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Introduction Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is a relapsing chronic inflammatory condition1 that waxes and wanes irrespective of outpatient clinic scheduling York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (YTHT) covers a wide geographical area 2 The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that not all patients require regular clinical review in person Aim To update the clinical registry of AIH patients within YTHT, ensuring appropriate monitoring during Covid-19, and prompt review for those requiring it Methods An IT-based search identified individuals' with a diagnosis of AIH within YTHT An electronic note review established demographic details, risk factors for co-existing liver disease, severity of AIH, disease treatment, and current blood results Results 128 patients were identified, 81% of whom were female The average age was 68 years (range 17-88) 51% were local to York Hospital and 34% closer to Scarborough Hospital, as demonstrated in figure 1 The remainder travel to their closest hub 55% of the cohort had an elevated ALT suggesting ongoing disease activity (arguably ALT >31UI/L in males and ALT >21 UI/L in females) 62% were taking significant immunosuppression;Azathioprine 32%, Mycophenolate Mofetil 14 4%, Tacrolimus 9 6% and Prednisolone >20 mg/ day 6 4% Discussion The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need to identify and offer timely follow-up for our most unwell patients, allowing those with a stable condition to safely shield Virtual monitoring of patients is important to identify asymptomatic flares We advocate incorporating nurseled monitoring of such patients, in combination with patient initiated follow-up for those with symptomatic disease

Aim: To compare the outcomes of deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) using either the University of Wisconsin solution (UW) or the Institute Georges Lopez-1 (IGL-1) solution. Materials and Methods: Adult patients who underwent DDLT between November 2015 and March 2018 were included in the study. All patients received grafts from brain-dead donors. In 30 patients, the UW solution was used to preserve the liver and in 53 patients, the IGL-1 solution was used. The data of these two groups of the patients were analyzed and compared. Results: Between the two groups of patients, donor and recipient demographics and surgery-related variables were found to be similar. No difference was observed in the incidence of postreperfusion syndrome, number of days of hospitalization, and in the 30-day mortality. Early graft dysfunction was observed in 9 (16.98%) patients in the IGL-1 group and in 7 (23.33%) patients in the UW group (P = 0.48). One patient had primary nonfunction in each group. The postoperative levels of the liver transaminases were also not found to be significantly different. Conclusions: The efficacies of liver preservation by the IGL-1 and UW solutions were found to be comparable.

The first consensus report of the working party of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) set up in 2004 on acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) was published in 2009. With international groups volunteering to join, the “APASL ACLF Research Consortium (AARC)” was formed in 2012, which continued to collect prospective ACLF patient data. Based on the prospective data analysis of nearly 1400 patients, the AARC consensus was published in 2014. In the past nearly four-and-a-half years, the AARC database has been enriched to about 5200 cases by major hepatology centers across Asia. The data published during the interim period were carefully analyzed and areas of contention and new developments in the field of ACLF were prioritized in a systematic manner. The AARC database was also approached for answering some of the issues where published data were limited, such as liver failure grading, its impact on the ‘Golden Therapeutic Window’, extrahepatic organ dysfunction and failure, development of sepsis, distinctive features of acute decompensation from ACLF and pediatric ACLF and the issues were analyzed. These initiatives concluded in a two-day meeting in October 2018 at New Delhi with finalization of the new AARC consensus. Only those statements, which were based on evidence using the Grade System and were unanimously recommended, were accepted. Finalized statements were again circulated to all the experts and subsequently presented at the AARC investigators meeting at the AASLD in November 2018. The suggestions from the experts were used to revise and finalize the consensus. After detailed deliberations and data analysis, the original definition of ACLF was found to withstand the test of time and be able to identify a homogenous group of patients presenting with liver failure. New management options including the algorithms for the management of coagulation disorders, renal replacement therapy, sepsis, variceal bleed, antivirals and criteria for liver transplantation for ACLF patients were proposed. The final consensus statements along with the relevant background information and areas requiring future studies are presented here., Article Highlights Updated on the basis of AARC data of >3300 cases enrolled into AARC registry prospectivelyACLF is distinct form Acute Decompensation of cirrhosisNewer sections on DILI-ACLF, AIH-ACLF, PVT/HVOTO–ACLFReversibility of Chronic Liver Disease in ACLFPortal and systemic hemodynamics and their relevance in ACLFAcute Portal Hypertension and Variceal progression in ACLFAARC score as a guide for treatment strategies in ACLFACLF in Children-first consensus on pediatric ACLF

