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Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has high morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), but statins have been historically underutilised in these patients due to concern for hepatotoxicity. Aims To characterise trends in statin use among individuals with NAFLD and to determine predictors of statin utilisation in this population. Methods Individuals with NAFLD were identified from 2005 to 2018 continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Trends in statin use over time were assessed, and predictors of statin under-utilisation for primary prevention were identified. The roles of a known diagnosis of liver disease and disease severity were examined. Results We included 14 113 individuals; 34.6% had NAFLD, of whom 5.4% reported a liver disease diagnosis. There was a significant increase in statin use for primary prevention between 2005 and 2018 (18.1%-25.0%; P = 0.03), but guideline-indicated use for this purpose was low (54.5% between 2005 and 2012; 48.6% between 2013 and 2018). A known NAFLD diagnosis was a negative predictor of statin use during the earlier time period but not more recently. Utilisation did not decrease with increasing liver disease severity. Conclusions In a nationally representative population with NAFLD, statin use for primary prevention has increased over time, but guideline-concordant use remains low. A known liver disease diagnosis was associated with lack of statin use in the earlier time period but not more recently, suggesting a changing perspective of underlying liver disease impacting statin utilisation. Further work to improve guideline-indicated statin use in this high-risk population is needed.

International audience; BACKGROUND: The first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a drastic reduction in kidney transplantation and a profound change in transplant care in France. It is critical for kidney transplant centers to understand the behaviors, concerns and wishes of transplant recipients and waiting list candidates. METHODS: French kidney patients were contacted to answer an online electronic survey at the end of the lockdown. RESULTS: At the end of the first wave of the pandemic in France (11 May 2020), 2112 kidney transplant recipients and 487 candidates answered the survey. More candidates than recipients left their home during the lockdown, mainly for health care (80.1% vs. 69.4%; P\textless0.001). More candidates than recipients reported being exposed to Covid-19 patients (2.7% vs. 1.2%; P=0.006). Many recipients and even more candidates felt inadequately informed by their transplant center during the pandemic (19.6% vs. 54%; P\textless0.001). Among candidates, 71.1% preferred to undergo transplant as soon as possible, 19.5% preferred to wait until Covid-19 had left their community, and 9.4% were not sure what to do. CONCLUSIONS: During the Covid-19 pandemic in France, the majority of candidates wished to receive a transplant as soon as possible without waiting until Covid-19 had left their community. Communication between kidney transplant centers and patients must be improved to better understand and serve patients' needs.

Historically in the United States, kidneys for simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) candidates were allocated with livers, prioritizing SLKT recipients over much of the kidney waiting list. A 2017 change in policy delineated renal function criteria for SLKT and implemented a safety net for kidney-after-liver transplantation. We compared the use and outcomes of SLKT and kidney-after-liver transplant with the 2017 policy. United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research files were used to identify adults who received liver transplantations (LT) from August 10, 2007 to August 10, 2012; from August 11, 2012 to August 10, 2017; and from August 11, 2017 to June 12, 2019. LT recipients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were defined by dialysis requirement or estimated glomerular filtration rate

Simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) is increasingly common in the United States. However, little is known about the renal-related outcomes following SLKT, which are essential to maximize the health of these allografts. We examined the factors impacting renal function following SLKT. This is an observational multicenter cohort study from the US Multicenter SLKT Consortium consisting of recipients of SLKT aged ≥18years of transplantations performed between February 2002 and June 2017 at 6 large US centers in 6 different United Network for Organ Sharing regions. The primary outcome was incident post-SLKT stage 4-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) defined as

Liver grafts from pediatric donors represent a small fraction of grafts transplanted into adult recipients, and their use in adults requires special consideration of donor size to prevent perioperative complications. In the past, graft weight or volume ratios have been adopted from the living donor liver transplant literature to guide clinicians; however, these metrics are not regularly available to surgeons accepting deceased donor organs. In this study, we evaluated all pediatric-to-adult liver transplants in the United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research database from 1987 to 2019, stratified by donor age and donor-recipient height mismatch ratio (HMR; defined as donor height/recipient height). On multivariable regression controlling for cold ischemia time, age, and transplantation era, the use of donors from ages 0 to 4 and 5 to 9 had increased risk of graft failure (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81 [P

