Anti-HEV seroprevalence and rate of viremia in a German cohort of dogs, cats, and horses.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 infections in Germany are mainly transmitted zoonotically through the consumption of swine meat. Furthermore, there is evidence that pets might come into contact with HEV, but the relevance of companion animals as possible sources of HEV transmission in Germany still needs to be defined. A monitoring study was therefore carried out on dogs, cats, and horses from Germany. In total 365 serum samples from pets (124 dogs, 119 cats, and 122 horses) were tested for HEV by PCR and for anti-HEV antibodies by a commercial ELISA. The HEV seroprevalence determined by the sero-assay varied significantly between dogs (10%), cats (6%), and horses (2%). Liver injury-related enzymes, alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) showed no differences between HEV-positive or negative animals. None of the pet serum samples tested positive for PCR. This serological study suggests that dogs and cats are significantly exposed to HEV in Germany, while horses are of minor relevance.

Outcome and natural course of renal dysfunction in liver transplant recipients with severely impaired kidney function prior to transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Since introduction of the MELD score in the liver allograft allocation system, renal insufficiency has emerged as an increasing problem. Here we evaluated the course of kidney function in patients with advanced renal insufficiency prior to liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: A total of 254 patients undergoing LT at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (2011-2015) were screened for renal impairment (GFR < 30 ml/min) prior to LT in this observational study. RESULTS: Eighty (32%) patients (median 60 years; M/F: 48/32) had significant renal impairment prior to LT. Median follow-up post-LT was 619 days. Patient survival at 90 days, one year and two years was 76%, 66% and 64%, respectively. Need for dialysis postoperatively but not preoperatively was associated with increased mortality (p < 0.05). Renal function improved in 75% of survivors, but 78% of patients had chronic kidney disease ≥ stage 3 at end of follow-up. Of eight (16%) survivors remaining on long-term dialysis, so far only four patients have received a kidney transplant. CONCLUSION: Postoperative dialysis affected long-term mortality. In 75% of survivors renal function improved, but still the majority of patients had an impaired renal function (CKD stage 3-5) at end of follow-up. Future studies should elucidate the impact of kidney dysfunction and dialysis on recipients' long-term survival.

[Acute liver failure]. / Akutes Leberversagen.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare condition with fatal outcome. Characteristic is rapid onset of liver damage without preexisting liver diseases, including hepatic encephalopathy and coagulopathy. Early and correct diagnosis is essential for further management of patients, since diagnosis impacts therapy choice. Survival of patients with ALF has improved dramatically due to advances in critical care medicine and the use of liver transplantation.

[Hepatocardiac disorders : Interactions between two organ systems]. / Hepatokardiale Wechselwirkungen : Interaktionen zweier Organsysteme.

Interactions between the hepatic portal and cardiovascular systems are frequently found in patients with liver disease. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCMP) is defined as reduced cardiac function in patients with liver cirrhosis in the absence of other known causes of cardiac disease. The typical hyperdynamic circulatory state by means of increased cardiac output and reduced systemic vascular resistance may mask left ventricular failure. Portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) is defined as increased pulmonary arterial pressure and the presence of portal hypertension, and is associated with increased mortality. Targeted medical therapies include vasodilators such as prostanoids, endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Hypoxic or ischaemic hepatitis (HH) is defined by a sharp increase of serum aminotransferase levels due to liver cell necrosis as result of cardiac, circulatory or respiratory failure. An overview of these diseases is provided in this article.

[Shock liver and cholestatic liver in critically ill patients]. / Schockleber und Cholestase beim kritisch Kranken.

Liver dysfunction is frequently observed in critically ill patients. Its occurrence is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The most frequent entities of hepatic dysfunction in the intensive care unit are shock liver and cholestatic liver dysfunction with incidence rates up to 10 and 30 %, respectively.Both conditions are frequently triggered by hypoxic and/or ischemic events, most commonly cardiogenic shock and sepsis/septic shock. However, several other potential contributors have been identified especially for cholestatic liver dysfunction. Apart from chronic liver diseases and malignancies, iatrogenic factors such as total parenteral nutrition, high pressure ventilation, surgical procedures, drugs and blood transfusions promote its occurrence.In shock liver and in cholestatic liver disease, early detection and therapy of the underlying disease is the only established treatment.

[Extracorporeal therapy of patients with liver disease in the intensive care unit]. / Extrakorporale Therapien bei Patienten mit Lebererkrankungen auf der Intensivstation.

Acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure are often associated with development of organ failure. Its occurrence is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Extracorporeal replacement therapies are frequently necessary in these patient populations. Replacement therapies can be divided into renal replacement therapies and liver support therapies. These therapies consist of artificial liver support systems (i.e., MARS(®) system, Prometheus(®)), which are able to remove water-soluble and albumin-bound toxins, and of bioartifical liver support systems. This manuscript provides a review of current practice in the extracorporeal support of patients with liver diseases in the intensive care unit.

[Pulmonary complications in liver diseases]. / Pulmonale Komplikationen bei Lebererkrankungen.

Pulmonary-hepatic vascular disorders are frequent complications in patients with portal hypertension and cirrhosis. Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), portopulmonary hypertension (POPH), and hepatic hydrothorax are relevant disease entities in these patients. HPS occurs in up to 30 % of patients with cirrhosis and is associated with a more than 2-fold increased mortality. The diagnosis of HPS should be established early by arterial blood gas analysis and contrast-enhanced echocardiography, whereas POPH is diagnosed by the presence of pulmonary arterial hypertension evaluated via right heart catheterization and the presence of portal hypertension. Therapeutic options include initiation of long-term oxygen therapy and liver transplantation in patients with severe HPS. Patients with POPH should receive targeted medical therapies with endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and/or prostanoids. In contrast, ß-blockers should be avoided. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding pulmonary-hepatic vascular disorders, with a focus on HPS.

Gender-specific differences in energy metabolism during the initial phase of critical illness.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Women and men differ in substrate and energy metabolism. Such differences may affect energy requirements during the acute phase of critical illness. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data of 155 critically ill medical patients were reviewed for this study. Indirect calorimetry in each patient was performed within the first 72 h following admission to the medical intensive care unit after an overnight fast. RESULTS: In overweight (body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m(2)) but not in normal-weight patients, resting energy expenditure (REE) adjusted for body weight (REEaBW) differed significantly between women and men (17.2 (interquartile range (IQR) 15.2-20.7) vs 20.9 (IQR 17.9-23.4) kcal/kg/day, P<0.01). Similarly, REE adjusted for ideal body weight (REEaIBW) was significantly lower in women compared with men (25.5 (IQR 22.6-28.1) vs 28.0 (IQR 25.2-30.0) kcal/kg/day, P<0.05). In overweight patients, gender was identified as an independent predictor of REEaBW in the multivariate regression model (r=-2.57 (95% CI -4.57 to -0.57); P<0.05), even after adjustment for age, simplified acute physiology score (SAPS II), body temperature, body weight and height. CONCLUSIONS: REEaBW decreases with increasing body mass in both sexes. This relationship differs between women and men. Overweight critically ill women show significantly lower REEaBW and REEaIBW, respectively, compared with men. These findings could affect the current practice of nutritional support during the early phase of critical illness.