Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Nocturnal hypertension (NH) is a potent cardiovascular risk factor described frequently in people with HIV (PWH). Isolated NH (INH) is less well reported in PWH because of the need for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in office normotensive patients. We aim to document the prevalence of NH and INH and the clinical factors associated with these phenotypes. METHODS: Cross-sectional study from an HIV program in Argentina. Office and ABPM measurements, as well as clinical and laboratory exploration, were performed. We defined INH as NH with daytime normotension in patients with office normotension. RESULTS: We obtained ABPM in 66 PWH, 60% male, aged 44.7 (IQR 27-69) years; 87% receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 86.2% virologically suppressed. ABPM-based hypertension prevalence was 54.7% (95% CI: 42.5-66.3). The prevalence of NH was 48.5% (32/66), while the INH prevalence was 19.7% (95% CI: 11.7-30.9). No differences were found regarding sex, HIV viral load, CD4+ T lymphocytes count, or years of infection between normotensive and INH patients. Multiple linear regression model adjusted for sex and age determined that body mass index (ß = 0.93, P < 0.01), plasma uric acid (ß = 0.25, P = 0.04), plasma potassium (ß = -10.1, P = 0.01), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (ß = 0.78, P = 0.02) independently predicted nocturnal systolic blood pressure (BP) in PWH. In a multiple logistic regression model adjusted for age and sex, the presence of sedentariness, plasma potassium <4 mEq/L, BMI, and hs-CRP levels were predictors of INH. CONCLUSION: INH is highly prevalent in PWH. Metabolic and inflammatory markers predict nocturnal SBP in PWH.

Effect of acute on chronic liver failure over post-transplant survival.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is associated with reduced short-term survival, and liver transplantation is frequently the only therapeutic option. Nonetheless, the post-transplantation prognosis seems to be worse in ACLF patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The databases of two university centers were retrospectively evaluated, and adult patients with cirrhosis who underwent transplantation between 2013 and 2020 were included. One-year survival of patients with ACLF was compared to that of patients without ACLF. Variables associated with mortality were identified. RESULTS: A total of 428 patients were evaluated, and 303 met the inclusion criteria; 57.1% were male, the mean age was 57.1 ± 10.2 years, 75 patients had ACLF, and 228 did not. The main etiologies of ACLF were NASH (36.6%), alcoholic liver disease (13.9%), primary biliary cholangitis (8.6%) and autoimmune hepatitis (7.9%). Mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, the use of vasopressors and the requirement of blood product transfusion during liver transplantation were significantly more frequent in ACLF patients. Among those recipients without and with ACLF, survival at 1, 3 and 5 years was 91.2% vs. 74.7%, 89.1% vs. 72.6% and 88.3% vs. 72.6%, respectively (p=0.001). Among pre-transplantation variables, only the presence of ACLF was independently associated with survival (HR 3.2, 95% CI: 1.46-7.11). Post-transplantation variables independently associated with survival were renal replacement therapy (HR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-6.8) and fungal infections (HR 3.26, 95% CI: 1.07-9.9). CONCLUSIONS: ACLF is an independent predictor of one-year post-transplantation survival. Importantly, transplant recipients with ACLF require the use of more resources than patients without ACLF.

Colangiocarcinoma y hepatocolangiocarcinoma combinado en pacientes con cirrosis / Cholangiocarcinoma and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma in cirrhotic patients

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary hepatic tumor, frequently found in patients with liver cirrhosis and biliary tract diseases. Its varieties include isolated CCA or "combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma" (cHCC-CCA). The latter is uncommon, with poorly defined diagnostic criteria and natural history. Aim: To characterize patients with cirrhosis with a pathological diagnosis of CCA and cHCC-CCA. Material and Methods: Forty-nine liver biopsies with a pathological diagnosis of CCA were reviewed. The clinical records of patients were reviewed to fetch demographic variables, etiology of cirrhosis and clinical presentation. Results: Eight of the 49 patients had cirrhosis (16% of CCA biopsies reviewed). Their median age was 64 (27-71) years and five were females. Four patients had CCA, three patients cHCC-CCA and one had a bifocal tumor. Patients in the CCA group were more commonly symptomatic. Alpha-fetoprotein and CA 19-9 levels were elevated in one of eight and four of six patients, respectively. Within 12 months from diagnosis, five of eight patients died. Conclusions: In most of these cases, the diagnosis of cHCC-CCA and CCA was made in the liver explant study without previous imaging diagnosis. This reinforces the usefulness of the histological study, in specific cases, prior to liver transplantation and emphasizes the importance of systematic explant exploration in these cases.