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease for liver transplant recipients (LTRs). Data on post–liver transplant TB from high-burden countries are scant. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of TB in LTRs from a high-prevalence area and to analyze the risk factors for the development of post–liver transplant TB. We performed a retrospective review of our database and a case-control study of identified cases with TB and age-matched LTRs without TB. The overall prevalence of TB in LTRs was comparable to the prevalence of TB in LTRs from low-prevalence countries (5/214 or 2.3%). A low rate of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) testing before liver transplantation was observed (68/214 or 31%). Most patients were screened clinically and with chest radiography alone before transplantation. TB developed variably after transplantation [median = 72 days, interquartile range (IQR) = 534 days]. The presentation was mostly extrapulmonary and/or disseminated (4/5 or 80%). When cases with posttransplant TB were compared with matched healthy LTRs, the presence of unexplained granulomas in explants (2/5 or 40%, P = 0.01) was the only factor associated with the development of TB. When all explants showing granulomas were reviewed, TB (52.9%) remained the most common cause; however, in almost half (47.1%), other attributable causes were found. Patients were treated with a standard daily regimen for a median of 12 months (IQR = 7.5 months). Posttransplant TB was associated with a high mortality rate (2/5 or 40%). In conclusion, we observed a low prevalence of TB in LTRs from a high-prevalence region. The presence of granulomas suggestive of TB in liver explants warrants isoniazid prophylaxis in the absence of disease. Post–liver transplant TB is associated with a high mortality rate. The roles of routine IGRA testing and isoniazid prophylaxis in a high-prevalence setting urgently need to be studied. Liver Transpl 20:960-966, 2014. © 2014 AASLD.

Liver transplantation for end-stage liver disease is increasingly being undertaken in India.(1) Routine tuberculin skin testing (TST) for latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and isoniazid prophylaxis in TST-positive liver-transplant recipients (LTRs) is recommended(2,3) but seldom implemented worldwide.(4-7) The role of TST-testing and isoniazid prophylaxis in LTRs remains further undefined in high prevalence areas, including India. We describe the burden of LTBI in LTRs; the epidemiological aspects of M. tuberculosis infection in high prevalence areas; identifiable risk factors for M. tuberculosis infection; the limitations of current diagnostic techniques for LTBI in LTRs and the efficacy and toxicity of isoniazid prophylaxis in TST-positive LTRs and suggest directions for future investigations in this area.

Background Surveillance programmes for oesophageal cancer in patients with Barrett's columnar-lined oesophagus have reported varying efficacies. Aim To review the effectiveness of an endoscopic surveillance programme for patients with Barrett's oesophagus in a UK general hospital. Methods Patients with Barrett's oesophagus (> or =3 cm histologically proven columnar-lined oesophagus) were identified from endoscopic and histological records and outcomes recorded when surveillance was performed with 2-yearly endoscopies and quadrantic biopsies at 3 cm intervals. Results One hundred and twenty-one patients (24%) entered the surveillance programme (mean age 60.2 years, 69.5% men, mean length of Barrett's mucosa 7.5 cm) of 505 patients identified with Barrett's oesophagus. Two hundred and five endoscopies were performed over a mean follow-up of 3.5 years. Five cases of high-grade dysplasia and two cases of adenocarcinoma were detected during the surveillance. One patient with high-grade dysplasia refused surgery and died of oesophageal carcinoma. The other six patients underwent oesophagectomy and five of the six resected specimens showed early (Tis to T2, N0) adenocarcinoma. All six patients remained well and tumour free at 24 months. No interval oesophageal cancers occurred. Conclusion This surveillance programme for classical Barrett's oesophagus was effective with six cancers being detected early and treated. The detection rate was 1/71 patient-years of surveillance. Endoscopic workload was not excessive and no interval cancers occurred.

Summary Background : When patients choose sedation or no sedation for gastroscopy, it is unknown whether the decision and experience of preceding patients on the same endoscopy list influence such decisions. Aim : To address this question in an endoscopy unit, where pre- and postprocedure patients are free to communicate. Methods : The order and sedation decisions of 503 out-patients attending diagnostic gastroscopy lists were analysed. One hundred patients completed a preprocedural questionnaire about sedation preferences. Results : Three hundred and fifteen (63%) patients chose no sedation. Men were more likely to be unsedated, 170 (72%), than women 158 (59%) (χ2 = 9.1, P