Background Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are waitlisted at older ages than individuals with other liver diseases, but the effect of age on liver transplantation (LT) outcomes in this population and whether it differs from other etiologies is not known. We aimed to evaluate the impact of age on LT outcomes in NASH. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify adults with NASH, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) listed for LT during 2004-2017. Patients were split into age groups (18-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, ≥70), and their outcomes were compared. Results From 2004 to 2017, 14 197 adults with NASH were waitlisted, and the proportion ≥65 increased from 15.8% to 28.9%. NASH patients ages 65-69 had an increased risk of waitlist and posttransplant mortality compared to younger groups, whereas the outcomes in ages 60-64 and 55-59 were similar. The outcomes of individuals with NASH were similar to patients of the same age group with ALD or HCV. Functional status and dialysis were predictors of posttransplant mortality in individuals ≥65 with NASH, and cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death. Conclusions Older NASH patients (≥65) have an increased risk of waitlist and posttransplant mortality compared to younger individuals, although outcomes were similar to patients with ALD or HCV of corresponding age. These individuals should be carefully evaluated prior to LT, considering their functional status, renal function, and cardiovascular risk. Further studies are needed to optimize outcomes in this growing population of transplant candidates.

Telehealth may be a successful strategy to increase access to specialty care for liver disease, but whether the areas with low access to care and a high burden of liver-related mortality have the necessary technology access to support a video-based telehealth strategy to expand access to care is unknown.Access to liver disease specialty care was defined at the county level as160.9 km (100 miles) from a liver transplant (LT) center or presence of local gastroenterology (GI). Liver-related mortality rates were compared by access to care, and access to technology was compared by degree of access to care and burden of liver-related mortality. Counties with low access to liver disease specialty care had higher rates of mortality from liver disease, and this was highest in areas both160.9 km from an LT center and without local GI. These counties were more rural, had higher poverty, and had decreased access to devices and internet at broadband speeds. Technology access was lowest in areas with low access to care and the highest burden of liver-related mortality.Areas with poor access to liver disease specialty care have a greater burden of liver-related mortality, and many of their residents lack access to technology. Therefore, a telehealth strategy based solely on patient device ownership and internet access will exclude a large proportion of individuals in the areas of highest need. Further work should be done at the local and state levels to design optimal strategies to reach their populations of need.

The burden of early hospitalization (within 6 months) following simultaneous liver-kidney transplant (SLKT) is not known. We examined risk factors associated with early hospitalization after SLKT and their impact on patient mortality conditional on 6-month survival. We used data from the US Multicenter SLKT Consortium cohort study of all adult SLKT recipients between 2002 and 2017 who were discharged alive following SLKT. We used Poisson regression to model rates of early hospitalizations after SLKT. Cox regression was used to identify risk factors associated with mortality conditional on survival at 6 months after SLKT. Median age (N = 549) was 57.7 years (interquartile range [IQR], 50.6-63.9) with 63% males and 76% Whites; 33% had hepatitis C virus, 20% had non-alcohol-associated fatty liver disease, 23% alcohol-associated liver disease, and 24% other etiologies. Median body mass index (BMI) and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-sodium scores were 27.2 kg/m

We aimed to understand the contemporary changes in the characteristics and the determinants of outcomes among simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) recipients at 6 liver transplantation centers in the United States. We retrospectively enrolled SLKT recipients between 2002 and 2017 in the US Multicenter SLKT Consortium. We analyzed time-related trends in recipient characteristics and outcomes with linear regression and nonparametric methods. Clustered Cox regression determined the factors associated with 1-year and overall survival. We enrolled 572 patients. We found significant changes in the clinical characteristics of SLKT recipients: as compared with 2002, recipients in 2017 were older (59 versus 52years; P&nbsp

