A Stepwise Evaluation of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure to Optimize the Indication for Urgent Liver Transplantation

Background Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a dynamic but reversible disease. Aim We aimed to clarify whether the change in Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B-ACLF (COSSH-ACLF) grade in HBV-ACLF patients can be used to predict prognosis, and to explore the appropriate conditions for performing urgent liver transplantation. Methods We assessed the COSSH-ACLF grades of HBV-ACLF patients at different time points from June 2013 to May 2019 at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai, China, and analyzed the relationship between the change in grade and patient prognosis. Results A total of 207 HBV-ACLF patients were enrolled, of which 79 underwent urgent liver transplantation. Their COSSH-ACLF grades were calculated at diagnosis, 3-7 days after diagnosis, and on the final day. Most of the final ACLF grades were consistent with their corresponding grades at days 3-7 after diagnosis (62.5%), while only 44.5% were in accordance with the initial grades at diagnosis. In patients who had a poor prognosis (initial ACLF-3 and ACLF-2 or -3 at days 3-7), the 28-day survival rate was 93.3% in those who underwent transplantation and 6.8% in those who did not (P < 0.0001). However, in patients who had a good prognosis (ACLF-0 or ACLF-1 at days 3-7), the 28-day survival rate was 100% in transplanted patients and 91.5% in non-transplanted patients (P = 0.236). Conclusions Reevaluation of the COSSH-ACLF grade 3-7 days after diagnosis could potentially show an indication for urgent liver transplantation.

Automated summary

The study found a relationship between the COSSH-ACLF grades of HBV-ACLF patients at 3-7 days after diagnosis and the final confirmation. For patients with poor prognosis, urgent liver transplantation may improve survival rates; however, the necessity of liver transplantation for patients with good prognosis remains unclear.