Auxiliary liver transplantation is an accepted form of therapy in acute liver failure and in certain metabolic disorders. We report India's first successful auxiliary liver transplantation for Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1, showing that it is technically feasible and safe procedure. It is utmost important to select appropriate cases for auxiliary transplant for successful long-term outcome. The surgeon should also have an understanding of the portal flow dynamics, as steal phenomenon can occur, depriving blood blow to either graft or native liver. Though successful in animal models, gene therapy is still in experimental stage in humans and pace of progress has been disappointing. Auxiliary liver transplantation retains the native liver for future gene therapy. These children are young and are likely to have a long life expectancy, and withdrawal of immunosuppression would be a huge advantage.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious disease for liver transplant recipients (LTRs). Data on post-liver transplant TB from high-burden countries are scant. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of TB in LTRs from a high-prevalence area and to analyze the risk factors for the development of post-liver transplant TB. We performed a retrospective review of our database and a case-control study of identified cases with TB and age-matched LTRs without TB. The overall prevalence of TB in LTRs was comparable to the prevalence of TB in LTRs from low-prevalence countries (5/214 or 2.3%). A low rate of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) testing before liver transplantation was observed (68/214 or 31%). Most patients were screened clinically and with chest radiography alone before transplantation. TB developed variably after transplantation [median = 72 days, interquartile range (IQR) = 534 days]. The presentation was mostly extrapulmonary and/or disseminated (4/5 or 80%). When cases with posttransplant TB were compared with matched healthy LTRs, the presence of unexplained granulomas in explants (2/5 or 40%, P = 0.01) was the only factor associated with the development of TB. When all explants showing granulomas were reviewed, TB (52.9%) remained the most common cause; however, in almost half (47.1%), other attributable causes were found. Patients were treated with a standard daily regimen for a median of 12 months (IQR = 7.5 months). Posttransplant TB was associated with a high mortality rate (2/5 or 40%). In conclusion, we observed a low prevalence of TB in LTRs from a high-prevalence region. The presence of granulomas suggestive of TB in liver explants warrants isoniazid prophylaxis in the absence of disease. Post-liver transplant TB is associated with a high mortality rate. The roles of routine IGRA testing and isoniazid prophylaxis in a high-prevalence setting urgently need to be studied.

Deceased donor (DDLT) and living donor (LDLT) liver transplant (LT) is in vogue in several centers in India. Most centers are resorting to LDLT as a preferred surgery due to shortage of deceased donor liver. The risk of infection and its effect on survival in both groups of recipients from the Indian subcontinent are not known. The study was conducted to compare the bacterial infection rates among LDLT and DDLT recipients and their impact on survival at a tertiary referral center.Retrospective data on 67 LT recipients were reviewed. Data on pre-, per-, and postoperative bacterial infection rates and the common isolates were obtained.Thirty-five patients had LDLT and 32 had DDLT. The prevalence of pre-operative bacterial infection and the isolates was similar in both groups. The perioperative bacterial infection rates were significantly higher in DDLT recipients (P0.01) (relative risk: 1.44 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.9). In both LDLT and DDLT, the common source was urinary tract followed by bloodstream infection. The common bacterial isolates in either transplant were Klebsiella followed by Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp. and nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria. Six patients (four LDLT; two DDLT) were treated for tuberculosis. Among the risk factors, cold ischemic time, and duration of stay in the intensive care unit was significantly higher for DDLT (p0.01). The death rates were not significantly different in the two groups. However, the odds for death were significantly high at 26.8 (p0.05) for postoperative bacterial infection and 1.8 (p0.001) for past alcohol.Liver transplant recipients are at high-risk for bacterial infection irrespective of type of transplant, more so in DDLT.