Autoimmune Hepatitis with Acute Presentation: Clinical, Biochemical, and Histological Features of 126 Patients.

Introduction: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic liver disease with a relevant inflammatory component and an unknown etiology. Evidence for clinical characteristics and risk factors in large cohorts of patients with acute AIH (AAIH) is lacking. We clinically characterized patients with AAIH, the prevalence of a combined adverse outcome (death or liver transplantation (LT)), and its risk factors. Methods: A retrospective study of adult patients diagnosed with AAIH at three centers (Santiago, Chile; 2000-2018) was conducted. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were obtained. A liver biopsy was performed for all patients. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used. Results: A total of 126 patients were admitted; 77% were female, 33 (26.2%) had a severe presentation, and 14 (11.1%) had a fulminant presentation. Overall, 24 patients (19.0%) lacked typical autoantibodies, and 26.2% had immunoglobulin G levels in the normal range. The most frequent histological findings were plasma cells (86.5%), interface hepatitis (81.7%), and chronic hepatitis (81.0%). Rosettes were uncommon (35.6%). Advanced fibrosis was present in 27% of patients. Combined adverse outcomes occurred in 7.9% of cases, all fulminant with histological cholestasis. Alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and prothrombin less than 50% were independent risk factors for in-hospital death or LT (p value <0.05). Although corticosteroid treatment was associated with better outcomes (OR 0.095, p value = 0.013), more severe patients were less likely to receive this therapy. Discussion. In this large cohort of patients with AAIH, clinical characteristics differ from those reported in patients with chronic AIH. Fulminant hepatitis, histological cholestasis, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and prothrombin were associated with death/LT.

Colangitis biliar primaria: experiencia de cinco años en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile / Primary biliary cholangitis. Experience in 179 patients

BACKGROUND: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune cholestatic disease, which can progress to cirrhosis. It mainly affects middle-aged women. Its most frequent form of presentation is asymptomatic with biochemical cholestasis and the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). AIM: To describe the epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentation and treatment for patients with PBC at a clinical hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, observational, retrospective study, carried out between January 2015 and December 2020. Results: 179 patients (158 women) were cared in the study period. At the time of diagnosis, the median age was 54 years (range 24-76), 55% of them were asymptomatic, 45% had fatigue and 28% had pruritus. Positive AMA were present in 65% of patients, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 51%, and anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) in 9%. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was elevated in 30% of the patients and 50% of patients were biopsied. Splenomegaly and esophageal varices were present in 24 and 22% of patients, respectively. PBC was associated with Sjogren's syndrome in 15%, hypothyroidism in 14%, osteoporosis in 13%, and scleroderma in 8%. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological characteristics of our patients agree with those published abroad. Laboratory cholestasis associated with the presence of AMA, currently allows diagnosis without the need for histological study. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the first-line treatment for patients with PBC. The use of biochemical response criteria is essential to identify patients who require other UDCA alternatives for isolated or combined treatment.

[Cholangiocarcinoma and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma in cirrhotic patients]. / Colangiocarcinoma y hepatocolangiocarcinoma combinado en pacientes con cirrosis.

