Using machine learning to predict antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in solid organ transplant recipients: the multicentre ORCHESTRA cohort.

Objectives: The study aim was to assess predictors of negative antibody response (AbR) in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients after the first booster of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Methods: Solid organ transplant recipients receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were prospectively enrolled (March 2021-January 2022) at six hospitals in Italy and Spain. AbR was assessed at first dose (t), second dose (t), 3 ± 1 month (t), and 1 month after third dose (t).

The interplay between sarcopenia and portal hypertension predicts ascites and mortality in cirrhosis.

Background: The role of sarcopenia in predicting decompensation other than hepatic encephalopathy is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic role of sarcopenia, assessed by computed tomography (CT), in the development of ascites and mortality in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) outside the liver transplantation (LT) setting.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated ACLD patients with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) >10 kPa and an available CT scan within 6 months.

Prognostic Role of Bacterial and Fungal Infections in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis With and Without Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Prospective 2-Center Study.

Background: Bacterial and fungal infections (BFIs) are frequent in patients with cirrhosis and often trigger acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). This prospective observational study aims to describe the interactions between BFI and ACLF in terms of mortality and related risk factors.

Methods: We performed a 2-center prospective observational study enrolling hospitalized patients with cirrhosis admitted for acute decompensation.

Spleen Stiffness Measurements Predict the Risk of Hepatic Decompensation After Direct-Acting Antivirals in HCV Cirrhotic Patients.

Purpose: Little evidence is available regarding the risk of hepatic decompensation (HD) after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. Our aim was to assess the risk of decompensation and the prognostic role of noninvasive tests, such as liver (LSM) and spleen (SSM) stiffness measurements, in the prediction of decompensation after sustained virologic response (SVR) by DAAs.

Materials And Methods: A cohort study involving 146 cirrhotic patients treated with DAAs in our tertiary center with LSM and SSM available both before and six months after treatment (SVR24).

Observational Retrospective Study on Patient Lifestyle in the Pretransplantation and Post-transplantation Period in the Emilia-Romagna Region.

Introduction: Despite the well-known benefits of exercise during the pretransplantation and post-transplantation phases, adherence to active lifestyles is still reduced. The aim of the present study is to evaluate how many patients who have received organ transplants and candidates for organ transplantation carry out physical or sports activities in order to increase adherence to an active lifestyle.

Methods: The patients who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed about their lifestyle habits by the staff at the nephrology, dialysis, and hepatology units of the Emilia-Romagna region.

Switch from intravenous or intramuscular to subcutaneous hepatitis B immunoglobulin: effect on quality of life after liver transplantation.

Background: Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) therapy is available in intravenous (IV) or intra-muscular (IM) formulations. Recently, a subcutaneous (SC) formulation was introduced. This study evaluated changes in quality of life when liver transplant (LT) recipients were switched from IV or IM HBIG to the SC formulation.

Prediction of nosocomial acute-on-chronic liver failure in patients with cirrhosis admitted to hospital with acute decompensation.

Unlabelled: Nosocomial acute-on-chronic liver failure (nACLF) develops in at least 10% of patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for acute decompensation (AD), greatly worsening their prognosis. In this prospective observational study, we aimed to identify rapidly obtainable predictors at admission, which allow for the early recognition and stratification of patients at risk of nACLF.

Methods: A total of 516 consecutive patients hospitalized for AD of cirrhosis were screened: those who did not present ACLF at admission (410) were enrolled and surveilled for the development of nACLF.

Physical Condition, Glycemia, Liver Function, and Quality of Life in Liver Transplant Recipients After a 12-Month Supervised Exercise Program.

Background And Aims: Despite the excellent long-term outcomes in liver transplant (LT) recipients, several medical complications related to lifestyle still represent an issue. This study examined the effects of a 12-month supervised aerobic and strength training program on the aerobic capacity, muscle strength, metabolic profile, liver function, and quality of life of a cohort of LT recipients.

Methods: LT recipients with stable liver function were assigned to interventional exercise (group A) or usual care (group B).

Promotion of Pre- and Post-Transplant Physical Exercise in the Emilia-Romagna Region: The Network of the Program "Transplantation, Physical Activity, and Sport".

Background: Following the positive experience of the national project "A transplant...

Spleen stiffness mirrors changes in portal hypertension after successful interferon-free therapy in chronic-hepatitis C virus patients.

Aim: To investigate changes in spleen stiffness measurements (SSMs) and other non-invasive tests (NITs) after treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and identify predictors of SSM change after sustained virological response (SVR).

