Liver TransplantationPub Date : 2024-10-01Epub Date: 2024-03-27DOI: 10.1097/LVT.0000000000000369
Bradley Busebee, Kymberly D Watt, Kara Dupuy-McCauley, Hilary DuBrock
{"title":"Sleep disturbances in chronic liver disease.","authors":"Bradley Busebee, Kymberly D Watt, Kara Dupuy-McCauley, Hilary DuBrock","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000369","DOIUrl":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000369","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sleep disturbances are common in chronic liver disease and significantly impact patient outcomes and quality of life. The severity and nature of sleep disturbances vary by liver disease etiology and severity. While there is ongoing research into the association between liver disease and sleep-wake dysfunction, the underlying pathophysiology varies and, in many cases, is poorly understood. Liver disease is associated with alterations in thermoregulation, inflammation, and physical activity, and is associated with disease-specific complications, such as HE, that may directly affect sleep. In this article, we review the relevant pathophysiologic processes, disease-specific sleep-wake disturbances, and clinical management of CLD-associated sleep-wake disturbances.</p>","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140293922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Liver TransplantationPub Date : 2024-10-01Epub Date: 2024-07-18DOI: 10.1097/LVT.0000000000000437
Kevin Tang, Jason J Lee, Ethan Weinberg, Marina Serper, Therese Bittermann
{"title":"Candidates for liver transplant evaluated at satellite clinics at a large academic transplant center are less likely to be waitlisted.","authors":"Kevin Tang, Jason J Lee, Ethan Weinberg, Marina Serper, Therese Bittermann","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000437","DOIUrl":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000437","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141627096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Roberta Angelico, Eliano Bonaccorsi Riani, Eleonora De Martin, Alessandro Parente, Maxime Foguenne, Bruno Sensi, Manuel L Rodríguez-Perálvarez
{"title":"Immunosuppression protocols for emerging oncological indications in liver transplantation: A systematic review and pooled analysis.","authors":"Roberta Angelico, Eliano Bonaccorsi Riani, Eleonora De Martin, Alessandro Parente, Maxime Foguenne, Bruno Sensi, Manuel L Rodríguez-Perálvarez","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000499","DOIUrl":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000499","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The evolving field of liver transplant (LT) oncology calls for tailored immunosuppression protocols to minimize the risk of tumor recurrence. We systematically reviewed the available evidence from inception to May 2023 regarding immunosuppression protocols used in patients undergoing LT for cholangiocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors (NET), hepatic-endothelial hemangioendothelioma, and colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) to identify common practices and to evaluate their association with oncological outcomes. Studies not involving humans, case reports, and short case series (ie, n < 10) were excluded. Among 3374 screened references, we included 117 studies involving 6797 patients distributed as follows: cholangiocarcinoma (58.1%), NETs (18.8%), hepatic-endothelial hemangioendothelioma (7.7%), CRLM (6.8%), mixed neoplasms (6.8%), or others (1.7%). Only 41% of the studies disclosed details of the immunosuppression protocol, and 20.8% of studies provided drug trough concentrations during follow-up. The immunosuppression protocols described were heterogeneous and broadly mirrored routine practices for nontumoral indications. The only exception was CRLM, where tacrolimus minimization-or even withdrawal-in combination with inhibitors of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORi) were consistently reported. None of the studies evaluated the relationship between the immunosuppression protocol and oncological outcomes. In conclusion, based on low-quality and indirect scientific evidence, patients with tumoral indications for LT should receive the lowest tacrolimus level tolerated under close surveillance. The combination with mTORi titrated to achieve the top therapeutic range of trough concentrations could allow complete tacrolimus withdrawal. This approach may be particularly useful in patients with cholangiocarcinoma and CRLM, in whom tumor recurrence is the main cause of death. We propose a tool for reporting immunosuppression protocols, which could be implemented in future transplant oncology studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142349433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brooke Edwards, Samantha Ramirez, John Pappas, Jennifer L Dodge, Hyosun Han, Jeffrey Kahn, Aaron Ahearn, Norah A Terrault, Brian P Lee
{"title":"The University of Southern California psychosocial checklist: A novel tool to remotely screen transplant candidates with alcohol-associated liver disease prior to hospital transfer.","authors":"Brooke Edwards, Samantha Ramirez, John Pappas, Jennifer L Dodge, Hyosun Han, Jeffrey Kahn, Aaron Ahearn, Norah A Terrault, Brian P Lee","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000496","DOIUrl":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000496","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142349437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reply: Oncologic optimization of patients with colorectal liver metastatic disease- An ongoing saga.","authors":"Chase Wehrle, Koji Hashimoto, Federico Aucejo","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000498","DOIUrl":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000498","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142349436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Flavio Paterno, Grace S Lee-Riddle, Raquel Olivo, Arpit N Amin, Baburao Koneru, Nikolaos T Pyrsopoulos, Keri E Lunsford, James V Guarrera
