Arjmand R. Mufti

Liver Disease in Pregnancy

Changes in the liver biochemical profile are normal in pregnancy. However, up to 3% to 5% of all pregnancies are complicated by liver dysfunction. It is important that liver disease during pregnancy is recognized because early diagnosis may improve maternal and fetal outcomes, with resultant decreased morbidity and mortality. Liver diseases that occur in pregnancy can be divided into 3 different groups: liver diseases that are unique to pregnancy, liver diseases that are not unique to pregnancy but can be revealed or exacerbated by pregnancy, and liver diseases that are unrelated to but occur coincidentally during pregnancy.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Prevalence, Severity, and Outcomes in the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in the United States, affecting 75–100 million Americans. However, the disease burden may not be equally distributed among races or ethnicities. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to characterize racial and ethnic disparities in NAFLD prevalence, severity, and prognosis. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases through August 2016 for studies that reported NAFLD prevalence in population‐based or high‐risk cohorts, NAFLD severity including presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and significant fibrosis, and NAFLD prognosis including development of cirrhosis complications and mortality. Pooled relative risks, according to race and ethnicity, were calculated for each outcome using the DerSimonian and Laird method for a random‐effects model. RESULTS: We identified 34 studies comprising 368,569 unique patients that characterized disparities in NAFLD prevalence, severity, or prognosis. NAFLD prevalence was highest in Hispanics, intermediate in Whites, and lowest in Blacks, although differences between groups were smaller in high‐risk cohorts (range 47.6%–55.5%) than population‐based cohorts (range, 13.0%–22.9%). Among patients with NAFLD, risk of NASH was higher in Hispanics (relative risk, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.98–1.21) and lower in Blacks (relative risk, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60–0.87) than Whites. However, the proportion of patients with significant fibrosis did not significantly differ among racial or ethnic groups. Data were limited and discordant on racial or ethnic disparities in outcomes of patients with NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: In a systematic review and meta‐analysis, we found significant racial and ethnic disparities in NAFLD prevalence and severity in the United States, with the highest burden in Hispanics and lowest burden in Blacks. However, data are discordant on racial or ethnic differences in outcomes of patients with NAFLD.

Survey of Liver Transplantation Practices for Severe Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

Liver transplantation (LT) has a demonstrated survival benefit in select patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) who do not respond to steroids, but prior studies suggest low adoption among US LT centers. Our study explored current perceptions and practice patterns of LT for SAH in the United States. We administered a Web‐based survey to medical directors of US LT centers between May and October of 2017 to characterize practice patterns and perceptions of LT for SAH. We obtained responses from 45 (41.3%) of 109 surveyed centers, representing all 11 (100%) United Network for Organ Sharing regions. Half (n = 23; 51.1%) reported performing at least 1 LT for SAH, although most (n = 19; 82.6%) of those had performed ≤5 LTs for that indication. Centers expressed near consensus for selection criteria, requiring strong social support (100%), no prior presentations with SAH (91.3%), absence of a severe coexisting psychiatric disorder (91.3%), and official psychosocial evaluation (87.0%). Reported posttransplant survival of SAH patients was excellent, with 17 (73.9%) centers reporting 1‐year posttransplant survival exceeding 90%. Among centers that had not performed LT for SAH, the most commonly cited reason was perceived high risk of alcohol relapse. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that LT is increasingly adopted as a therapeutic intervention for patients with SAH and that careful selection allows for excellent 1‐year posttransplant survival. Despite this, nearly half of US centers do not perform LT for this indication due to perceived high risk of alcohol relapse. Our data support the use of LT for well‐selected patients with SAH.

A pregnant patient with a positive hepatitis B surface antigen

Hepatitis B is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. The highest rates of chronic infection occur in subjects who are infected early in life and these patients are also at the greatest risk of developing complications such as hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis from the disease. There has been a concerted worldwide effort to immunise newborns that are at the highest risk of acquiring infection. In 1992, when WHO recommended global vaccination against hepatitis B, only 31 countries elected to participate in the programme. By 2009, 177 countries were part of WHO national infant immunisation programme. Consequently, maternal screening and infant immunoprophylaxis have significantly reduced vertical transmission of hepatitis B. In this paper, we will review the management of hepatitis B in the pregnant population and identify some of the challenges that are encountered in this specialised population.

CON (“The window is closed”): In patients with cirrhosis with ascites, the clinical risks of nonselective beta‐blocker outweigh the benefits and should NOT be prescribed

Even though nonselective beta-blockers (NSBBs) have proven benefits in cirrhosis, some evidence suggests they may be harmful in a subset of patients with decompensated cirrhosis, in particular those with refractory ascites, baseline hypotension, or at high risk for infection. The decision to initiate a NSBB should be individualized; continuation of NSBB should be continually reassessed in decompensated patients with ascites. Consider decreasing or stopping the NSBB in patients with low mean arterial pressure (<80 mm Hg), hyponatremia, renal insufficiency, ongoing infection, or refractory ascites requiring frequent paracentesis.

Novel Application of Extracorporeal Photopheresis as Treatment of Graft-versus-Host Disease Following Liver Transplantation

A 48-year-old man with hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma underwent liver transplantation. His course was complicated by fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and pancytopenia. He developed a diffuse erythematous rash, which progressed to erythroderma. Biopsies of the colon and skin were consistent with acute graft-versus-host disease. Donor-derived lymphocytes were present in the peripheral blood. The patient was treated with corticosteroids and cyclosporine; however, he had minimal response to intensive immunosuppressive therapy. Extracorporeal photopheresis was initiated as a salvage therapy. He had a dramatic response, and his rash, diarrhea, and pancytopenia resolved. He is maintained on minimal immunosuppression 24 months later.