The sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score is an effective triage marker following staggered paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose

Issues of intensive care and liver transplantation tactics in fulminant liver failure

Fulminant liver failure is usually characterized as severe acute liver injury with encephalopathy and synthetic dysfunction (international normalized ratio [INR] ≥1.5) in a patient without cirrhosis or previous liver disease. Management of patients with acute liver failure includes ensuring that the patient is cared for appropriately, monitoring for worsening liver failure, managing complications, and providing nutritional support. Patients with acute liver failure should be treated at a liver transplant center whenever possible. Serial laboratory tests are used to monitor the course of a patient's liver failure and to monitor for complications. It is necessary to monitor the level of aminotransferases and bilirubin in serum daily. More frequent monitoring (three to four times a day) of blood coagulation parameters, complete blood count, metabolic panels, and arterial blood gases should be performed. For some causes of acute liver failure, such as acetaminophen intoxication, treatment directed at the underlying cause may prevent the need for liver transplantation and reduce mortality. Lactulose has not been shown to improve overall outcomes, and it can lead to intestinal distention, which can lead to technical difficulties during liver transplantation. Early in acute liver failure, signs and symptoms of cerebral edema may be absent or difficult to detect. Complications of cerebral edema include increased intracranial pressure and herniation of the brain stem. General measures to prevent increased intracranial pressure include minimizing stimulation, maintaining an appropriate fluid balance, and elevating the head of the patient's bed. For patients at high risk of developing cerebral edema, we also offer hypertonic saline prophylaxis (3%) with a target serum sodium level of 145 to 155 mEq/L (level 2C). High-risk patients include patients with grade IV encephalopathy, high ammonia levels (>150 µmol/L), or acute renal failure, and patients requiring vasopressor support. Approximately 40 % of patients with acute liver failure recover spontaneously with supportive care. Predictive models have been developed to help identify patients who are unlikely to recover spontaneously, as the decision to undergo liver transplant depends in part on the likelihood of spontaneous recovery of the liver. However, among those who receive a transplant, the one-year survival rate exceeds 80 %, making this treatment the treatment of choice in this difficult patient population.

Acetaminophen toxicity and overdose: current understanding and future directions for NAC dosing regimens

INTRODUCTION

Although N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) has long been used for the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning/overdose, the optimal NAC dosing regimen for varying patterns or severity of the poisoning/overdose is still unknown.

AREAS COVERED

Relevant literature was searched for in the MEDLINE (from 1964 until August 31^st, 2022), SCOPUS (from 2004 until August 31^st, 2022) and GOOGLE SCHOLAR (from 2004 until August 31^st, 2022) databases, without restriction in terms of publication date. The inclusion criteria were: original clinical studies reporting results, and studies investigating efficacy and safety of NAC dosing regimens in case(s) of overdose or poisoning with acetaminophen.

EXPERT OPINION

For a more effective treatment of acetaminophen poisoning in the future, it will be crucial to advance the technology of measuring acetaminophen, its metabolites and NAC in the serum, preferably with the point-of-care technique, so that in real time it can be continuously assessed whether it is necessary to administer NAC, and further to increase the dose of NAC and extend the duration of its administration, or not.

Predictive performance of SOFA and qSOFA for in-hospital mortality in severe novel coronavirus disease

OBJECTIVES

The assessment of illness severity at admission can contribute to decreased mortality in patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) scoring systems at admission for the prediction of mortality risk in COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

We included 140 critically ill COVID-19 patients. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and laboratory findings at admission were used to calculate SOFA and qSOFA against the in-hospital outcomes (survival or death) that were ascertained from the medical records. The predictive accuracy of both scoring systems was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

The area under the ROC curve for SOFA in predicting mortality was 0.890 (95% CI: 0.826-0.955), which was higher than that of qSOFA (0.742, 95% CI 0.657-0.816). An optimal cutoff of ≥3 for SOFA had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 90.00%, 83.18%, 50.00%, and 97.80%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel report indicates that SOFA could function as an effective adjunctive risk-stratification tool at admission for critical COVID-19 patients. The performance of qSOFA is accepted but inferior to that of SOFA.

