Analysis of the hemostatic therapy in liver transplantation guided by rotational thromboelastometry or conventional laboratory tests.

BACKGROUND: Coagulopathy is quite common in chronic liver disease patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Diagnosis of intraoperative bleeding disorders is based on conventional laboratory tests (CLTs), and thus, the patients are frequently exposed to unnecessary transfusions of blood products. The present study aimed to analyze the intraoperative administration of blood products in patients undergoing OLT, using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) or CLTs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort comprising 153 patients undergoing OLT, of whom 82 were evaluated with ROTEM and 71 by CLTs. Both groups were analyzed intraoperatively: the transfusion of blood products. RESULTS: The incidence of patients transfused with cryoprecipitate (CRYO) and/or fibrinogen concentrate (54.9 vs. 19.7%; P < 0.001) and prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) (32.9 vs. 9.9%; P = 0.008) increased significantly in the ROTEM group than in CLT group, respectively. The amount of transfused patient with CRYO (7.6 vs. 1.2; P < 0.001), fibrinogen concentrate (0.8 vs. 0.2; P = 0.004) and PCC (1.4 vs. 0.2; P = 0.002) increased significantly in the ROTEM group than in the CLT group, respectively. In the analysis of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), the incidence of transfused patients was significantly higher in the CLT group than in the ROTEM group (46.5 vs. 30.5%; P = 0.047, respectively), with a moderate correlation with red blood cells transfusion (r = 0.67, P < 0.001). The incidence of patients receiving antifibrinolytics was significantly higher in the CLT group than in the ROTEM group (85.9 vs. 47.6%; P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Transfusion protocol-based thromboelastometry was able to guide administration of hemostatic factors and reduced administration of FFP and antifibrinolytics.

The Evaluation of Angiogenesis Markers in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Precursor Lesions in Liver Explants From a Single Institution.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global health problem associated with chronic liver disease. Precursor lesions are described, and the correct diagnosis of liver nodules is paramount when considering liver transplantation. We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 in HCC and precursors lesion in a single institution series of whole liver explants between 2013 and 2015, evaluating morphologic and clinical variables. The study comprised 67 patients (32.8% female) and 107 nodules. The mean age of the patients was 52.7 years (29 to 70 y). There were no significant epidemiologic differences among malignant lesions, dysplastic nodules, and regenerative nodules. Angiopoietin-2 expression was significantly more expressed in carcinoma when compared with regenerative lesions (P<0.0001). A statistically significant relationship was noted between the expression of VEGF in hepatocytes and Ang-2 expression in the small vasculature (P=0.006). VEGF expression also correlated significantly with the number of nonpaired arteries (P=0.03), although it was not useful in separating benign from malignant cases. We identified a sensitivity of 54% and a specificity of 96% using angiopoietin-2, and a sensitivity of 68.7% and a specificity of 31.2% when using VEGF for the diagnosis of HCC. There was no significant correlation between the immunohistochemical parameters and the clinical staging, the number of gross lesions, and the histologic grade in cases of HCC. Angiopoietin-2 may be a candidate biomarker in assessing liver nodules in transplant patients, and may assist in the diagnosis of difficult lesions and in small biopsies pretransplant.

Esquistossomose hepática como achado ocasional de fígado de doador para transplante / Hepatic schistosomiasis as an occasional finding in a transplanted liver

Introdução: A prevalência de cirrose criptogênica varia de 5% a 30% dos pacientes cirróticos nas séries históricas. O transplante hepático representa a única opção em reverter a insuficiência hepatica e suas complicações em pacientes cirróticos em estágio avançado. A esquistossomose mansônica no Brasil é um problema endêmico de saúde pública, particularmente na região nordeste do país. Apresenta-se relato de caso de paciente do sexo masculino admitido ao Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Ceará , Brasil, com cirrose criptogênica classificada como Child Turcotte-Pugh C, com MELD 25, submetido a transplante hepático com fígado de doador portador de esquistossomose como achado ocasional da biópsia padrão. Foi revisada a história clínica e exame físico na admissão, resultados de exames laboratoriais e dados do seguimento clínico. Como conclusão, as infecções parasitárias em órgãos sólidos transplantados tem aumentado nos últimos anos. É muito importante realizar o controle da qualidade dos órgãos e tecidos utilizados em transplantes, assim como desenvolver técnicas de diagnóstico, tratamento e profilaxia, especialmente em transplante hepático, em vista da alta prevalência de infecções parasitárias em nosso país, com intuito de prevenir outras co-morbidades e aumentar a sobrevida dos pacientes transplantados. Em regiões endêmicas, os potenciais doadores de receptores que têm esquistossomose ativa devem ser preventivamente tratados.

Introduction: The prevalence of cryptogenic cirrhosis ranges from 5% to 30% of cirrhotic patients in past series (CADWELL et al, 1999). Liver transplantation represents the only option to revert the hepatic insufficiency and its complications in cirrhotic patients in advanced stage. In Brazil, Mansonic Schistosomiasisis a public health problem and endemic disease, particularly in the Northeast of the country. Methods: Case report of a male patient, admitted to Hospital Geral de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, with cryptogenic hepatic cirrhosis, classified as Child-Turcotte-Pugh C, with a MELD of 25, submitted to a liver transplantation, and found to have schistosomal hepatic disease on biopsy report. We reviewed the patient's medical history and physical examination on admission, prescription, results of laboratory tests and follow up data. Survey of the literature in national and international scientific journals helped incollecting information on this disease. Conclusions: Parasitic infections in solid organ transplant has increased in the recent years. It is very important to keep a strict control of the quality of the organs and tissues used in transplantations, as well as an improvement in diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis techniques, especially in liver transplantation, in view of a high prevalence of parasitic infections in our country, in order to prevent the developmentof other comorbidities, and to increase the survival of transplanted patients. In endemic countries, potential donors or recipients who have active schistosomal infection should be preventively treated.