Liver Fibrosis Biomarkers Forecast Survival in Complex Congenital Heart Disease
A retrospective cohort study of 334 adults with Fontan circulation, a palliative procedure for complex congenital heart disease, has identified non-invasive liver fibrosis scores as potent prognostic indicators. The research, published in *Heart*, analyzed biomarkers including FibroSURE, APRI, FIB-4, and MELD-XI. It found that elevated scores were strongly associated with an increased hazard of death or transplant. For instance, a FibroSURE score above 0.74 was linked to a more than threefold increased risk, while a MELD-XI score exceeding 18 correlated with a dramatic 24-fold increased hazard, highlighting the critical intersection of cardiology and hepatology in this patient population.
Why it might matter to you: This study underscores the systemic nature of hematologic and circulatory disorders, where liver health becomes a key prognostic marker. For hematologists, it reinforces the importance of monitoring for end-organ damage, particularly liver fibrosis, in patients with chronic circulatory impairments that affect blood flow and coagulation. It provides a practical, non-invasive framework for risk stratification, which could inform more vigilant surveillance and earlier intervention strategies in similar patient cohorts where vascular complications are a primary concern.
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