Pub Date : 2024-10-01Epub Date: 2024-06-24DOI: 10.1007/s12072-024-10661-x
Wah-Kheong Chan, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong, Leon A Adams, Mindie H Nguyen
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the liver manifestation of a metabolic syndrome and is highly prevalent in the general population. There has been significant progress in non-invasive tests for MAFLD, from the diagnosis of fatty liver and monitoring of liver fat content in response to intervention, to evaluation of liver fibrosis and its change over time, and from risk stratification of patients within the context of clinical care pathways, to prognostication. Various non-invasive tests have also been developed to assess for fibrotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, which has emerged as an important diagnostic goal, particularly in the context of clinical trials. Non-invasive tests can be used to diagnose clinically significant portal hypertension so that intervention can be administered to reduce the risk of decompensation. Furthermore, the use of risk stratification algorithms can identify at-risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance. Beyond the liver, various tests that evaluate cardiovascular disease risk, assess sarcopenia and measure patient reported outcomes, can be utilized to improve the care of patients with MAFLD. This review provides an up-to-date overview of these non-invasive tests and the limitations of liver biopsy in the management of patients with MAFLD.
{"title":"MAFLD in adults: non-invasive tests for diagnosis and monitoring of MAFLD.","authors":"Wah-Kheong Chan, Vincent Wai-Sun Wong, Leon A Adams, Mindie H Nguyen","doi":"10.1007/s12072-024-10661-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12072-024-10661-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the liver manifestation of a metabolic syndrome and is highly prevalent in the general population. There has been significant progress in non-invasive tests for MAFLD, from the diagnosis of fatty liver and monitoring of liver fat content in response to intervention, to evaluation of liver fibrosis and its change over time, and from risk stratification of patients within the context of clinical care pathways, to prognostication. Various non-invasive tests have also been developed to assess for fibrotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, which has emerged as an important diagnostic goal, particularly in the context of clinical trials. Non-invasive tests can be used to diagnose clinically significant portal hypertension so that intervention can be administered to reduce the risk of decompensation. Furthermore, the use of risk stratification algorithms can identify at-risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance. Beyond the liver, various tests that evaluate cardiovascular disease risk, assess sarcopenia and measure patient reported outcomes, can be utilized to improve the care of patients with MAFLD. This review provides an up-to-date overview of these non-invasive tests and the limitations of liver biopsy in the management of patients with MAFLD.</p>","PeriodicalId":12901,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology International","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141442489","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}
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome of liver failure due to an acute hepatic insult leading to liver failure with or without extra-hepatic organ failure in a patient of chronic liver disease (CLD) with or without cirrhosis presenting for the first time. The definition is still with controversy; hence, homogeneity and clarity of the case is an unmet need. There is a paradigm shift noted as far as the etiology of CLD is concerned with rise in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and ethanol as the dominant cause even in developing countries. MAFLD is the change in nomenclature from NAFLD to justify the metabolic derangement in these group of patients. The shift from an exclusion-based criteria to one that has evolved to a diagnosis that requires positive criteria has profound significance. Clearly there is a difference in terms of its prevalence, disease progression, and liver-related events, as well as management of metabolic risk factors and MAFLD itself which requires further understanding. In tandem with the global rise in MAFLD, the incidence of MAFLD-ACLF is increasing. Excessive alcohol consumption causes metabolic and toxic injury to the liver resulting in nearly similar pathway of fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. The interaction of MAFLD as an additional underlying chronic liver injury in ACLF patients is complex due to the presence of metabolic risk factors that are unique to MAFLD. There is lack of clarity on how MAFLD affects the clinical course of ACLF due to scarcity of this specific data. This narrative review aims to understand the unique effects, consequences, and management of MAFLD as the chronic liver injury component in ACLF.
{"title":"Acute-on-chronic liver failure in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease patients: a disease multiplier.","authors":"Ashok Choudhury, Ruveena Rajaram, Shiv Kumar Sarin","doi":"10.1007/s12072-024-10711-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12072-024-10711-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome of liver failure due to an acute hepatic insult leading to liver failure with or without extra-hepatic organ failure in a patient of chronic liver disease (CLD) with or without cirrhosis presenting for the first time. The definition is still with controversy; hence, homogeneity and clarity of the case is an unmet need. There is a paradigm shift noted as far as the etiology of CLD is concerned with rise in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and ethanol as the dominant cause even in developing countries. MAFLD is the change in nomenclature from NAFLD to justify the metabolic derangement in these group of patients. The shift from an exclusion-based criteria to one that has evolved to a diagnosis that requires positive criteria has profound significance. Clearly there is a difference in terms of its prevalence, disease progression, and liver-related events, as well as management of metabolic risk factors and MAFLD itself which requires further understanding. In tandem with the global rise in MAFLD, the incidence of MAFLD-ACLF is increasing. Excessive alcohol consumption causes metabolic and toxic injury to the liver resulting in nearly similar pathway of fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. The interaction of MAFLD as an additional underlying chronic liver injury in ACLF patients is complex due to the presence of metabolic risk factors that are unique to MAFLD. There is lack of clarity on how MAFLD affects the clinical course of ACLF due to scarcity of this specific data. This narrative review aims to understand the unique effects, consequences, and management of MAFLD as the chronic liver injury component in ACLF.</p>","PeriodicalId":12901,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology International","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141899350","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}
Pub Date : 2024-09-21DOI: 10.1007/s12072-024-10722-1
Mohammed Ismail, Missaa M Fadul, Reham Taha, Orwa Siddig, Muhanad Elhafiz, Bashir A Yousef, Zhenzhou Jiang, Luyong Zhang, Lixin Sun
Background: Liver disease has emerged as a significant health concern, characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality. Circulating exosomes have garnered attention as important mediators of intercellular communication, harboring protein and stable mRNAs, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA). This review highlights the involvement of exosomal lncRNA in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of various liver diseases. Notably, exosomal lncRNAs exhibit therapeutic potential as targets for conditions including hepatic carcinoma, hepatic fibrosis, and hepatic viral infections.
