Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Adverse Outcome in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis

The natural history of liver cirrhosis (LC) is characterized by two stages: compensated and decompensated. Current clinical and laboratory prognostic models, such as Child-Pugh and MELD scales, do not take into account immune dysregulation, as well as it potential impact on the LC decompensation and the survival. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is simple and affordable parameter, representing the imbalance of two distinct immune pathways.Aim: to evaluate relationship between NLR level, mortality and SIRS development in patients with DC.Materials and methods. In this retrospective study 36 patients with DC which were hospitalized in Hepatology Department of V.H. Vasilenko clinic of propaedeutics and internal diseases, gastroenterology and hepatology, Sechenov University from January 2009 to December 2017 were enrolled. Correlation analysis, univariate and multivariable analysis were provided to find factors statistically significantly associated with lethal outcome and SIRS. The optimal cut-off levels for the NLR associated with adverse outcome were determined.Results. AIn multivariable analysis, NLR > 4 (p < 0,001) was statistically significantly associated with lethal outcome in patients with DC during hospitalization (OR: 1.57, [95 % CI 1.125–2.209], p = 0.008). Sensitivity and specificity of this cut-off is 100 % and 79.17 %, respectively. NLR > 4.8 was associated with SIRS development during hospitalization (OR: 1.484, [95 % CI 1.103–1.997], p = 0.009) with 100 % sensitivity and 90 % specificity.Conclusions. NLR is an independent risk factor of lethal outcome and SIRS development in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Adverse Outcome in Patients with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis

The natural history of liver cirrhosis (LC) is characterized by two stages: compensated and decompensated. Current clinical and laboratory prognostic models, such as Child-Pugh and MELD scales, do not take into account immune dysregulation, as well as it potential impact on the LC decompensation and the survival. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is simple and affordable parameter, representing the imbalance of two distinct immune pathways.Aim: to evaluate relationship between NLR level, mortality and SIRS development in patients with DC.Materials and methods. In this retrospective study 36 patients with DC which were hospitalized in Hepatology Department of V.H. Vasilenko clinic of propaedeutics and internal diseases, gastroenterology and hepatology, Sechenov University from January 2009 to December 2017 were enrolled. Correlation analysis, univariate and multivariable analysis were provided to find factors statistically significantly associated with lethal outcome and SIRS. The optimal cut-off levels for the NLR associated with adverse outcome were determined.Results. AIn multivariable analysis, NLR > 4 (p < 0,001) was statistically significantly associated with lethal outcome in patients with DC during hospitalization (OR: 1.57, [95 % CI 1.125–2.209], p = 0.008). Sensitivity and specificity of this cut-off is 100 % and 79.17 %, respectively. NLR > 4.8 was associated with SIRS development during hospitalization (OR: 1.484, [95 % CI 1.103–1.997], p = 0.009) with 100 % sensitivity and 90 % specificity.Conclusions. NLR is an independent risk factor of lethal outcome and SIRS development in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis

Drug-Induced Liver Injuries (Clinical Guidelines for Physicians)

Aim. Clinical guidelines for the management of adult patients suffering from drug-induced liver injuries (DILI) are intended for all medical specialists, who treat such patients in their clinical practice.Key findings. The presented recommendations contain information about the epidemiological data, terminology, diagnostic principles, classification, prognosis and management of patients with DILI. The recommendations list pharmacological agents that most commonly cause DILI, including its fatal cases. Dose-dependent and predictable (hepatotoxic), as well as dose-independent and unpredictable (idiosyncratic) DILI forms are described in detail, which information has a particular practical significance. The criteria and types of DILI are described in detail, with the most reliable diagnostic and prognostic scales and indices being provided. The pathogenesis and risk factors for the development of DILI are considered. The clinical and morphological forms (phenotypes) of DILI are described. The diseases that are included into the differential diagnosis of DILI, as well as the principles of its implementation, are given. The role and significance of various diagnostic methods for examining a patient with suspected DILI is described, with the liver biopsy role being discussed. Clinical situations, in which DILI can acquire a chronic course, are described. A section on the assessment of causal relationships in the diagnosis of DILI is presented; the practical value of using the CIOMS-RUCAM scale is shown. All possible therapeutic measures and pharmacological approaches to the treatment of patients with various DILI phenotypes are investigated in detail. A particular attention is paid to the use of glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of DILI.Conclusion. The presented clinical recommendations are important for improving the quality of medical care in the field of hepatology

Drug-Induced Liver Injuries (Clinical Guidelines for Physicians)

Aim. Clinical guidelines for the management of adult patients suffering from drug-induced liver injuries (DILI) are intended for all medical specialists, who treat such patients in their clinical practice.Key findings. The presented recommendations contain information about the epidemiological data, terminology, diagnostic principles, classification, prognosis and management of patients with DILI. The recommendations list pharmacological agents that most commonly cause DILI, including its fatal cases. Dose-dependent and predictable (hepatotoxic), as well as dose-independent and unpredictable (idiosyncratic) DILI forms are described in detail, which information has a particular practical significance. The criteria and types of DILI are described in detail, with the most reliable diagnostic and prognostic scales and indices being provided. The pathogenesis and risk factors for the development of DILI are considered. The clinical and morphological forms (phenotypes) of DILI are described. The diseases that are included into the differential diagnosis of DILI, as well as the principles of its implementation, are given. The role and significance of various diagnostic methods for examining a patient with suspected DILI is described, with the liver biopsy role being discussed. Clinical situations, in which DILI can acquire a chronic course, are described. A section on the assessment of causal relationships in the diagnosis of DILI is presented; the practical value of using the CIOMS-RUCAM scale is shown. All possible therapeutic measures and pharmacological approaches to the treatment of patients with various DILI phenotypes are investigated in detail. A particular attention is paid to the use of glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of DILI.Conclusion. The presented clinical recommendations are important for improving the quality of medical care in the field of hepatology

The very forward CASTOR calorimeter of the CMS experiment

International audienceThe physics motivation, detector design, triggers, calibration, alignment, simulation, and overall performance of the very forward CASTOR calorimeter of the CMS experiment are reviewed. The CASTOR Cherenkov sampling calorimeter is located very close to the LHC beam line, at a radial distance of about 1 cm from the beam pipe, and at 14.4 m from the CMS interaction point, covering the pseudorapidity range of $-$6.6 $\lt\eta\lt$ $-$5.2. It was designed to withstand high ambient radiation and strong magnetic fields. The performance of the detector in measurements of forward energy density, jets, and processes characterized by rapidity gaps, is reviewed using data collected in proton and nuclear collisions at the LHC