease. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate recurrent or de novo NASH in post-LT patients. METHOD: A literature review was performed using search engines of indexed scientific material, including Medline (by PubMed), Scielo and Lilacs, to identify articles published in Portuguese and English until August 2016. Eligible studies included: place and year of publication, prevalence, clinical characteristics, risk factors and survival. RESULTS: A total of 110 articles were identified and 63 were selected. Most of the studies evaluated recurrence and survival after LT. Survival reached 90-100% in 1 year and 52-100% in 5 years. Recurrence of NAFLD (steatosis) was described in 15-100% and NASH, in 4-71%. NAFLD and de novo NASH were observed in 18-67% and 3-17%, respectively. Metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension were seen in 45-58%, 18-59%, 25-66% and 52-82%, respectively. CONCLUSION: After liver transplants, patients present a high prevalence of recurrent and de novo NASH. They also show a high frequence of metabolic disorders. Nevertheless, these alterations seem not to influence patient survival.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in posttransplantation liver: Review article / Esteato-hepatite não alcoólica no pós-transplante de fígado: artigo de revisão

Summary Introduction: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) associated or not with cirrhosis is the third leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) around the world. After transplants, NASH has a high prevalence and occurs as both recurrent and de novo manifestations. De novo NASH can also occur in allografts of patients transplanted for non-NASH liver disease. Objective: To evaluate recurrent or de novo NASH in post-LT patients. Method: A literature review was performed using search engines of indexed scientific material, including Medline (by PubMed), Scielo and Lilacs, to identify articles published in Portuguese and English until August 2016. Eligible studies included: place and year of publication, prevalence, clinical characteristics, risk factors and survival. Results: A total of 110 articles were identified and 63 were selected. Most of the studies evaluated recurrence and survival after LT. Survival reached 90-100% in 1 year and 52-100% in 5 years. Recurrence of NAFLD (steatosis) was described in 15-100% and NASH, in 4-71%. NAFLD and de novo NASH were observed in 18-67% and 3-17%, respectively. Metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension were seen in 45-58%, 18-59%, 25-66% and 52-82%, respectively. Conclusion: After liver transplants, patients present a high prevalence of recurrent and de novo NASH. They also show a high frequence of metabolic disorders. Nevertheless, these alterations seem not to influence patient survival.

Resumo Introdução: A doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica (DHGNA) é a terceira causa de transplante hepático no mundo. Tem elevada prevalência após transplante hepático (TH) e é representada pela recorrência da esteato-hepatite (NASH), ou por NASH de novo, que ocorre em pacientes transplantados por outra etiologia. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão da literatura para avaliar a relevância da recorrência ou do NASH de novo em pacientes transplantados de fígado. Método: Realizada revisão da literatura através de artigos indexados no Medline, Scielo e Lilacs até 2016 publicados em inglês e português. Foram considerados elegíveis estudos que incluíram local e ano de publicação, prevalência e características clínicas dos pacientes. Resultados: Foram identificados 110 artigos e selecionados 63, que avaliaram a recorrência de NASH, NASH de novo e sobrevida após o TH. A sobrevida foi de 90% a 100% em um ano e de 52-100% em 5 anos. A recorrência de esteatose variou de 15-100% e a de NASH de 4-71%, enquanto esteatose e NASH de novo variaram de 18-67% e 3-17%, respectivamente. A frequência de síndrome metabólica, diabetes, dislipidemia e hipertensão variaram de 45-58%, 18-59%, 25-66% e 52-82%, respectivamente. Conclusão: No pós-transplante de fígado, os pacientes apresentam elevada prevalência de recorrência, de NASH de novo e de distúrbios metabólicos. Entretanto, essas alterações parecem não influenciar a sobrevida dos pacientes.

New Onset Diabetes and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease after Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging cause of graft dysfunction after liver transplantation (LT) frequently related to the development of new onset diabetes after LT (NODAT). This study was undertaken to evaluate the frequencies of NODAT and NAFLD after LT, to investigate their major risk factors and the impact of de novo or recurrent NAFLD in graft function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 119 patients submitted to LT were prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: After 4 ± 1 years, NODAT, recurrent and de novo NAFLD were observed in 31%, 56% and 43% of the subjects, respectively. Only 3 patients had non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) without fibrosis. Other risk factors for NAFLD such as arterial hypertension (AHT), metabolic syndrome (MS), hypertriglyceridemia and obesity were seen in 51%, 50%, 35% and 24% of the subjects, respectively. In addition, insulin resistance (IR), assessed by HOMA-IR and ß-cell dysfunction, determined by HOMA-ß, were observed in 16% and 94% of the patients, respectively. Occurrence of NODAT was associated with male gender, higher waist circumference, higher HOMA-IR and lower HOMA-ß values. No correlation was found between NAFLD and NODAT, MS, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity and HOMAIR and HOMA-ß levels. CONCLUSIONS: NODAT, recurrent and de novo NAFLD are common after LT but are not associated with signs of graft dysfunction, possibly due to the low frequency of IR and NASH. No correlation is observed between NAFLD and NODAT, MS, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity and IR. ß-cell dysfunction and diabetes, however, are seen in most of the patients, possibly due to calcineurin inhibitor toxicity.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in severely obese individuals: the influence of bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is the most frequent risk factor associated with NAFLD, and bariatric surgery (BAS) is traditionally indicated for the treatment of severely obese individuals. Here, we discuss the behavior and prognosis of this liver disease following post-surgical weight loss. AIM: To evaluate the influence of the BAS on the clinical and biochemical parameters of NAFLD in severely obese patients. METHODOLOGY: An intervention study included obese individuals (BMI > or = 35kg/m2), who had been submitted to liver biopsy during BAS and had NAFLD. HAIR (hypertension, ALT and insulin resistance and BAAT (BMI, ALT, age and triglycerides) scores and FLI (Fatty Liver Index) were used to compare the patients at the time of surgery, and 12-30 months following weight loss. RESULTS: From October 2004 to September 2007, 122 patients were diagnosed with NAFLD, 40 of whom agreed to participate in the study. The mean age was 37.7 +/- 12.5 years, 60% were women and 80% had steatohepatitis (NASH) with fibrosis upon analysis of the liver biopsy performed during BAS. Mean weight loss was 46.0 +/- 2.0 kg. After 21 +/- 5.8 months of follow-up, a significant improvement was found in all the variables analyzed (79.3% according to the HAIR scores, 95.2% as measured by the BAAT score and 72.5% by the FLI. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that treatment of obesity by bariatric surgery may influence the prognosis of NAFLD. In addition to weight loss, we observed improvement in the clinical and biochemical parameters related to NAFLD, such as anthropometrics index, hypertension, aminotransferases, triglycerides and insulin resistance.