{"title":"Acceptable outcomes of liver transplantation in uninsured patients under the coverage of a state assistance program.","authors":"Flavio Paterno, Grace S Lee-Riddle, Raquel Olivo, Arpit N Amin, Baburao Koneru, Nikolaos T Pyrsopoulos, Keri E Lunsford, James V Guarrera","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000495","DOIUrl":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000495","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The lack of health insurance is a major barrier to access to health care, even in the case of life-saving procedures such as liver transplantation (LT). Concerns about worse outcomes in uninsured patients have also discouraged the evaluation and transplantation of patients without adequate health insurance coverage. The aim of this study is to evaluate outcomes from the largest cohort of uninsured patients who underwent LT with the support of a state payment assistance program (also called charity care). This study included all consecutive patients who underwent LT at a single center from 2002 to 2020. Demographic, clinical, and social variables and outcome metrics were collected and compared between insured and uninsured patients. Among a total of 978 LT recipients, 594 had private insurance, 324 government insurance (Medicare/Medicaid), and 60 were uninsured and covered under a state charity care program. In the charity care group, there was a higher proportion of Hispanic subjects, single marital status, younger age, and high-MELD score patients. The 1- and 3-year patient survival rates were 89.0% and 81.8% in private insurance patients, 88.8% and 80.1% in government insurance recipients, and 93.3% and 79.6% in those with charity care ( p =0.49). There was no difference in graft survival between insured and uninsured patients ( p =0.62). The 3 insurance groups presented similar hospital length-of-stay and 30-day readmission rates. In both univariate and multivariate analysis, uninsured status (charity care) was not associated with worse patient survival (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 0.84-1.80, p =0.29) or graft survival (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.84-1.78, p =0.29). In conclusion, there was no difference in outcomes after LT between insured and uninsured patients. A charity care program may be an effective tool to mitigate socioeconomic disparities in both outcomes and access to LT.</p>","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142349432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Letter to the Editor: Oncologic optimization of patients with colorectal liver metastatic disease: An ongoing saga.","authors":"Dimitrios Moris, Piyush Gupta, Pejman Radkani","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000497","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/LVT.0000000000000497","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142349435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alyson Kaplan, Adam Winters, Sharon Klarman, Michael Kriss, Dempsey Hughes, Pratima Sharma, Sumeet Asrani, Alan Hutchison, Paul Myoung, Asad Zaman, Laura Butler, James Pomposelli, Fredric Gordon, Andres Duarte-Rojo, Deepika Devuni, Brett Fortune
{"title":"The rising cost of liver transplantation in the United States.","authors":"Alyson Kaplan, Adam Winters, Sharon Klarman, Michael Kriss, Dempsey Hughes, Pratima Sharma, Sumeet Asrani, Alan Hutchison, Paul Myoung, Asad Zaman, Laura Butler, James Pomposelli, Fredric Gordon, Andres Duarte-Rojo, Deepika Devuni, Brett Fortune","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000493","DOIUrl":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000493","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment for end-stage liver disease and significantly improves patient outcomes. However, LT is resource-intensive and costly, with expenditures rising dramatically in recent years. Factors contributing to this increase in cost include expanded transplant criteria, utilization of marginal organs, and broader organ distribution, resulting in significant logistical expenses. Advanced technologies like organ perfusion devices, while promising better outcomes, further inflate costs due to their high price and market monopolization. Moreover, living donor liver transplant (LDLT) and utilization of donation after cardiac death (DCD) organs introduce higher initial expenditures yet potential long-term savings. Despite rising costs, reimbursement has remained largely stagnant, putting financial strain on transplant programs, and threatening their sustainability. This review examines the multifaceted drivers of rising costs in LT, focusing on recent policy changes, the role of organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and the impact of new technologies. We also propose comprehensive solutions at national, OPO, and local levels, including optimizing resource allocation, leveraging regional collaborations, and advocating for revised reimbursement models to curb escalating costs. Addressing these challenges is critical to ensuring the continued viability of LT programs and maintaining patient access to this life-saving intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142308067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chase J Wehrle, Femke H C de Goeij, Mingyi Zhang, Fariba Abbassi, Sangeeta Satish, Chunbao Jiao, Keyue Sun, Antonio D Pinna, Koji Hashimoto, Charles Miller, Wojciech G Polak, Pierre-Alain Clavien, Jeroen De Jonge, Andrea Schlegel
