Clinical value of the conventional liver function test in liver reserve function assessment for large hepatocellular carcinoma / 国际外科学杂志

Objective To study the clinical value of the conventional liver function tests in liver reserve function assessment for large hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods The clinicopathological data of 113 patients with ChildPugh A hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent radical resection with large hepatocellular carcinoma in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Fuzhou General Hospital of People's Liberation Army from January 2014 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into two groups according to the recovery of postoperative liver function,which 105 patients recovered well and 8 patients had hepatic decompensation among them.The liver function index of two groups were analyzed.Measurement data with approximately normal distribution were represented by and groups were compared using t test;measurement data with skewed or uneven disstribution were represented by M (range)and group werecompared using Man-Whitney U test;count data were compared using Fisher exact test;risk factors for postoperative liver dysfunction were analyzed using Logistic single factor and multivariate and ROC curve were drawn.Results Preoperative prothrombin time,international standardization ratio,platelet,prealbumin,total bilirubin,alkaline phosphatase,γ-glutamyl transpeptidase comparison between the two groups were statistically significant (Z =-1.983,-2.180,-2.608,-2.007,-3.577,-2.228,-2.575,P ＜ 0.05).Logistic univariate analysis showed that platelet,total bilirubin and prealbumin were the risk factors for the recovery of liver function of radical resection hepatic decompensation with large hepatocellular carcinoma.Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that preoperative high total bilirubin and low preabumin were independent risk factors of radical resection hepatic decompensation with large hepatocellular carcinoma.Logistic univariate analysis showed that preoperative high total bilirubin and low prealbumin were not risk factors of radical resection liver failure with large hepatocellular carcinoma.The area under the curve of total bilirubin was 0.880,P =0.000,95％ CI:0.808-0.953,the sensitivity was 87.5％,specificity was 84.8％ and the area under prealbumin curve was 0.769,P =0.011,95％ CI:0.648-0.891,sensitivity was 75.2％,specificity was 77.5％ by the ROC curve.The best threshold of total bilirubin and prealbumin after radical resection with large hepatocellular carcinoma were 17.55 μmol/L and 0.18 g/L respectively by the ROC curve.Conclusion The Child-Pugh A patients in radical resection hepatic decompensation with large hepatocellular carcinoma recover well when the preoperative liver function is as follows:total bilirubin ＜ 17.55 μmol/L and prealbumin ≥0.18 g/L.

Preemptive antiviral therapy with entecavir can reduce acute deterioration of hepatic function following transarterial chemoembolization

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic damage during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a critical complication in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Apart from its role in preventing HBV reactivation, there is some evidence for the benefits of preemptive antiviral therapy in TACE. This study evaluated the effect of preemptive antiviral therapy on acute hepatic deterioration following TACE. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included a prospectively collected cohort of 108 patients with HBV-related HCC who underwent TACE between January 2007 and January 2013. Acute hepatic deterioration following TACE was evaluated. Treatment-related hepatic decompensation was defined as newly developed encephalopathy, ascites, variceal bleeding, elevation of the bilirubin level, prolongation of prothrombin time, or elevation of the Child-Pugh score by ≥2 within 2 weeks following TACE. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing treatment-related decompensation. Preemptive antiviral therapy involves directing prophylaxis only toward high-risk chronic hepatitis B patients in an attempt to prevent the progression of liver disease. We regarded at least 6 months as a significant duration of preemptive antiviral treatment before diagnosis of HCC. RESULTS: Of the 108 patients, 30 (27.8%) patients received preemptive antiviral therapy. Treatment-related decompensation was observed in 25 (23.1%) patients during the follow-up period. Treatment-related decompensation following TACE was observed more frequently in the nonpreemptive group than in the preemptive group (29.5% vs. 6.7%, P=0.008). In the multivariate analysis, higher serum total bilirubin (Hazard ratio [HR] =3.425, P=0.013), hypoalbuminemia (HR=3.990, P=0.015), and absence of antiviral therapy (HR=7.597, P=0.006) were significantly associated with treatment-related hepatic decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that preemptive antiviral therapy significantly reduces the risk of acute hepatic deterioration. Preventing hepatic deterioration during TACE by applying such a preemptive approach may facilitate the continuation of anticancer therapy and thus improve long-term outcomes.

Severe steatohepatitis with hepatic decompensation resulting from malnutrition after pancreaticoduodenectomy

The most common finding related to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is obesity, but a status of severe malnutrition can also induce the steatohepatitis. The authors report a rare case of steatohepatitis leading to hepatic decompensation caused by malnutrition after pancreaticoduodenectomy. A 68-year-old female patient who had been previously diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy 5 months previously presented with abdominal distension. Routine CT performed 3 months after the surgery revealed severe fatty liver without evidence of tumor recurrence. After undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy her food intake had reduced, and as a result she had lost 7 kg of body weight over 2 months. At this admission, CT revealed moderate amounts of ascites without tumor recurrence. Furthermore, her albumin and lipid profile levels were markedly decreased, and she had a flapping tremor and slurred speech suggestive of hepatic encephalopathy. Her liver biopsy findings were consistent with steatohepatitis and disclosed macrovesicular steatosis without definite fibrosis. After careful nutritional control, her symptoms disappeared and her laboratory findings improved.

Value of the conventional liver function tests in the assessment of hepatic reserve / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To study the risk factors of post-hepatectomy hepatic decompensation (PHD) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodWe reviewed 562 patients with Child-Pugh A classification,who underwent partial hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma at Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University between July 1st 2007 to December 31st 2007,to study the risk factors of hepatic decompensation.ResultsPreoperative high total bilirubin (TB) and low prealbumin (PA) were independent risk factors of PHD by logistic multivariate analysis ROC analysis revealed the cut-offs of preoperative PA predicting PHD were 0.14 g/L (sensitivity 41.4％; specificity 83.1％).The incidence of PHD was 16.0％ when TB≥20.4 μmol/L and PA＜0.14 g/L(OR=7.276,P=0.002).ConclusionThe Child-Pugh A patients recovered well when the preoperative liver function was as follows:TB＜20.4 μmol/L and PA≥0.14 g/L.