Hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance may be associated with potential psychological harms in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The value of HCC surveillance is determined by the balance between benefits and harms; however, no studies have enumerated psychological harms. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We fielded surveys measuring psychological harms to patients with cirrhosis in a multicenter randomized trial of HCC surveillance outreach. All patients with positive or indeterminate surveillance results and matched patients with negative results were invited to complete surveys measuring (1) depression through the Patient Health Questionnaire-ninth version, (2) anxiety through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, (3) HCC-specific worry through Psychological Consequences Questionnaire, and (4) decisional regret. Patients were classified into 4 groups: true positive (TP), false positive (FP), indeterminate, and true negative (TN). Multivariable longitudinal regression analysis using the generalized estimating equation method was performed to compare the means of measures across groups. We conducted 89 semistructured interviews in a subset of patients stratified by health system and test results. Of 2872 patients in the trial, 311 completed 1+ follow-up survey (63 FP, 77 indeterminate, 38 TP, and 133 TN). Moderate depression decreased in TN patients, increased in TP, and had intermittent but mild increases in those with FP and indeterminate results. High anxiety temporarily increased in patients with TP results but resolved over time and was stable in those with FP and indeterminate results. Decisional regret was low and did not differ across groups. In semistructured interviews, patients reported apprehension, anxiety, emotional distress, and coping related to HCC surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological harms of HCC surveillance appear mild but differ by test result. Future research should determine the impact of psychological harms on the value of HCC surveillance programs.

Recent advances in the prevention and treatment of decompensated cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and the role of biomarkers.

The progression of cirrhosis with clinically significant portal hypertension towards decompensated cirrhosis remains clinically challenging and the evolution towards acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), with one or more extrahepatic organ failures, is associated with very high mortality. In the last decade, significant progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms leading to decompensation and ACLF. As portal hypertension advances, bacterial translocation across an impaired gut barrier culminates in endotoxaemia, systemic inflammation and cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction (CAID). Gut-derived systemic inflammation and CAID have become the logical targets for innovative therapies that prevent hepatic decompensation episodes and the progression to ACLF.Furthermore, classification of disease and biomarker discovery to personalise care have advanced in the field. This review discusses progress in biomarker discovery and personalisation of treatment in decompensated cirrhosis and ACLF.

Effectiveness of mailed outreach and patient navigation to promote HCC screening process completion: a multicentre pragmatic randomised clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is plagued by failures across the cancer care continuum, leading to frequent late-stage diagnoses and high mortality. We evaluated the effectiveness of mailed outreach invitations plus patient navigation to promote HCC screening process completion in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Between April 2018 and September 2021, we conducted a multicentre pragmatic randomised clinical trial comparing mailed outreach plus patient navigation for HCC screening (n=1436) versus usual care with visit-based screening (n=1436) among patients with cirrhosis at three US health systems. Our primary outcome was screening process completion over a 36-month period, and our secondary outcome was the proportion of time covered (PTC) by screening. All patients were included in intention-to-screen analyses. RESULTS: All 2872 participants (median age 61.3 years; 32.3% women) were included in intention-to-screen analyses. Screening process completion was observed in 6.6% (95% CI: 5.3% to 7.9%) of patients randomised to outreach and 3.3% (95% CI: 2.4% to 4.3%) of those randomised to usual care (OR 2.05, 95% CI: 1.44 to 2.92). The intervention increased HCC screening process completion across most subgroups including age, sex, race and ethnicity, Child-Turcotte-Pugh class and health system. PTC was also significantly higher in the outreach arm than usual care (mean 37.5% vs 28.2%; RR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.31 to 1.35). Despite screening underuse, most HCC in both arms were detected at an early stage. CONCLUSION: Mailed outreach plus navigation significantly increased HCC screening process completion versus usual care in patients with cirrhosis, with a consistent effect across most examined subgroups. However, screening completion remained suboptimal in both arms, underscoring a need for more intensive interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02582918.

