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A prognostic evaluation and management of alcoholic hepatitis.

Minerva medica
December 1, 2017
Ramesh Rana et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of combining N-Acetylcysteine with corticosteroids on reducing hepatorenal syndrome, infections, and short-term mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Results Summary

The study found that combining N-Acetylcysteine with corticosteroids decreased the development of hepatorenal syndrome, infections, and short-term mortality in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis. However, the abstract does not provide detailed statistical outcomes or comparative efficacy data for N-Acetylcysteine alone.

Population

Patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis (MDF >32, Lille's Score >0.45, or GAHS >9).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
corticosteroid
increase
survival
severe disease state (MDF >32 or Lille's Score >0.45 or GAHS >9)
78% and 59%
improves survival
#1
corticosteroid
decrease
mortality
severe disease state (MDF >32 or Lille's Score >0.45 or GAHS >9)
-
decreasing mortality
#2
pentoxifylline
decrease
mortality
severe disease state (MDF >32 or Lille's Score >0.45 or GAHS >9)
-
decreasing mortality
#3
combination of corticosteroids and N-acetylcysteine
decrease
hepatorenal syndrome, infections, and short-term mortality
-
-
decreases development
#4
alcohol abstinence and recommendation of nutritional supplements with high calorie, protein diet and vitamin E, C, thiamine
decrease
disease progression and survival
pre and post-transplant cases
-
plays a prime role in preventing disease progression and survival benefits
#5
Abstract

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is an acute and severe form of alco1holic liver disease associated with high morbidity and mortality of 30-50% worldwide, severity ranging from asymptomatic derangement of liver biochemistries to fulminant liver failure or death. Rapidly progressing jaundice and coagulopathy in prolonged excessive alcohol abusers with or without fever, malnutrition, and tender liver are the clinical hallmarks. The prognostic models (Model for end-stage liver disease, Maddrey's discriminant function [MDF], age, serum bilirubin, INR, creatinine [ABIC], Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score [GAHS], Lille's Score) not only predict the short term mortality, but also guide the clinicians to choose appropriate specific therapy (corticosteroid or pentoxifylline) and as a stopping rule if there is no significant benefits of it. MDF Score is commonly followed in clinical practice, score of >32 would predict short term mortality of around 20-30% at 1 month and 30-40% within 6 months after presentation. The GAHS on day 1 can predict 28 day overall survival outcome accuracy of 81%, which is comparatively higher than MDF Score. Moreover, ABIC Score categorizes risk of deaths (based on 90 days) into low risks (0%), intermediate risk (30%), and high risk (75%). Corticosteroid and pentoxifylline have significant benefits in decreasing mortality (corticosteroid improves survival on 28 day and 84 day of 78% and 59%) in severe disease state (MDF >32 or Lille's Score >0.45 or GAHS >9). Corticosteroid is the initial treatment of choice with infections screening before initiating; however, pentoxifylline is better preferred in case of AH with severe infections and hepatorenal syndrome. Additionally, combination of corticosteroids and N-acetylcysteine decreases development of hepatorenal syndrome, infections, and short-term mortality. However, the Lille Score after corticosteroid therapy of >0.45 after day 7 indicates poor responders or >0.56 indicates null responders. Therefore, in these cases, either therapy has to be stopped or changed to pentoxifylline. In treatment failure cases, liver transplantation is the ultimate option. However, the facilitating of this service in most transplant centers is a challenge. Beside these specific therapies, alcohol abstinence and recommendation of nutritional supplements with high calorie, protein diet and vitamin E, C, thiamine regardless of other treatment plays a prime role in preventing disease progression and survival benefits even in pre and post-transplant cases.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AcetylcysteineAdrenal Cortex HormonesAlcohol AbstinenceBilirubinBiomarkersBiopsyCombined Modality TherapyCreatinineDrug SubstitutionHepatitis, AlcoholicHepatorenal SyndromeHumansLiverLiver Function TestsLiver TransplantationModels, BiologicalNutritional SupportPentoxifyllinePrognosisRisk FactorsSeverity of Illness Index
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations10
Citations/Year1.3
Relative Citation Ratio0.49
NIH Percentile26.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.89
Normalized Score0.66
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