Intensive Care Management of Acute Liver Failure: Considerations While Awaiting Liver Transplantation

Acute liver failure is a unique clinical phenomenon characterized by abrupt deterioration in liver function and altered mentation. The development of high-grade encephalopathy and multisystem organ dysfunction herald poor prognosis. Etiologic-specific treatments and supportive measures are routinely employed; however, liver transplantation remains the only chance for cure in those who do not spontaneously recover. The utility of artificial and bioartificial assist therapies as supportive care-to allow time for hepatic recovery or as a bridge to liver transplantation-has been examined but studies have been small, with mixed results. Given the severity of derangements, intensive critical care is needed to successfully bridge patients to transplant, and evaluation of candidates occurs rapidly in parallel with serial reassessments of operative fitness. Psychosocial assessment is often suboptimal and relative contraindications to transplant, such as ventilator-dependence may be overlooked. While often employed to guide evaluation, no single prognostic model discriminates those who will spontaneously recover and those who will require transplant. The purpose of this review will be to summarize approaches in critical care, prognostic modeling, and medical evaluation of the acute liver failure transplant candidate.

Intentional or Inadvertent Acetaminophen Overdose-How Lethal It Really Is?

BACKGROUND

Acetaminophen, the ubiquitous over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic, is the most common drug used in intentional overdoses in the United States. Inadvertent self-poisoning is also a surprisingly common unintended consequence of acetaminophen misuse for pain management.

OBJECTIVE

The primary goal of this naturalistic study was to substantiate outcomes that were previously described in other large cohorts of patients with acetaminophen overdoses.

METHODS

The Rochester Epidemiology Project yielded a cohort of 207 patients of age 18 years or older treated at the Mayo Clinic between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2010 for excessive acetaminophen exposure. Patients with a diagnosis of acetaminophen overdose, acetaminophen ingestion, and/or acetaminophen toxicity were characterized according to demographics, treatment location, overdose intentionality, identities of the drugs and amounts taken, mental health and addiction history, previous suicide attempts, and current alcohol intake. Outcomes included N-acetylcysteine treatment, emergence of serious clinical syndromes, and admission to the liver transplant unit (LTU), liver transplant, and death. Data were analyzed using the JMP statistical program.

RESULTS

Of 140 females and 67 males treated in the emergency department (ED), 184 (89%) were admitted, including 116 (56%) to the intensive care unit, 26 (13%) to medicine services, 18 (9%) directly to LTU, 23 (11%) directly to psychiatry services, and 1 (0.5%) to off-campus detox. The consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry service evaluated 175 patients (85%). Eighteen intensive care unit/medicine patients were eventually transferred to the LTU, and 104 of the 184 patients not immediately admitted to psychiatry were ultimately transferred there. Of all, 158 (76.3%) overdoses were intentional, but in the chronic pain subset of 14 patients, only 4 (29%) were. One hundred twenty-seven (61%) patients had no previous suicide attempt history. Twenty-one percent of the intentional overdose group versus 12.5% of the unintentional overdose group was intoxicated at the time of overdose. One hundred thirty-five (65%) patients received N-acetylcysteine, but barely a third (33%) were treated within the recommended 8 hours of overdose. Nonetheless, most outcomes were benign: only 36 (17.6%) required LTU admission because of serious medical complications. Only 12 received consideration for transplant, and only 5 (2.7%) were listed for transplant. Three (1.5%) ultimately received new livers. Two (1.0%) died awaiting transplant. Two of the 3 transplanted patients had unintentionally overdosed while treating chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

A vast majority of patients survived and recovered without lasting medical sequelae, including liver transplant. Half of the patients received N-acetylcysteine, and only a third received it within the recommended 8-hour window after ingestion. Serious medical consequences were concentrated in the 17% of patients requiring LTU admission. With a transplant rate of 1.5% and a death rate of less than 1%, we conclude that the risk of serious medical outcomes from this frequent overdose modality is rare, even as the majority of both intentional and unintentional overdose patients received both inpatient medical and psychiatric treatment.