Development, validation, and prognostic evaluation of a risk score for long-term liver-related outcomes in the general population: a multicohort study.

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis is a major cause of death worldwide. Cirrhosis develops after a long asymptomatic period of fibrosis progression, with the diagnosis frequently occurring late, when major complications or cancer develop. Few reliable tools exist for timely identification of individuals at risk of cirrhosis to allow for early intervention. We aimed to develop a novel score to identify individuals at risk for future liver-related outcomes. METHODS: We derived the LiverRisk score from an international prospective cohort of individuals from six countries without known liver disease from the general population, who underwent liver fibrosis assessment by transient elastography. The score included age, sex, and six standard laboratory variables. We created four groups: minimal risk, low risk, medium risk, and high risk according to selected cutoff values of the LiverRisk score (6, 10, and 15). The model's discriminatory accuracy and calibration were externally validated in two prospective cohorts from the general population. Moreover, we ascertained the prognostic value of the score in the prediction of liver-related outcomes in participants without known liver disease with median follow-up of 12 years (UK Biobank cohort). FINDINGS: We included 14 726 participants: 6357 (43·2%) in the derivation cohort, 4370 (29·7%) in the first external validation cohort, and 3999 (27·2%) in the second external validation cohort. The score accurately predicted liver stiffness in the development and external validation cohorts, and was superior to conventional serum biomarkers of fibrosis, as measured by area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC; 0·83 [95% CI [0·78-0·89]) versus the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4; 0·68 [0·61-0·75] at 10 kPa). The score was effective in identifying individuals at risk of liver-related mortality, liver-related hospitalisation, and liver cancer, thereby allowing stratification to different risk groups for liver-related outcomes. The hazard ratio for liver-related mortality in the high-risk group was 471 (95% CI 347-641) compared with the minimal risk group, and the overall AUC of the score in predicting 10-year liver-related mortality was 0·90 (0·88-0·91) versus 0.84 (0·82-0·86) for FIB-4. INTERPRETATION: The LiverRisk score, based on simple parameters, predicted liver fibrosis and future development of liver-related outcomes in the general population. The score might allow for stratification of individuals according to liver risk and thus guide preventive care. FUNDING: European Commission under the H20/20 programme; Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria de Salud; Instituto de Salud Carlos III; Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness; the European Regional Development Fund; and the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Financial Burden of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening in Patients With Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The overall value of hepatocellular carcinoma screening is defined by the balance of benefits and harms. Studies have only reported physical harms with none describing financial harms. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter pragmatic randomized clinical trial of hepatocellular carcinoma screening outreach among 2872 patients with cirrhosis from March 2018 to April 2021. Patients with positive or indeterminate results and matched patients with negative results completed surveys at baseline and at follow-up measuring financial harms via Cancer Self-Administered Questionnaire and financial burden via Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy. Univariable and multivariable longitudinal regression analyses were performed to compare changes in financial harms across groups: true positive, true negative, false positive, and indeterminate. Semistructured interviews were conducted in a subset of patients, sampled by center and test result. RESULTS: Of 311 patients who completed at least 1 follow-up survey (75% response rate), 37 had true positive, 133 true negative, 64 false positive, and 77 indeterminate results. Financial harms increased in true positive and false positive patients with no significant changes noted among those with true negative or indeterminate results. At follow-up, 21.8% of patients reported moderate-severe financial burden, which was not significantly associated with test results. Semistructured interviews revealed variation in the frequency and severity of financial harms based on test results, with increased harm in those with false positive results. CONCLUSIONS: Financial harms of hepatocellular carcinoma screening vary by test result and can pose a barrier that must be considered when determining the optimal screening program.

