Chronic liver disease is an important risk factor for worse outcomes in acute pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chronic liver diseases (CLD) affect 1.5 billion patients worldwide, with dramatically increasing incidence in recent decades. It has been hypothesized that the chronic hyperinflammation associated with CLD may increase the risk of a more severe course of acute pancreatitis (AP). This study aims to investigate the underlying impact of CLD on the outcomes of AP. A systematic search was conducted in Embase, Medline, and Central databases until October 2022. Studies investigating patients with acute pancreatitis and CLD, were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 14,963 articles were screened, of which 36 were eligible to be included. CLD was a risk factor for increased mortality with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.53 (CI 1.30 to 4.93, p = 0.01). Furthermore, renal, cardiac, and respiratory failures were more common in the CLD group, with ORs of 1.92 (CI 1.3 to 2.83, p = 0.01), 2.11 (CI 0.93 to 4.77, p = 0.062) and 1.99 (CI 1.08 to 3.65, p = 0.033), respectively. Moreover, the likelihood of developing Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) was significantly higher, with an OR of 1.95 (CI 1.03 to 3.68, p = 0.042). CLD is an important risk factor for worse outcomes in AP pancreatitis, leading to higher mortality and increased rates of local and systemic complications.

Primary versus secondary psychosis in a patient with congenital liver disease.

In this article we report the case of a man with congenital liver disease who later developed psychotic illness and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. We illustrate how decompensation in liver function was associated with the exacerbation of psychotic symptoms. We discuss differential diagnostic challenges, and the possible overlapping neuropathology in these two conditions that may converge on glutamate/N-methyl-D-aspartate dysfunction. This patient's case underscores the need for further research to elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms linking congenital liver disease and psychosis.

Outcomes of bariatric surgery in the setting of compensated advanced chronic liver disease associated with clinically significant portal hypertension: a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study on feasibility and safety.

BACKGROUND: The obesity epidemic has led to an increase in the proportion of patients with chronic liver disease due to metabolic associated steatosic liver disease and in the prevalence of obesity in patients with cirrhosis. Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has been proven to determine weight loss, obesity-related medical problems remission, and liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis improvement. However, cirrhosis and portal hypertension are well-known risk factors for increased morbidity and mortality after surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of MBS in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cALCD) and clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an international, multicentric, retrospective study on 63 individuals affected by obesity with cALCD and CSPH who underwent MBS in tertiary referral centers with experts hepatobiliary surgeons between January 2010 and October 2022. The primary endpoint was postoperative mortality at 90 days. The secondary endpoints included postoperative weight loss at last follow-up and postoperative complication rate. In addition, the authors performed subgroup analyses of Child-Pugh (A vs. B) score, MELD (≤9 vs. >9) score, and type of surgery. RESULTS: One patient (1.6%) experienced gastric leakage and mortality. There were three (5%) reported cases of portal vein thrombosis, two (3%) postoperative acute renal failure, and one (1.6%) postoperative encephalopathy. Child-Pugh score A resulted to be a protective factor for intraoperative bleeding requiring transfusion at univariate analysis (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.97, P =0.046) but not at multivariate analysis. MELD>9 score and the type of surgery did not result to be a risk factor for any postoperative complication. CONCLUSION: MBS is safe in patients with cALCD and CSPH performed in tertiary bariatric referral centers with hepatobiliary expert surgeons. Larger, prospective studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these results.

Effect of Nonpharmacological Methods on Pruritus in Patients with Liver Disease and Liver Cirrhosis: Systematic Review.

Background: Pruritus is a symptom that greatly affects the quality of life in patients with liver disease and liver cirrhosis. Since most pharmacological methods for itching have limited efficacy, there is a need to assess the effectiveness of nonpharmacological methods. Purpose: This systematic review aims to examine the effects of nonpharmacological methods on itching in individuals with liver disease and liver cirrhosis. Methods: PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) criteria were used as the basis for creating the systematic review protocol and writing the article. Studies were searched in "Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL" databases, and studies from January 1, 2016, to January 1, 2024, were included in this systematic review. Studies were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria according to the PICOS method, and these studies included in the review were evaluated using the revised Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical evaluation lists according to their types. Results: Five randomized controlled trials with a total of 257 participants were included in this systematic review. While one of the studies was published in 2016, the others were published after 2016. The nonpharmacological interventions used in the studies consisted of baby oil, peppermint oil, clove oil, curcumin capsules, and ultraviolet light. In all five studies included in the review, it was found that nonpharmacological methods significantly reduced itching, with advantages such as being non-invasive, easy application, cheap, and very low toxicity and side effects. Conclusions: Based on the findings, nonpharmacological methods have a positive effect on itching in individuals with liver disease and liver cirrhosis. It is recommended to conduct more studies with higher methodological quality, using larger sample groups, different interventions, randomization, and blinding methods, to examine the effectiveness of nonpharmacological methods in patients with liver disease and liver cirrhosis.

