Real-world evidence on non-invasive tests and associated cut-offs used to assess fibrosis in routine clinical practice

Background & Aims: Non-invasive tests (NITs) offer a practical solution for advanced fibrosis identification in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Despite increasing implementation, their use is not standardised, which can lead to inconsistent interpretation and risk stratification. We aimed to assess the types of NITs and the corresponding cut-offs used in a range of healthcare settings. / Methods: A survey was distributed to a convenience sample of liver health experts who participated in a global NAFLD consensus statement. Respondents provided information on the NITs used in their clinic with the corresponding cut-offs and those used in established care pathways in their areas. / Results: There were 35 respondents from 24 countries, 89% of whom practised in tertiary level settings. A total of 14 different NITs were used, and each respondent reported using at least one (median = 3). Of the respondents, 80% reported using FIB-4 and liver stiffness by vibration-controlled transient elastography (Fibroscan®), followed by the NAFLD fibrosis score (49%). For FIB-4, 71% of respondents used a low cut-off of 7.5 to >20 kPa, respectively). / Conclusions: The cut-offs used for the same NITs for NAFLD risk stratification vary between clinicians. As cut-offs impact test performance, these findings underscore the heterogeneity in risk-assessment and support the importance of establishing consistent guidelines on the standardised use of NITs in NAFLD management. / Lay summary: Owing to the high prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population it is important to identify those who have more advanced stages of liver fibrosis, so that they can be properly treated. Non-invasive tests (NITs) provide a practical way to assess fibrosis risk in patients. However, we found that the cut-offs used for the same NITs vary between clinicians. As cut-offs impact test performance, these findings highlight the importance of establishing consistent guidelines on the standardised use of NITs to optimise clinical management of NAFLD

Orthotopic liver transplantation for hepatocellular car- cinoma after successful downstaging: results from the Belgian multicentre cohort

Purpose: Successful downstaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) into the Milan criteria (MC) remains a controversial indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In Belgium, successful downstaging of HCC is an accepted non-standard- ized exception (NSE) for liver allocation. This NSE group rep- resents a unique cohort to analyse if OLT can be safely offered to patients with those extended allocation criteria. The aim of this study is to compare the overall and recurrence free survival after cadaveric OLT between patients with successful downstaging (MILDOWN) and patients always inside the MC (MILIN) from all Belgian transplant centres. Methods: We ret- rospectively analysed all patients listed for OLT with HCC and underlying cirrhosis between 12/2006 and 12/2011 from all Belgian liver transplant centres. Successful downstaging was defined as bringing a patient who was outside the MC into the MC after locoregional therapy (LRT). Results: Overall 381 patients were listed in Belgium during the study period. Of these, 320 received OLT. 248 were MILIN, 62 were MIL- DOWN and 10 were transplanted outside MC. Downstaging treatment included transarterial chemoembolization (TACE; n=26), radiofrequency (RF; n=9), transarterial radioembolisa- tion (TARE; n=4), resection (n=3), percutaneous ethanol injec- tion (n=2) and a combination of the above-mentioned therapies in 18 cases. In the MILIN group 67.3% received locoregional therapy before transplantation, with no significant differences in the distribution of treatment type compared to the MIL- DOWN group. At listing there were no significant differences between the MILIN and MILDOWN group for age, gender and underlying liver disease. Median time on waiting list between the two groups was similar (120 days vs. 115.5 days). Overall survival at 1 year was not significantly different between MILIN and MILDOWN (87.1% vs. 79%; p=0.120). 1.6% of patients were lost to follow-up in both groups. Although not significant, recurrence free survival at 1 year tended to be higher in the MILIN group than in the MILDOWN group (83.9% vs. 74.2%; p=0.073). Conclusion: In this large Belgian multicentre cohort, overall and recurrence free survival at 1 year are not signifi- cantly different between patients who have been downstaged successfully and patients who were always inside the Milan criteria. However, a longer follow up period will define, if the trend of lower survival in the successfully downstaged group becomes significant. Factors associated with HCC recurrence have to be identified