Integrated alcohol‑use and liver treatments for severe alcohol‑associated hepatitis

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age ≥18, \<70
2. MELD 20-35
3. Definitive or probable diagnosis of sAH as defined by the NIAAA criteria4, 5 A. Onset of jaundice (defined as serum total bilirubin \>3 mg/dL) within the prior 8 weeks B. Ongoing average consumption of \> 40 gm (for females) and \> 60 gm (for males) alcohol daily for 6 months or more with less than 8 weeks of abstinence before onset of jaundice; OR If, in the investigator's judgment, alcohol use may have been underreported, available clinical evidence-including collateral history, medical records, prior documentation of alcohol use, alcohol biomarkers such as PEth, or other relevant evidence-indicates that the participant met the protocol-defined alcohol consumption requirement within the 8 weeks before screening.

   C. AST \> 50 IU/L, D. AST: ALT \> 1.5 E. ALT and AST values \< 400 IU/L F. Liver biopsy findings consistent with AH

   \*In patients with possible AH or AH with confounding factors such as possible ischemic hepatitis, possible DILI, uncertain history of alcohol use (e.g., patient denies excessive alcohol use), and atypical/abnormal laboratory tests (e.g., AST \< 50 IU/L or \> 400 IU/L, AST/ALT ratio \< 1.5), antinuclear antibody \> 1:160 or SMA \> 1:80, a standard of care liver biopsy will be considered during current hospital admission to confirm AH and exclude competing etiologies.
4. Females of childbearing (reproductive) potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test at screening.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Active listing for liver transplantation before screening
2. MELD score \<20 or \> 35
3. Uncontrolled infection (persistent positive blood or other body fluid cultures despite 48 hours of antibiotic therapy)
4. Progressive hemodynamic compromise requiring intravenous pressors
5. Pneumonia as evidenced by clinical and/or radiological examination (will not perform radiology if not indicated by clinical exam)
6. Renal failure defined by estimated GFR (CKD-EPI) \<35 mL/min.
7. Clinically active C. diff infection
8. Evidence of other liver diseases (such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangiopathy, primary sclerosing cholangitis, ischemic, sepsis- or drug-induced liver disease)
9. History or presence of cancer (including hepatocellular carcinoma) other than non-melanoma skin cancer
10. Prior exposure to systemic corticosteroid (glucocorticoid) or TNF-alpha inhibitors for more than 4 days within the previous 30 days prior to screening, specifically for the treatment of sAH.
11. Clinically significant pancreatitis- abdominal pain, elevated lipase (\> 3 X ULN), and at least edema of pancreas with fat-stranding on CT scan
12. Active gastrointestinal bleeding defined as hematemesis or melena with a decrease in hemoglobin more than 2 g/dl in 24 hours due to gastrointestinal bleeding, or with a decrease in mean arterial BP to \< 65 mmHg
13. Significant concomitant medical illnesses (such as uncontrolled congestive heart failure or COPD or progressive multi-organ failure) as determined by the study investigator
14. Uncontrolled mental illness as determined by the study investigator
15. Uncontrolled HBV, HIV, or HCV infection with persistent viremia. However, subjects with controlled (undetectable viral load) HIV and HBV on viral suppressive therapies will be enrolled and subjects with history of HCV will be enrolled if they have evidence of SVR within one year prior to enrollment
16. Active illicit opiates, cocaine, ketamine, or methamphetamine use in the last 30 days via patient report or medical chart review.
17. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus with A1c \> 9
18. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
19. Known allergy or intolerance to therapeutic agents to be tested
20. Unwillingness to stop alcohol use and to undergo AUD treatment
21. Unwillingness to either abstain from sexual intercourse, or if sexually active, use a reliable method of birth control during the study and for at least 30 days after the last dose of the study medication. Examples of acceptable birth control methods include double barrier method such as condom and occlusive cap (diaphragm or cervical cap) with spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream/suppository; birth control pills, patches, injections, or implants; intrauterine device (IUD); vasectomy and tubal ligation.
22. Participant has any condition or circumstance that adversely affects the participant, could cause noncompliance with treatment or visits, may impact the interpretation of clinical data, could cause bias, or may otherwise contraindicate the participant's participation in the study.