Hyponatremia in the Context of Liver Disease.

Hyponatremia is common in patients with liver disease and is associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and a reduced quality of life. In liver transplantation, the inclusion of hyponatremia in organ allocation scores has reduced waitlist mortality. Portal hypertension and the resulting lowering of the effective arterial blood volume are important pathogenetic factors, but in most patients with liver disease, hyponatremia is multifactorial. Treatment requires a multifaceted approach that tries to reduce electrolyte-free water intake, restore urinary dilution, and increase nonelectrolyte solute excretion. Albumin therapy for hyponatremia is a peculiarity of advanced liver disease. Its use appears to be increasing, while the vaptans are currently only given in selected cases. Osmotic demyelination is a special concern in patients with liver disease. Serial checks of serum sodium concentrations and urine volume monitoring are mandatory.

Comparison of two formulations of intravenous lipid emulsions in pediatric intestinal failure.

PURPOSE: The effect of different types of lipid emulsion may guide therapy of patients with intestinal failure (IF) to limit morbidity such as intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD). METHODS: A retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with IF who received soybean oil lipid emulsion (SL) or mixed oil lipid emulsion (ML) was performed. Data over 1 year were collected. RESULTS: Forty-five patients received SL and 34 received ML. There were no differences in the incidence (82 versus 74%, P = 0.35) or resolution (86 versus 92%, P = 0.5) of IFALD between the cohorts. The median dose of ML was higher compared to SL (2 versus 1 g/kg/day, P < 0.001). If resolved, IFALD resolved rapidly in the ML cohort compared to the SL cohort (67 versus 37 days, P = 0.01). Weight gain was higher in the ML compared to the SL cohort at resolution of IFALD or 1 year from diagnosis of IF (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The administration of ML did not alter the incidence or resolution of IFALD compared to SL in pediatric IF. There was rapid resolution of IFALD and enhanced weight gain in the ML cohort compared to SL in pediatric IF.

Dysphagia risk evaluated by the Eating Assessment Tool-10 is associated with health-related quality of life in patients with chronic liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to reveal the prevalence and characteristics of individuals at risk of dysphagia in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 335 outpatients with CLD. Dysphagia risk, sarcopenia risk, malnutrition risk, and HRQOL were assessed using the Eating Assessment tool-10 (EAT-10), SARC-F, Royal Free Hospital-Nutrition Prioritizing Tool (RFH-NPT), and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ), respectively. Dysphagia risk and low HRQOL were based on EAT-10 ≥3 and CLDQ overall score <5, respectively. Factors associated with dysphagia risk and low HRQOL were assessed using the logistic regression model. RESULTS: Dysphagia risk and lower HRQOL were observed in 10% and 31% of the patients, respectively. Patients with dysphagia risk were older, had lower liver functional reserve, were at higher risk for sarcopenia and malnutrition, and showed lower CLDQ overall score (median, 4.41 vs. 5.69; P < 0.001) than those without. After adjustment, SARC-F (odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.50; P = 0.029) and RFH-NPT (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.04-2.81; P = 0.034) scores were independently associated with dysphagia risk. EAT-10 (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04-1.30; P = 0.008) and SARC-F (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.18-1.59; P < 0.001) scores were also independently associated with low HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Dysphagia risk was prevalent in approximately 10% of patients with CLD and was associated with a risk of sarcopenia and malnutrition. Furthermore, dysphagia risk was related to HRQOL in patients with CLD.

Ocular manifestations of liver disease: an important diagnostic aid.

