Assessment of Liver Function in Clinical Practice

2010 ◽  
pp. 47-76
Author(s):  
Hamed Khalili ◽  
Barham Abu Dayyeh ◽  
Lawrence S. Friedman
Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 3542-3542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Scaramellini ◽  
Carola Arighi ◽  
Alessia Marcon ◽  
Dario Consonni ◽  
Elena Cassinerio ◽  
...  

Introduction The current therapeutic management of transfusion dependent thalassemia (TDT) is based on regular blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy. Transfusion iron overload remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients because of the accumulation in heart, liver and endocrine glands. Three iron chelators are available in clinical practice: deferoxamine (DFO), deferiprone(DFP) and deferasirox (DFX). Guidelines clearly recommend when to start iron chelation, while discontinuation criteria are not well defined. Authorised product information state that we should consider interrupting DFX if serum ferritin (SF) falls consistently below 500mcg/L. This cut off was arbitrarily determined and there are no studies evaluating the effects of chelators in presence of SF below 500 mcg/L. In our clinical practice at Rare Diseases center of Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico in Milan we do not completely interrupt iron chelation in TDT patients for SF levels below 500 mcg/L. Aims and methods Aim of our study was to evaluate the appearance of adverse events due to the assumption of iron chelation therapy in those TDT patients who had SF below 500 mcg/L. In this study we retrospectively evaluated renal and liver function from 2008 throughout December 2018 in TDT patients on DFX who presented SF below 500 mcg/L for 24 consecutive months. DFX dose are all expressed with the new tablets formulation dose. We evaluated SF, iron intake, LIC and MIC, renal and hepatic function. .A total of 5076 observations were collected, with 99.5 average per patient. We evaluated the relationships among variables with correlation models with random intercept Results One hundred ninety-two TDT patients are regularly followed at our center. They receive regular transfusion treatment and iron chelation therapy to prevent secondary iron overload. 51 out of 192 patients (32 F, 19 M, aged 44 ± 7 years) treated with DFX presented mean SF below 500 mcg/L for at least 24 consecutive months. Hematological and iron status parameters are described in Table 1. We found a strong correlation between SF and LIC (p<0.001) and for SF<500 mcg/L no hepatic iron overload was observed. Conversely we did not found a correlation between SF and MIC. For SF values below 500 mcg/L there was a minimal increase in creatinine levels, however the mean creatinine values remained within the normal range.Moreover, creatinine variation between two consecutive evaluation was below 0.3 mg/dl, cut off for acute kidney injury. Similar results were observed for liver function. Although a minimal increase of mean ALT value was observed for SF below 500 mcg/L, it remained within the normal range. None of our patient showed ALT level indicative of liver damage (ALT> 10 x upper limit of normal) We evaluated the relation between SF and DFX dose. Mean DFX dose decreases according to SF reduction. However, for SF value < 240 mcg/L, DFX dose remained stable at an average of 14 mg/kg per day. Conclusion According to our preliminary data, administration of DFX in TDT patients in presence of SF below 500 mcg/L is safe. Creatinine and ALT fluctuations, that usually remain within the range of normality, are mild, and transient and do not require specific treatment. Consistently with previously published data by Cohen et al, we show that a mean dosage of DFX of 14 mg/Kg die of film-coated tablet (20 mg/Kg of dispersable formulation) are necessary to balance an iron intake of 0.3 mg/kg die in absence of iron overload. Based on these results we suggest that in TDT patients with a continuous iron intake, iron chelation should be continued even when ferritin is below 500mcg/L. Monitoring of liver and kidney function tests are recommended in patient's follow up, as well as tailoring iron chelation. Disclosures Cappellini: Vifor Pharmaceutical: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CRISPR Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Honoraria; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Motta:Sanofi-Genzyme: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Bruera ◽  
Katia Cannita ◽  
Aldo Victor Giordano ◽  
Rosa Manetta ◽  
Roberto Vicentini ◽  
...  

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients require different treatment strategies according to disease extension, liver function, and patient’s fitness. We evaluated HCC multidisciplinary management in clinical practice.Methods. Consecutive patients were followed and treated with tailored medical, locoregional, and surgical treatments, according to disease stage and patient’s fitness (age, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS)). Activity, efficacy, and safety were evaluated.Results. Thirty-eight patients were evaluated: median age, 74; elderly 92%; CIRS secondary 28 (74%); Child-Pugh A 20 (53%), B 11 (29%); and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) 0 2 (5%), A 9 (24%), B 10 (26%), C 13 (34%), and D 4 (11%). Overall survival (OS) was 30 months. At 9 months median follow-up, among 25 unresectable HCC, OS was 10 months; BCLC B–D unfit for sorafenib showed OS 3 months. Ten patients (40%) received sorafenib: Child-Pugh A 5 (50%) and B 5 (50%) and disease control rate 89%, progression-free survival 7 months, and OS 9 months. G3-4 toxicities: anorexia, hypertransaminaemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and hypercreatininemia. Limiting toxicity syndromes were 40%, all multiple sites.Conclusion. HCC patients require multidisciplinary clinical management to properly select tailored treatments according to disease stage, fitness, and liver function. Patients suitable for sorafenib should be carefully selected, monitored for individual safety, and prevalently characterized by limiting toxicity syndromes multiple sites.


