Analysis of the Predictive Ability for Graft Loss and Mortality of Two Criteria for Early Allograft Dysfunction After Liver Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: The current imbalance between available donors and potential recipients for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has led to a liberalization of organ acceptance criteria, increasing the risk of post-transplant complications such as early allograft dysfunction (EAD). Consequently, we need accurate criteria to detect patients with early poor graft function to guide the strategies of management. We evaluated the usefulness of two frequently used criteria: the definition from Olthoff et al and the Model for Early Allograft Function (MEAF) scoring. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Unicentric cohort study of patients undergoing OLT between January 1, 2010, and November 20, 2016. We performed a univariate study to detect donor, recipient, and transplant factors favoring EAD, defined both by Olthoff criteria and a MEAF score higher than 7. Finally, we developed a comparative survival analysis for cases having or not EAD. RESULTS: In all, 201 transplants met inclusion criteria. According to the stated cutoff for MEAF score, the frequency of EAD was 9.3%, with a significant association to low recipient body mass index and prolonged total graft ischemia time, resulting in lower patient 3-month postoperative survival. According to Olthoff criteria, EAD incidence was 22.1% and was associated with younger donor and recipient ages and higher Model for End-stage Liver Disease and Child-Pugh recipient scores. Its development resulted in lower graft and recipient survival at 3 months after OLT. CONCLUSION: MEAF score and Olthoff criteria are useful tools for detection of EAD. The latter could select more appropriately patients at risk, but its calculation cannot be done until the seventh day after OLT, unlike MEAF score, available on third day.

Results of 15-Year Experience in Liver Transplant for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplant (LT) supposes a curative option for those patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) meeting the Milan criteria. Adjuvant therapies, such as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), can prevent tumor progression. Our aim was to analyze the outcomes of patients who have been transplanted at our center and to assess the effectiveness of TACE in patients on the waiting list for LT. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients who underwent LT for HCC at our hospital from 2002 to 2017 were included. Data on the number and size of nodules on image testing and explant, frequency of TACE and tumor response, mortality, and tumor recurrence were collected. TACE was indicated when waiting time was estimated to exceed 6 months in patients with well-preserved liver function (Child-Pugh score A-B7). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed after TACE. RESULTS: We found a single nodule in 64% of patients and multiple nodules in 36% of patients. Mean size of nodule on image testing was 38.29 mm, similar to the mean size at explant (32.65 mm). TACE was performed in 66 patients (74.2%). Ten patients did not meet the Milan criteria at explant, 6 of whom died, and 10 patients had tumor recurrence at mean of 22.6 months. Overall mortality was 44.9%, but only 10 patients died because of tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: TACE responses were achieved in one third of patients and there was an 11.2% recurrence rate for HCC. Mortality in our experience has been related to exceeding the Milan criteria at explant.

Therapy With Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents for Hepatitis C in Liver Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) after liver transplantation (LT) is associated with decreased graft and patient survival. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies have changed the landscape of HCV due to their excellent safety profile and cure rates. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of antiviral therapy in recurrent HCV after LT with DAA therapy. METHODS: Our retrospective analysis included 46 LT recipients with HCV recurrence. Patients received therapy with DAA therapy between November 2014 and May 2016. Stage of fibrosis was documented by transient elastography (FibroScan). RESULTS: Thirty-three of the patients were men (71.7%), with a mean age of 59.6 years. Most patients were infected with HCV genotype 1 (71.7%) (1a = 7, 1b = 26) or genotype 3 (19.6%). Cirrhosis was present in 10 (21.7%). The most frequent immunosuppression regimen was tacrolimus + mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (41.3%). Most patients received sofosbuvir + simeprevir (SOF+SMV) (n = 13, 28.3%) and sofosbuvir + daclatasvir (SOF+DCV) (n = 15, 32.6%). A virologic response at posttreatment week 12 was detected in 93.8% of the patients. Two patients failed treatment (1 had resistance-associated variants [RAVs] Y93H in NS5A). Three patients died due to chronic rejection, acute arterial thrombosis, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Adverse events were observed in 23 patients (50%). The most common events were asthenia in 17 (37%) and headache in 6 (13%) patients. One patient discontinued treatment due to serious adverse events attributable to the drug's interaction with tacrolimus. CONCLUSIONS: DAAs are safe and effective for use in treating HCV recurrence after LT, with results similar to those seen in the general population, including patients with cirrhosis.

[Thromboembolic complications in inflammatory bowel disease]. / Complicaciones tromboembólicas en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal.

