Applicability of the Chronic Liver Failure-Consortium score in patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections: a single-clinic experience

Background. The frequency and characteristics of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) are reported in numerous articles from different countries. The aim of the study was to assess the cirrhosis decompensation in patients with bacterial infections based on the Chronic Liver Failure-Consortium (CLIF-C) score in one of the city clinics in Belarus. Materials and methods. The patients underwent laboratory and instrumental studies during the hospitalization. The assessment of the syndrome of acute-on-chronic liver failure was performed using the CLIF-C score. Bacterial infections were diagnosed on the basis of standard criteria. Results. The study included 151 cirrhotic patients, 87 males and 64 females. Median age was 55 years (Q1 = 43; Q3 = 61). Cirrhosis was predominantly due to alcohol addiction — 83 patients (55 %). ACLF was diagnosed in 44 of 151 patients with cirrhosis (29.1 %; 95% confidence interval (CI) 22.0–37.1). Bacterial infections were detected in 67 people (44.4 %; 95% CI 36.3–52.7). Most often patients had liver failure that was detected by an increase in serum bilirubin level. Among individuals with upper gastrointestinal bleedings, number needed to harm for developing ACLF was 3.3 (95% CI 2.2–4.4). The risk of developing ACLF grade 2 and 3 in cirrhotic patients with infections was 8.2, with 95% CI 1.0–69.6 (number needed to harm was 12.9; 95% CI 10.7–15.0). Bacterial infections increase the risk of acute decompensation in patients with cirrhosis (odds ratio = 2.0, p = 0.048). Conclusions. The CLIF-C score is quite applicable in our cohort of patients with cirrhosis.

Features of acute decompensation of heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with anemia and latent iron deficiency

Objective: to assess the contribution of anemia and latent iron deficiency (LID) to the formation of acute decompensation of chronic heart failure (ADHF) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 in history.Materials and methods: a one‑time screening clinical non‑randomized study was conducted. 98 patients with ADHF were examined according to the criteria for inclusion and non‑inclusion, among which 47 (48%) patients suffered from type 2 DM. Among patients with impaired carbohydrate metabolism, 14 (29.8%) patients had an anemic syndrome verified.Results: the prevalence of anemia among hospitalized patients with ADHF against the background of type 2 DM was 29.8%, LID without anemia – 51.5%. Anemic syndrome in patients with ADHF and type 2 DM was represented by iron deficiency anemia in 85.7% and anemia of chronic conditions in 14.3% of cases. In 2/3 of the patients, anemia corresponded to moderate severity. The relative risk (RR) of the development of ADHF against the background of type 2 DM and anemia increases by 2.4 times, in the presence of LID – by 2.9 times. The presence of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction in history, atrial fibrillation with a heart rate of more than 110 beats per minute, renal dysfunction, high activity of nonspecific inflammation were risk factors for the formation of ADHF in patients with type 2 DM and anemia. The presence of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with anemia increased the RR of the development of ADHF by 1.8 times, the presence of chronic kidney disease – by 1.7 times, with an increase in the excretion of albumin/protein in the urine >30 mg/g – by 5.7 times, with tubular dysfunction – by 2.4 times, with an increase in aortic stiffness – by 3.5 times.Conclusion: the prevalence of anemia and LID among patients with ADHF and type 2 DM is high. These conditions were risk factors for the development of ADHF and its progression. ADHF in patients with type 2 DM against the background of anemia and LID was characterized by a more severe course, a more pronounced lesion of the target organs.

The role of hepatocellular death and systemic inflammation in the development of acute kidney injury in acute decompensation of alcoholic liver cirrhosis