2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (27) ◽  
pp. 2549
Author(s):  
Shun-Da Du ◽  
Lu Che ◽  
Yi-Lei Mao

1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 228-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Rosenthal

Abstract In clinical practice, “liver function” is assessed by either measuring the concentration of substances produced by the hepatocyte, measuring the serum content of substances that are changed by hepatocyte damage, evaluating the serum concentrations of substances released from the cells as a result of injury, assessing the ability of the liver to perform a metabolic task such as conjugation or detoxification, or by measuring enzyme activity and substrate content of the cell and its organelles. After birth, with cessation of placental function, the neonatal liver must assume many different tasks. Distinct developmental sequences rapidly progress for numerous hepatic functions as the newborn adapts to its environment. This manuscript is an attempt to provide guidelines for the evaluation and management of the newborn infant when assessing liver function and hyperbilirubinemia. These guidelines, like all sets of guidelines, are only recommendations and do not substitute for good clinical judgment based upon the individual circumstances of each patient.


1976 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 372
Author(s):  
Manfred W. Raiser

Author(s):  
S.S. Poolsawat ◽  
C.A. Huerta ◽  
S.TY. Lae ◽  
G.A. Miranda

Introduction. Experimental induction of altered histology by chemical toxins is of particular importance if its outcome resembles histopathological phenomena. Hepatotoxic drugs and chemicals are agents that can be converted by the liver into various metabolites which consequently evoke toxic responses. Very often, these drugs are intentionally administered to resolve an illness unrelated to liver function. Because of hepatic detoxification, the resulting metabolites are suggested to be integrated into the macromolecular processes of liver function and cause an array of cellular and tissue alterations, such as increased cytoplasmic lysis, centrilobular and localized necroses, chronic inflammation and “foam cell” proliferation of the hepatic sinusoids (1-4).Most experimentally drug-induced toxicity studies have concentrated primarily on the hepatic response, frequently overlooking other physiological phenomena which are directly related to liver function. Categorically, many studies have been short-term effect investigations which seldom have followed up the complications to other tissues and organs when the liver has failed to function normally.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 2295-2305
Author(s):  
Jiawei Zhang ◽  
Dandan Li ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Peng Gao ◽  
Rongxue Peng ◽  
...  

The role of miR-21 in the pathogenesis of various liver diseases, together with the possibility of detecting microRNA in the circulation, makes miR-21 a potential biomarker for noninvasive detection. In this review, we summarize the potential utility of extracellular miR-21 in the clinical management of hepatic disease patients and compared it with the current clinical practice. MiR-21 shows screening and prognostic value for liver cancer. In liver cirrhosis, miR-21 may serve as a biomarker for the differentiating diagnosis and prognosis. MiR-21 is also a potential biomarker for the severity of hepatitis. We elucidate the disease condition under which miR-21 testing can reach the expected performance. Though miR-21 is a key regulator of liver diseases, microRNAs coordinate with each other in the complex regulatory network. As a result, the performance of miR-21 is better when combined with other microRNAs or classical biomarkers under certain clinical circumstances.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 877-894
Author(s):  
Nur Azyani Amri ◽  
Tian Kar Quar ◽  
Foong Yen Chong

Purpose This study examined the current pediatric amplification practice with an emphasis on hearing aid verification using probe microphone measurement (PMM), among audiologists in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Frequency of practice, access to PMM system, practiced protocols, barriers, and perception toward the benefits of PMM were identified through a survey. Method A questionnaire was distributed to and filled in by the audiologists who provided pediatric amplification service in Klang Valley, Malaysia. One hundred eight ( N = 108) audiologists, composed of 90.3% women and 9.7% men (age range: 23–48 years), participated in the survey. Results PMM was not a clinical routine practiced by a majority of the audiologists, despite its recognition as the best clinical practice that should be incorporated into protocols for fitting hearing aids in children. Variations in practice existed warranting further steps to improve the current practice for children with hearing impairment. The lack of access to PMM equipment was 1 major barrier for the audiologists to practice real-ear verification. Practitioners' characteristics such as time constraints, low confidence, and knowledge levels were also identified as barriers that impede the uptake of the evidence-based practice. Conclusions The implementation of PMM in clinical practice remains a challenge to the audiology profession. A knowledge-transfer approach that takes into consideration the barriers and involves effective collaboration or engagement between the knowledge providers and potential stakeholders is required to promote the clinical application of evidence-based best practice.


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