Early Diagnostic Paracentesis Improves Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With Cirrhosis and Ascites: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnostic paracentesis is recommended for patients with cirrhosis admitted to the hospital, but adherence is suboptimal with unclear impact on clinical outcomes. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the outcomes of early vs delayed diagnostic paracentesis among hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and ascites. METHODS: We searched multiple databases for studies comparing early vs delayed diagnostic paracentesis among hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and ascites. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and mean difference with confidence intervals (CIs) for proportional and continuous variables were calculated using the random-effects model. Early diagnostic paracentesis was defined as receiving diagnostic paracentesis within 12-24 hours of admission. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, acute kidney injury, and 30-day readmission. RESULTS: Seven studies (n = 78,744) (n = 45,533 early vs n = 33,211 delayed diagnostic paracentesis) were included. Early diagnostic paracentesis was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.46-0.82, P = 0.001), length of hospital stay (mean difference -4.85 days; 95% CI -6.45 to -3.20; P < 0.001), and acute kidney injury (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.42-0.92, P = 0.02) compared with delayed diagnostic paracentesis, with similar 30-day readmission (OR 1.11, 95% CI 0.52-2.39, P = 0.79). Subgroup analysis revealed consistent results for in-hospital mortality whether early diagnostic paracentesis performed within 12 hours (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.79, P = 0.003, I2 = 0%) or within 24 hours of admission (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45-0.98, P = 0.04, I2 = 82%). Notably, the mortality OR was numerically lower when diagnostic paracentesis was performed within 12 hours, and the results were precise and homogenous ( I2 = 0%). DISCUSSION: Findings from this meta-analysis suggest that early diagnostic paracentesis is associated with better patient outcomes. Early diagnostic paracentesis within 12 hours of admission may be associated with the greatest mortality benefit. Data from large-scale randomized trials are needed to validate our findings, especially if there is a greater mortality benefit for early diagnostic paracentesis within 12 hours.

Plasma exchange for acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Plasma exchange (PE) is a promising therapeutic option in patients with acute liver failure (ALF) and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, the impact of PE on patient survival in these syndromes is unclear. We aimed to systematically investigate the use of PE in patients with ALF and ACLF compared with standard medical therapy (SMT). We searched PubMed/Embase/Cochrane databases to include all studies comparing PE versus SMT for patients ≥ 18 years of age with ALF and ACLF. Pooled risk ratios (RR) with corresponding 95% CIs were calculated by the Mantel-Haenszel method within a random-effect model. The primary outcome was 30-day survival for ACLF and ALF. Secondary outcomes were overall and 90-day survival for ALF and ACLF, respectively. Five studies, including 343 ALF patients (n = 174 PE vs. n = 169 SMT), and 20 studies, including 5,705 ACLF patients (n = 2,856 PE vs. n = 2,849 SMT), were analyzed. Compared with SMT, PE was significantly associated with higher 30-day (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06-1.87, p = 0.02) and overall (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.12-1.63, p = 0.002) survival in ALF patients. In ACLF, PE was also significantly associated with higher 30-day (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.22-1.52, p < 0.001) and 90-day (RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.34, p < 0.001) survival. On subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials, results remained unchanged in ALF, but no differences in survival were found between PE and SMT in ACLF. In conclusion, PE is associated with improved survival in ALF and could improve survival in ACLF. PE may be considered in managing ALF and ACLF patients who are not liver transplant (LT) candidates or as a bridge to LT in otherwise eligible patients. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the survival benefit of PE in ACLF.

Telehealth interventions in patients with chronic liver diseases: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Telehealth interventions may improve access to care, disease-specific, and quality outcomes in chronic liver diseases (CLDs). We aimed to systematically evaluate outcomes of telehealth interventions in CLDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used key terms and searched PubMed/EMBASE from inception to January 10, 2022. Two authors independently screened abstracts. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. We included any type of CLD, including posttransplant patients, and extracted outcomes as defined by authors for each etiology of CLD (sustained virological response in HCV or weight loss in NAFLD). Meta-analysis was not performed because of the heterogeneity of data. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for clinical trials. RESULTS: Of 4250 studies screened, 43 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 28 reported HCV treatment outcomes. All studies showed no statistically significant differences between sustained virological response rates in TH groups compared with control groups or historic cohorts. Eight studies evaluating liver transplant-related processes and outcomes demonstrated improved rates of transplant evaluation and referrals and decreased short-term readmission rates. Three randomized controlled trials and 1 observational study on NAFLD showed improved weight loss outcomes. One retrospective study showed reduced mortality risk in CLD patients with at least 1 TH encounter. CONCLUSIONS: TH interventions in patients with CLDs consistently show equivalent or improved clinical outcomes compared with traditional encounters. TH in CLDs can bridge the gap in access while maintaining the quality of care for underserved populations.