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 146 advanced-chronic liver disease (ACLD) patients treated with DAA with available paired SSM at baseline and SVR24. Liver stiffness (LSM), spleen diameter (SD), platelet count (PLT) and liver stiffness-spleen diameter to platelet ratio score(LSPS) were also investigated.

Prevalent use of combined prophylaxis of hepatitis B after liver transplantation in Italy: results of a national survey in a large cohort.

Background: Prophylaxis of hepatitis B after liver transplantation with antiviral(s) and immunoglobulins efficiently protect the majority of recipients; however recent experiences suggest a decline of HBsAg-positive candidates and the use of hepatitis B Immunoglobulin-free schedules.

Methods: This national survey evaluated the epidemiology and clinical results of hepatitis B prophylaxis among 10,365 liver transplants performed in 25 years in 13 Italian centers.

Results: With a percentage of 22, 2260 procedures were performed in HBsAg-positive recipients and 714 out of 1080 anti-HBc-positive grafts were used in HBsAg-negative recipients; a total of 2974 patients (29%) were considered at risk of hepatitis B after liver transplantation.

The Italian compassionate use of sofosbuvir observational cohort study for the treatment of recurrent hepatitis C: clinical and virological outcomes.

Direct antivirals are available for treating recurrent hepatitis C (RHC). This study reported outcomes of 424 patients with METAVIR F3-F4 RHC who were treated for 24 weeks with sofosbuvir/ribavirin and followed for 12 weeks within the Italian sofosbuvir compassionate use program. In 55 patients, daclatasvir or simeprevir were added.

The Onset of de novo Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation can be both of Donor and Recipient origin. A Case Report.

The occurrence of de novo hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation is a rare event with only few cases reported in the literature. In a post liver transplantation setting distinguishing between a de novo hepatocellular carcinoma from recurrence should be tested with molecular analysis such as fluorescent in situ hybridization (for sex chromosomes) or microsatellite analysis. Nevertheless, a certain degree of epithelial chimerism between recipient and donor tissues could be responsible for the development of de novo hepatocellular carcinoma of recipient origin.

Long-term leukocyte natural α-interferon and ribavirin treatment in hepatitis C virus recurrence after liver transplantation.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of long-term treatment with leukocyte natural α-interferon (ln-α-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV).

Methods: Forty-six patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence received 3 MU three times a week of ln-α-IFN plus RBV for 1 mo; then, patients with good tolerability (n = 30) were switched to daily IFN administration, while the remaining were treated with the same schedule. Patients have been treated for 12 mo after viral clearance while non-responders (NR) entered in the long-term treatment group.

Long-term antiviral treatment for recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation.

Background And Aims: The management of patients treated for hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation and not achieving virological response following treatment with interferon plus ribavirin is controversial.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the outcomes of 70 patients non-responders to antiviral treatment after liver transplantation was performed. Twenty-one patients (30.

G-CSF in Peg-IFN induced neutropenia in liver transplanted patients with HCV recurrence.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of granulocyte colony stimulating factors (G-CSF) in liver transplanted patients with hepatitis C (HCV) recurrence and Pegylated-IFN alpha-2b induced neutropenia, and to evaluate the impact of G-CSF administration on virological response.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients undergoing antiviral treatment for post-liver transplantation (OLT) HCV recurrence were enrolled. All patients developing neutropenia received G-CSF.

Predictors of sustained virological response after antiviral treatment for hepatitis C recurrence following liver transplantation.

Factors associated with sustained virological response (SVR) in patients treated for hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) are unclear. Ninety-nine HCV-positive/hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients received antiviral treatment (AVT) with interferon/peginterferon plus ribavirin for HCV recurrence after LT. Cyclosporine (CyA) or tacrolimus (TAC) was used as the main immunosuppressor in 37 (37%) and 62 (63%) patients, respectively.

Systemic lupus erythematosus following virological response to peginterferon alfa-2b in a transplanted patient with chronic hepatitis C recurrence.

Autoimmune manifestations are common both in patients chronically infected by hepatitis C virus, and in patients transplanted for non-autoimmune diseases. A correlation between interferon based treatment and autoimmune diseases or the development of autoantibodies is well established in non-transplanted patients, but few data are available about transplanted patients. It is unclear whether interferon may increase the incidence of acute cellular rejection and there are few reports on the development of atypical autoimmune manifestations during post-liver transplantation interferon or pegylated interferon treatment.

Interferon plus ribavirin and interferon alone in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study on patients with HCV related cirrhosis.

Aim: To determine the role of interferon (IFN) with or without ribavirin in preventing or delaying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) related cirrhosis. Data on the preventive effect of IFN plus ribavirin treatment are lacking.

Methods: A total of 101 patients (62 males and 39 females, mean age 55.