Ascites is associated with significantly increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Large population studies are necessary to determine the burden and impact of ascites; however, ascites ICD-10 codes perform poorly in the identification of patients.We utilized three independent retrospective cohorts at the University of Michigan (cohorts 1 and 2) and Duke University (cohort 3). Cohort 1: Child A5-6 patients followed up to 10 years (n = 150); cohort 2: Child A5-B7 patients with portal hypertension followed for up to 1 year (n = 65); cohort 3: cross-sectional cohort of patients evaluated for liver transplant (n = 100). We computed performance characteristics for ascites-related ICD-10 codes (K70.31, K70.11, K71.51, R18.8), as well as loop and/or potassium-sparing diuretics.A total of 315 patients were included across three cohorts. Algorithms including any ascites code provided better sensitivity and equivalent specificity to R18.8 alone for all cohorts. In cohort 2, we found that loop diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, and a combination of both with a cirrhosis code were highly sensitive (82.3% for each) and specific (89.1-93.5%). In contrast, ascites codes were insensitive. In patients with moderate-severe ascites, a combination of recorded diuretics showed high sensitivity and specificity (95.2% and 86.8%). In Cohort 3's transplant evaluation patients, we found that loop diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, and a combination of both with a cirrhosis code were highly sensitive (90.4%, 78.8% and 75.0%, respectively) and specific (85.0%, 90.0% and 95.0%, respectively). For moderate-severe cirrhosis, loop diuretics and R18.8 showed higher sensitivity (77.8%) and specificity (88.9%), respectively.Diuretic records with a cirrhosis code improve the identification of ascites. This method for identifying ascites should be used in future large dataset studies.

Telemedicine refers to the use of information and communication technologies for providing health care at a distance. Through the use of telecommunication technologies such as cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices, health care providers are able to conduct patient visits, mentor/train other providers, and monitor patients' chronic diseases remotely, potentially hundreds or thousands of miles away. Over the past 2 decades, the use of telemedicine has grown in the field of hepatology. In this review, we provide a focused primer on telemedicine and its current applications in hepatology. In particular, we discuss the use of telemedicine in the management of chronic hepatitis C, the complications of liver disease, as well as preliver transplantation evaluation and posttransplantation care. In addition, we provide a synopsis of the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the use of telemedicine in hepatology.

ObjectiveThe transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure is an important intervention for management of complications of portal hypertension. The objective of this study was to identify predictors of mortality from the TIPS procedure with a focus on race and ethnicity.DesignTIPS procedures from 2012 to 2014 in the National Inpatient Sample were identified. Weighting was applied to generate nationally representative results. In-hospital mortality was the primary outcome of interest. χ2 and Student’s t-tests were performed for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Predictors of mortality following TIPS were assessed by survey-weighted logistic regression.Results17 175 (95% CI 16 254 to 18 096) TIPS cases were identified. Approximately 71% were non-Hispanic (NH) white, 6% were NH black, 16% were Hispanic and 7% were other. NH black patients undergoing TIPS had an in-hospital mortality rate of 20.1%, nearly double the in-hospital mortality of any other racial or ethnic group. NH black patients also had significantly longer median postprocedure and total lengths of stay (p=0.03 and pConclusionThis cohort study presents important findings in end-stage liver disease care, with clear racial disparities in in-hospital outcomes following the TIPS procedure. Specifically, black patients had significantly higher in-hospital mortality and longer lengths of stay. Further research is needed to understand how we can better care for black patients with liver disease.