Self-Correcting Method for Highly Effective Office-Based Helicobacter pylori Therapy Using Cumulative Test of Cure Data.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori infections have become resistant to many previously highly effective antimicrobial regimens resulting in clarithromycin, metronidazole, or fluoroquinolone-containing therapies becoming unsuccessful. Pretreatment susceptibility testing is only widely available in the United States but is still rarely done. Here, we propose a framework to monitor H. pylori eradication in small clinical settings by routinely assessing the effectiveness of therapy. METHODS: Because of the small sample size in individual practice's, we assume an acceptable cure rate of ≥80% (preferred cure rate ≥85%) in adherent patients, with a dichotomous outcome (cured vs. failed) and consecutive patient enrollment. To obtain results (feedback) in a timely manner, for individual practices, cure rates can be estimated after 10 patients. Large practices which acquire patients more rapidly can delay analysis until a total of 104 H. pylori-infected patients, assuming a baseline cure rate of at least 85% with the preferred regimen. RESULTS: We show how data from individual practices can be utilized to improve the effectiveness of H. pylori treatment decisions. The method consists of recording and accumulating the confirmation of cure data for successive small groups of patients. These data are then analyzed as binary outcomes (pass-fail) and serve as the basis for studying and improving the effectiveness of H. pylori treatment decisions. CONCLUSION: A simple actuarial method can serve outpatient clinics to ensure a reliable test-to-cure method and avoid futile Hp regimens.

Improving Adherence to Clinical Practice Guidelines for Managing Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Among Gastroenterologists at a US Academic Institution.

BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines reserve endoscopic surveillance after a gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) diagnosis for high-risk patients. However, it is unclear how closely guidelines are followed in clinical practice. We examined the effectiveness of a standardized protocol for the management of GIM among gastroenterologists at a US hospital. METHODS: This was a preintervention and postintervention study, which included developing a protocol and education of gastroenterologists on GIM management. For the preintervention study, 50 patients with GIM were randomly selected from a histopathology database at the Houston VA Hospital between January 2016 and December 2019. For the postintervention study, we assessed change in GIM management in a cohort of 50 patients with GIM between April 2020 and January 2021 and surveyed 10 gastroenterologists. The durability of the intervention was assessed in a cohort of 50 GIM patients diagnosed between April 2021 and July 2021. RESULTS: In the preintervention cohort, GIM location was specified (antrum and corpus separated) in 11 patients (22%), and Helicobacter pylori testing was recommended in 11 of 26 patients (42%) without previous testing. Gastric mapping biopsies were recommended in 14% and surveillance endoscopy in 2%. In the postintervention cohort, gastric biopsy location was specified in 45 patients (90%, P <0.001) and H. pylori testing was recommended in 26 of 27 patients without prior testing (96%, P <0.001). Because gastric biopsy location was known in 90% of patients ( P <0.001), gastric mapping was not necessary, and surveillance endoscopy was recommended in 42% ( P <0.001). One year after the intervention, all metrics remained elevated compared with the preintervention cohort. CONCLUSIONS: GIM management guidelines are not consistently followed. A protocol for GIM management and education of gastroenterologists increased adherence to H. pylori testing and GIM surveillance recommendations.

Postoperative outcomes of acute-on-chronic liver failure in infants and children with biliary atresia.