BACKGROUND: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary hepatic tumor, frequently found in patients with liver cirrhosis and biliary tract diseases. Its varieties include isolated CCA or "combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma" (cHCC-CCA). The latter is uncommon, with poorly defined diagnostic criteria and natural history. AIM: To characterize patients with cirrhosis with a pathological diagnosis of CCA and cHCC-CCA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-nine liver biopsies with a pathological diagnosis of CCA were reviewed. The clinical records of patients were reviewed to fetch demographic variables, etiology of cirrhosis and clinical presentation. RESULTS: Eight of the 49 patients had cirrhosis (16% of CCA biopsies reviewed). Their median age was 64 (27-71) years and five were females. Four patients had CCA, three patients cHCC-CCA and one had a bifocal tumor. Patients in the CCA group were more commonly symptomatic. Alpha-fetoprotein and CA 19-9 levels were elevated in one of eight and four of six patients, respectively. Within 12 months from diagnosis, five of eight patients died. CONCLUSIONS: In most of these cases, the diagnosis of cHCC-CCA and CCA was made in the liver explant study without previous imaging diagnosis. This reinforces the usefulness of the histological study, in specific cases, prior to liver transplantation and emphasizes the importance of systematic explant exploration in these cases.

[Primary biliary cholangitis. Experience in 179 patients]. / Colangitis biliar primaria: experiencia de cinco años en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile.

BACKGROUND: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune cholestatic disease, which can progress to cirrhosis. It mainly affects middle-aged women. Its most frequent form of presentation is asymptomatic with biochemical cholestasis and the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). AIM: To describe the epidemiological characteristics, clinical presentation and treatment for patients with PBC at a clinical hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive, observational, retrospective study, carried out between January 2015 and December 2020. RESULTS: 179 patients (158 women) were cared in the study period. At the time of diagnosis, the median age was 54 years (range 24-76), 55% of them were asymptomatic, 45% had fatigue and 28% had pruritus. Positive AMA were present in 65% of patients, antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 51%, and anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA) in 9%. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was elevated in 30% of the patients and 50% of patients were biopsied. Splenomegaly and esophageal varices were present in 24 and 22% of patients, respectively. PBC was associated with Sjogren's syndrome in 15%, hypothyroidism in 14%, osteoporosis in 13%, and scleroderma in 8%. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological characteristics of our patients agree with those published abroad. Laboratory cholestasis associated with the presence of AMA, currently allows diagnosis without the need for histological study. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the first-line treatment for patients with PBC. The use of biochemical response criteria is essential to identify patients who require other UDCA alternatives for isolated or combined treatment.

Acute liver failure due to herpes simplex virus: diagnostic clues and potential role of plasmapheresis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening condition that remains challenging for physicians despite several advances in supportive care. Etiologies vary worldwide, with herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis representing less than 1% of cases. Despite its low incidence, ALF is a lethal cause of acute necrotizing hepatitis and has a high mortality. Early antiviral treatment is beneficial for survival and decreased liver transplantation necessity. However, plasmapheresis, despite its theoretical potential benefit, is scarcely reported. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 25-year-old woman with no known disease presented with painful pharynx ulcers, increased transaminases and impaired liver function. DIAGNOSIS: ALF due to a disseminated HSV-2 primary infection was diagnosed with a positive polymerase chain reaction for HSV-2 in the biopsied liver tissue and blood. INTERVENTIONS: Empiric antiviral treatment was initiated. After clinical deterioration, plasmapheresis was also initiated. OUTCOMES: After 6 cycles of plasmapheresis and supportive care, the patient's condition improved without undergoing liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: ALF is a life-threatening condition, and HSV as an etiology must be suspected based on background, clinical manifestation, and laboratory information. The potential role of plasmapheresis in HSV hepatitis should be considered.

Comparison of different prognostic scores for patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Viral infections have been described to increase the risk of decompensation in patients with cirrhosis. We aimed to determine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on outcome of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and to compare the performance of different prognostic models for predicting mortality. PATIENTS: We performed a prospective cohort study including 2211 hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from April 15, 2020 through October 1, 2020 in 38 Hospitals from 11 Latin American countries. We registered clinical and laboratory parameters of patients with and without cirrhosis. All patients were followed until discharge or death. We evaluated the prognostic performance of different scoring systems to predict mortality in patients with cirrhosis using ROC curves. RESULTS: Overall, 4.6% (CI 3.7-5.6) subjects had cirrhosis (n = 96). Baseline Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) class was assessed: CTP-A (23%), CTP-B (45%) and CTP-C (32%); median MELD-Na score was 19 (IQR 14-25). Mortality was 47% in patients with cirrhosis and 16% in patients without cirrhosis (P < .0001). Cirrhosis was independently associated with death [OR 3.1 (CI 1.9-4.8); P < .0001], adjusted by age, gender, and body mass index >30. The areas under the ROC curves for performance evaluation in predicting 28-days mortality for Chronic Liver Failure Consortium (CLIF-C), North American Consortium for the Study of End-Stage Liver Disease (NACSELD), CTP score and MELD-Na were 0.85, 0.75, 0.69, 0.67; respectively (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with elevated mortality in patients with cirrhosis. CLIF-C had better performance in predicting mortality than NACSELD, CTP and MELD-Na in patients with cirrhosis and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT04358380.

