Hepatitis B Vaccination for Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Background Chronic renal failure patients are at particular risk of hepatitis B virus infection. Early studies have demonstrated that renal failure patients benefit from vaccination; however, not all studies have consistently shown benefit. Objectives To determine the beneficial and harmful effects of hepatitis B vaccine and of a reinforced vaccination series in chronic renal failure patients. Search methods We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, The Cochrane Renal Group Controlled Trials Register, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register on The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2002), PubMed/MEDLINE (1966 to July 2003), EMBASE (1985 toNovember 2003), Current Clinical Practice Guidelines (Canadian Immunization Guide and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Manual), and Science Citation Index as well as journals, published abstracts, and reference lists of articles. Selection criteria Randomised clinical trials comparing plasma vaccine with placebo, recombinant vaccine with placebo, recombinant vaccine with plasma vaccine, and a reinforced vaccination series (ie, more than three inoculations) with three inoculations of vaccine in chronic renal failure patients. Data collection and analysis Primary outcome measures included incidence of patients developing hepatitis B virus antibodies and infections while secondary outcomes included adverse events, liver-related morbidity, and mortality. Random effects models were used and reported relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (RR and 95% CI). Main results We included seven randomised clinical trials. None of them had high quality. Plasma vaccine was significantly more effective than placebo in achieving hepatitis B antibodies (RR 23.0, 95% CI 14.39 to 36.76, 3 trials). We found no statistically significant difference between plasma vaccine or placebo regarding hepatitis B virus infections (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.20 to 1.24). We found no statistically significant differences between recombinant vaccine and plasma vaccine in achieving hepatitis B antibodies (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.28 to 1.53, 2 trials). Heterogeneity was significant and appeared to be attributable to the dose of vaccine. Two trials examined a reinforced recombinant vaccine strategy, which was not statistically more effective than three inoculations of recombinant vaccine regarding development of hepatitis B antibodies (RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.85 to 2.16). Authors’ conclusions Plasma derived vaccines are more effective than placebo in achieving hepatitis B antibodies, while no statistically significant difference was found between recombinant and plasma vaccines. No statistically significant difference of effectiveness was observed between a reinforced vaccination series versus routine vaccinations of three inoculations of recombinant vaccine

Hepatitis C Virus in American Indian/Alaskan Native and Aboriginal Peoples of North America

Liver diseases, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), are “broken spirit” diseases. The prevalence of HCV infection for American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) in the United States and Canadian Aboriginals varies; nonetheless, incidence rates of newly diagnosed HCV infection are typically higher relative to non-indigenous people. For AI/AN and Aboriginal peoples risk factors for the diagnosis of HCV can reflect that of the general population: predominately male, a history of injection drug use, in midlife years, with a connection with urban centers. However, the face of the indigenous HCV infected individual is becoming increasingly female and younger compared to non-indigenous counterparts. Epidemiology studies indicate that more effective clearance of acute HCV infection can occur for select Aboriginal populations, a phenomenon which may be linked to unique immune characteristics. For individuals progressing to chronic HCV infection treatment outcomes are comparable to other racial cohorts. Disease progression, however, is propelled by elevated rates of co-morbidities including type 2 diabetes and alcohol use, along with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection relative to non-indigenous patients. Historical and personal trauma has a major role in the participation of high risk behaviors and associated diseases. Although emerging treatments provide hope, combating HCV related morbidity and mortality will require interventions that address the etiology of broken spirit diseases

Clinical outcomes of liver transplantation for polycystic liver disease: A single center experience

Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is a celiopathy characterized by progressive growth of multiple hepatic cysts. In a minority of patients, severe symptomatic hepatomegaly necessitates liver transplantation (LT). The purpose of this study is to describe the postoperative and long-term outcomes of all patients transplanted for PLD at our center.All patients who underwent LT for PLD were identified through our database. Using patient charts, data were extracted on patient demographics and medical history, postoperative surgical and medical complications, length of hospitalization, prevalence of chronic kidney failure, and patient and graft survival. Subjects were contacted in April 2010 to verify their survival and confirm their need, if any, for hemodialysis and/or kidney transplantation. Descriptive statistics for patient and graft survival were performed. From 1993 to 2010, 14 subjects underwent LT and 1 subject underwent combined kidney and LT; all subjects were female and the mean age was 49.0 years. 10 (66.7%) subjects had polycystic kidney disease. Patients experienced a high rate of vascular complications, including hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) or stenosis in 3 (20%) and 2 (13.3%) subjects, respectively. One subject had early graft loss due to HAT and underwent re-transplantation. The mean length of hospitalization was 18.8 days. After a mean of 66.8 months of follow-up (3-200), 13 (86.7%) subjects are alive with satisfactory graft function, and no patients had renal failure.In conclusion, patients who underwent LT for PLD had a high rate of postoperative vascular complications. However, long-term patient and graft survival, and kidney function, is excellent