SOFA Score Can Effectively Predict the Incidence of Sepsis and 30-Day Mortality in Liver Transplant Patients: A Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to evaluate the early predictive value for postoperative sepsis and 30-day mortality in liver transplant patients using sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA).

METHODS

A total of 96 liver transplant patients were enrolled into this study from February 2015 to June 2018. The general information, biochemical findings, and postoperative 30-day mortality of these patients were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

The SOFA scores, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) at postoperative day (POD) 3, 5, and 7 were significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the non-sepsis group, and the differences were statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that SOFA scores at POD 1, 3, 5, and 7 had higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting the incidence of sepsis within 30 days. The difference in 30-day survival rate between patients with SOFA scores of > 5 and patients with SOFA scores of ≤ 5 at POD 1-7 was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SOFA scores at POD 1-7 can effectively predict the incidence of sepsis and 30-day mortality in liver transplant patients on the basis of CRP and PCT.

A phase I trial of low-dose inhaled carbon monoxide in sepsis-induced ARDS

BACKGROUND

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a prevalent disease with significant mortality for which no effective pharmacologic therapy exists. Low-dose inhaled carbon monoxide (iCO) confers cytoprotection in preclinical models of sepsis and ARDS.

METHODS

We conducted a phase I dose escalation trial to assess feasibility and safety of low-dose iCO administration in patients with sepsis-induced ARDS. Twelve participants were randomized to iCO or placebo air 2:1 in two cohorts. Four subjects each were administered iCO (100 ppm in cohort 1 or 200 ppm in cohort 2) or placebo for 90 minutes for up to 5 consecutive days. Primary outcomes included the incidence of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level ≥10%, prespecified administration-associated adverse events (AEs), and severe adverse events (SAEs). Secondary endpoints included the accuracy of the Coburn-Forster-Kane (CFK) equation to predict COHb levels, biomarker levels, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

No participants exceeded a COHb level of 10%, and there were no administration-associated AEs or study-related SAEs. CO-treated participants had a significant increase in COHb (3.48% ± 0.7% [cohort 1]; 4.9% ± 0.28% [cohort 2]) compared with placebo-treated subjects (1.97% ± 0.39%). The CFK equation was highly accurate at predicting COHb levels, particularly in cohort 2 (R2 = 0.9205; P < 0.0001). Circulating mitochondrial DNA levels were reduced in iCO-treated participants compared with placebo-treated subjects.

CONCLUSION

Precise administration of low-dose iCO is feasible, well-tolerated, and appears to be safe in patients with sepsis-induced ARDS. Excellent agreement between predicted and observed COHb should ensure that COHb levels remain in the target range during future efficacy trials.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02425579.

FUNDING

NIH grants P01HL108801, KL2TR002385, K08HL130557, and K08GM102695.

Beyond KCH selection and options in acute liver failure

The King’s prognostic criteria for patients with acute liver failure (ALF) introduced in 1989 have been used worldwide. This distinguished for the first time cases with ‘hyper-acute’ course (characteristically paracetamol overdose) where there is a better chance of recovery with medical supportive care alone from those etiologies with a less acute course and paradoxically lower chances of ‘spontaneous’ recovery. Ongoing use showed the limited sensitivity of the criteria to constitute a significant practical limitation. Subsequent models including the MELD score and composite ones with markers of necrosis, an apoptotic liver cell death, proposed to improve sensitivity did not have the required high specificity. Two recent models utilizing new availability of web- and app-based computing delivering outcome predication through sophisticated algorithms are described. The first is a dynamic model described for paracetamol-induced ALF based upon admission findings and sequential variables over the first 2 days. The new model of the US Acute Liver Failure group was devised to cover all etiologies of ALF for predicting ‘transplant-free’ survival and accurately predicated spontaneous survival in two-thirds of cases. Improved survival results with medical management, particularly in hyper-acute cases, now approach those obtained with successful liver transplant and have raised the question of transplant benefit. Also considered in the review are new non-transplant approaches to treatment including the use of plasma exchange and based on successful results in acute-on-chronic liver failure, agents to modulate and improve hepatic regeneration.

