Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTL A-4), anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and anti-programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies, are arguably the most important development in cancer therapy over the past decade. The indications for these agents continue to expand across malignancies and disease settings, thus reshaping many of the previous standard-of-care approaches and bringing new hope to patients. One of the costs of these advances is the emergence of a new spectrum of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which are often distinctly different from the classical chemotherapy-related toxicities. Owing to the growing use of ICIs in oncology, clinicians will increasingly be confronted with common but also rare irAEs; hence, awareness needs to be raised regarding the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of these toxicities. In this Review, we provide an overview of the various types of irAEs that have emerged to date. We discuss the epidemiology of these events and their kinetics, risk factors, subtypes and pathophysiology, as well as new insights regarding screening and surveillance strategies. We also highlight the most important aspects of the management of irAEs.

In an analysis of a large cohort of subjects with IBD, we found a significant association between symptoms of depression or anxiety and clinical recurrence. Patients with IBD should therefore be screened for clinically relevant levels of depression and anxiety and referred to psychologists or psychiatrists for further evaluation and treatment.

ObjectiveKnowledge on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in liver transplant recipients is lacking, particularly in terms of severity of the disease. The aim of this study was to describe the demographic, baseline clinical characteristics and early outcomes of a European cohort of liver transplant recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.DesignWe conducted an international prospective study across Europe on liver transplant recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by microbiological assay during the first outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, management of immunosuppressive therapy and outcomes were collected.Results57 patients were included (70% male, median (IQR) age at diagnosis 65 (57–70) years). 21 (37%), 32 (56%) and 21 (37%) patients had one cardiovascular disease, arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus, respectively. The most common symptoms were fever (79%), cough (55%), dyspnoea (46%), fatigue or myalgia (56%) and GI symptoms (33%). Immunosuppression was reduced in 22 recipients (37%) and discontinued in 4 (7%). With this regard, no impact on outcome was observed. Forty-one (72%) subjects were hospitalised and 11 (19%) developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. Overall, we estimated a case fatality rate of 12% (95% CI 5% to 24%), which increased to 17% (95% CI 7% to 32%) among hospitalised patients. Five out of the seven patients who died had a history of cancer.ConclusionIn this European multicentre prospective study of liver transplant recipients, COVID-19 was associated with an overall and in-hospital fatality rate of 12% (95% CI 5% to 24%) and 17% (95% CI 7% to 32%), respectively. A history of cancer was more frequent in patients with poorer outcome.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are reshaping the prognosis of many cancer types and are progressively becoming a standard of care for many of them. Cancer immunotherapy has started a revolution in the oncology therapeutic landscape, bringing new hope to patients but also a whole new spectrum of toxicities for practitioners to manage. Oncologists and specialists involved in the pluridisciplinary management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are increasingly confronted with the therapeutic challenge of severe and/or refractory cases. In this personal view, we summarize the therapeutic strategies reported to manage them. Based on current knowledge of irAE pathogenesis and our immunological expertise, we also transpose the use of new biologic and non-biologic immunosuppressive agents, used to treat primary autoimmune disorders (AIDs), in the context of severe and/or steroid refractory irAE management. Depending on the immune-type predominant infiltrate, we propose a personalized treatment algorithm beyond corticosteroids. A shut-off strategy, intended to treat severe or steroid-refractory irAEs, based on the efficient inhibition of key inflammatory components involved in their pathophysiological processes, and limit potential adverse effects of drug immunosuppression on tumor response is proposed. This approach goes beyond current guidelines, challenging the step-by-step increase in drug immunosuppression proposed so far.

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Patients with HEV-NA are usually anicteric and have a distinct clinical phenotype, with predominately bilateral asymmetrical involvement of, and more extensive damage to, the brachial plexus. Involvement outside the brachial plexus is more common in HEV-NA. The relationship between HEV and NA is likely to be causal, but is easily overlooked. Patients presenting with NA should be tested for HEV, irrespective of liver function test results. Prospective treatment/outcome studies of HEV-NA are warranted.

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In the setting of liver cirrhosis (LC), profound hemostatic changes occur, which affect primary hemostasis, coagulation, and fibrinolysis. They involve prohemorrhagic and prothrombotic alterations at each of these steps. Patients with cirrhosis exhibit multifactorial thrombocytopenia and in vitro thrombocytopathy, counterbalanced by increased von Willebrand factor. The resultant shift is difficult to assess, but overall these changes probably result in a rebalanced primary hemostasis. Concerning coagulation, the reduced activity of coagulation factors is counterbalanced by an increase in factor VIII (produced by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells), a decrease of the natural anticoagulants, and complex changes, including changes in circulating microparticles, cell-free DNA, and neutrophil extracellular traps. Overall, these alterations result in a procoagulant state. As for fibrinolysis, increased tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activators, a relatively decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and decreased levels of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and α2-antiplasmin are counterbalanced by decreased plasminogen and a decreased fibrin clot permeability. Whether and how these changes shift fibrinolysis remains to be determined. Overall, the current consensus is that in patients with cirrhosis, the hemostasis is shifted toward a procoagulant state. We review the published evidence for the concept of LC as a prothrombotic state, discuss discordant data, and highlight the impact of the underlying cause of LC on the resultant imbalance. (Hepatology 2020;71:2135-2148). Primary HemostasisChanges of primary hemostasis in patients with LC are shown in Table 1.Abbreviations: ADAMTS13, a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 repeats 13;Hepatology, June 2020 ZERMATTEN ET AL. 2136pRoHeMoRRHagIC CHaNgeS thrombocytopenia Thrombocytopenia (platelets <150 × 10 9 /L) occurs in up to 78% (1) of patients with LC, moderate thrombocytopenia (platelets 50-75 × 10 9 /L) occurs in approximately 13%, (2) and severe thrombocytopenia (platelets <50 × 10 9 /L) occurs in 1% to 2%. (3) Decreased production and increased clearance of platelets are both involved in LC-associated thrombocytopenia ( Fig. 1). Indeed, reticulated/immature platelets and glycocalicin (proteolytic extracellular fragment of glycoprotein 1b), which are markers of platelet production, are decreased in LC. (4) However, reticulated/ immature platelet fraction and glycocalicin index, which are markers of platelet turnover, are increased in patients with LC versus healthy donors (4,5) and in thrombocytopenic versus non-thrombocytopenic patients with LC. (4,6) Moreover, the mean platelet survival is decreased in LC, (7) indicating an increased platelet turnover. Differences across LC causes are possible. Indeed, reticulated platelets are increased in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced LC and decreased in alcohol-induced LC and hepatitis B virus (HBV)induced LC. (5) DeCReaSeD pRoDUCtIoN oF plateletSDecreased production is due to decre...