This is a descriptive study reviewing the outcomes of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORs) in intestinal (IT) and multivisceral transplantation (MVT). This study included 22 patients, 20 adults, and two children, and an overall mean age of 46 years old at the time of transplantation. Twelve patients (54.5%) received IT, and the remainder (45.5%) MVT. The mean time between transplantation and mTORs initiation was 24 months. The indication was worsening renal function in 13 patients (59%), with 9/13 (69.2%) noted to have an increase in glomerular filtration rate of at least 10 ml/min/1.73m2 . The indication for four patients (18.2%) was a history of neuroendocrine tumor. After mTOR initiation, 50% of patients were reduced or weaned off tacrolimus and 13.7% off prednisone. mTORs were discontinued in 11/22 patients. Six patients (54.5%) stopped due to side effects, two (18.1%) for surgery, and one (9%) for acute cellular rejection. Side effects were edema (33.3%), headaches (33.3%), diarrhea (16.7%), and oral ulcers (16.7%). The average duration of mTORs prior to discontinuation due to side effects was 7 months. mTORs may function in their own niche of patients due to the potential renal safety profile, but use is most limited by tolerance to side effects.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in a rapid expansion of telehealth services in hepatology. However, known racial and socioeconomic disparities in internet access potentially translate into barriers for the use of telehealth, particularly video technology. The specific aim of this study was to determine if disparities in race or socioeconomic status exist among patients utilizing telehealth visits during COVID-19. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all adult patients evaluated in hepatology clinics at Duke University Health System. Visit attempts from a pre-COVID baseline period (January 1, 2020 through February 29, 2020; n = 3328) were compared to COVID period (April 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020; n = 3771). On multinomial regression modeling, increasing age was associated with higher odds of a phone or incomplete visit (canceled, no-show, or rescheduled after May 30,2020), and non-Hispanic Black race was associated with nearly twice the odds of completing a phone visit instead of video visit, compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Compared to private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare were associated with increased odds of completing a telephone visit, and Medicaid was associated with increased odds of incomplete visits. Being single or previously married (separated, divorced, widowed) was associated with increased odds of completing a phone compared to video visit compared to being married. Though liver telehealth has expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities in overall use and suboptimal use (phone versus video) remain for vulnerable populations including those that are older, non-Hispanic Black, or have Medicare/Medicaid health insurance.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in a rapid expansion of telehealth services in hepatology. However, known racial and socioeconomic disparities in internet access potentially translate into barriers for the use of telehealth, particularly video technology. The specific aim of this study was to determine if disparities in race or socioeconomic status exist among patients utilizing telehealth visits during COVID-19.We performed a retrospective cohort study of all adult patients evaluated in hepatology clinics at Duke University Health System. Visit attempts from a pre-COVID baseline period (January 1, 2020 through February 29, 2020; n = 3328) were compared to COVID period (April 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020; n = 3771).On multinomial regression modeling, increasing age was associated with higher odds of a phone or incomplete visit (canceled, no-show, or rescheduled after May 30,2020), and non-Hispanic Black race was associated with nearly twice the odds of completing a phone visit instead of video visit, compared to non-Hispanic White patients. Compared to private insurance, Medicaid and Medicare were associated with increased odds of completing a telephone visit, and Medicaid was associated with increased odds of incomplete visits. Being single or previously married (separated, divorced, widowed) was associated with increased odds of completing a phone compared to video visit compared to being married.Though liver telehealth has expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, disparities in overall use and suboptimal use (phone versus video) remain for vulnerable populations including those that are older, non-Hispanic Black, or have Medicare/Medicaid health insurance.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance rates are suboptimal in clinical practice. We aimed to elicit providers’ opinions on the following aspects of HCC surveillance: preferred strategies, barriers and facilitators, and the impact of a patient’s HCC risk on the choice of surveillance modality. METHODS: We conducted a web-based survey among gastroenterology and hepatology providers (40% faculty physicians, 21% advanced practice providers, 39% fellow-trainees) from 26 U.S. medical centers in 17 states. RESULTS: Of 654 eligible providers, 305 (47%) completed the survey. Nearly all (98.4%) of the providers endorsed semi-annual HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis, with 84.2% recommending ultrasound ± alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and 15.4% recommending computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Barriers to surveillance included limited HCC treatment options, screening test effectiveness to reduce mortality, access to transportation, and high out-of-pocket costs. Facilitators of surveillance included professional society guidelines. Most providers (72.1%) would perform surveillance even if HCC risk was low (≤0.5% per year), while 98.7% would perform surveillance if HCC risk was ≥1% per year. As a patient’s HCC risk increased from 1% to 3% to 5% per year, providers reported they would be less likely to order ultrasound ± AFP (83.6% to 68.9% to 57.4%; p