INTRODUCTION: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in patients with biliary atresia (BA). Data on impact of ACLF on postoperative outcomes, however, are sparse. METHOD: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with BA aged <18 years who underwent LT between 2011 and 2021 at our institution. ACLF was defined using the pediatric ACLF criteria: ≥1 extra-hepatic organ failure in children with decompensated cirrhosis. RESULTS: Of 107 patients (65% female; median age 14 [9-31] months) who received a LT, 13 (12%) had ACLF during the index admission prior to LT. Two (15%) had Grade 1; 4 (30%) had Grade 2; and 7 (55%) had Grade ≥3 ACLF. ACLF cohort was younger at time of listing (5 [4-8] vs. 9 [6-24] months; p < .001) and at LT (8 [8-11] vs. 16 [10-40] months, p < .001) compared to no-ACLF group. Intraoperatively, ACLF patients had higher blood loss (40 [20-53] vs. 10 [6-19] mL/kg; p < .001) and blood transfusion requirements (33 [21-69] vs. 18 [7-25] mL/kg; p = .004). Postoperatively, they needed higher vasopressor support (31% vs. 10.6%; p = .04) and had higher total hospital length of stay (106 [45-151] vs. 13 [7-30] days; p = .023). Rate of return to the operating room, hospital readmission rates, and 1-year post-LT survival rates were comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: Despite higher perioperative complications, survival outcomes for ACLF in BA after LT are favorable and comparable to those without ACLF. These encouraging data reiterate prioritization during organ allocation of these critically ill children for LT.

Concomitant hiatal hernia repair with transoral incisionless fundoplication for the treatment of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) is safe and effective in select patients with hiatal hernias ≤ 2 cm with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). For patients with hiatal hernias > 2 cm, concomitant hiatal hernia (HH) repair with TIF (cTIF) is offered as an alternative to conventional anti-reflux surgery (ARS). Yet, data on this approach is limited. Through a comprehensive systematic review, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cTIF for managing refractory GERD in patients with hernias > 2 cm. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a systematic review of studies evaluating cTIF outcomes from PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases up to February 14, 2024. Primary outcomes included complete cessation of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Secondary outcomes included objective GERD assessment, adverse events, and treatment-related side effects. Pooled analysis was employed wherever feasible. RESULTS: Seven observational studies (306 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Five were retrospective cohort studies and two were prospective observational studies. The median rate of discontinuation of PPIs was 73.8% (range 56.4-94.4%). Significant improvements were observed in disease-specific, validated GERD questionnaires. The median rate for complications was 4.4% (range 0-7.9%), and the 30-day readmission rate had a median of 3.3% (range 0-5.3%). The incidence of dysphagia was 11 out of 164 patients, with a median of 5.3% (range 0-8.3%), while the incidence of gas bloating was 15 out of 127 patients, with a median of 6.9% (range 0-13.8%). CONCLUSION: Current data on cTIF suggests a promising alternative to ARS with comparable short-term efficacy and safety profile for managing refractory GERD with a low side effect profile. However, longer-term data and comparative efficacy studies are needed.

Novel prognostic biomarkers in decompensated cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis experience high mortality rates. Current prognostic scores, including the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), may underperform in settings other than in those they were initially developed. Novel biomarkers have been proposed to improve prognostication accuracy and even to predict development of complications. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on novel urine and blood biomarkers and their ability to predict 90-day mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Secondary outcomes included 28-day and 1-year mortality, and development of acute-on-chronic liver failure, acute kidney injury and other complications. To overcome differences in units, temporal changes in assays and reporting heterogeneity, we used the ratio of means (RoM) as measure of association for assessing strength in predicting outcomes. An RoM>1 implies that the mean biomarker level is higher in those that develop the outcome than in those that do not. RESULTS: Of 6629 unique references, 103 were included, reporting on 29 different biomarkers, with a total of 31 362 biomarker patients. Most studies were prospective cohorts of hospitalised patients (median Child-Pugh-Turcotte score of 9 and MELD score of 18). The pooled 90-day mortality rate was 0.27 (95% CI 0.24 to 0.29). The RoM for predicting 90-day mortality was highest for interleukin 6 (IL-6) (2.56, 95% CI 2.39 to 2.74), followed by urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) (2.42, 95% CI 2.20 to 2.66) and copeptin (2.33, 95% CI 2.17 to 2.50). These RoMs were all higher than for MELD (1.44, 95% CI 1.42 to 1.46). CONCLUSION: Novel biomarkers, including IL-6, uNGAL and copeptin, can probably improve prognostication of patients with decompensated cirrhosis compared with MELD alone.