Non-Intensive Care Unit Management of Acute Liver Failure

Acute liver failure (ALF) is an uncommon syndrome with a highly variable and unpredictable clinical course. The initial diagnostic evaluation is typically performed in a non-intensive care unit (ICU) setting, like the emergency department or general hospital ward. Prompt restoration of intravascular volume with intravenous fluids and correction of electrolyte, metabolic, and acid-base disturbances are important initial interventions in the management of ALF and can be safely accomplished in non-ICU settings in many patients. Similarly, therapies such as administration of N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen-induced ALF and other cause-specific interventions can also be administered in non-ICU settings, thus minimizing delay.

Acetaminophen (APAP or N-Acetyl-p-Aminophenol) and Acute Liver Failure

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the leading cause of acute liver failure (ALF), although the worldwide frequency is variable. APAP hepatotoxicity develops either following intentional overdose or unintentional ingestion (therapeutic misadventure) in the background of several factors, such as concomitant use of alcohol and certain medications that facilitate the formation of reactive and toxic metabolites. Spontaneous survival is more common in APAP-induced ALF compared with non-APAP etiologies. N-acetylcysteine is recommended for all patients with APAP-induced ALF and it reduces mortality. Liver transplantation should be offered early to those who are unlikely to survive based on described prognostic criteria.

EASL Clinical Practical Guidelines on the management of acute (fulminant) liver failure

The term acute liver failure (ALF) is frequently applied as a generic expression to describe patients presenting with or developing an acute episode of liver dysfunction. In the context of hepatological practice, however, ALF refers to a highly specific and rare syndrome, characterised by an acute abnormality of liver blood tests in an individual without underlying chronic liver disease. The disease process is associated with development of a coagulopathy of liver aetiology, and clinically apparent altered level of consciousness due to hepatic encephalopathy. Several important measures are immediately necessary when the patient presents for medical attention. These, as well as additional clinical procedures will be the subject of these clinical practice guidelines.

An elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is associated with adverse outcomes following single time-point paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose: a time-course analysis

BACKGROUND

The innate immune system is profoundly dysregulated in paracetamol (acetaminophen)-induced liver injury. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple bedside index with prognostic value in a number of inflammatory conditions.

AIM

To evaluate the prognostic accuracy of the NLR in patients with significant liver injury following single time-point and staggered paracetamol overdoses.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Time-course analysis of 100 single time-point and 50 staggered paracetamol overdoses admitted to a tertiary liver centre. Timed laboratory samples were correlated with time elapsed after overdose or admission, respectively, and the NLR was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 49/100 single time-point patients developed hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Median NLRs were higher at both 72 (P=0.0047) and 96 h after overdose (P=0.0041) in single time-point patients who died or were transplanted. Maximum NLR values by 96 h were associated with increasing HE grade (P=0.0005). An NLR of more than 16.7 during the first 96 h following overdose was independently associated with the development of HE [odds ratio 5.65 (95% confidence interval 1.67-19.13), P=0.005]. Maximum NLR values by 96 h were strongly associated with the requirement for intracranial pressure monitoring (P<0.0001), renal replacement therapy (P=0.0002) and inotropic support (P=0.0005). In contrast, in the staggered overdose cohort, the NLR was not associated with adverse outcomes or death/transplantation either at admission or subsequently.

