Prognostic molecular markers in pediatric liver disease – Are there any?

Pediatric liver disease (PLD) is a major cause of severe morbidity and prolonged hospitalizations in children. Stratifying patients in terms of prognosis remains challenging. The limited knowledge about molecular mechanisms causing and accompanying PLD remains the main obstacle in a search for reliable prognostic biomarkers. A systematic search of MEDLINE via PubMed and Embase via OVID was conducted on studies published between August 2007 and August 2017. Molecular markers with a prognostic potential in terms of survival, need for liver transplantation or disease progression/regression were selected. In general, identified studies were single center smaller case-control studies or case series with a low level of evidence and a high risk of bias. Only 23 studies comprising 898 patients could be included, mostly focusing on biliary atresia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, and LT; and markers related to morphogenesis and fibrosis. Furthermore, molecular markers in metabolic pathways and inflammation shown to be relevant, however requiring further validation. Hence, further biological and clinical studies are needed to gain greater molecular insight into PLD.     

Treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a presumed autoimmune disease of the liver, which predominantly affects middle age women. Most patients are diagnosed when asymptomatic. The disease is characterised by chronic, granulomatous inflammation of the small bile ducts, which leads to progressive ductopenia, cholestasis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and eventual liver failure. All PBC patients with abnormal liver biochemistry should be considered for therapy. Ursodeoxycholic acid (URSO) treatment reduces intracellular hydrophobic bile acid levels and thereby may have a cytoprotective effect on cell membranes. URSO may also act as an immunomodulating agent. Multicenter randomised controlled trials proved that the treatment is associated with a marked improvement in serum biochemical markers of cholestasis, i.e. bilirubin, ALP, GGT, including fall in serum cholesterol levels. Treatment does not seem to benefit the symptoms of fatigue, pruritus, and osteoporosis. UDCA has been shown when given in a dose of 15 mg/kg daily for up to 4 years to prolong the time to liver transplantation or death. Immunosuppressive therapy: based on the immunological abnormalities, several immunosuppressive drugs have been tested. Neither azathioprine nor cyclosporine was found in large enough trials to show beneficial effect on survival. D-penicillamine, cholchicin, methotrexát, prednisolone were found without significant long-term benefit. Combination therapy with URSO and budenoside appears to add some benefit to URSO monotherapy, but further studies are needed. Liver transplantation. The most crucial question is the timing. Serum bilirubin, Mayo risk score and some other factors such as uncontrollable pruritus and severe osteoporosis influence the decision. Recurrence of PBC in allograft is rare, the progress is slow, and is no reason for not recommending transplantation. Symptomatic treatment of pruritus, sicca syndrome and preventive treatment of osteoporosis, neuropathy and fat soluble vitamin deficiency is also important.     

胆囊结石患者结石形态学特征及血浆脂多糖水平与急性胆源性胰腺炎的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨胆囊结石患者结石形态学特征及血浆脂多糖（LPS）水平与急性胆源性胰腺炎（ABP）的关系。方法：选取2015年10月~2018年9月期间武汉大学人民医院收治的胆囊结石患者164例为研究对象,分析结石形态学特征与并发ABP的关系,同时采用Logistic回归分析ABP发生的危险因素。将所有患者根据LPS水平分为低LPS组（n=65,<10 pg/mL）以及高LPS组（n=99,≥10 pg/mL）,分析血浆LPS水平对不同结石大小、不同总胆固醇（TG）水平患者并发ABP的影响。结果：多发胆囊结石、球状结石、<3 mm结石、软碎型结石患者并发ABP的概率明显高于单发胆囊结石、不规则状结石或泥沙状结石、3~10 mm结石或>10 mm结石、硬型结石或胶冻型结石（P<0.05）。Logistic回归分析结果显示,多发胆囊结石、球状结石、<3 mm结石以及软碎型结石均是ABP发生的高危因素（P<0.05）。当患者处于高TG水平时,高LPS组并发ABP的概率高于低LPS组（P<0.05）,在细小结石患者中,高LPS组并发ABP的概率高于低LPS组（P<0.05）。结论：依据结石形态学特征可对胆囊结石患者并发ABP的可能性作出早期的判断,同时血浆LPS水平升高是高TG以及细小胆囊结石患者易并发ABP的重要因素之一。     

经皮肝穿刺胆道引流术与逆行胰腺胆管造影术对结石性梗阻性黄疸患者的疗效比较研究

目的:比较经皮肝穿刺胆道引流术(PTCD)与逆行胰腺胆管造影术(ERCP)对结石性梗阻性黄疸患者的治疗效果。方法:选取海军军医大学第三附属医院东方肝胆外科医院于2016年3月～2018年4月间收治的结石性梗阻性黄疸患者80例。按照介入治疗术式的异同将患者分为ERCP组(n=40,给予ERCP治疗)和PTCD组(n=40,给予PTCD治疗),记录两组手术时间、术中出血量、住院费用、住院时间、治疗成功率、黄疸缓解率、并发症发生情况,比较两组术前、术后1 d、术后7 d肝功能指标情况。结果:两组患者手术时间、术中出血量、治疗成功率、黄疸缓解率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),ERCP患者住院费用少于PTCD组患者,住院时间亦短于PTCD组患者(P0.05)。两组患者术后1 d、术后7 d丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、总胆红素(TBIL)、直接胆红素(DBIL)水平均较术前降低,且两组患者术后7 d上述指标水平低于术后1 d(P0.05),ERCP组术后1 d、术后7 d ALT、TBIL、DBIL水平与PTCD组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者术后并发症总发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:PTCD、ERCP治疗结石性梗阻性黄疸,均能有效改善患者临床症状和肝功能,且手术安全性相当,但ERCP可明显减少住院时间和住院费用。     

胆道支架置入联合介入化疗对恶性胆道梗阻患者肝功能及预后的影响

目的:研究胆道支架置入联合介入化疗对恶性胆道梗阻患者肝功能及预后的影响,为临床治疗提供依据。方法:选取2013年2月到2015年2月我院收治的恶性胆道梗阻患者90例,按照随机数字表法将患者分为Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组,每组30例,Ⅰ组给予胆道支架置入联合介入化疗,Ⅱ组给予单纯胆道支架置入,Ⅲ组给予保守治疗,比较三组治疗前、后肝功能、并发症、支架通畅率及生存期。结果:治疗前三组谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、γ-谷氨酰转移酶(r-GT)比较无统计学意义(P0.05),治疗后Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组AST、ALT和r-GT均显著改善,与治疗前和Ⅲ组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),且I组显著优于Ⅱ组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),Ⅲ组治疗后AST、ALT和r-GT与治疗前比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组并发症发生率比较无统计学意义(P0.05);Ⅰ组术后3个月、6个月和12个月支架通畅率均显著高于Ⅱ组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);I组生存期显著高于Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组,Ⅱ组高于Ⅲ组,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:胆道支架置入联合介入化疗治疗恶性胆道梗阻具有较好效果,能明显改善患者肝功,延长患者生存期。