PURPOSE: This review examined existing literature to determine various ocular manifestations of liver pathologies, with a focus on metabolic deficiencies as well as viral and immune liver conditions. METHODS: Recent data were compiled from PubMed from 2000 to 2020 using keywords that were relevant to the assessed pathologies. Ocular presentations of several liver pathologies were researched and then summarized in a comprehensive form. RESULTS: Several ocular manifestations of liver disease were related to vitamin A deficiency, as liver disease is associated with impaired vitamin A homeostasis. Alcoholic liver cirrhosis can result in vitamin A deficiency, presenting with Bitot spots, xerosis, and corneal necrosis. Congenital liver diseases such as mucopolysaccharidoses and peroxisomal disorders are also linked with ocular signs. Viral causes of liver disease have associations with conditions like retinal vasculitis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, retinopathies, Mooren's ulcer, and Sjogren's syndrome. Autoimmune hepatitis has been linked to peripheral ulcerative keratitis and uveitis. CONCLUSIONS: Building strong associations between ocular and liver pathology will allow for early detection of such conditions, leading to the early implementation of management strategies. While this review outlines several of the existing connections between hepatic and ophthalmic disease, further research is needed in the area in order to strengthen these associations.

Impact of COVID-19 on pre-existing liver disease.

Patients with chronic liver disease of any etiology who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 have been found to have a higher risk of mortality compared to those patients who do not have chronic liver disease. A literature review was conducted in the relationship between COVID 19 and preexistence of liver disease. The proportion of COVID-19 patients with abnormal liver function on admission ranged from 40 % to 75 % and the proportion with liver injury was close to 30%. Current studies show an important association between preexisting liver disease and COVID-19. The presence of cirrhosis is now an independent predictor of severity for COVID-19 and prolonged hospitalization in this group of patients. Patients with cirrhosis have a higher mortality rate, and this rate rises with increasing severity.

Pacientes con enfermedad hepática crónica de cualquier etiología que se infectan con SARS-CoV-2 tienen un mayor riesgo de mortalidad en comparación con aquellos pacientes que no tienen enfermedad hepática crónica. Se llevó a cabo una revisión de la literatura en relación a lo publicado de COVID 19 y enfermedad hepática pre-existente. La proporción de pacientes con COVID-19 con función hepática anormal al ingreso osciló entre el 40 % y el 75 % y la proporción con daño hepático fue cercana al 30 %. Los estudios actuales muestran una asociación importante entre la enfermedad hepática preexistente y la COVID-19. La presencia de cirrosis es ahora un predictor independiente de gravedad para COVID-19 y hospitalización prolongada en este grupo de pacientes. Los pacientes con cirrosis tienen una mayor tasa de mortalidad y esta tasa se incrementa con el aumento de la gravedad de la enfermedad hepática.

Chronic liver disease-associated severe thrombocytopenia in Spain: Results from a retrospective study using machine learning and natural language processing / Trombocitopenia grave asociada a enfermedad hepática crónica en España: Resultados de un estudio retrospectivo utilizando aprendizaje automático y procesamiento de lenguaje natural

Background Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) often develop thrombocytopenia (TCP) as a complication. Severe TCP (platelet count<50×109/L) can increase morbidity and complicate CLD management, increasing bleeding risk during invasive procedures. Objectives To describe the real-world scenario of CLD-associated severe TCP patients’ clinical characteristics. To evaluate the association between invasive procedures, prophylactic treatments, and bleeding events in this group of patients. To describe their need of medical resource use in Spain. Methods This is a retrospective, multicenter study including patients who had confirmed diagnosis of CLD and severe TCP in four hospitals within the Spanish National Healthcare Network from January 2014 to December 2018. We analyzed the free-text information from Electronic Health Records (EHRs) of patients using Natural Language Processing (NLP), machine learning techniques, and SNOMED-CT terminology. Demographics, comorbidities, analytical parameters and characteristics of CLD were extracted at baseline and need for invasive procedures, prophylactic treatments, bleeding events and medical resources used in the follow up period. Frequency tables were generated for categorical variables, whereas continuous variables were described in summary tables as mean (SD) and median (Q1–Q3). Results Out of 1,765,675 patients, 1787 had CLD and severe TCP; 65.2% were male with a mean age of 54.7 years old. Cirrhosis was detected in 46% (n=820) of patients and 9.1% (n=163) had hepatocellular carcinoma. Invasive procedures were needed in 85.6% of patients during the follow up period. Patients undergoing procedures compared to those patients without invasive procedures presented higher rates of bleeding events (33% vs 8%, p<0.0001) and higher number of bleedings. While prophylactic platelet transfusions were given to 25.6% of patients undergoing procedures, TPO receptor agonist use was only detected in 3.1% of them... (AU)