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Canadian First Nations and Non-First Nations Patients

Background. Features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have yet to be described in the Canadian First Nations (FN) population. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence, severity, and outcome of NAFLD in FN versus non-FN patients at an urban, tertiary care centre. Methods. Adults with NAFLD and no additional liver disease were identified in a prospectively derived database at the University of Manitoba. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, and histologic data were analyzed. Results. 482 subjects fulfilled diagnostic criteria for NAFLD, including 33 (7%) FN. Aside from rural residence, diabetes and cholestasis being more common in FN patients, the ages, gender distributions, clinical and radiologic features, and liver enzyme/function test results were similar in the two cohorts. Noninvasive tests of fibrosis (APRI and NAFLD fibrosis scores) were also similar in the two cohorts. There were no significant differences in liver enzyme or function tests in either cohort after approximately three years of follow-up. Conclusion. Compared to the prevalence of FN persons in the general population of this study site (10–15%), FN patients were underrepresented in this NAFLD population. The severity and progression of liver disease in FN patients appear to be similar to those in non-FN patients

The relative expression of hepatocellular and cholestatic liver enzymes in adult patients with liver disease

Introduction and objectives: Hepatocellular liver injury is characterized by elevations in serum alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferases while cholestasis is associated with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. When both sets of enzymes are elevated, distinguishing between the two patterns of liver disease can be difficult. The aim of this study was to document the predicted ranges of serum ALP values in patients with hepatocellular liver injury and ALT or AST values in patients with cholestasis. Materials and methods: Liver enzyme levels were documented in adult patients with various types and degrees of hepatocellular (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis B and C, alcohol and autoimmune hepatitis) and cholestatic (primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis) disease. Results: In 5167 hepatocellular disease patients with ALT (or AST) values that were normal, 1–5×, 5–10× or >10× elevated, median (95% CI) serum ALP levels were 0.64 (0.62–0.66), 0.72 (0.71–0.73), 0.80 (0.77–0.82) and 1.15 (1.0–1.22) fold elevated respectively. In 252 cholestatic patients with ALP values that were normal, 1–5× or >5× elevated, serum ALT (or AST) values were 1.13 (0.93–1.63), 2.47 (2.13–2.70) and 4.57 (3.27–5.63) fold elevated respectively. In 56 patients with concurrent diseases, ALP levels were beyond predicted values for their hepatitis in 38 (68%) and ALT (or AST) values beyond predicted values for their cholestatic disorder in 24 (43%). Conclusions: These data provide health care providers with predicted ranges of liver enzymes in patients with hepatocellular or cholestatic liver disease and may thereby help to identify patients with concurrent forms of liver disease

The Epidemiology of Hepatitis C in a Canadian Indigenous Population

BACKGROUND An estimated 1% to 1.9% of North Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although Indigenous peoples are considered to bear the highest burden, there are only limited data regarding the demographic features and epidemiology of hepatitis C in this population

Percutaneous Liver Biopsy Practice Patterns Among Canadian Hepatologists

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous liver biopsy (PLB) is the standard procedure to obtain histological samples essential for the management of various liver diseases. While safe, many hepatologists no longer perform their own PLBs; the reasons for this practice shift are unknown

Predicting Pre-transplant Abstinence in Patients with Alcohol-Induced Liver Disease

Background: Some patients with alcohol-induced liver failure will succumb to their disease prior to demonstrating compliance with the six months abstinence rule for liver transplantation. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a patient’s self-reported, longest period of abstinence predicts subsequent abstinence. Methods: Adult patients (n=63) with alcohol-induced liver disease were asked to recall their longest period of abstinence prior to their initial hepatology visit. Compliance with instructions to remain abstinent was then documented. Results: Nineteen patients (30%) achieved abstinence and 44 (70%) relapsed within six months of seeing their hepatologist. Relapses were more common in patients who self-reported previous periods of abstinence exceeding six months (19/44, 43%) compared with 2/19 (11%) in those with periods of less than six months (p=0.01). Serum albumin levels were lower in relapsers but other tests of liver function (bilirubin level and international ratio of prothrombin time) and predictors of post-transplant recidivism did not associate with relapses. On multivariate analysis, self-reported abstinence (OR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02-0.57, p=0.008) and serum albumin levels (regression coefficient 0.113, p=0.02) predicted relapses. Conclusions: A self-reported period of abstinence in excess of six months was associated with an increased risk of subsequent relapse following a hepatologist’s instructions to remain abstinent. These counter-intuitive findings should be confirmed by larger, prospective studies