{"title":"Core outcome sets and benchmarking complications: Defining best practices for standardized outcome reporting in liver transplantation.","authors":"Chase J Wehrle, Femke H C de Goeij, Mingyi Zhang, Fariba Abbassi, Sangeeta Satish, Chunbao Jiao, Keyue Sun, Antonio D Pinna, Koji Hashimoto, Charles Miller, Wojciech G Polak, Pierre-Alain Clavien, Jeroen De Jonge, Andrea Schlegel","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000494","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/LVT.0000000000000494","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The comparison of outcomes in liver transplantation (LT) is hampered by using clinically non-relevant surrogate endpoints and considerable variability in reported relevant post-transplant outcomes. Such variability stems from non-standard outcome measures across studies, variable definitions of the same complication, and different timing of reporting. The Clavien-Dindo classification was established to improve the rigor of outcome reporting but is non-specific to an intervention and there are unsolved dilemmas specifically related to liver transplantation. Core Outcome Sets (COS) have been used in other specialties to standardize outcomes research, but have not been defined for LT. Thus, we use the five major benchmarking studies published to date to define a 10-measure COS for LT using previously validated metrics. We further provide standard definitions for each of the 10 measures that may be used in international research on the topic. These definitions also include standard time-points for recording to facilitate between-study comparisons and future meta-analysis. These 10 outcomes are paired with 3 validated, procedure-independent metrics, including the Clavien-Dindo Classification and the Comprehensive Complications Index (CCI®). The Clavien scale and CCI® are specifically reviewed to enhance their utility in LT, and their use along with the COS is explored. We encourage future studies to employ this COS along with the Clavien-Dindo grading system & CCI® to improve reproducibility and generalizability of research concerning liver transplantation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elton Dajti, Matteo Serenari, Deborah Malvi, Gerti Dajti, Federico Ravaioli, Luigi Colecchia, Giovanni Marasco, Francesca Caputo, Matteo Renzulli, Francesco Vasuri, Amanda Vestito, Francesco Azzaroli, Giovanni Barbara, Matteo Ravaioli, Davide Festi, Antonietta D'Errico, Matteo Cescon, Antonio Colecchia
{"title":"Porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder in surgical candidates for liver metastases: Prevalence, non-invasive diagnosis, and burden on surgical outcomes.","authors":"Elton Dajti, Matteo Serenari, Deborah Malvi, Gerti Dajti, Federico Ravaioli, Luigi Colecchia, Giovanni Marasco, Francesca Caputo, Matteo Renzulli, Francesco Vasuri, Amanda Vestito, Francesco Azzaroli, Giovanni Barbara, Matteo Ravaioli, Davide Festi, Antonietta D'Errico, Matteo Cescon, Antonio Colecchia","doi":"10.1097/LVT.0000000000000489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/LVT.0000000000000489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background & aims: </strong>Chemotherapy can cause vascular and metabolic liver injury in patients with liver metastases, but scarce data is available. We aimed to i) describe the prevalence of porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD) among patients undergoing resection for liver metastases; ii) assess whether liver (LSM) and spleen stiffness measurements (SSM) could diagnose PSVD and predict post-operative complications.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a prospective single center study enrolling consecutive patients undergoing hepatic resection for metastases at a tertiary center. For each patient we evaluated previous exposure to chemotherapy, co-morbidities, elastography, type of surgery, histological features at the resection specimen, morbidity [post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), major complications according to Clavien-Dindo], and 90-days survival.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-eight patients were included, of whom 60 (88%) had received chemotherapy. Twenty-nine (44%) patients had PSVD. SSM <21 kPa (NPV 87%) and >40 kPa (PPV 100%) could accurately diagnose PSVD. PSVD significantly increased the risk of PHLF (22 vs 45%) and major complications (11 vs 31%). Pre-operative LSM was associated with post-operative morbidity. The cut-offs LSM <4.5 kPa and >8 kPa predicted the risk of clinically significant PHLF (0%, 11%, and 33% in LSM <4.5 kPa, 4.5-8 kPa,>8 kPa respectively) and major complications (0%, 25%, 44% in LSM <4.5 kPa, 4.5-8 kPa,>8 kPa, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>PSVD is very common among patients undergoing liver surgery for metastases and it is associated with increased morbidity. LSM and SSM can correctly identify patients with PSVD and those at risk of clinically relevant post-operative complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18072,"journal":{"name":"Liver Transplantation","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}