on behalf of the RELIEF study group Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a frequent cause of death in cirrhosis. Albumin dialysis with the molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) decreases retained substances and improves hemodynamics and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, its survival impact is unknown. In all, 189 patients with ACLF were randomized either to MARS (n 5 95) or to standard therapy (SMT) (n 5 94). Ten patients (five per group) were excluded due to protocol violations. In addition, 23 patients (MARS: 19; SMT: 4) were excluded from per-protocol (PP) analysis (PP population n 5 156). Up to 10 6-8-hour MARS sessions were scheduled. The main endpoint was 28-day ITT and PP survival. There were no significant differences at inclusion, although the proportion of patients with Model for Endstage Liver Disease (MELD) score over 20 points and with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) as a precipitating event was almost significantly greater in the MARS group. The 28-day survival was similar in the two groups in the ITT and PP populations (60.7% versus 58.9%; 60% versus 59.2% respectively). After adjusting for confounders, a significant beneficial effect of MARS on survival was not observed (odds ratio [OR]: 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-1.72). MELD score and HE at admission and the increase in serum bilirubin at day 4 were independent predictors of death. At day 4, a greater decrease in serum creatinine (P 5 0.02) and bilirubin (P 5 0.001) and a more frequent improvement in HE (from grade II-IV to grade 0-I; 62.5% versus 38.2%; P 5 0.07) was observed in the MARS group. Severe adverse events were similar. Conclusion: At scheduled doses, a beneficial effect on survival of MARS therapy in patients with ACLF could not be demonstrated. However, MARS has an acceptable safety profile, has significant dialysis effect, and nonsignificantly improves severe HE.
Admission resistin concentration serves as an early predictive marker of peripancreatic necrosis and clinical severity in acute pancreatitis. Resistin may have potential for clinical use as a new and diagnostic serum marker.
Objective To assess the outcomes in a large cohort of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases admitted to the ICU of a tertiary university medical center. Methods A retrospective chart analysis was performed in 108 patients suffering from various rheumatic diseases and the outcomes, including morbidity and mortality, were assessed in relation to the underlying diseases, treatments and complications. Results Overall, 48 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, five patients with spondyloarthritis, 14 patients with vasculitis, 30 patients with connective tissue diseases and 11 patients suffering from other rheumatologic conditions were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The reasons for ICU admission included infection (30%), cardiovascular complications (22%), gastrointestinal problems (18%), endocrinological disorders (7%), neurological complications (2%) and others (3%). A total of 4% of the admitted patients required close monitoring and 14% suffered from acute exacerbation of the underlying rheumatic disease. The ICU mortality rate was 16%, whereas the overall hospital mortality rate was 20%. Fatal outcomes were related to exacerbation of the rheumatic disease in 14% of the patients, infectious complications in 46% of the patients and other reasons in 41% of the patients. An increased Apache II score, the need for mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, treatment with vasopressor drugs and plasma exchange therapy were identified as risk factors for mortality. Conclusion The overall outcomes of critically ill patients with rheumatic diseases are impaired compared to that observed in other patient groups. However, there were no significant differences in outcomes between the different rheumatic disease groups or based on the use of immunosuppressive therapy in this study. An increased Apache II score, the need for mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, treatment with vasopressor drugs and plasma exchange therapy were identified as risk factors for mortality.
In patients with suspected or proven acute necrotizing pancreatitis, performing CECT at the beginning of the late phase of disease is recommended to identify patients at increased risk for adverse outcomes.
Admission visfatin concentration serves as an early predictive marker of peripancreatic necrosis and clinical severity in acute pancreatitis. Visfatin may have potential for clinical use as a new and diagnostic serum marker.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.