scholarly journals Pulmonary complications in patients with liver cirrhosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-158
Author(s):  
Fabian Benz ◽  
Raphael Mohr ◽  
Frank Tacke ◽  
Christoph Roderburg

AbstractPatients with advanced chronic liver diseases, particularly with decompensated liver cirrhosis, can develop specific pulmonary complications independently of any pre-existing lung disease. Especially when dyspnea occurs in combination with liver cirrhosis, patients should be evaluated for hepato-pulmonary syndrome (HPS), porto-pulmonary hypertension (PPHT), hepatic hydrothorax and spontaneous bacterial empyema, which represent the clinically most relevant pulmonary complications of liver cirrhosis. Importantly, the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis and the corresponding therapeutic options differ between these entities, highlighting the role of specific diagnostics in patients with liver cirrhosis who present with dyspnea. Liver transplantation may offer a curative therapy, including selected cases of HPS and PPHT. In this review article, we summarize the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostic algorithms and treatment options of the 4 specific pulmonary complications in patients with liver cirrhosis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1492
Author(s):  
Raphael Mohr ◽  
Burcin Özdirik ◽  
Joeri Lambrecht ◽  
Münevver Demir ◽  
Johannes Eschrich ◽  
...  

In almost all cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops as the endpoint of a sequence that starts with chronic liver injury, progresses to liver cirrhosis, and finally, over years and decades, results in liver cancer. Recently, the role of non-coding RNA such as microRNA (miRNA) has been demonstrated in the context of chronic liver diseases and HCC. Moreover, data from a phase II trial suggested a potential role of microRNAs as therapeutics in hepatitis-C-virus infection, representing a significant risk factor for development of liver cirrhosis and HCC. Despite progress in the clinical management of chronic liver diseases, pharmacological treatment options for patients with liver cirrhosis and/or advanced HCC are still limited. With their potential to regulate whole networks of genes, miRNA might be used as novel therapeutics in these patients but could also serve as biomarkers for improved patient stratification. In this review, we discuss available data on the role of miRNA in the transition from liver cirrhosis to HCC. We highlight opportunities for clinical translation and discuss open issues applicable to future developments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 199
Author(s):  
Na Young Lee ◽  
Ki Tae Suk

Liver cirrhosis is one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases worldwide. In addition to viral hepatitis, diseases such as steatohepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis and Wilson’s disease can also lead to cirrhosis. Moreover, alcohol can cause cirrhosis on its own and exacerbate chronic liver disease of other causes. The treatment of cirrhosis can be divided into addressing the cause of cirrhosis and reversing liver fibrosis. To this date, there is still no clear consensus on the treatment of cirrhosis. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in potential treatments that modulate the gut microbiota and gut-liver axis for the treatment of cirrhosis. According to recent studies, modulation of the gut microbiome by probiotics ameliorates the progression of liver disease. The precise mechanism for relieving cirrhosis via gut microbial modulation has not been identified. This paper summarizes the role and effects of the gut microbiome in cirrhosis based on experimental and clinical studies on absorbable antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. Moreover, it provides evidence of a relationship between the gut microbiome and liver fibrosis.


