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Background: Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF), complications of portal hypertension, and disease recurrence determine the outcome for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing liver resection. This study aimed to evaluate the von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) as a non-invasive test for clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) and a predictive biomarker for time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS)., Methods: The study recruited 72 HCC patients with detailed preoperative workup from a prospective trial (NCT02118545) and followed for complications, TTR, and OS. Additionally, 163 compensated patients with resectable HCC were recruited to evaluate vWF-Ag cutoffs for ruling out or ruling in CSPH. Finally, vWF-Ag cutoffs were prospectively evaluated in an external validation cohort of 34 HCC patients undergoing liver resection., Results: In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, vWF-Ag (area under the curve [AUC], 0.828) was similarly predictive of PHLF as indocyanine green clearance (disappearance rate: AUC, 0.880; retention rate: AUC, 0.894), whereas computation of future liver remnant was inferior (AUC, 0.756). Cox-regression showed an association of vWF-Ag with TTR (per 10%: hazard ratio [HR], 1.056; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.017-1.097) and OS (per 10%: HR, 1.067; 95% CI 1.022-1.113). In the analyses, VWF-Ag yielded an AUC of 0.824 for diagnosing CSPH, with a vWF-Ag of 182% or lower ruling out and higher than 291% ruling in CSPH. Therefore, a highest-risk group (> 291%, 9.7% of patients) with a 57.1% incidence of PHLF was identified, whereas no patient with a vWF-Ag of 182% or lower (52.7%) experienced PHLF. The predictive value of vWF-Ag for PHLF and OS was externally validated., Conclusion: For patients with resectable HCC, VWF-Ag allows for simplified preoperative risk stratification. Patients with vWF-Ag levels higher than 291% might be considered for alternative treatments, whereas vWF-Ag levels of 182% or lower identify patients best suited for surgery., (© 2024. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

Background and Aims: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is used for clinical decision-making and organ allocation for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and was previously upgraded through inclusion of serum sodium (Na) concentrations (MELD-Na). However, MELD-Na may underestimate complications arising from portal hypertension or infection. The von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen (vWF-Ag) correlates with portal pressure and seems capable of predicting complications in patients with cirrhosis. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate vWF-Ag as an adjunct surrogate marker for risk stratification on the waiting list for OLT., Approach and Results: Hence, WF-Ag at time of listing was assessed in patients listed for OLT. Clinical characteristics, MELD-Na, and mortality on the waiting list were recorded. Prediction of 3-month waiting-list survival was assessed by receiver operating characteristics and net reclassification improvement. Interestingly, patients dying within 3 months on the waiting list displayed elevated levels of vWF-Ag (P < 0.001). MELD-Na and vWF-Ag were comparable and independent in their predictive potential for 3-month mortality on the waiting list (area under the curve [AUC], vWF-Ag = 0.739; MELD-Na = 0.764). Importantly, a vWF-Ag cutoff at 413% identified patients at risk for death within 3 months of listing with a higher odds ratio (OR) than the previously published cutoff at a MELD-Na of 20 points (vWF-Ag, OR = 10.873, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.160, 36.084; MELD-Na, OR = 7.594, 95% CI, 2.578, 22.372; P < 0.001, respectively). Ultimately, inclusion of vWF-Ag into the MELD-Na equation significantly improved prediction of 3-month waiting-list mortality (AUC, MELD-Na-vWF = 0.804)., Conclusions: A single measurement of vWF-Ag at listing for OLT predicts early mortality. Combining vWF-Ag levels with MELD-Na improves risk stratification and may help to prioritize organ allocation to decrease waiting-list mortality., (© 2019 The Authors. Hepatology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., on behalf of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.)

B Presenter: b Patrick Starlinger MD | Mayo Clinic, Rochester B Background: b Measurement of hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) is frequently used to evaluate portal hypertension in high-risk patients prior to liver resection, specifically in patients with cirrhosis. B Conclusion b : These findings clearly demonstrate that vWF-Ag is a valuable predictor of postoperative outcome after liver resection in high risk patients such as patients suffering from HCC. [Extracted from the article]