The aim of the study was to assess the role of hepatocellular death and systemic inflammation in the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in acute decompensation of alcoholic liver cirrhosis (AD ALC).Materials and methods. 125 patients with ALC were examined: 20 (16.0%) (group I) with signs of hepatorenal syndromeacute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) at the age of 57.13 ± 9,08 years, 13 men (65.0%) and 105 (84.0%) patients (group II) without such a syndrome at the age of 56.30 ± 9.6 years., 62 men (59.0%). Along with liver tests, a markers of hepatocyte apoptosis and cytokines were determined by ELISA: fragments of cytokeratin-18 (FCK-18) ("Biotech" Sweden), cytokines — TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 (“Vector-Best”, Russia). Grade and index of acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) were determined using an on-line calculator (www.efclif.com/scientific-activity/score-calculators/clif-c-aclf).Results. The hepatocellular death indicators were significantly higher in patients of group I with HRS-AKI compared with patients of group II without HRS-AKI: FCK-18-1609.44 ± 542.79 U / l versus 975.77±607.59 U / l, bilirubin — 242.64 ± 98.14 pmol/l versus 145.09 ± 79.35 pmol/l, inflammation indicators — TNF-α — 9.28 ± 3,11 pg/ml versus 6.59 ± 2.21 pg/ml, IL-6-54.79 ± 17.7 pg/ml versus 36.71 ± 18.05 pg/ml, CRP — 49.68 ± 23.23 mg/l versus 22.07 ± 20.40 mg/l, leukocytes — 12.23 ± 3.28x109/l versus 8,66 ± 2,31x109/l (everywhere p <0.05). ACLF developed in all (100.0%) patients of group I, its grade was 2.73±0.76 and score — 56.33 ± 4.01; ACLF developed only in 37 (35,2%) patients of group II, its grade was1.05±0.24 (p<0,05) and score was 47.45 ± 4,80 (p <0.05).Conclusion. The development of HRS-AKI in patients with acute decompensation of ALC was associated with significantly higher rates of hepatocytic apoptosis, hyperbilirubinemia, systemic inflammation, frequency and severity of ACLF.

269 Management of cardiac implantable electronic device follow-up in COVID-19 pandemic: lessons learned during Italian lock down

Aims Remote monitoring (RM) has significantly transformed the standard of care for patients with cardiac electronic implantable devices. It provides easy access to valuable information, such as arrhythmic events, acute decompensation manifestations, and device-related issues, without the need of in-person visits. Methods and results Starting 1 March, 332 patients were introduced to an RM programme during the Italian lockdown to limit the risk of in-hospital exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the modality of RM delivery [home (n = 229) vs. office (n = 103) delivered]. The study aimed at assessing the efficacy of the new follow-up protocol, assessed as mean RM activation time (AT), and the need for technical support. In addition, patients’ acceptance and anxiety status were quantified via the Home Monitoring Acceptance and Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale. AT time was less than 48 h in 93% of patients and 7% of them required further technical support. Despite a higher number of trans-telephonic technical support in the home-delivered RM group, mean AT was similar between groups (1.33 ± 0.83 days in home-delivered vs. 1.28 ± 0.81 days in office-delivered patients; P = 0.60). A total of 28 (2.5%) urgent/emergent in-person examinations were required. A high degree of patient satisfaction was reached in both groups whereas anxiety status was higher in the office-delivered group. Conclusions The adoption of RM resulted in high patient satisfaction, regardless of the modality of modem delivery; nonetheless, in-office modem delivery was associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms.

Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Advanced Liver Disease: Emerging Concepts

Mitochondria are entrusted with the challenging task of providing energy through the generation of ATP, the universal cellular currency, thereby being highly flexible to different acute and chronic nutrient demands of the cell. The fact that mitochondrial diseases (genetic disorders caused by mutations in the nuclear or mitochondrial genome) manifest through a remarkable clinical variation of symptoms in affected individuals underlines the far-reaching implications of mitochondrial dysfunction. The study of mitochondrial function in genetic or non-genetic diseases therefore requires a multi-angled approach. Taking into account that the liver is among the organs richest in mitochondria, it stands to reason that in the process of unravelling the pathogenesis of liver-related diseases, researchers give special focus to characterizing mitochondrial function. However, mitochondrial dysfunction is not a uniformly defined term. It can refer to a decline in energy production, increase in reactive oxygen species and so forth. Therefore, any study on mitochondrial dysfunction first needs to define the dysfunction to be investigated. Here, we review the alterations of mitochondrial function in liver cirrhosis with emphasis on acutely decompensated liver cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), the latter being a form of acute decompensation characterized by a generalized state of systemic hyperinflammation/immunosuppression and high mortality rate. The studies that we discuss were either carried out in liver tissue itself of these patients, or in circulating leukocytes, whose mitochondrial alterations might reflect tissue and organ mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, we present different methodological approaches that can be of utility to address the diverse aspects of hepatocyte and leukocyte mitochondrial function in liver disease. They include assays to measure metabolic fluxes using the comparatively novel Biolog’s MitoPlates in a 96-well format as well as assessment of mitochondrial respiration by high-resolution respirometry using Oroboros’ O2k-technology and Agilent Seahorse XF technology.

Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy Does Not Affect Prognosis of Cirrhosis Patients With Acute Decompensation and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Single-Center Prospective Study

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy on complications and prognosis in cirrhosis patients with and without acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).Materials and Methods: Cirrhosis patients with acute decompensation (AD) (n = 489) admitted in our center were enrolled in this prospective observational cohort study. According to treatment received, patients were identified as users or nonusers of PPI. Clinical and laboratory data, complications during hospitalization, and overall survival were recorded in all the patients.Results: Of the 489 patients, 299 (61.1%) patients received PPI therapy. The logistic regression analysis showed that age, albumin, history of previous hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and the chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment (CLIF-SOFA) score were independent risk factors for HE in patients with decompensated cirrhosis [odds ratio (OR) = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.12, p = 0.001; OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.24, p = 0.006; OR = 242.52, 95% CI: 40.17–1464.11, p &lt; 0.001; and OR = 2.89, 95% CI: 2.11–3.96, p &lt; 0.001, respectively]. Previous severe liver injury and previous bacterial infections were independent risk factors for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients with decompensated cirrhosis (OR = 3.43, 95% CI: 1.16–10.17, p = 0.026 and OR = 6.47, 95% CI: 2.29–18.29, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that the type and dose of the PPI used were not related to 28-day and 90-day mortality in cirrhosis patients with AD or ACLF.Conclusion: PPI use does not appear to increase mortality or the risk of HE and SBP in the hospitalized cirrhosis patients with and without ACLF.

Histologic Changes in Core-Needle Liver Biopsies From Patients With Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure and Independent Histologic Predictors of 28-Day Mortality

Context.— The histologic features in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) are evolving and histologic indicators of patients' poor prognosis are not yet fully established. Objective.— To evaluate the independent histologic predictors of 28-day mortality in ACLF patients on core-needle liver biopsies. Design.— Core-needle biopsies from patients with a diagnosis of ACLF (n = 152) as per the European Association for the Study of the Liver criteria were included during 8 years. Liver biopsies from 98 patients with compensated chronic liver disease were included as disease controls for histologic comparison. Features of ongoing changes, such as hepatic necrosis, hepatic apoptosis, cholestasis, hepatocyte degeneration, bile ductular proliferation, Mallory Denk bodies, steatosis, and extent of liver fibrosis, were analyzed for predicting short-term mortality (28 days). A P value of &lt;.05 was considered significant. Results.— In our cohort of ACLF patients, the following etiologies for acute decompensation were identified: alcohol, 47 of 152 (30.9%); sepsis, 24 of 152 (15.7%); hepatotropic viruses, 20 of 152 (13.1%); drug-induced liver injury, 11 of 152 (7.2%); autoimmune flare, 9 of 152 (5.9%); mixed etiologies, 5 of 152 (3.2%); and cryptogenic, 36 of 152 (23.6%). On histologic examination, hepatic necrosis (P &lt; .001), dense lobular inflammation (P = .03), cholestasis (P &lt; .001), ductular reaction (P = .001), hepatocyte degeneration (P &lt; .001), and absence of advanced fibrosis stages (P &lt; .001) were identified significantly more in ACLF patients than in disease controls on univariate analysis. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, the absence of advanced Ishak histologic activity index fibrosis stages (P = .02) and the presence of dense lobular inflammation (P = .04) were associated with increased 28-day mortality in ACLF patients. After adjusting the clinical causes of acute decompensation, only dense lobular inflammation was found as an independent predictor of short-term mortality (P = .04) in ACLF patients. Conclusions.— Dense lobular necroinflammatory activity is a clinically independent histologic predictor of 28-day short-term mortality in patients with ACLF.