Antecedentes Los pacientes con enfermedad hepática crónica (EHC) a menudo desarrollan trombocitopenia (TCP) como agravante de su enfermedad. La TCP grave (definida por un recuento de plaquetas < 50 x 109/L) puede aumentar la morbilidad y complicar el manejo de la EPC, incrementando el riesgo de hemorragia durante los procedimientos invasivos. Objetivos Describir el escenario de mundo real de las características clínicas de los pacientes con TCP grave asociado a EHC. Evaluar la asociación entre procedimientos invasivos, tratamientos profilácticos y eventos hemorrágicos en este grupo de pacientes, así como describir el uso de recursos médicos en España. Métodos Se plantea un estudio multicéntrico retrospectivo que incluye pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de EHC y TCP grave en cuatro hospitales de la Red Nacional de Salud de España desde enero de 2014 hasta diciembre de 2018. Analizamos la información de texto libre de la Historia Clínica Electrónica (HCE) de pacientes que utilizan procesamiento de lenguaje natural (PLN), técnicas de aprendizaje automático y terminología de SNOMED-CT. Los datos demográficos, las comorbilidades, los parámetros analíticos y las características de la EHC se extrajeron al inicio del estudio, así como la necesidad de procedimientos invasivos, tratamientos profilácticos, eventos hemorrágicos y recursos médicos utilizados en el periodo de seguimiento. Se generaron tablas de frecuencia para las variables categóricas, mientras que las variables continuas se describieron en tablas resumen como media (SD) y mediana (Q1-Q3). Resultados De 1.765.675 pacientes identificados, 1.787 tenían EHC y TCP grave, siendo el 65,2% varones con una edad media de 54,7 años. Se detectó cirrosis en el 46% (n = 820) de los pacientes y el 9,1% (n = 163) de ellos presentaron un diagnóstico de carcinoma hepatocelular... (AU)

Effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and liver disease: A multinational cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The effects of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and liver disease remain poorly understood. Our multinational cohort study assessed the effectiveness and safety of DOACs in this high-risk population. METHODS: We assembled two population-based cohorts in United Kingdom and in Québec of NVAF patients with liver disease initiating DOACs or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) between 2011 and 2020. Using an as-treated exposure definition, we compared DOACs to VKAs and apixaban to rivaroxaban. After inverse probability of treatment weighting, Cox proportional hazards models estimated site-specific hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of ischemic stroke and major bleeding. Site-specific estimates were pooled using random-effects models. Analyses were repeated among NVAF patients with cirrhosis. RESULTS: There were 11,881 NVAF patients with liver disease (2683 with cirrhosis). Among those, 8815 initiated DOACs (4414 apixaban, 2497 rivaroxaban) and 3696 VKAs. The HRs (95 % CIs) for DOACs compared to VKAs were 1.01 (0.76-1.34) for ischemic stroke and 0.87 (0.77-0.99) for major bleeding. Results were consistent among patients with cirrhosis. The HRs (95 % CIs) for apixaban compared to rivaroxaban were 0.85 (0.60-1.20) for ischemic stroke and 0.80 (0.68-0.95) for major bleeding. This decreased bleeding risk was not observed among patients with cirrhosis (HR, 1.01; 95 % CI 0.72-1.43). CONCLUSIONS: Among NVAF patients with liver disease, DOACs were as effective and slightly safer than VKAs, and apixaban was as effective but safer than rivaroxaban. The safety benefit with apixaban was not present among patients with cirrhosis.

Shining a spotlight on sarcopenia and myosteatosis in liver disease and liver transplantation: Potentially modifiable risk factors with major clinical impact.

