Krónikus májbetegségre rakódott akut májelégtelenség: egy újraértelmezett klinikai entitás a hepatológiában

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Presepsin teardown – pitfalls of biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of bacterial infection in cirrhosis

AIM To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of presepsin in cirrhosis associated bacterial infections. METHODS Two hundred and sixteen patients with cirrhosis were enrolled. At admission, presence of bacterial infections and level of plasma presepsin, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were evaluated. Patients were followed for three months to assess the possible association between presepsin level and short-term mortality. RESULTS Present 34.7 of patients had bacterial infection. Presepsin levels were significantly higher in patients with infection than without (median, 1002 vs 477 pg/mL, P 1206 pg/mL sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values were as follows: 87.5%, 74.5%, 61.8% and 92.7%. The accuracy of presepsin, however, decreased in advanced stage of the disease or in the presence of renal failure, most probably because of the significantly elevated presepsin levels in non-infected patients. 28-day mortality rate was higher among patients with > 1277 pg/mL compared to those with ≤ 1277 pg/mL (46.9% vs 11.6%, P < 0.001). In a binary logistic regression analysis, however, only PCT (OR = 1.81, 95%CI: 1.09–3.01, P = 0.022) but neither presepsin and nor CRP were independent risk factor for 28-day mortality after adjusting with MELD score and leukocyte count. CONCLUSION Presepsin is a valuable new biomarker for defining severe infections in cirrhosis proving same efficacy as PCT. However, it is not a useful marker of short-term mortality

Major Changes of von Willebrand Factor Multimer Distribution in Cirrhotic Patients with Stable Disease or Acute Decompensation

Background There is an unstable balance between pro- and anti-haemostatic processes in patients with cirrhosis. We hypothesized, that in patients with acute decompensation (AD) the major alterations of von Willebrand factor (VWF) could contribute to the pro thrombotic situation as compared to patients with stable (ST) cirrhosis. Patients and Methods We analysed different parameters of VWF, including detailed multimer distribution by densitometry and platelet adhesion, together with a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type-1 motifs 13 (ADAMTS13) activity and antigen and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with ST cirrhosis (n = 99), with AD (n = 54) and controls (n = 92). Results VWF antigen, ristocetin co-factor as well as collagen-binding activities were elevated in both cirrhotic groups in a stepwise manner. There was a decrease in high and an increase in low molecular weight multimer ratios in the majority of ST cirrhosis. However, in 24 out of 54 AD patients, ultra-large VWF multimers (ultra-large molecular weight multimers [ULMWM]) were found. ADAMTS13 activity in ST and AD patients without ULMWM was similar to controls (median [interquartile range; IQR]%: 98 [67-132] and 91 [60-110] vs. 106 [88-117], respectively). The presence of ULMWM in AD patients was associated with low ADAMTS13 activity [33 (24-49)%] and high CRP level [23 (7.1-83.6) mg/L]. Adhesion of normal platelets showed a stepwise increase in the presence of cirrhotic plasmas, reaching the highest level in AD patients with ULMWM. Conclusion Characteristic changes of VWF parameters are seen in ST cirrhosis. In AD patients, highly increased VWF and reduced ADAMTS13 activity could be found, along with the presence of ULMWM, which are possible markers and contributors of the disease progression

Major Changes of von Willebrand Factor Multimer Distribution in Cirrhotic Patients with Stable Disease or Acute Decompensation

Background There is an unstable balance between pro- and anti-haemostatic processes in patients with cirrhosis. We hypothesized, that in patients with acute decompensation (AD) the major alterations of von Willebrand factor (VWF) could contribute to the pro thrombotic situation as compared to patients with stable (ST) cirrhosis. Patients and Methods We analysed different parameters of VWF, including detailed multimer distribution by densitometry and platelet adhesion, together with a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type-1 motifs 13 (ADAMTS13) activity and antigen and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with ST cirrhosis (n = 99), with AD (n = 54) and controls (n = 92). Results VWF antigen, ristocetin co-factor as well as collagen-binding activities were elevated in both cirrhotic groups in a stepwise manner. There was a decrease in high and an increase in low molecular weight multimer ratios in the majority of ST cirrhosis. However, in 24 out of 54 AD patients, ultra-large VWF multimers (ultra-large molecular weight multimers [ULMWM]) were found. ADAMTS13 activity in ST and AD patients without ULMWM was similar to controls (median [interquartile range; IQR]%: 98 [67-132] and 91 [60-110] vs. 106 [88-117], respectively). The presence of ULMWM in AD patients was associated with low ADAMTS13 activity [33 (24-49)%] and high CRP level [23 (7.1-83.6) mg/L]. Adhesion of normal platelets showed a stepwise increase in the presence of cirrhotic plasmas, reaching the highest level in AD patients with ULMWM. Conclusion Characteristic changes of VWF parameters are seen in ST cirrhosis. In AD patients, highly increased VWF and reduced ADAMTS13 activity could be found, along with the presence of ULMWM, which are possible markers and contributors of the disease progression

Rediscovery of the anti-pancreatic antibodies and evaluation of their prognostic value in a prospective clinical cohort of Crohn's patients: the importance of specific target antigens (GP2 and CUZD1).

BACKGROUNDS: Glycoprotein 2[GP2] and CUB zona pellucida-like domain 1[CUZD1] belong to protein families involved in gut innate immunity processes and have recently been identified as specific targets of anti-pancreatic autoantibodies [PAbs] in Crohn's disease[CD]. We aimed to determine the prognostic potential of novel target-specific PAbs regarding long-term disease course of an adult CD patient cohort. METHODS: Sera of 458 consecutive well-characterised IBD patients from a single referral IBD centre were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] with isoform 4 of recombinant GP2 [anti-MZGP2 and anti-GP2 IgA/IgG] and indirect immunofluorescence test [IIFT] system with GP2 and CUZD1 expressing transfected HEK 293 cells [anti-rPAg2 and rPAg1 IgA/IgG]. Clinical data were available on complicated disease or surgical interventions as well as disease activity and medical treatment during the prospective follow-up [median, 108 months]. RESULTS: Totals of 12.4% and 20.8% of CD patients were positive for IgA/IgG type of anti-GP2 and anti-CUZD1, respectively, with a significant difference compared with UC [p < 0.01]. Antibody status was stable over time. Agreement among three different anti-GP2 assays was good. Positivity for PAbs, mainly IgA subtypes, predicted a faster progression towards complicated disease course. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, time to surgery or development of perianal disease was associated with anti-GP2 IgA [pLogRank < 0.01] or anti-CUZD1 IgA [pLogRank < 0.001] positivity, respectively. Anti-CUZD1 IgA remained an independent predictor in the multivariate Cox-regression model (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68-7.02, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study has shown that specific PAbs [especially IgA subtype] predict complicated disease course including the development of perianal disease in CD