Yoshio Katamura

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation as first‐line treatment for small hepatocellular carcinoma: Results and prognostic factors on long‐term follow up

Background and Aims:  We evaluated the prognosis and associated factors in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; up to 3 nodules, each up to 3cm in diameter) treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as first‐line treatment.

Pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of daclatasvir plus asunaprevir in dialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C: pilot study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of daclatasvir (DCV) and asunaprevir (ASV) dual therapy in haemodialysis patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Eighteen haemodialysis patients and 54 patients with normal renal function were treated with DCV and ASV dual therapy for 24 weeks. We evaluated the pharmacokinetic profiles of DCV and ASV and examined the rate of sustained virological response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12) and incidence of adverse events during treatment of haemodialysis patients infected with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. To adjust for potential differences in baseline characteristics between haemodialysis patients and patients with normal renal function, we used propensity scores case–control matching methods. Area under the plasma concentration time curve from 0 to 6 h (AUC0–6 h) of DCV was slightly lower in haemodialysis patients than in patients with normal renal function (P > 0.6). AUC0–6 h of ASV was significantly lower in haemodialysis patients (P = 0.012). SVR12 rates were 100% (18/18) for haemodialysis and 96.2% (52/54) for patients with normal renal function. Changes in mean log10 HCV RNA levels and viral response were higher in haemodialysis patients compared to patients with normal renal function. No discontinuations due to adverse events occurred. In conclusion, DCV and ASV dual therapy for HCV infection is effective and safe with similar results in haemodialysis patients compared to patients with normal renal function.

Intra-arterial 5-fluorouracil/interferon combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis and extrahepatic metastases.

Background and Aims:  We investigated the efficacy of intra‐arterial 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) and systemic interferon (IFN)‐α (5‐FU‐IFN) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis in the first branch or trunk (Vp3/4) and extrahepatic metastases.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil and systemic interferon-α for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in combination with or without three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy to venous tumor thrombosis in hepatic vein or inferior vena cava

Aim:  We investigated the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) using 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) and systemic interferon (IFN)‐α (HAIC‐5‐FU/IFN) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with venous tumor thrombosis (VTT) in the hepatic vein trunk (Vv2) or inferior vena cava (Vv3).

Zoledronic acid delays disease progression of bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim:  We conducted a retrospective cohort study to investigate the efficacy of combination therapy with radiotherapy (RT) and zoledronic acid for bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Additionally, we investigated the efficacy of zoledronic acid for non‐irradiated bone metastases.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Transcatheter Chemoembolization with Cisplatin and Lipiodol Suspension for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE To assess the predictors of hypersensitivity reaction to chemoembolization procedures with cisplatin and Lipiodol suspension for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Between February 2005 and December 2008, 434 patients with HCC were treated with chemoembolization with a cisplatin and Lipiodol suspension. This retrospective cohort study analyzed the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions as an adverse effect and their predictors by multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS In total, 847 chemoembolization procedures were carried out in 434 patients. The median number of procedures per patient was 2 (range, 1-12). Mean dose of cisplatin per chemoembolization session was 27 mg (range, 15.0-80.0 mg), and the median total dose of cisplatin per patient was 55 mg (range, 5.0-560.0 mg). Hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 14 patients (1.7%). The median number of chemoembolization procedures in these patients was 7 (range, 3-10). Mean dose of cisplatin per session was 22 mg (range, 9.2-35.7 mg), and the median total dose of cisplatin was 134 mg (range, 37-286 mg). On multivariate analysis, the only parameter that showed an independent association with hypersensitivity reactions was the performance of 3 or more than three chemoembolization procedures. CONCLUSIONS Performance of more than three chemoembolization procedures with a cisplatin and Lipiodol suspension was found to be independently associated with hypersensitivity reactions. Patients undergoing repeated chemoembolization procedures with cisplatin and Lipiodol suspension may experience hypersensitivity reactions as an adverse effect.

Etiology and outcome of acute liver failure: Retrospective analysis of 50 patients treated at a single center

Background and Aim:  Acute liver failure (ALF) remains a devastating disease carrying considerable mortality. Since deceased donor liver transplantation is rarely performed in Japan, the artificial liver support system (ALS) and living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are the main modalities used for treatment of ALF. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of ALF patients and to evaluate therapies for ALF according to etiology.

Prolongation of interferon therapy for recurrent hepatitis C after living donor liver transplantation: analysis of predictive factors of sustained virological response, including amino acid sequence of the core and NS5A regions of hepatitis C virus.

Abstract Objective. The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and predictive factors of prolongation of treatment with peginterferon (PEGIFN) combined with ribavirin (RBV) for recurrent hepatitis C after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods. Fifty-three patients underwent LDLT due to HCV-related end-stage liver disease. Sixteen patients were removed from the study as a result of early death (n = 14), no recurrence of HCV (n = 1) and refusal of antiviral therapy (n = 1). Therapy is ongoing in another 10 patients. The remaining 27 patients were available to establish the efficacy of IFN therapy. HCV genotype was 1b in 24 patients. All patients with genotype 1b were treated with IFN therapy for at least 48 weeks after HCV RNA levels had become undetectable. Amino acid substitutions in the HCV core region and NS5A region were analyzed by direct sequencing before LDLT. Results. The rate of sustained virological response (SVR) was 37.0% (10/27). SVR rate in patients with genotype 1 was 29.2% (7/24) and 100% (3/3) in patients with genotype 2. Most patients with genotype 1b whose HCV RNA reached undetectable levels achieved SVR (87.5%; 7/8). However, mutation of the HCV core region and number of ISDR mutations were not associated with SVR rate in LDLT in our study. Conclusions. Prolonged IFN therapy for more than 48 weeks after HCV RNA reached undetectable levels might prevent virological relapse of HCV.

Transcatheter chemoembolization for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and comparison of five staging systems

Aim:  We compared the ability of five staging system to predict survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with chemoembolization.

Evaluation of portosystemic collaterals by MDCT-MPR imaging for management of hemorrhagic esophageal varices

OBJECTIVE To study the correlation between changes in portosystemic collaterals, evaluated by multidetector-row computed tomography imaging using multiplanar reconstruction (MDCT-MPR), and prognosis in patients with hemorrhagic esophageal varices (EV) after endoscopic treatment. METHODS Forty-nine patients with primary hemostasis for variceal bleeding received radical endoscopic treatment: endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) or endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL). Patients were classified according to the rate of reduction in feeding vessel diameter on MDCT-MPR images, into the narrowing (n=24) and no-change (n=25) groups. We evaluated changes in portosystemic collaterals by MDCT-MPR before and after treatment, and determined rebleeding and survival rates. RESULTS The left gastric and paraesophageal (PEV) veins were recognized as portosystemic collaterals in 100 and 80%, respectively, of patients with EV on MDCT-MPR images. The rebleeding rates at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years after endoscopic treatment were 10, 15, 23, and 23%, respectively, for the narrowing group, and 17, 24, 35, and 67%, respectively, for the no-change group (P=0.068). Among no-change group, the rebleeding rate in patients with large PEV was significantly lower than that with small PEV (P=0.027). The rebleeding rate in patients with small PEV of the no-change group was significantly higher than that in the narrowing group (P=0.018). There was no significant difference in rebleeding rates between the no-change group with a large PEV and narrowing group (P=0.435). CONCLUSION Changes in portosystemic collaterals evaluated by MDCT-MPR imaging correlate with rebleeding rate. Evaluation of portosystemic collaterals in this manner would provide useful information for the management of hemorrhagic EV.