Muscle-wasting and disease-related malnutrition are highly prevalent in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) as well as in liver transplant (LT) candidates. Alterations of body composition (BC) such as sarcopenia, myosteatosis and sarcopenic obesity and associated clinical frailty were tied to inferior clinical outcomes including hospital admissions, length of stay, complications, mortality and healthcare costs in various patient cohorts and clinical scenarios. In contrast to other inherent detrimental individual characteristics often observed in these complex patients, such as comorbidities or genetic risk, alterations of the skeletal muscle and malnutrition are considered as potentially modifiable risk factors with a major clinical impact. Even so, there is only limited high-level evidence to show how these pathologies should be addressed in the clinical setting. This review discusses the current state-of-the-art on the role of BC assessment in clinical outcomes in the setting of CLD and LT focusing mainly on sarcopenia and myosteatosis. We focus on the disease-related pathophysiology of BC alterations. Based on these, we address potential therapeutic interventions including nutritional regimens, physical activity, hormone and targeted therapies. In addition to summarizing existing knowledge, this review highlights novel trends, and future perspectives and identifies persisting challenges in addressing BC pathologies in a holistic way, aiming to improve outcomes and quality of life of patients with CLD awaiting or undergoing LT.

HFE genotypes, haemochromatosis diagnosis and clinical outcomes at age 80 years: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.

OBJECTIVES: HFE haemochromatosis genetic variants have an uncertain clinical penetrance, especially to older ages and in undiagnosed groups. We estimated p.C282Y and p.H63D variant cumulative incidence of multiple clinical outcomes in a large community cohort. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: 22 assessment centres across England, Scotland, and Wales in the UK Biobank (2006-2010). PARTICIPANTS: 451 270 participants genetically similar to the 1000 Genomes European reference population, with a mean of 13.3-year follow-up through hospital inpatient, cancer registries and death certificate data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cox proportional HRs of incident clinical outcomes and mortality in those with HFE p.C282Y/p.H63D mutations compared with those with no variants, stratified by sex and adjusted for age, assessment centre and genetic stratification. Cumulative incidences were estimated from age 40 years to 80 years. RESULTS: 12.1% of p.C282Y+/+ males had baseline (mean age 57 years) haemochromatosis diagnoses, with a cumulative incidence of 56.4% at age 80 years. 33.1% died vs 25.4% without HFE variants (HR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.48, p=4.7×10-4); 27.9% vs 17.1% had joint replacements, 20.3% vs 8.3% had liver disease, and there were excess delirium, dementia, and Parkinson's disease but not depression. Associations, including excess mortality, were similar in the group undiagnosed with haemochromatosis. 3.4% of women with p.C282Y+/+ had baseline haemochromatosis diagnoses, with a cumulative incidence of 40.5% at age 80 years. There were excess incident liver disease (8.9% vs 6.8%; HR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.27 to 2.05, p=7.8×10-5), joint replacements and delirium, with similar results in the undiagnosed. p.C282Y/p.H63D and p.H63D+/+ men or women had no statistically significant excess fatigue or depression at baseline and no excess incident outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Male and female p.C282Y homozygotes experienced greater excess morbidity than previously documented, including those undiagnosed with haemochromatosis in the community. As haemochromatosis diagnosis rates were low at baseline despite treatment being considered effective, trials of screening to identify people with p.C282Y homozygosity early appear justified.

Severe Liver Dysfunction after Donor Lymphocyte Infusion for Relapsed Multiple Myeloma.

Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is performed to augment an anti-tumor immune response or ensure donor stem cells remain engrafted following allogeneic stem cell transplantation but may induce graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) involving skin, intestine, and liver. Although hepatic involvement of GVHD can manifest as mild to severe hepatitis, few reports have mentioned acute severe liver dysfunction with encephalopathy. We experienced a case of acute severe liver dysfunction with semicoma after DLI in a patient with relapsed multiple myeloma following allogeneic stem cell transplantation, in whom chronic viral hepatitis B had been suppressed by antiviral treatment. The patient recovered after high-dose glucocorticoid administration based on an assessment of hepatic GVHD. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of this catastrophic hepatic complication after DLI in hematologic disorders.

Elevated liver enzymes and fasting glucose levels correlate with neuropathy in patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder independently of the blood thiamine levels.