The novel SALT-M score predicts 1-year post-transplant mortality in patients with severe acute-on-chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Twenty-eight-day mortality ranges from 30-90% in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure grades 2/3 (severe ACLF). Though liver transplantation (LT) has demonstrated a survival benefit, the scarcity of donor organs and uncertainty regarding post-LT mortality among patients with severe ACLF may cause hesitancy. We developed and externally validated a model to predict 1-year post-LT mortality in severe ACLF, called the Sundaram ACLF-LT-Mortality (SALT-M) score, and estimated the median length of stay (LoS) after LT (ACLF-LT-LoS). METHODS: In 15 LT centers in the US, we retrospectively identified a cohort of patients with severe ACLF transplanted between 2014-2019, followed up to Jan'2022. Candidate predictors included demographics, clinical and laboratory values, and organ failures. We selected predictors in the final model using clinical criteria and externally validated them in two French cohorts. We provided measures of overall performance, discrimination, and calibration. We used multivariable median regression to estimate LoS after adjusting for clinically relevant factors. RESULTS: We included 735 patients, of whom 521 (70.8%) had severe ACLF (120 ACLF-3, external cohort). The median age was 55 years, and 104 with severe ACLF (19.9%) died within 1-year post-LT. Our final model included age >50 years, use of 1/≥2 inotropes, presence of respiratory failure, diabetes mellitus, and BMI (continuous). The c-statistic was 0.72 (derivation) and 0.80 (validation), indicating adequate discrimination and calibration based on the observed/expected probability plots. Age, respiratory failure, BMI, and presence of infection independently predicted median LoS. CONCLUSIONS: The SALT-M score predicts mortality within 1-year after LT in patients with ACLF. The ACLF-LT-LoS score predicted median post-LT stay. Future studies using these scores could assist in determining transplant benefits. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Liver transplantation (LT) may be the only life-saving procedure available to patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), but clinically instability can augment the perceived risk of post-transplant mortality at 1 year. We developed a parsimonious score with clinically and readily available parameters to objectively assess 1-year post-LT survival and predict median length of stay after LT. We developed and externally validated a clinical model called the Sundaram ACLF-LT-Mortality score in 521 US patients with ACLF with 2 or ≥3 organ failure(s) and 120 French patients with ACLF grade 3. The c-statistic was 0.72 in the development cohort and 0.80 in the validation cohort. We also provided an estimation of the median length of stay after LT in these patients. Our models can be used in discussions on the risks/benefits of LT in patients listed with severe ACLF. Nevertheless, the score is far from perfect and other factors, such as patient's preference and center-specific factors, need to be considered when using these tools.