Author(s):  
Victoria Therese Mücke ◽  
Daniel Fitting ◽  
Georg Dultz ◽  
Philipp de Leuw ◽  
Nina Weiler ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Hepatic hydrothorax (HH) is defined as transudate in the pleural cavity in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (DC) without concomitant cardiopulmonary or pleural disease. It is associated with high short-term mortality. HH can evolve via translocation through diaphragmatic gaps. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of injecting ultrasound contrast medium into the peritoneal cavity to detect HH. Materials and Methods This study included patients with concomitant ascites and pleural effusion who were admitted to our hospital between March 2009 and February 2019. A peritoneal catheter was inserted and ultrasound contrast medium was injected into the peritoneal cavity. In parallel, the peritoneal and pleural cavities were monitored for up to 10 minutes. Results Overall, 43 patients were included. The median age was 60 years and the majority of patients were male (n = 32, 74 %). Most patients presented with right-sided pleural effusion (n = 32, 74 %), 3 (7 %) patients with left-sided and 8 (19 %) patients had bilateral pleural effusion. In 12 (28 %) patients ascites puncture was not safe due to low volume ascites. Thus, the procedure could be performed in 31 (72 %) patients. No adverse events occurred. In 16 of 31 (52 %) patients we could visualize a trans-diaphragmic flow of microbubbles. The median time until transition was 120 seconds. Conclusion Our clinical real-world experience supports the safety and feasibility of intraperitoneal ultrasound contrast medium application to detect HH in patients with DC, as a non-radioactive real-time visualization of HH. Our study comprises the largest cohort and longest experience using this method to date.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 538-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Dearden

Abstract T- and B-cell subtypes of prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) are rare, aggressive lymphoid malignancies with characteristic morphologic, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, and molecular features. Recent studies have highlighted the role of specific oncogenes, such as TCL-1, MTCP-1, and ATM in the case of T-cell and TP53 mutations in the case of B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. Despite the advances in the understanding of the biology of these conditions, the prognosis for these patients remains poor with short survival and no curative therapy. The advent of monoclonal antibodies has improved treatment options. Currently, the best treatment for T-PLL is intravenous alemtuzumab, which has resulted in very high response rates of more than 90% when given as first-line treatment and a significant improvement in survival. Consolidation of remissions with autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation further prolongs survival, and the latter may offer potential cure. In B-PLL, rituximab-based combination chemo-immunotherapy is effective in fitter patients. TP53 abnormalities are common and, as for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, these patients should be managed using an alemtuzumab-based therapy. The role of allogeneic transplant with nonmyeloablative conditioning needs to be explored further in both T- and B-cell PLL to broaden the patient eligibility for what may be a curative treatment.


Author(s):  
Na Young Lee ◽  
Ki Tae Suk

Liver cirrhosis is one of the most prevalent chronic liver diseases worldwide. In addition to viral hepatitis, genetic conditions such as steatohepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and Wilson’s disease can also lead to cirrhosis. Moreover, alcohol can cause cirrhosis on its own and exacerbate chronic liver disease from other causes. The treatment of cirrhosis can be divided into addressing the cause of cirrhosis and reversing liver fibrosis. To this date, there is still no clear consensus on the treatment of cirrhosis. Recently, there has been a lot of interest in potential treatments that modulate the gut microbiota and gut-liver axis for the treatment of cirrhosis. According to recent studies, modulation of the gut microbiome by probiotics ameliorates the progression of liver disease. The precise mechanism for relieving cirrhosis via gut microbial modulation has not been identified. This paper summarizes the role and effects of the gut microbiome in cirrhosis based on experimental and clinical studies on absorbable antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. Moreover, it provides evidence of a relationship between the gut microbiome and liver cirrhosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Giragani ◽  
Santhosh Kumar Pavunesan ◽  
Anandh Balasubramaniam

Cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA) is a rare vascular abnormality and separate from “classical” brain arteriovenous malformations. Haemorrhage due to proliferative angiopathy is rarely reported. We describe the clinical features, imaging findings and targeted endovascular management for a 12-year-old boy having proliferative angiopathy of the posterior fossa presenting with haemorrhage. Targeted endovascular embolisation in CPA is not previously described in the literature. The optimal treatment options for haemorrhagic CPA are debatable, and we wish to highlight the role of targeted treatment for culprit focal lesion demonstrable on imaging.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. S89-S90
Author(s):  
Rajiv Baijal ◽  
K.H.R. Praveen ◽  
Deepak Gupta ◽  
Nimish Shah ◽  
Sandeep Kulkarni

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woo Jin Lee ◽  
Hong Joo Kim ◽  
Jung Ho Park ◽  
Dong Il Park ◽  
Yong Kyun Cho ◽  
...  

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