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic hepatitis C and risky/harmful alcohol use experience poor outcomes. Granular data evaluating whether alcohol counseling during hepatitis C treatment impacts longitudinal alcohol consumption are lacking. AIMS: To evaluate whether provider-delivered counseling in the context of direct-acting antiviral hepatitis C treatment associates with decreased longitudinal alcohol consumption. METHODS: We performed secondary data analysis from the Hep ART study including adults with hepatitis C who underwent provider-delivered counseling during direct-acting antiviral treatment between October 2014 and September 2017. Demographics and disease characteristics were summarized. Alcohol consumption, abstinence, and heavy drinking were evaluated in periods before, during, and after direct-acting antiviral treatment. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of alcohol consumption with each 12-week time period for all patients and a subsample with cirrhosis. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three patients were included; 41 had cirrhosis. Most patients were male (74.0%) and Black (58.5%). Alcohol consumption improved during direct-acting antiviral treatment and was notably sustained (< 12 weeks before treatment 32.5 g/day; during treatment 20.0 g/day; and 12–24 weeks after treatment 23.7 g/day). Multivariable analyses showed significantly improved alcohol consumption metrics during and after antiviral treatment compared to < 12 weeks before treatment (during treatment 13.04 g/day less, p = 0.0001; > 24 weeks after treatment 15.29 g/day less, p = 0.0001). The subsample with cirrhosis showed similar results (during treatment 13.21 g/day less, p = 0.0001; > 24 weeks after treatment 7.69 g/day less, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic HCV and risky/harmful alcohol use given provider-delivered alcohol-related counseling during HCV treatment sustain decreased alcohol consumption patterns during and after treatment.

Coagulopathy coupled with severe portal hypertension in the setting of cirrhosis increases the risk of mortality from variceal bleeding in pregnant women. Studies suggest transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation to be a safe procedure during pregnancy in preventing variceal bleeding complications; however, it is not typically employed in severely decompensated cirrhosis. This case report of a pregnant woman presenting at 34.7 weeks' gestation demonstrates successful variceal mapping, emergent TIPS creation and variceal embolization to allow safe cesarean delivery despite severe hypofibrinogenemia and decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis. With careful medical optimization, angiographic imaging and vascular interventional radiology may be employed outside of usual indications to achieve safe pregnancy delivery and postpartum recovery.

The liver transplantation (LT) population is aging, with the need for transplant being driven by the growing prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Older LT recipients with NASH may be at an increased risk for adverse outcomes after LT. Our objective is to characterize outcomes in these recipients in a large multicenter cohort. All primary LT recipients ≥65 years from 2010 to 2016 at 13 centers in the Re-Evaluating Age Limits in Transplantation (REALT) consortium were included. Of 1023 LT recipients, 226 (22.1%) were over 70 years old, and 207 (20.2%) had NASH. Compared with other LT recipients, NASH recipients were older (68.0 versus 67.3 years), more likely to be female (47.3% versus 32.8%), White (78.3% versus 68.0%), Hispanic (12.1% versus 9.2%), and had higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease–sodium (21 versus 18) at LT (P < 0.05 for all). Specific cardiac risk factors including diabetes with or without chronic complications (69.6%), hypertension (66.3%), hyperlipidemia (46.3%), coronary artery disease (36.7%), and moderate-to-severe renal disease (44.4%) were highly prevalent among NASH LT recipients. Graft survival among NASH patients was 90.3% at 1 year and 82.4% at 3 years compared with 88.9% at 1 year and 80.4% at 3 years for non-NASH patients (log-rank P = 0.58 and P = 0.59, respectively). Within 1 year after LT, the incidence of graft rejection (17.4%), biliary strictures (20.9%), and solid organ cancers (4.9%) were comparable. Rates of cardiovascular (CV) complications, renal failure, and infection were also similar in both groups. We observed similar posttransplant morbidity and mortality outcomes for NASH and non-NASH LT recipients. Certain CV risk factors were more prevalent in this population, although posttransplant outcomes within 1 year including CV events and renal failure were similar to non-NASH LT recipients.

Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are waitlisted at older ages than individuals with other liver diseases, but the effect of age on liver transplantation (LT) outcomes in this population and whether it differs from other etiologies is not known. We aimed to evaluate the impact of age on LT outcomes in NASH.The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify adults with NASH, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) listed for LT during 2004-2017. Patients were split into age groups (18-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, ≥70), and their outcomes were compared.From 2004 to 2017, 14 197 adults with NASH were waitlisted, and the proportion ≥65 increased from 15.8% to 28.9%. NASH patients ages 65-69 had an increased risk of waitlist and posttransplant mortality compared to younger groups, whereas the outcomes in ages 60-64 and 55-59 were similar. The outcomes of individuals with NASH were similar to patients of the same age group with ALD or HCV. Functional status and dialysis were predictors of posttransplant mortality in individuals ≥65 with NASH, and cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death.Older NASH patients (≥65) have an increased risk of waitlist and posttransplant mortality compared to younger individuals, although outcomes were similar to patients with ALD or HCV of corresponding age. These individuals should be carefully evaluated prior to LT, considering their functional status, renal function, and cardiovascular risk. Further studies are needed to optimize outcomes in this growing population of transplant candidates.

The aim of this study is to validate a proposed definition of sarcopenia in predicting wait-list mortality. We retrospectively evaluated 355 adults (age ≥18 years) with cirrhosis listed for first-time LT from January 1, 2010, to April 1, 2018 from our center. Demographic, laboratory, and outcome data were collected in conjunction with computed tomography scans performed within 3 months of listing. Using imaging analysis software, the skeletal muscle index (SMI), which is a marker for sarcopenia-related mortality, was calculated. A survival analysis was performed to evaluate the association of the proposed sarcopenia definition of SMI

There is increasing evidence for a heterogeneity of phenotypes in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), but differences across the age spectrum in adults with PSC have not been well characterized. To characterize phenotypic variations and liver transplantation outcomes by age group in adults with PSC. The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify waitlist registrations for primary liver transplantation in adults with PSC. Patients were split into three age groups: 18–39 (young), 40–59 (middle-aged), and ≥60 (older). Their clinical characteristics and outcomes on the waitlist and post-transplant were compared. Overall, 8272 adults with PSC were listed for liver transplantation during the study period, of which 28.9% were young, 52.0% were middle-aged, and 19.1% were older. The young age group had the greatest male predominance (70.0 vs. 66.2 vs. 65.1%, p = 0.001), the highest proportion of black individuals (20.0 vs. 11.0 vs. 5.5%, p