AIMS: Chronic alcohol consumption is well known to cause peripheral neuropathy, affecting both small and large nerve fibers. The aim of this study was to correlate biochemical and neurophysiological findings and investigate possible biomarkers and risk factors for pathogenetic mechanisms of neuropathy in patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD). METHODS: Ninety patients diagnosed with AUD were enrolled in this prospective study over a period of 3 years. Serum biochemical parameters, as well as thiamine blood levels, were determined upon admission. Every subject was assessed by clinical neurological examination, followed by Nerve Conduction Studies, Quantitative Sensory Testing, and Sympathetic Skin Response. Fifty age and gender-matched patients without a diagnosis of AUD were used as the control group. RESULTS: Peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed in 54 patients (60%). Among them, pure large fiber neuropathy was found in 18 patients, pure small fiber neuropathy in 12 patients, and both large and small fiber neuropathy was diagnosed in 24 patients. Elevated liver enzymes and fasting glucose levels upon admission were significantly correlated with neuropathy. Lower blood thiamine levels (than reference) were found in seven patients and were not correlated with neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that alcohol-related liver dysfunction and hyperglycemia may contribute as risk factors of peripheral neuropathy in patients diagnosed with AUD, while blood thiamine levels do not correlate with neuropathy. Moreover, we suggest that liver enzymes and the De Ritis ratio could be potentially used as biomarkers for the incidence and severity of alcohol-related neuropathy.

Circulating myeloid populations have prognostic utility in alcohol-related liver disease.

Introduction: Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) accounts for over one third of all deaths from liver conditions, and mortality from alcohol-related liver disease has increased nearly five-fold over the last 30 years. Severe alcohol-related hepatitis almost always occurs in patients with a background of chronic liver disease with extensive fibrosis or cirrhosis, can precipitate 'acute on chronic' liver failure and has a high short-term mortality. Patients with alcohol-related liver disease have impaired immune responses, and increased susceptibility to infections, thus prompt diagnosis of infection and careful patient management is required. The identification of early and non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in ARLD remains an unresolved challenge. Easily calculated predictors of infection and mortality are required for use in patients who often exhibit variable symptoms and disease severity and may not always present in a specialized gastroenterology unit. Methods: We have used a simple haematological analyser to rapidly measure circulating myeloid cell parameters across the ARLD spectrum. Results and Discussion: We demonstrate for the first time that immature granulocyte (IG) counts correlate with markers of disease severity, and our data suggests that elevated counts are associated with increased short-term mortality and risk of infection. Other myeloid populations such as eosinophils and basophils also show promise. Thus IG count has the potential to serve alongside established markers such as neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio as a simply calculated predictor of mortality and risk of infectious complications in patients with alcohol-related hepatitis. This would allow identification of patients who may require more intensive management.

Hepatic subcapsular hematoma: A rare complication post-ERCP; a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is commonly used in gastroenterology wards for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It doesn't however come free of complications. As a matter of fact, complications are reported in up to 10% of patients undergoing ERCP. PATIENT CONCERNS: In this article, we report the case of a patient who underwent ERCP and sphincterotomy for choledocholithiasis. Twenty-four hours after the procedure, the patient developed sudden sharp abdominal pain and dropped her hemoglobin levels. DIAGNOSIS: An emergent gastroscopy was done and it ruled out bleeding from the sphincterotomy. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed a large hepatic subcapsular hematoma. INTERVENTIONS: Blood was urgently transfused and the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit for monitoring. OUTCOMES: The patient's condition quickly deteriorated despite extensive resuscitative measures, and eventually passed away on day 4 post ERCP. LESSONS: Hepatic subcapsular hematoma is a very rare but fatal complication after ERCP and should be ruled out in patients who underwent the procedure and develop sudden abdominal pain with hemodynamic and laboratory instability.

Hepatic Encephalopathy: Clinical Manifestations.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) can occur as a complication of chronic liver disease as well as acute liver failure. HE is associated with significantly increased morbidity and worse patient outcomes. The clinical manifestation of HE ranges from early less-severe presentations that may only be accurately detected on dedicated psychomotor diagnostic testing to overt alterations in cognition and mental status to the most severe form of coma. Greater awareness of the clinical manifestations of HE across the spectrum of symptom severity is critical for early identification and timely initiation of appropriate therapy to improve patient outcomes.