Publications by authors named "Claire Francoz"

Article Synopsis
  • * Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), a severe type of AKI specifically found in patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites, has an especially high mortality rate, making early detection vital.
  • * In 2023, experts from the International Club of Ascites and the Acute Disease Quality Initiative met to create new diagnostic criteria for HRS-AKI and to establish better practices for treatment and follow-up care for these patients.
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Background: In recent years, age at liver transplantation (LT) has markedly increased. In the context of organ shortage, we investigated the impact of recipient age on post-transplantation mortality.

Methods: All adult patients who received a first LT between 2007 and 2017 were included in this cross-sectional study.

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The intricate association between histologic lesions and circulating antihuman leucocyte antigen donor-specific antibodies (DSA) in liver transplantation (LT) requires further clarification. We conducted a probabilistic, unsupervised approach in a comprehensively well-annotated LT cohort to identify clinically relevant archetypes. We evaluated 490 pairs of LT biopsies with DSA testing from 325 recipients transplanted between 2010 and 2020 across 3 French centers and an external cohort of 202 biopsies from 128 recipients.

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Background And Aim: Germline mutations of telomere-related genes (TRG) induce multiorgan dysfunction, and liver-specific manifestations have not been clearly outlined. We aimed to describe TRG mutations-associated liver diseases.

Approach And Results: Retrospective multicenter analysis of liver disease (transaminases > 30 IU/L and/or abnormal liver imaging) in patients with TRG mutations.

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Background: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis experience high mortality rates. Current prognostic scores, including the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), may underperform in settings other than in those they were initially developed. Novel biomarkers have been proposed to improve prognostication accuracy and even to predict development of complications.

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Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may recur after liver transplantation (LT). The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for recurrent autoimmune hepatitis (rAIH). A multicenter retrospective French nationwide study, including all patients aged ≥16 transplanted for AIH, with at least 1 liver biopsy 1 year after LT, was conducted between 1985 and 2018.

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Introduction: Osteoporosis in candidates for liver transplantation (LT) is often underdiagnosed despite the important consequences of morbidity.

Methods: We included 376 patients with cirrhosis evaluated for LT with available computed tomography (CT) scans. Prevalent vertebral fractures (VFs) were identified on CT reconstructions, and bone density was assessed by measuring CT attenuation of the L1 vertebra (L1-CT).

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Objective: To investigate whether and how experience accumulation and technical refinements simultaneously implemented in auxiliary orthotopic liver transplantation (AOLT) may impact on outcomes.

Background: AOLT for acute liver failure (ALF) provides the unique chance of complete immunosuppression withdrawal after adequate native liver remnant regeneration but is a technically demanding procedure. Our department is a reference center for ALF and an early adopter of AOLT.

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At the time of the growing obesity epidemic worldwide, liver transplantation (LT) and metabolic syndrome are closely linked: non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading indications for liver transplantation, and metabolic syndrome can also appear after liver transplantation, in relation to immunosuppressive medications and weight gain, whatever was the initial liver disease leading to the indication of LT. Therefore, the role of bariatric surgery (BS) is important due to its longer-lasting effect and efficacy. We performed a retrospective review of all 50 adult French liver transplant recipients who had a history of bariatric surgery, including 37 procedures before transplantation, and 14 after.

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Background: Scintigraphy with a 99m TC-trimethyl-Br-IDA tracer (TBIDA) is used to monitor liver function regeneration after auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) for acute liver failure (ALF). As computed tomography (CT) is also regularly performed during patient follow-up, CT volumetry could be used as an alternative to monitor native liver recovery after APOLT for ALF.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent APOLT (October 2006-July 2019).

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Liver transplantation offers live-saving therapy for patients with complications of cirrhosis and stage T2 hepatocellular carcinoma. The demand for organs far outstrips the supply, and innovations aimed at increasing the number of usable deceased donors as well as alternative donor sources are a major focus. The etiologies of cirrhosis are shifting over time, with more need for transplantation among patients with alcohol-associated liver disease and nonalcoholic/metabolic fatty liver disease and less for viral hepatitis, although hepatitis B remains an important indication for transplant in countries with high endemicity.

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Purpose: Acute liver failure (ALF) is characterized by hepatic encephalopathy (HE) often due to intracranial hypertension (ICH). The risk/benefit-balance of intraparenchymal pressure catheter monitoring is controversial during ALF.