INTRODUCTION: Gastroenterology (GI) fellowship programs have traditionally relied on regular in-person conferences to deliver core curricular topics and maintain a sense of community amongst fellows and faculty The need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has eliminated inperson educational opportunities, posing challenges to curriculum delivery The modern learner often uses instant messaging applications (IMA), such as WhatsApp© (Facebook Inc, Menlo Park, CA) to METHODS: We created a secure message group in WhatsApp©, which included all 13 GI fellows at our institution and 4 faculty members who facilitated daily discussion by posting interactive GI questions (Image 1) All participants used their personal smart devices to access the WhatsApp© application Fellows received an anonymous survey prior to the start of the study and at 4 weeks This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board METHODS: Twelve GI fellows completed the baseline survey, and 10 participated in the 1-month survey Fifty percent of the participants were first-year fellows All participated fellows are all between 25 to 35 years old Engagement: 50% of the participants reported they read group discussion at least 1-2 times a day, and 60% replied to the group at least once a week (Figure 1) Enhanced learning: 90% of fellows agreed that the WhatsApp© group improved both overall and subspecialty GI knowledge (Figure 2) 90% of fellows appreciated the in-depth hypothetical case discussions 70% of fellows appreciated the clinical guideline shared in the group and the ability to interact with faculty members Decreased Isolation: 40% of fellows reported that the WhatsApp © group helped them connect with their colleagues and reduce the feeling of isolation Feedback: 4 fellows liked the “bite-size” information, which can be absorbed quickly 2 fellows reported not having enough time to participate in the discussion while on a busy rotation CONCLUSION: Our pilot study suggests that instant messaging applications are effective platforms that may be used to enhance GI education, particularly during social isolation Further work is needed to determine if engagement is durable over time (Figure Presented)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an increasingly common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States and in many parts of the world. In the last decade, significant work has been done to better understand how to risk stratify LT candidates for recurrence of HCC following transplant using a combination of biomarker and imaging findings. However, despite the high frequency of HCC in the LT population, guidance regarding posttransplant management is lacking. In particular, there is no current evidence to support specific post-LT surveillance strategies, leading to significant heterogeneity in practices. In addition, there are no current recommendations regarding recurrence prevention, including immunosuppression regimen or secondary prevention with adjuvant chemotherapy. Finally, guidance on treatment of disease recurrence is also lacking and there is significant controversy about the use of immunotherapy in transplant recipients due to the risk of rejection. Thus, outcomes for patients with recurrence are poor. This paper therefore provides a comprehensive review of the current literature on post-LT management of patients with HCC and identifies gaps in our current knowledge that are in urgent need of further investigation.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been well studied in the treatment of acetaminophen-induced and select non-acetaminophen-induced liver failure. However, its role in the management of sickle cell hepatic crisis resulting in acute liver failure (ALF) is unknown. We describe and discuss the novel and beneficial use of NAC in a 25-year-old man with ALF due to sickle cell hepatic crisis. We further review ALF in sickle cell disease and NAC in the treatment of non-acetaminophen-induced liver failure. Our case highlights the promising role of NAC in sickle cell-related liver injury.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is burdensome in patients with chronic kidney disease and contributes to substantial liver-related and all-cause morbidity and mortality. HCV infection itself may cause kidney dysfunction, as exemplified through mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. HCV is more prevalent in patients with significant kidney disease compared to the general population, and recent reports have shown inadvertent HCV transmission in U.S. hemodialysis centers. Further, HCV has been demonstrated to accelerate kidney dysfunction and is associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with kidney disease. As such, the HCV-infected population with concurrent kidney disease is an important patient subgroup that warrants focused medical care and attention. With the advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), the successful treatment of HCV is now a medical reality for many patients. Nuances in regimen selection and timing need to be considered when treating those with kidney dysfunction, particularly for those considering kidney transplantation.

Background: The standard of care for treatment of low-flow venous malformations (VMs) is percutaneous sclerotherapy. These lesions are seldom surgically resected, especially if the malformation is in an anatomically difficult location. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is safe and effective. However, the drawbacks to sclerotherapy are the need for repeated treatments and risks of skin ulceration, deep venous thrombosis, scarring/contractures, and nerve damage. Surgical resection can be difficult because of intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative lesional decompression, and difficulty in localization. Methods: We describe our initial experience with 11 patients who underwent surgical resection of VMs located in the hand and forearm after preembolization of 27 total sites using n-butyl-cyanoacrylate or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. Results: Of the 11 patients treated, 5 had focal VMs, 3 had multifocal VMs, and 3 had diffuse VMs throughout the affected extremity. Four of the 5 patients with focal VMs were followed for at least 1 year, and no further treatment was required. All 3 of the patients with diffuse VMs have required ongoing treatment. No major functional impairments were reported, and there were no major procedure-related complications. Conclusions: Overall, embolization of the malformation before surgical resection facilitated localization, demarcation, and removal of the lesion.