CONCLUSION

The NLR is a simple test which is strongly associated with adverse outcomes following single time-point, but not staggered, paracetamol overdoses. Future studies should assess the value of incorporating the NLR into existing prognostic and triage indices of single time-point paracetamol overdose.

Protection afforded by pre- or post-treatment with 4-phenylbutyrate against liver injury induced by acetaminophen overdose in mice

Acetaminophen (paracetamol, N-acetyl-p-aminophenol; APAP) is a widely used analgesic/antipyretic drug with few adverse effects at therapeutic doses; suicidal or unintentional overdose of APAP frequently induces severe hepatotoxicity. To explore a new and effective antidote for APAP hepatotoxicity, this study examined the effects of sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) on liver injury induced by APAP overdose in mice. Liver injury was induced in C57BL/6 male mice by intraperitoneal injection of APAP (400mg/kg). The effects of 4-PBA (100-200mg/kg) treatment at 1h before the APAP injection were evaluated with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and blood ammonia levels, hepatic pathological changes, including histopathology, DNA damage, nitrotyrosine formation, and mRNA or protein expression involved in the development of hepatotoxicity, such as X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and B-cell lymphoma 2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim). In addition, glutathione depletion and CYP2E1 protein expression, which are measures of the metabolic conversion of APAP to a toxic metabolite, were examined. Furthermore, we examined the effects of post-treatment with 4-PBA against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. When administered at 1h before APAP injection, 4-PBA significantly prevented the increase in serum ALT and blood ammonia levels, centrilobular necrosis of hepatocytes, DNA fragmentation, and nitrotyrosine formation induced by APAP in mice. 4-PBA also inhibited hepatic Xbp1 mRNA splicing and JNK phosphorylation induced by APAP, but did not suppress CHOP and Bim mRNA and protein expression. In addition, 4-PBA had little effect on hepatic glutathione depletion and CYP2E1 expression, parameters of toxic APAP metabolite production. Post-treatment with 4-PBA administration at 1 or 2h after APAP injection also attenuated the increase in serum ALT and blood ammonia levels and hepatic pathological changes in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Although post-treatment with 4-PBA did not show any effects on hepatic Xbp1 mRNA splicing and JNK phosphorylation, it drastically attenuated the DNA fragmentation induced by APAP. The precise molecular mechanisms of the protection afforded by 4-PBA against APAP hepatotoxicity in mice are unclear, but they seem to involve inhibition of hepatocellular DNA fragmentation. We suggest that 4-PBA is a promising candidate as an antidote against APAP-induced liver injury.

Glasgow Coma Scale score dominates the association between admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and 30-day mortality in a mixed intensive care unit population

OBJECTIVE

The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, a measure of multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome, is used to predict mortality in critically ill patients by assigning equally weighted scores across 6 different organ systems. We hypothesized that specific organ systems would have a greater association with mortality than others.

DESIGN

We retrospectively studied patients admitted over a period of 4.2 years to a mixed-profile intensive care unit (ICU). We recorded age and comorbidities, and calculated SOFA organ scores. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. We determined which organ subscores of the SOFA score were most associated with mortality using multiple analytic methods: random forests, conditional inference trees, distanced-based clustering techniques, and logistic regression.

SETTING

A 24-bed mixed-profile adult ICU that cares for medical, surgical, and trauma (level 1) patients at an academic referral center.

PATIENTS

All patients' first admission to the study ICU during the study period.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We identified 9120 first admissions during the study period. Overall 30-day mortality was 12%. Multiple analytical methods all demonstrated that the best initial prediction variables were age and the central nervous system SOFA subscore, which is determined solely by Glasgow Coma Scale score.

CONCLUSIONS

In a mixed population of critically ill patients, the Glasgow Coma Scale score dominates the association between admission SOFA score and 30-day mortality. Future research into outcomes from multiple-organ dysfunction may benefit from new models for measuring organ dysfunction with special attention to neurologic dysfunction.