Aims: Perform an evaluation of transcranial Doppler (TCD) use in patients with ALF listed for emergency liver transplantation.

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Background & Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) is the only available treatment for end-stage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (related decompensated cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma). The aim of our study was to evaluate the risk of disease recurrence after LT and the factors influencing it.

Method: This retrospective multicenter study included adults transplanted for NAFLD cirrhosis between 2000 and 2019 in 20 participating French-speaking centers.

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Background & Aims: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare indication for liver transplantation (LT). The aims of this study were to evaluate long-term survival after LT for AIH and prognostic factors, especially the impact of recurrent AIH (rAIH).

Methods: A multicentre retrospective nationwide study including all patients aged ≥16 transplanted for AIH in France was conducted.

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Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a frequent and severe complication of liver disease with poor patient outcomes. However, it is a poorly understood complication, with no consensus for diagnosis. Therefore, HE is often underdiagnosed.

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Background And Aims: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare indication (<5%) for liver transplantation (LT). The aim of this study was to describe the early outcome after LT for AIH.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective nationwide study including all patients aged ≥16 transplanted for AIH in France was conducted.

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Article Synopsis
  • Porto-sinusoidal vascular liver disorder (PSVD) is a rare condition that can lead to liver transplantation (LT), even when liver function is usually preserved, but there is limited data on LT outcomes for PSVD patients.!* -
  • A study of 79 patients showed that common reasons for LT were refractory ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, with a post-LT survival rate of approximately 82% at one year and decreasing over five years; factors like severe associated conditions and high bilirubin or creatinine levels were linked to poorer survival outcomes.!* -
  • While LT for PSVD can yield good results, ongoing severe conditions at the time of transplantation and certain lab values are critical for assessing patient prognosis,
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Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are fundamental principles. Little is known about the pattern of practice and perceptions of EDI among liver transplant (LT) providers. International Liver Transplant Society (ILTS) EDI Committee survey around topics related to discrimination, mentorship, and gender.

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Background: The International Liver Transplantation Society (ILTS) has placed a strong focus on achieving gender equality and equity in liver transplant (LT). We aimed to understand gender distribution in leadership positions among LT physicians around the world and within ILTS.

Methods: In 2019, the ILTS Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee distributed a survey to obtain granular data on gender and characteristics of transplant physicians as well as those in leadership positions in each center.

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Article Synopsis
  • Liver transplantation is effective for patients with end-stage non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD), particularly those with decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, but long-term outcomes are not well-documented.
  • A study reviewed data from 361 patients who underwent liver transplants from 2000-2019, revealing a dramatic increase in procedures and providing insights into survival rates and causes of death.
  • Findings indicated a 5-year survival rate of 79.8%, with major mortality risks linked to recipient BMI, cardiovascular history, and combined ages of donor and recipient exceeding 135 years.
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Hepatorenal syndrome-acute kidney injury (HRS-AKI) is a serious complication of severe liver disease with a clinically poor prognosis. Supportive care using vasoconstrictors and intravenous albumin are the current mainstays of therapy. Terlipressin is an efficacious vasoconstrictor that has been used for 2 decades as the first-line treatment for HRS-AKI in Europe and has demonstrated greater efficacy in improving renal function compared to placebo and other vasoconstrictors.

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Laparoscopic approach was rarely described in recipients for liver transplantation (LT). We report the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic-assisted LT (LA-LT) in patients with unresectable liver metastases of neuroendocrine tumors. Total hepatectomy was performed laparoscopically with graft implantation through an upper midline incision.

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Patients with decompensated cirrhosis, particularly those with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), show profound alterations in plasma metabolomics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of treatment with simvastatin and rifaximin on plasma metabolites of patients with decompensated cirrhosis, specifically on compounds characteristic of the ACLF plasma metabolomic profile. Two cohorts of patients were investigated.

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Purpose Of Review: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is encountered frequently in patients with end-stage liver disease and remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in this patient population. This review will focus and provide updates on pathophysiology, assessment of kidney function, new definitions, and treatment and prevention of HRS.

Recent Findings: Pathophysiology of HRS has been elucidated more recently and in addition to hemodynamic changes, the role of systemic inflammatory response contributes significantly to this process.

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