Method: An online screening process was employed to identify studies investigating the association between exosomal lncRNA and various liver diseases.
Result: Our study revealed a diverse array of lncRNAs carried by exosomes, including H19, Linc-ROR, VLDLR, MALAT1, DANCR, HEIH, ENSG00000248932.1, ENST00000457302.2, ZSCAN16-AS1, and others, exhibiting varied levels across different liver diseases compared to normal liver tissue. These exosomal-derived lncRNAs are increasingly recognized as pivotal biomarkers for diagnosing and prognosticating liver diseases, supported by emerging evidence. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the involvement of certain exosomal lncRNAs remain incompletely understood. Furthermore, the combined analysis of serum exosomes using ENSG00000258332.1, LINC00635, and serum AFP may serve as novel and valuable biomarker for HCC. Clinically, exosomal ATB expression is upregulated in HCC, while exosomal HEIH and RP11-513I15.6 have shown potential for distinguishing HCC related to HCV infection.
Conclusion: The lack of reliable biomarkers for liver diseases, coupled with the high specificity and sensitivity of exosomal lncRNA and its non-invasive detection, promotes exploring their role in pathogenesis and biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment liver diseases.
{"title":"Dynamic role of exosomal long non-coding RNA in liver diseases: pathogenesis and diagnostic aspects.","authors":"Mohammed Ismail, Missaa M Fadul, Reham Taha, Orwa Siddig, Muhanad Elhafiz, Bashir A Yousef, Zhenzhou Jiang, Luyong Zhang, Lixin Sun","doi":"10.1007/s12072-024-10722-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-024-10722-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Liver disease has emerged as a significant health concern, characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality. Circulating exosomes have garnered attention as important mediators of intercellular communication, harboring protein and stable mRNAs, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA). This review highlights the involvement of exosomal lncRNA in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of various liver diseases. Notably, exosomal lncRNAs exhibit therapeutic potential as targets for conditions including hepatic carcinoma, hepatic fibrosis, and hepatic viral infections.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>An online screening process was employed to identify studies investigating the association between exosomal lncRNA and various liver diseases.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>Our study revealed a diverse array of lncRNAs carried by exosomes, including H19, Linc-ROR, VLDLR, MALAT1, DANCR, HEIH, ENSG00000248932.1, ENST00000457302.2, ZSCAN16-AS1, and others, exhibiting varied levels across different liver diseases compared to normal liver tissue. These exosomal-derived lncRNAs are increasingly recognized as pivotal biomarkers for diagnosing and prognosticating liver diseases, supported by emerging evidence. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the involvement of certain exosomal lncRNAs remain incompletely understood. Furthermore, the combined analysis of serum exosomes using ENSG00000258332.1, LINC00635, and serum AFP may serve as novel and valuable biomarker for HCC. Clinically, exosomal ATB expression is upregulated in HCC, while exosomal HEIH and RP11-513I15.6 have shown potential for distinguishing HCC related to HCV infection.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The lack of reliable biomarkers for liver diseases, coupled with the high specificity and sensitivity of exosomal lncRNA and its non-invasive detection, promotes exploring their role in pathogenesis and biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment liver diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":12901,"journal":{"name":"Hepatology International","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142285852","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}
Pub Date : 2024-09-19DOI: 10.1007/s12072-024-10730-1
Changwu Zhou, Chun Yang, Mengsu Zeng
Purpose
Whether there are differences in recurrence-free survival (RFS) prognosis between combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) cases with a small proportion of CCA components and HCC cases remains unknown. We aim to investigate the differences in RFS prognosis between cHCC-CCAs with a small proportion of CCA components and HCCs.
Methods
Patients with malignant liver neoplasms who underwent MRI and surgery were prospectively recruited. All cHCC-CCA patients were divided into different groups according to the ratio of CCA components. The primary end point was recurrence-free-survival. Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to investigate and compare RFS prognosis.
Results
One hundred sixty-four cHCC-CCA cases and 271 HCC cases were enrolled. There was no significant difference in RFS prognosis between cHCC-CCA cases with a CCA component of < 10% and HCC cases (log rank p = 0.169). There were no significant differences in some major HCC-favoring MR features, such as nonrim APHE (85.7% vs. 81.5%, p = 0.546), nonperipheral washout (80.0% vs. 84.1%, p = 0.534), and enhancing capsule (62.9% vs. 45.4%, p = 0.051) between them. In addition, some clinicopathological findings had no significant differences between cHCC-CCAs with a CCA component of < 10% and HCCs (all p > 0.05).
Conclusions
There were no significant differences in RFS prognosis, major HCC-favoring MRI features, and clinicopathological findings between cHCC-CCAs with a CCA component of < 10% and HCCs. Therefore, we suggest that cHCC-CCAs with pathological diagnosis of less than 10% of CCA components may be treated as HCCs in clinical setting.