Thromboembolic complications during the course of inflammatory bowel disease are infrequent but are mainly found in young patients and are associated with a high morbimortality. The etiopathogenesis of these complications has been widely debated and the existence of coagulation alterations and fibrinolysis have been suggested. Nonetheless, the mechanism must be complex since not only do not all the patients with these alterations present this complication but neither do all the patients with thromboembolism have recognized coagulation disorders. The most common clinical presentation is deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism with arterial thrombosis being rare. Five patients with Crohn's disease and two with ulcerative colitis who presented a total of new thromboembolic episodes, six arterial (1 in primitive iliac artery, 1 in common femoral artery, 1 in humeral-axillary artery, 2 in internal carotid and 1 in superior mesenteric artery) and three of venous localization (1 in brachyocephalic-subclavian trunk, 1 axillary and 1 iliac-femoral/pulmonary thromboembolism) are reported. An updated review of the etiopathogenesis, presentation, treatment and prophylaxis of the thromboembolic complications of inflammatory bowel disease is presented.

[Pseudotumorous hepatic tuberculosis: laparoscopic appearance]. / Tuberculosis hepática seudotumoral. Aspecto laparoscópico.

Local hepatic tuberculosis without active pulmonary or miliary tuberculosis is an uncommon diagnosis. Even less common is the finding of a nodular form of local hepatic tuberculosis. There is a growing incidence of the disease related to human immunodeficiency virus. The authors report a case of pseudotumoral hepatic tuberculosis in a patient without AIDS, manifesting as prolonged fever, diagnosed previously as metastatic liver. Imaging studies of the liver and laparoscopic findings suggested metastatic disease. The correct diagnosis was made by histology of biopsies obtained in laparoscopy, which is an easy and cheap method, with less morbidity and mortality than surgical intervention. The case report illustrates the difficulty in reaching the correct diagnosis, most often confused with carcinoma of the liver, primary or metastatic. A greater awareness of this rare clinical entity may prevent needless surgical intervention since the majority of patients respond well to antituberculous chemotherapy.

[Association of porphyria cutanea tarda and hepatitis C virus]. / Asociación entre porfiria cutánea tarda y virus de la hepatitis C.

UNLABELLED: Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is caused by reduced activity of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. However extrinsic factors such as alcohol abuse and drug intake are required for the clinical manifestation of the disease. Hepatitis C virus antibodies have been detected in a high percentage of patients with PCT. Hepatitis C virus is probably the main pathogenetic factor of liver damage in patients with PCT. AIM: To study the association between hepatitis C virus and PCT in our patients with PCT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have investigated six patients diagnosed of PCT in order to detect the presence of hepatitis C virus and other possible causes of the disease. RESULTS: We have found that 66% of our patients had hepatitis C virus antibodies, 50% ethanol abuse, of which 2/3 presented hepatitis C virus antibodies, and one case of HIV.

[Wegener's granulomatosis with gastrointestinal involvement]. / Granulomatosis de Wegener con afectación gastrointestinal.

Wegener's granulomatosis is a necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis often characterized by involvement of the upper respiratory tract, lungs and kidney, although any organic system can be affected. We present the case of a female patient with Wegener's granulomatosis diagnosed by biopsy of the kidney, and severe gastrointestinal bleeding with fatal course. Endoscopic findings of the colon and the histopathology of the biopsy are discussed.

[Retrospective study of Crohn disease at a hospital in Andalucía (1978-1988)]. / Estudio retrospectivo de la enfermedad de Crohn en un hospital de Andalucía (1978-1988).

We reviewed 46 cases of Crohn's disease diagnosed during the period between 1978-1988, with the intention to analyse the age, sex, presentation, evolution, complications and diagnosis. The majority of patients were women, with a mean age of 39. In the last years we have seen an increment in our number of cases. The mean time to diagnosis was about 3.5 years. The main symptoms were abdominal pain, diarrhoea and loss of weight. The complications was of 40% in colonic disease and 75% when the affection was in ileum and colon. During the evolution 4 patients died, 2 of them from their Crohn's disease. One patient had a colonic carcinoma. In 15% of the cases there was a previous appendectomy. The most frequent radiological findings were in the small intestine: lack of haustration and cobblestone appearance. In the colon: lack of haustration and ulceration. The most frequent endoscopical findings were ulcers and a cobblestone appearance.

[Immunosuppression therapy with cyclosporin in inflammatory bowel disease: preliminary experience]. / Tratamiento inmunosupresor con ciclosporina en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII): experiencia preliminar.

Three patients afflicted with inflammatory bowel disease (1 UC, 1 Crohn's disease, 1 non-filiated colitis), who did not respond to the aggressive treatment from Oxford (3) were treated with immunosuppression therapy with cyclosporin. The dosage was 5-7 mg/day, to obtain seric levels (RIA) between 100-125 ng/ml during 3 months. All patients showed complete remission which was maintained for 6 months after the halt in treatment in the cases of the UC and non-filiated colitis. Parameters of cholestasis appeared with a transient increase of transaminase levels in 1 patient. Another patient suffered a pericarditis sicca which may not necessarily be related to the treatment.