Staff member publications
Trebicka, J., Gu, W., Ibañez-Samaniego, L., Hernández-Gea, V., Pitarch, C., Garcia, E., Procopet, B., Giráldez, Ã, Amitrano, L., Villanueva, C., Thabut, D., Silva-Junior, G., Martinez, J., Genescà , J., Bureau, C., Llop, E., Laleman, W., Palazon, J. M., Castellote, J., Rodrigues, S., Gluud, L., Ferreira, C. N., Barcelo, R., Cañete, N., Rodríguez, M., Ferlitsch, A., Mundi, J. L., Gronbaek, H., Hernández-Guerra, M., Sassatelli, R., Dell'Era, A., Senzolo, M., Abraldes, J. G., Romero-Gómez, M., Zipprich, A., Casas, M., Masnou, H., Primignani, M., Weiss, E., Catalina, M. V., Erasmus, H. P., Uschner, F. E., Schulz, M., Brol, M. J., Praktiknjo, M., Chang, J., Krag, A., Nevens, F., Calleja, J. L., Robic, M. A., Conejo, I., Albillos, A., Rudler, M., Alvarado, E., Guardascione, M. A., Tantau, M., Bosch, J., Torres, F., Pavesi, M., Garcia-Pagán, J. C., Jansen, C., Bañares, R., (2020). Rebleeding and mortality risk are increased by ACLF but reduced by pre-emptive TIPS Journal of Hepatology 73, (5), 1082-1091 
Background & Aims: The relationship between acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is poorly understood. Specifically, the prevalence and prognosis of ACLF in the context of AVB is unclear, while the role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the management in patients with ACLF has not been described to date.
Methods: A multicenter, international, observational study was conducted in 2,138 patients from 34 centers between 2011 and 2015. ACLF was defined and graded according to the EASL-CLIF consortium definition. Placement of pre-emptive TIPS (pTIPS) was based on individual center policy. Patients were followed-up for 1 year, until death or liver transplantation. Cox regression and competing risk models (Gray's test) were used to identify independent predictors of rebleeding or mortality.
Results: At admission, 380/2,138 (17.8%) patients had ACLF according to EASL-CLIF criteria (grade 1: 38.7%; grade 2: 39.2%; grade 3: 22.1%). The 42-day rebleeding (19% vs. 10%; p <0.001) and mortality (47% vs. 10%; p <0.001) rates were higher in patients with ACLF and increased with ACLF grades. Of note, the presence of ACLF was independently associated with rebleeding and mortality. pTIPS placement improved survival in patients with ACLF at 42 days and 1 year. This effect was also observed in propensity score matching analysis of 66 patients with ACLF, of whom 44 received pTIPs and 22 did not.
Conclusions: This large multicenter international real-life study identified ACLF at admission as an independent predictor of rebleeding and mortality in patients with AVB. Moreover, pTIPS was associated with improved survival in patients with ACLF and AVB.
Lay summary: Acute variceal bleeding is a deadly complication of liver cirrhosis that results from severe portal hypertension. This study demonstrates that the presence of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is the strongest predictor of mortality in patients with acute variceal bleeding. Importantly, patients with ACLF and acute variceal (re)bleeding benefit from pre-emptive (early) placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.
JTD Keywords: Acute variceal bleeding, Acute-on-chronic liver failure, Cirrhosis, Rebleeding
Hernández-Gea, V., Procopet, B., Giráldez, Ã, Amitrano, L., Villanueva, C., Thabut, D., Ibañez-Samaniego, L., Silva-Junior, G., Martinez, J., Genescà, J., Bureau, C., Trebicka, J., Llop, E., Laleman, W., Palazon, J. M., Castellote, J., Rodrigues, S., Gluud, L. L., Noronha Ferreira, C., Barcelo, R., Cañete, N., Rodríguez, M., Ferlitsch, A., Mundi, J. L., Gronbaek, H., Hernández-Guerra, M., Sassatelli, R., Dell'Era, A., Senzolo, M., Abraldes, J. G., Romero-Gómez, M., Zipprich, A., Casas, M., Masnou, H., Primignani, M., Krag, A., Nevens, F., Calleja, J. L., Jansen, C., Robic, M. A., Conejo, I., Catalina, M. V., Albillos, A., Rudler, M., Alvarado, E., Guardascione, M. A., Tantau, M., Bosch, J., Torres, F., Garcia-Pagán, J. C., (2019). Preemptive-TIPS improves outcome in high-risk variceal bleeding: An observational study Hepatology 69, (1), 282-293
Patients admitted with acute variceal bleeding (AVB) and Child-Pugh C score (CP-C) or Child-Pugh B plus active bleeding at endoscopy (CP-B+AB) are at high risk for treatment failure, rebleeding, and mortality. A preemptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (p-TIPS) has been shown to improve survival in these patients, but its use in clinical practice has been challenged and not routinely incorporated. The present study aimed to further validate the role of preemptive TIPS in a large number of high-risk patients. This multicenter, international, observational study included 671 patients from 34 centers admitted for AVB and high risk of treatment failure. Patients were managed according to current guidelines, and use of drugs and endoscopic therapy (D+E) or p-TIPS was based on individual center policy. p-TIPS in the setting of AVB is associated with a lower mortality in CP-C patients compared with D+E (1 year mortality 22% vs. 47% in D+E group; P = 0.002). Mortality rate in CP-B+AB patients was low, and p-TIPS did not improve it. In CP-C and CP-B+AB patients, p-TIPS reduced treatment failure and rebleeding (1-year cumulative incidence function probability of remaining free of the composite endpoint: 92% vs. 74% in the D+E group; P = 0.017) and development of de novo or worsening of previous ascites without increasing rates of hepatic encephalopathy. Conclusion: p-TIPS must be the treatment of choice in CP-C patients with AVB. Because of the strong benefit in preventing further bleeding and ascites, p-TIPS could be a good treatment strategy for CP-B+AB patients..
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