Puducherry (Formerly Pondicherry) is a union territory in South India. On the occasion of world hepatitis day 2013 we had conducted a free Hepatitis B and C screening camp for the general public of Puducherry. The purpose of the camp was to create awareness and diagnose hepatitis B and C among the general public. Prevalence data of Hepatitis B and C from Puducherry is not available. The screening camp was a daylong event starting at 10 am and finishing at 10 pm on the 28th of July 2013 on world hepatitis day. This was conducted in 4 locations (Beach road, Muthialpet, Villianour and Ouruvaiyar) across Puducherry. Newspaper adverts, televisions scrolling in local channels and pamphlets distribution were done prior to the screening camp to inform public regarding the event. Hepatitis B detection was done using the “INSTACHK”, a rapid HbsAg kit marketed by Trans-asia biomedicals limited. It is a colloid gold enhanced immunoassay for the detection of HBsAg in human whole blood, serum or plasma. It is a qualitative test, which according to the manufacturer's guideline has a sensitivity and specificity of around 98% along with a positive predictive value of 98%. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening was done using the “INSTACHK”, a rapid HCV test which is a colloid gold enhanced one step immunochromatographic assay for the qualitative detection of antibodies to hepatitis C viruses in whole blood, serum or plasma. It is a 3rd generation anti HCV assay, which utilizes core NS3, NS4, NS5 regions of the HCV genome and has a sensitivity and specificity of 100% according to manufacturer's guideline. We used one drop of blood obtained after a lancet prick which was sucked up using a plastic pipette and dropped into the test well of the test card immediately. The results were interpreted after 15 minutes. A total of 978 people were screened across 4 centers. There were 691 males to 287 females (70.6:29.3). The youngest to get screened was 3 and the oldest was 82 years. The mean age was 39.7 years. Twenty-nine people tested positive for HBsAg and two for anti-HCV. The Point prevalence of HbsAg and HCV were 2.96 and 0.20% from this study. The mean age of the HBsAg positive patients was 41.5 and the age range was 26–61 years. The HBsAg positive patients were predominantly male (24:5). The two patients who were tested positive for anti-HCV were males aged 23 and 54 years. The patients who were tested positive were subsequently followed up in the clinic. 23 patients with HBsAg positivity and one with HCV attended the clinic. 13 patients with HBV and the one HCV patient are undergoing treatment at present. The total population of Puducherry as per 2011 census is 9, 50,289 with a sex ratio of 970 females to 1000 males. The density of population is 3232 people per square kilometer. The average literacy rate is 85.4% with an urban, rural population of 69.1 and 30.8% respectively.1 Prevalence of hepatitis B in India is classified as intermediate (2–7%) as per World Health Organization. Recent meta-analysis reveals that the prevalence of Hepatitis B in tribal and non-tribal populations of India varies significantly and is 11.85% and 3.07% respectively with an overall country prevalence of 3.7%.2 Prevalence of anti-HCV positivity in India is around 1% and varies between 0.09 to 7.89%.3 There have been numerous studies in India reporting hepatitis B prevalence and some of them have been noted as community based. The study by Ahmad et al was a hospital based study from Chandigarh using blood samples from “apparently healthy individuals”. The HBsAg prevalence in this group was reported as 2.4%.4 Bhagyalaxmi et al conducted a “house to house survey and selected the youngest patient in the family” for HBV testing and reported a prevalence of 1.43%.5 Kaur et al reported an HBsAg prevalence of 2.9% among the “student population” in Chandigarh.6 Kurien et al from Christian Medical College, Vellore tested for hepatitis B in “stored samples of blood” from a representative population of Tamil Nadu used for an earlier survey on sexually transmitted diseases and reported prevalence of HBsAg as 2.1%.7 Singh et al reported prevalence of 3.3% in Bangalore and 4.2% in Rajmundry based on the study where 10–20 households were “randomly selected” from each locality in these two cities and only the “youngest apparently healthy individual” from each house were tested.8 The locations were specifically chosen to represent both the urban and rural areas of Puducherry. Beach road and Muthialpet represented urban Puducherry while Villianour and Ouruvaiyar represented the rural area. The beach road location was chosen as people of all age, social class and status visit the beach throughout the day on Sundays and hence screening here would represent the population of Puducherry. We do get foreign and other state tourists visiting the beach but none of them got screened in this event. The diagnostic kits (INSTACHK) used for this camp is not the standard immunoassays that depend on colorimetric or chemi-luminescence signal measurement but this has got sufficient sensitivity and specificity almost comparable to the standard tests as per the manufacturer's guideline although there is no literature to support its use. Previous community based studies in India have also used finger prick test.5,8

Though scorpion envenomation is known to lead to acute myocarditis and a reversible decrease in left ventricular function, it has not been implicated as an etiological factor in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. We studied the association of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with a history of scorpion sting as well as with socio-economic status, history of smoking and alcoholism, rural habitation, and history of snake bites.Consecutive cases of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were recruited for this study: The association with putative risk factors was studied using a case-control study design with two sets of controls. One set of controls were age and sex matched inpatients selected at random, the other set of controls were spouse, or if not available, a close relative, ordinarily resident with the patient.On analysis, none of the factors except scorpion envenomation had a significant association. A past history of scorpion envenomation had an adjusted odds ratio of 8.01 (3.55-18.06) when compared to one set of controls and an odds ratio of 8.33 (6.55-10.59) when compared to the second group of controls.Our study indicates that a history of scorpion envenomation acts as a risk factor for the subsequent development of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite an apparently complete recovery from a scorpion sting, many patients probably retain sub-clinical deficits that predispose to the development of cardiomyopathy later in life, when other factors get added on. The known association of cardiomyopathy with catecholamine excess in experimental situations in animal studies, and in other disease states in humans, supports this hypothesis.