The Performance of AFP, AFP-3, DCP as Biomarkers for Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): A Phase 3 Biomarker Study in the United States.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: α-fetoprotein (AFP), AFP Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in combination or in GALAD (Gender, Age, AFP-L3, AFP, and DCP) were tested for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in retrospective cohort and case-control studies. However, there is a paucity of prospective data and no phase III biomarker studies from North American populations. METHODS: We conducted a prospective specimen collection, retrospective blinded evaluation (PRoBE) cohort study in patients with cirrhosis enrolled in a 6-monthly surveillance with liver imaging and AFP. Blood samples were prospectively collected every 6 months and analyzed in a retrospective blinded fashion. True positive rate (TPR) and false positive rate (FPR) for any or early HCC were calculated within 6, 12, and 24 months of HCC diagnosis based on published thresholds for biomarkers individually, in combination and in GALAD and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Early Detection Screening (HES) scores. We calculated the area under the receiver operating curve and estimated TPR based on an optimal threshold at a fixed FPR of 10%. RESULTS: The analysis was conducted in a cohort of 534 patients; 50 developed HCC (68% early) and 484 controls with negative imaging. GALAD had the highest TPR (63.6%, 73.8%, and 71.4% for all HCC, and 53.8%, 63.3%, and 61.8 % for early HCC within 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively) but an FPR of 21.5% to 22.9%. However, there were no differences in the area under the receiver operating curve among GALAD, HES, AFP-L3, or DCP. At a fixed 10% FPR, TPR for GALAD dropped (42.4%, 45.2%, and 46.9%) and was not different from HES (36.4%, 40.5%, and 40.8%) or AFP-L3 alone (39.4%, 45.2%, and 44.9%). CONCLUSIONS: In a prospective cohort phase III biomarker study, GALAD was associated with a considerable improvement in sensitivity for HCC detection but an increase in false-positive results. GALAD performance was modest and not different from AFP-L3 alone or HES.

AGA Clinical Practice Guideline on Pharmacological Interventions for Adults With Obesity.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pharmacological management of obesity improves outcomes and decreases the risk of obesity-related complications. This American Gastroenterological Association guideline is intended to support practitioners in decisions about pharmacological interventions for overweight and obesity. METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel of content experts and guideline methodologists used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework to prioritize clinical questions, identify patient-centered outcomes, and conduct an evidence synthesis of the following agents: semaglutide 2.4 mg, liraglutide 3.0 mg, phentermine-topiramate extended-release (ER), naltrexone-bupropion ER, orlistat, phentermine, diethylpropion, and Gelesis100 oral superabsorbent hydrogel. The guideline panel used the evidence-to-decision framework to develop recommendations for the pharmacological management of obesity and provided implementation considerations for clinical practice. RESULTS: The guideline panel made 9 recommendations. The panel strongly recommended the use of pharmacotherapy in addition to lifestyle intervention in adults with overweight and obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, or ≥27 kg/m2 with weight-related complications) who have an inadequate response to lifestyle interventions. The panel suggested the use of semaglutide 2.4 mg, liraglutide 3.0 mg, phentermine-topiramate ER, and naltrexone-bupropion ER (based on moderate certainty evidence), and phentermine and diethylpropion (based on low certainty evidence), for long-term management of overweight and obesity. The guideline panel suggested against the use of orlistat. The panel identified the use of Gelesis100 oral superabsorbent hydrogel as a knowledge gap. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with overweight and obesity who have an inadequate response to lifestyle interventions alone, long-term pharmacological therapy is recommended, with multiple effective and safe treatment options.

Cost of Care for Patients With Cirrhosis.

INTRODUCTION: There are limited longitudinal data on the cost of treating patients with cirrhosis, which hampers value-based improvement initiatives. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis seen in the Veterans Affairs health care system from 2011 to 2015. Patients were followed up through 2019. We identified a sex-matched and age-matched control cohort without cirrhosis. We estimated incremental annual health care costs attributable to cirrhosis for 4 years overall and in subgroups based on severity (compensated, decompensated), cirrhosis complications (ascites, encephalopathy, varices, hepatocellular cancer, acute kidney injury), and comorbidity (Deyo index). RESULTS: We compared 39,361 patients with cirrhosis with 138,964 controls. The incremental adjusted costs for caring of patients with cirrhosis were $35,029 (95% confidence interval $32,473-$37,585) during the first year and ranged from $14,216 to $17,629 in the subsequent 3 years. Cirrhosis complications accounted for most of these costs. Costs of managing patients with hepatic encephalopathy (year 1 cost, $50,080) or ascites ($50,364) were higher than the costs of managing patients with varices ($20,488) or hepatocellular cancer ($37,639) in the first year. Patients with acute kidney injury or those who had multimorbidity were the most costly at $64,413 and $66,653 in the first year, respectively. DISCUSSION: Patients with cirrhosis had substantially higher health care costs than matched controls and multimorbid patients had even higher costs. Cirrhosis complications accounted for most of the excess cost, so preventing complications has the largest potential for cost saving and could serve as targets for improvement.