[Hypertension and metabolic syndrome in HIV infected patients]. / Hipertensión y síndrome metabólico en pacientes con virus de la inmunodeficiencia-humana.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a growing cause of mortality between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. Hypertension (HTN) and metabolic syndrome (MS) are important causes of CVD. The prevalence of HTN and MS in HIV infected patients in Córdoba, Argentina is unknown. Our aim is to determine the prevalence of HTN and MS in HIV patients in Córdoba and their association with immunological state, inflammation and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in an observational study. Sixty-five HIV infected patients from the provincial HIV program were randomly selected. Fifty-seven (87%) were on HAART, 39 (60%) were males. The mean age was 44.7 ± 10 years. Mean CD4+ T lymphocytes (CD4+T) count was 404.4 ± 289.6 cells/ml. Viral load (VL) was undetectable in 56 (86.2%). The prevalence of HTN was 40%, and it was associated with the duration of HAART (p < 0.05). There was no association between years of HIV infection, CD4+T, VL and blood pressure. The prevalence of MS was 38.5% (25/65). MS was more frequent between those with HAART (OR: 1.80; CI 95%; 1.43-2.28; p = 0.02). Patients on HAART had higher rates of hypertriglyceridemia, impaired glucose tolerance and lower levels of HDLc (p < 0.01). MS was associated with the HAART duration (p < 0.01). HIV infected patients had a high prevalence of HTN and MS. HAART was associated with both HTN and MS, but there was no association between immunological status, VL or inflammatory markers.

La enfermedad cardiovascular y sus factores de riesgos como hipertensión arterial (HTA) y síndrome metabólico (SM), son una creciente causa de mortalidad entre los infectados con HIV. Nuestros objetivos fueron determinar la prevalencia HTA y SM en pacientes HIV positivos de la ciudad de Córdoba su asociación con el estado inmunológico, inflamación y terapia antirretroviral (TARAA). Fue un estudio aleatorizado de corte transversal. Se incluyeron 65 pacientes HIV positivos del programa provincial HIV-Córdoba, 57 (87%) recibían TARAA, 39 (60%) eran masculinos, con edad promedio de 44.7 ± 10 años. La concentración de linfocitos T CD4+ (LTCD4+) fue 404.4 ± 289.6 cel./ml. La carga viral (CV) fue indetectable en 56 (86.2%). La prevalencia de HTA fue de 40% (26/65) y se asoció a la duración de TARAA (p < 0.05). No hubo asociación entre años de infección por HIV, LTCD4+ y CV con HTA. La prevalencia de SM fue de 38.5% (25/65). El uso de TARAA fue más frecuente en aquellos con SM (OR: 1.80; IC95%: 1.43-2.28; p = 0.02). Pacientes bajo TARAA presentaron alta tasa de hipertrigliceridemia, intolerancia a la glucosa y niveles bajos de HDL (todos p < 0.01). SM se asoció a la duración de TARAA (p < 0.01). La TARAA se asoció a HTA y SM, no encontrándose relación con estado inmunológico, CV o marcadores de inflamación.