BACKGROUND Acute liver failure (ALF) is an emergent condition that requires intensive care and manifests in particular by significant elevation in serum ammonia level. Patients with ALF with concomitant renal failure experience a further rise in ammonia levels due to decreased kidney excretion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between elevated ammonia levels and mortality and to characterize the subgroup of ALF patients who develop acute kidney injury (AKI) and require renal replacement therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a retrospective study of 36 consecutive patients admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital's intensive care units from December 2008 to May 2013 who presented with grade III and IV hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Patients who developed AKI and required hemodialysis (HD) were compared to those without AKI. Patients with chronic kidney disease were excluded. RESULTS Sixteen patients developed AKI and underwent HD (HD group). Median ammonia levels in the HD and non-HD groups were not significantly different (p=0.95). In the HD group, 4 patients underwent liver transplantation (LT) and 3 of them survived the hospitalization. Among the 12 HD patients who did not receive LT, 6 (50%) survived. Out of 20 non-HD patients, 3 were transplanted, all of whom survived the hospitalization. Among the 17 non-HD patients who did not receive LT, 14 (82%) survived. Admission ammonia level (>120 µmol/L) was associated with higher mortality rate (OR=7.188 [95% CI 1.3326-38.952], p=0.026) in all patients. CONCLUSIONS Admission ammonia level is predictive of mortality in ALF patients with grade 3-4 HE.

Background and Aims Perforation is a rare but serious adverse event of ERCP. There is no consensus to guide the clinician on the management of ERCP-related perforations, with particular controversy surrounding the immediate surgical management of postprocedurally detected duodenal perforation because of overextension of a sphincterotomy. Our aim was to assess patient outcomes using a predetermined algorithm based on managing ERCP-related duodenal perforations according to the mechanism of injury. Methods A retrospective single-center study of all consecutive patients with Stapfer type I and II perforations between 2000 and 2014 were included. Our institutional algorithm since 2000 dictated that Stapfer type I perforations (duodenal wall perforation, endoscope related) should be managed surgically unless prohibited by underlying comorbidities and Stapfer type II perforations (periampullary, sphincterotomy related) managed nonsurgically unless a deterioration in clinical status necessitated surgery. Results Sixty-one patients (mean age, 51 years; 80% women) were analyzed with Stapfer type I perforations diagnosed in 7 (11%) and type II in 54 (89%). A postprocedural diagnosis of perforation was made in 55 patients (90%). Four patients (7%) had Stapfer type II perforations that failed medical management and required surgery. The mean length of stay (LOS) in the entire cohort was 9.6 days with a low mortality rate of 3%. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome was observed in 18 patients (33%) with Stapfer type II perforations and was not associated with the need for surgery. Concurrent post-ERCP pancreatitis was diagnosed in 26 patients (43%) and was associated with an increased LOS. Conclusions Stapfer type II perforations have excellent outcomes when managed medically. We validate an algorithm for the management of ERCP-related perforations and propose that it should function as a guide.

The original version of the article unfortunately contained errors in Table 3, Risk Factor column headings “Age > 50 (n = 115),” “Age > 50–64 (n = 154),” and “Age > 65 + (n = 60).”

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Severe NAFLD with advanced fibrosis results in substantial morbidity and mortality. Associated with metabolic syndrome, NAFLD is often initially clinically silent, yet intensive lifestyle intervention with 7% or greater weight loss can improve or resolve NAFLD. Using a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) liver biopsy cohort, we evaluated simple noninvasive fibrosis scoring systems to identify NAFLD with advanced fibrosis (or severe disease) to assist providers. In our retrospective study of a national VHA sample of patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD or normal liver (2005–2015), we segregated patients by fibrosis stage (0–4). Non-NAFLD liver disease was excluded. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), fibrosis-4 calculator (FIB-4), aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (AST/ALT ratio), AST-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and body mass index, AST/ALT ratio, and diabetes (BARD) score by age groups. We included 329 patients with well-defined liver histology (296 NAFLD and 33 normal controls without fibrosis), in which 92 (28%) had advanced (stage 3–4) fibrosis. Across all age groups, NFS and FIB-4 best predicted advanced fibrosis (NFS with 0.676 threshold: AUROC 0.71–0.76, LR + 2.30–22.05, OR 6.00–39.58; FIB-4 with 2.67 threshold: AUROC of 0.62–0.80, LR + 4.70–27.45, OR 16.34–59.65). While NFS and FIB-4 scores exhibit good diagnostic accuracy, FIB-4 is optimal in identifying NAFLD advanced fibrosis in the VHA. Easily implemented as a point-of-care clinical test, FIB-4 can be useful in directing patients that are most likely to have advanced fibrosis to GI/hepatology consultation and follow-up.