Universal definition and prognostication in acute-on-chronic liver failure - an unmet need!

Prior metabolic and bariatric surgery is an independent determinant of severity of decompensation in alcohol-associated liver disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with a history of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) are susceptible to developing alcohol use disorder, potentially resulting in end-stage liver disease, with a paucity of data on the evolution of cirrhosis.

AIMS

Our aim was to describe the demographics and mortality in hospitalizations over time in individuals diagnosed with cirrhosis due to alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) in relation to prior MBS.

METHODS

We included patients hospitalized at the Ghent University Hospital between 1/1/2010 and 01/09/2023 with cirrhosis due to ALD. Data were retrieved retrospectively from all hospitalizations.

RESULTS

46/275 (16.7%) of individuals with cirrhosis admitted with ALD had a history of MBS; they were predominantly female (76.1%), in contrast to the non-MBS population (29.7%) (p < 0.0001) and were significantly younger at the time of diagnosis (46 vs. 58 years, p < 0.0001). Liver disease evolved at a faster pace in the MBS group with a shorter time to first hospitalization (5 vs. 13 months, p = 0.036), and consecutive hospitalizations. The proportion with primary hospitalization due to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) was significantly larger in the MBS group (60.9% vs. 27.6%, p < 0.0001), and throughout the following hospitalizations, ACLF remained more prevalent in the MBS group. Modeled transplant-free survival was lower in the MBS group (p = 0.004), with ACLF as the main cause of death. The weekly amount of alcohol consumed during drinking periods and duration of use were significantly lower in the MBS group.

CONCLUSIONS

MBS patients hospitalized with ALD develop acute decompensation at a faster pace, with more overall ACLF hospitalizations, and higher cumulative mortality, despite being 12 years younger on average.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Patients hospitalized with alcohol-related liver disease and prior bariatric surgery are more prone to develop acute-on-chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Patients with a history of bariatric surgery (BS) are susceptible to developing alcohol use disorder. We and others have previously shown that these patients can develop severe alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). Our aim was to describe the demographics, co-morbidities and mortality of a hospitalized population diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease, in relation to BS.

METHODS

We included 299 patients hospitalized with ARLD at the Ghent University Hospital between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2022. Clinical, biochemical and outcome data were retrospectively retrieved from the most recent hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using the t test, Mann-Whitney U and χ2 tests.

RESULTS

Thirteen per cent (39/299) of patients admitted with ARLD had a history of bariatric surgery, of whom 25 (64.1%) had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Patients with a history of BS were predominantly female (76.9%), in contrast to the non-BS population (29.2%) (p < .0001), and despite being significantly younger (p < .0001) and had a similar survival (61.5% vs. 58.1%). Bariatric surgery and older age at diagnosis were both significantly associated with poorer transplant-free survival. The cause of death was acute-on-chronic liver failure in 73.3% of BS patients, compared to only 19.2% of those without a history of BS (p < .0001). The weekly amount of alcohol consumed (p = .012) and duration of use (p < .0001) were significantly lower/shorter in the BS population.

CONCLUSIONS

BS patients hospitalized with ARLD are predominantly younger women with a lower cumulative alcohol consumption compared to those without prior BS. BS impacted transplant-free survival, with ACLF as the predominant cause of death in these patients.

Characteristics of acute kidney injury and its impact on outcome in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure

OBJECTIVE

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and life-threatening complication of liver failure. The purpose of this study is to construct a nomogram and online calculator to predict the development of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (HA-AKI) in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which may contribute to the prognosis of ACLF.

METHODS

574 ACLF patients were evaluated retrospectively. AKI was defined by criteria proposed by International Club of Ascites (ICA) and divided into community-acquired and hospital-acquired AKI (CA-AKI and HA-AKI). The difference between CA-AKI and HA-AKI, factors associated with development into and recovered from AKI periods. The risk factors were identified and nomograms were developed to predict the morbidity of HA-AKI in patients with ACLF.

RESULTS

Among 574 patients, 217(37.8%) patients had AKI, CA-AKI and HA-AKI were 56 (25.8%) and 161 (74.2%) respectively. The multivariate logistic regression model (KP-AKI) for predicting the occurrence of HA-AKI were age, gastrointestinal bleeding, bacterial infections, albumin, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen and prothrombin time. The AUROC of the KP-AKI in internal and external validations were 0.747 and 0.759, respectively. Among 217 AKI patients, 81(37.3%), 96(44.2%) and 40(18.4%) patients were with ICA-AKI stage progression, regression and fluctuated in-situ, respectively. The 90-day mortality of patients with AKI was 55.3% higher than non-AKI patients 21.6%. The 90-day mortality of patients with progression of AKI was 88.9%, followed by patients with fluctuated in-situ 40% and regression of AKI 33.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

The nomogram constructed by KP-AKI can be conveniently and accurately in predicting the development of HA-AKI, and AKI can increase the 90-day mortality significantly in ACLF patients. Trial registration Chinese clinical trials registry: ChiCTR1900021539.