Autologous Stem Cells Transplantation in Egyptian Patients with Liver Cirrhosis on Top of Hepatitis C Virus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Use of pluripotent stem cells is an ideal solution for liver insufficiencies. This work aims is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of autologous stem cells transplantation (SCT) in Egyptian patients of liver cirrhosis on top of hepatitis C virus (HCV). SUBJECTS AND RESULTS: 20 patients with HCV induced liver cirrhosis were divided into 2 groups. Group I: included 10 patients with liver cirrhosis Child score > or =9, for whom autologous stem cell transplantation was done using granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for stem cells mobilization. Separation and collection of the peripheral blood stem cells was done by leukapheresis. G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (G-CSF PB-MNCs) were counted by flow cytometry. Stem cell injection into the hepatic artery was done. Group II: included 10 patients with HCV induced liver cirrhosis as a control group. Follow up and comparison between both groups were done over a follow up period of 6 months. The procedure was well tolerated. Mobilization was successful and the total number of G-CSF PB-MNCs in the harvests ranged from 25x106 to 191x106. There was improvement in the quality of life, serum albumin, total bilirubin, liver enzymes and the Child-Pugh score of group I over the first two-three months after the procedure. CONCLUSION: SCT in HCV induced liver cirrhosis is a safe procedure. It can improve the quality of life and hepatic functions transiently with no effect on the life expectancy or the fate of the liver cirrhosis.

Percutaneous ablation [radiofrequency and ethanol injection] versus hepatic resection in treatment of HCC in Egypt

Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is common in Egypt due to the high prevalence of HCV infection and the intermediate prevalence of HBV infection. There is no unequivocal evidence to establish the first line treatment in patients with HCC and compensated cirrhosis and thus studies comparing the different options are needed. Is to compare the effectiveness of percutaneous ablation [PEI, RFA] versus hepatic resection in treatment of HCC patients. This study included 45 HCC patients subjected to medical history, clinical assessment and complete investigations. They were distributed randomly between 3 lines of therapy; Group [1]: 14 patients who underwent RFA, Group [2]: 15 patients who underwent PEI and Group [3]: 16 patients who underwent surgery. Follow up was done for 12 months. The mean age of the patients was 53.19 +/- 4.08 years, 34 [75.6%] were males and 11 [24.4%] were females. All patients came from slum or rural areas in Egypt with low socioeconomic status and 85.1% were smokers. Thirty six [80%] were HCV Ab positive, 5 [11.11%] HBs Ag positive and 4 [8.89%] negative for both markers. Rectal biopsy for Bilharzial ova was positive in 20 [44.44%] patients; 57.6% had cirrhosis, 29.2% had chronic hepatitis and 13.2% had normal liver parenchyma. The tumor was a solitary nodule in 41 [091.11%] patients, two or three nodules in 2 [4.45%] patients. A tumor with a diameter <3cms was found in 28 [62.2%] patients and between 3 and 5cm in 17 [37.8%] patients. The tumor was located in the right lobe in 33 [73.3%] patients and in the left lobe in 12 [26.7%] patients. Child's class A was found in 41 [90.9%] patients and 4 [9.1%] were Child's class B. The response rate between the three modalities of therapy [resection, RF or PEI] showed no statistical significance. There were minimal changes of liver function tests with no statistically significant difference between pre and post percutaneous ablation therapy [PEI, RFA]. The deterioration of liver function [increase in liver transaminases and decrease of serum albumin] and complications were statistically significantly higher in the surgically managed group compared to PEI and RFA groups. PEI showed lower complications than RFA or surgery. Both percutaneous ablation and surgical resection did not significantly differ in terms of efficacy, however, percutaneous ablation therapy showed no mortality and low rate of complications. The choice between either forms of percutaneous ablation should be individualized to every case according to the cost, tumor site and the availability of the therapeutic modality. Surgical resection should not he chosen as a therapy for HCC unless functional hepatic reserve allows it. More studies on large number of cases and follow up for at least five years are needed

Assessment of a guideline for management of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] in Egyptian patients

HCC is the commonest liver malignancy all over the world including in Egypt. Many classification system for management of HCC have been proposed but none of them is implemented worldwide. In this work we propose a guideline for management of HCC which is suitable for the Egyptian patient. The suggested guideline of management includes assessment of four areas: The general clinical status of the patient, the liver status, the tumor status and options of therapy which are suitable for Egyptian circumstances. In one center, this design was prospectively applied on 79 patients who presented with HCC. The HCC patients showed that: Two [2.86%] had non-cirrhotic liver parenchyma, while all the rest had cirrhosis: 7 [10.0%] early stage or Child's A [one early and 6 late Child's A], 28 [40.0%] intermediate stage [Child's B] and 33 [47.14%] terminal end stage [Child's C]. Therapy was applied according to the suggested guideline as follows: surgical resection for four patients [5.71%], radio frequency ablation [RFA] for 6 [8.57%], percutaneous ethanol injection [PEI] for 39 [55.71%], selective arterial chemoembolization for 2 [2.86%], chemotherapy for 6 [5.57%] and symptomatic therapy for 13 [18.75%] patients. After two years of follow up: Fourty four [62.9%] were still living, 20 [28.6%] died while 6 [8.6%] were missed to follow up. Recurrence of HCC was found in 21 [30.0%] cases. The liver status progressed from Child's A to B in four cases out of 7 [57.1%] and from Child's B to C in 24 cases out of 28 [85.71%] within one year. The prognosis of the disease depended on many factors on top of which was the liver functional reserve. Most Egyptian patients with HCC present in a late stage of cirrhosis thus with a bad prognosis as predicted from their clinical status, the liver condition and the tumor status. The progress of the underlying liver disease is more rapid when HCC appears. PEI is a good option of therapy. The predictive factors of good prognosis and improvement in this study were HBV infection and the Child's class. Although the mortality rate was still high [28.5%], but the cost of therapy was reduced due to application of the suggested guideline system. This guideline is simple, easy to apply, covers most HCC presentations, is flexible and may be changed [updated] according to progress in technology, resources of therapeutics, skills of the operators and the patient's presentation. Thus other Egyptian centers can apply this guideline in management of HCC, reevaluating and updating it