Hipertensión y síndrome metabólico en pacientes con Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia-Humana / Hypertension and metabolic syndrome in HIV infected patients

Resumen La enfermedad cardiovascular y sus factores de riesgos como hipertensión arterial (HTA) y síndrome metabólico (SM), son una creciente causa de mortalidad entre los infectados con HIV. Nuestros objetivos fueron determinar la prevalencia HTA y SM en pacientes HIV positivos de la ciudad de Córdoba su asociación con el estado inmunológico, inflamación y terapia antirretroviral (TARAA). Fue un estudio aleatorizado de corte transversal. Se incluyeron 65 pacientes HIV positivos del programa provincial HIV-Córdoba, 57 (87%) recibían TARAA, 39 (60%) eran masculinos, con edad promedio de 44.7 ± 10 años. La concentración de linfocitos T CD4+ (LTCD4+) fue 404.4 ± 289.6 cel./ml. La carga viral (CV) fue indetectable en 56 (86.2%). La prevalencia de HTA fue de 40% (26/65) y se asoció a la duración de TARAA (p < 0.05). No hubo asociación entre años de infección por HIV, LTCD4+ y CV con HTA. La prevalencia de SM fue de 38.5% (25/65). El uso de TARAA fue más frecuente en aquellos con SM (OR: 1.80; IC95%: 1.43-2.28; p = 0.02). Pacientes bajo TARAA presentaron alta tasa de hipertrigliceridemia, intolerancia a la glucosa y niveles bajos de HDL (todos p < 0.01). SM se asoció a la duración de TARAA (p < 0.01). La TARAA se asoció a HTA y SM, no encontrándose relación con estado inmunológico, CV o marcadores de inflamación.

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a growing cause of mortality between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. Hypertension (HTN) and metabolic syndrome (MS) are important causes of CVD. The prevalence of HTN and MS in HIV infected patients in Córdoba, Argentina is unknown. Our aim is to determine the prevalence of HTN and MS in HIV patients in Córdoba and their association with immunological state, inflammation and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in an observational study. Sixty-five HIV infected patients from the provincial HIV program were randomly selected. Fifty-seven (87%) were on HAART, 39 (60%) were males. The mean age was 44.7 ± 10 years. Mean CD4+ T lymphocytes (CD4+T) count was 404.4 ± 289.6 cells/ml. Viral load (VL) was undetectable in 56 (86.2%). The prevalence of HTN was 40%, and it was associated with the duration of HAART (p < 0.05). There was no association between years of HIV infection, CD4+T, VL and blood pressure. The prevalence of MS was 38.5% (25/65). MS was more frequent between those with HAART (OR: 1.80; CI 95%; 1.43-2.28; p = 0.02). Patients on HAART had higher rates of hypertriglyceridemia, impaired glucose tolerance and lower levels of HDLc (p < 0.01). MS was associated with the HAART duration (p < 0.01). HIV infected patients had a high prevalence of HTN and MS. HAART was associated with both HTN and MS, but there was no association between immunological status, VL or inflammatory markers.

Baveno VI and Expanded Baveno VI criteria successfully predicts the absence of high-risk gastro-oesophageal varices in a Chilean cohort.

BACKGROUND: Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria have been recommended to circumvent the need for endoscopy screening in patients with a very low probability of varices needing treatment (VNT). AIM: To validate these criteria in a Latin American population. METHODS: The ability of Baveno VI criteria (liver stiffness measurement (LSM) <20 kPa and platelet count >150 × 103/µL) and expanded Baveno VI criteria (LSM < 25kPa and platelet count >110 × 103/µL) to exclude the presence of VNT was tested in a prospectively recruited cohort of patients with Child-Pugh A liver cirrhosis and with no previous variceal haemorrhage who attended the liver clinics of three major hospitals in Chile. RESULTS: Three hundred patients were included. The median (IQR) age was 61 [18-86] years, median MELD was 8.0 (6-17), median LSM was 17.2 (10.2-77) kPa and median platelet count was 137 (23-464) × 103 /µL. The main aetiology was non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (67.3%). VNT were present in 18% of patients. The Baveno VI criteria had a sensitivity of 98.1% and a specificity of 38.2%, potentially sparing 31.3% of upper endoscopies with a very low risk of missing VNT (1.1%). The expanded Baveno VI criteria had a sensitivity of 90.7% and a specificity of 61%, potentially sparing 51.3% of upper endoscopies with a risk of missing VNT of 3.6%. Both criteria were independently associated with the absence of VNT. CONCLUSION: We validated the Baveno VI and expanded Baveno VI criteria in Chilean population, potentially sparing 31.3% and 51.3% of endoscopies, respectively, with a very low risk of missing VNT. Fondecyt 1191183.