Acetaminophen-related hepatotoxicity

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the leading worldwide cause of drug overdose and acute liver failure (ALF). Single overdose ingestion and therapeutic misadventure may cause hepatotoxicity. Several factors, such as concomitant alcohol use or abuse, concurrent medications, genetic factors, and nutritional status, can influence the susceptibility and severity of APAP hepatotoxicity. Early manifestations of APAP hepatotoxicity are nonspecific, but require prompt recognition by physicians. Patients with repeated overdose tend to present late, and in such hepatotoxicity may have already evolved. N-acetylcysteine is a very effective antidote when giving within 8 hours, and is also recommended after a presentation of hepatotoxicity and ALF. The prognosis of patients with APAP-induced ALF is better than other causes of ALF. Liver transplantation should be offered to those who are unlikely to survive.

Persistently elevated troponin I in paracetamol hepatotoxicity: association with liver injury, organ failure, and outcome

CONTEXT

An elevated troponin I (TnI) is associated with a poorer prognosis during critical illness.

OBJECTIVE

Our aims were to determine whether significant paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity was associated with an elevated TnI; if this elevation was persistent and was associated with worse clinical outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, the requirement for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) or death and/or the development of multiorgan failure (MOF) was evaluated for 48 consecutive patients admitted to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (a university tertiary referral centre) with acute liver injury or acute liver failure secondary to paracetamol overdose.

RESULTS

TnI was elevated (≥ 0.05 ng/L) in 13/48 patients (27%). This appeared to be sustained for at least 6 days which has not been shown previously in the context of Acute Liver Injury (ALI). Elevated TnI was strongly associated with MOF, with the requirement for inotropic support being the strongest predictor (p = 0.003, OR 9.00, 95% CI 2.13-37.98). TnI elevations also correlated strongly with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores (p = 0.0006, r = 0.482, 95% CI 0.22-0.68) and with interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels (p = 0.0001, r = 0.55, 95% CI 0.29-0.73). Although a raised TnI was associated with a markedly increased risk of death or orthotopic liver transplant (p = 0.005, OR 7.73, 95% CI 1.87-32.05) on univariate analysis, this was primarily seen in the context of MOF (SOFA score p = 0.003, OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07-1.41) and was not an independent predictor of death. There was no correlation between TnI or outcome with other cardiac biomarkers and markers of cardiovascular risk.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

An elevated TnI in the context of acute liver injury or liver failure following paracetamol overdose is associated with a significantly worse patient outcome but it is not an independent prognostic factor. Further studies should be undertaken to investigate the mechanism behind this elevated troponin association.

Liver transplantation in acute-on-chronic liver failure patients with high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores: a single center experience of 100 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a severe clinical condition for which liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative option. However, there are little published data on risk factors and outcomes of LT for ACLF.

METHODS

The objective of this study was to analyze preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative, and overall survival data on 100 consecutive cases with ACLF in order to try to determine for which patients LT are futile.

RESULTS

One hundred consecutive patients with pathology-confirmed ACLF who underwent LT from June 2004 to September 2012 were enrolled. The preoperative data showed that all patients were in a serious condition with a median high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score of 32, total bilirubin of 440.20 umol/L, international normalized ratio (INR) of 3.012, and at least one organ dysfunction as assessed by a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of ≥9. The patients had either deceased or a living donor LT with an overall mortality of 20%. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 76.8%, 75.6%, and 74.1%, respectively, and graft 1-, 3-, and 5-y accumulative survival rates were 73.3%, 72.1%, and 70.6%, respectively. However, the area under receiver operating characteristic of SOFA score, MELD score, as well as Child-Pugh score were 0.552, 0.547, and 0.547, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Both deceased and living donor LT are effective therapeutic options for patients with ACLF and the short- and long-term survival rates are encouraging. It is important to conduct more prospective and multi-center studies to define preoperatively which patients would benefit from LT.