Allopurinol Prevents Cirrhosis-Related Complications: A Quadruple Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Complications associated with liver cirrhosis are various and potentially fatal. The treatment options to counteract hepatic decompensation are limited. Therefore, the study aimed to explore the use of allopurinol in preventing the recurrence of liver cirrhosis-related complications.

Methods: One hundred patients with hepatic decompensation were randomized into 1:1 ratio to receive either allopurinol 300 mg or placebo tablets once daily for 6 months. The primary endpoint was the incidence of cirrhosis-related complications (overt ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, variceal bleeding, hepatorenal syndrome, and hepatic encephalopathy).

Results: Six months following treatment, allopurinol reduced the relative risk (RR) of any first complication experienced after enrollment by 56% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27-0.62); P ˂ .001). Allopurinol decreased the RR of overt ascites by 67% (HR 0.33; 95% CI, 0.0098-0.94); P = .039] and reduced the RR of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis by about 75% (HR 0.25; 95% CI, 0.05-0.76; P = .01). Likewise, allopurinol was linked to an 80% reduction in the RR of developing hepatorenal syndrome (HR 0.2; 95% CI, 0.04-0.87; P = .033).

Conclusion: Allopurinol significantly decreased the recurrence of overall liver cirrhosis-related complications. Therefore, allopurinol may constitute a promising agent for patients with hepatic decompensation. These positive outcomes could be a result of its ability to reduce bacterial translocation and inflammation.

Author/s:

Khadija A M Glal, Sahar M El-Haggar, Sherief M Abd-Elsalam, Tarek M Mostafa

Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Liver Disease

Jeffrey Wilson — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 22:38:28 +0000

Date Added:

November 27, 2018

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

November 26, 2018

URL:

Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Liver Disease

Type:

Meta-analyses, Reviews, and Guidelines

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2018.17365

Keywords

non-alcoholic liver disease

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

liver disease

liver cirrhosis

MeSH

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

diagnostic tests, routine

liver cirrhosis

This is a summary of the most recent (2017) Guideline recommendations for evaluation and management of non-alcoholic live disease from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

Free full text

MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS

• Patients with incidental hepatic steatosis detected on imaging who lack any liver-related symptoms or signs and have normal liver biochemistries should be assessed for metabolic risk factors (eg, obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia) and other causes of hepatic steatosis, including alcohol consumption (>14 drinks per week for women; >21 drinks per week for men) and medications.

• Routine screening for NAFLD in high-risk groups is not advised because of uncertainties surrounding diagnostic tests and treatment options, along with lack of knowledge about long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness of screening.

• The FIB-4 (age, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, platelets) and NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS, which adds body mass index and albumin) are clinically useful tools to predict bridging fibrosis.

• Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) or magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) can noninvasively assess for advanced fibrosis.

• Weight loss generally reduces hepatic steatosis, either by hypocaloric diet alone or in conjunction with increased physical activity.

• Pharmacologic treatments should be limited to patients with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and advanced fibrosis.

• Statins can be used to treat dyslipidemia in patients with NAFLD, NASH, and compensated NASH cirrhosis.

Author/s:

Paul, Sonali, Davis, Andrew M.