Definition, diagnosis and epidemiology of acute-on-chronic liver failure.

This narrative review addresses the definition of acute-on-chronic liver failure, a condition associated with high short-term mortality in patients with chronic liver disease and/or cirrhosis. We provide two major points of view: the East and the West perspective. Both definitions vary regarding the underlying patient population and organ failure(s) definition. Nevertheless, all the definitions have their clinical utility: from the core concept of having the "liver" as a conditio sine qua non, the syndrome cannot exist (Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver); a data-driven, robust definition (European Association for the Study of the Liver); a bedside tool that can quickly identify patients at high risk of dying (North American Consortium for the Study of End-stage Liver Disease [NACSELD]). In each section, we provide the overall definitions, the criteria of organ failure(s), and some epidemiological data illustrating how these apply in each area of the world.

Unusual Initial Presentation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma as a Clavicular Head Mass.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer worldwide. Extrahepatic spread is not unusual during HCC disease, but bone metastases at initial presentation are rare. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a case of HCC presenting with a clavicular head mass and spinal metastases with normal α-fetoprotein (AFP) level and hepatitis C virus infection without cirrhosis. After undergoing bone and liver biopsies, the patient started a 12-week course of sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and bevacizumab/atezolizumab for lifelong therapy with palliative intent. Since 2021, the patient has been receiving a combination of bevacizumab and atezolizumab every 21 days. On this regimen as of March 2023, his osseous metastases were stable and his liver lesions had not enlarged. CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates a very unusual HCC presentation, the importance of a thorough workup of bone metastasis, and the limited value of AFP for HCC screening, even in disseminated disease.

Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Various HFE Genotypes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is associated with increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, HCC risk factors within this population and across various HFE genotypes remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with ≥ 1 HFE genotype test in the Veterans Health Administration. We followed patients until HCC, death, or 6/30/19. We calculated incidence rates (IRs) and used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate HCC risk. In patients with type-1 HH genotypes (C282Y/C282Y or C282Y/H63D), we examined risk factors for HCC. RESULTS: We identified 5225 patients: 260 were C282Y/C282Y; 227 were C282Y/H63D; 436 were H63D heterozygous; 535 had other HFE mutations; 3767 without mutation. IR for C282Y/C282Y homozygotes (5.59/1000 PYs) and C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes (4.12/1000 PYs) were significantly higher than controls (0.92/1000 PYs) with adjusted hazard ratio (adj HR), 95% CI 8.80, 4.17-18.54; and 5.25, 2.24-12.32, respectively. HCC risk was higher in H63D heterozygote than controls (adj HR = 2.82, 95% CI 1.21-6.58); cases were related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Among patients with HH, age ≥ 65 (adj HR = 2.2, 95% CI 0.47-10.27), diabetes (adj HR 3.74, 95% CI 1.25-11.20) and high baseline aspartate-aminotransferase to platelet ratio-index (APRI, adj HR = 3.91, 95% CI 1.29-11.89) had higher risk. Among patients with high baseline ferritin, persistent ferritin > 250 ng/mL had higher risk. CONCLUSION: HCC risk was high in C282Y homozygous and C282Y/H63D patients. These HFE genotypes, older age, diabetes, high APRI/ferritin levels were associated with increased risk. While H63D heterozygous genotype was associated with HCC risk, this association might be due to metabolic factors.