Background Infections worsen survival in cirrhosis; however, simple predictors of survival in infection-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (I-ACLF) derived from multi-center studies are required in order to improve prognostication and resource allocation. Methods Using the NACSELD database, data from 18 centers were collected for survival analysis of prospectively enrolled cirrhotic patients hospitalized with an infection. We defined organ failures as (i) shock, (ii) grade III/IV hepatic encephalopathy(HE), (iii) need for dialysis (iv) mechanical ventilation. Determinants of survival with these organ failures were analyzed. Results 507 patients were included (55 yrs, 52% HCV, 15.8% nosocomial infection, 96% Child score≥7) and 30-day evaluations were available in 453 patients. Urinary tract infection (UTI) (28.5%), and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (22.5%) were most prevalent. During hospitalization, 55.7% developed HE, 17.6% shock, 15.1% required renal replacement, and 15.8% needed ventilation; 23% died within 30-days and 21.6% developed second infections. Admitted patients developed none (38.4%), one (37.3%), two (10.4%), three (10%) or four (4%) organ failures. 30-day survival worsened with higher number of extra-hepatic organ failures, none (92%), one (72.6%), two (51.3%), three (36%) and all four (23%). I-ACLF was defined as ≥2 organ failures given the significant change in survival probability associated at this cutoff. Baseline independent predictors for development of ACLF were nosocomial infections, MELD score, low mean arterial pressure (MAP), and non-SBP infections. Independent predictors of poor 30-day survival were I-ACLF, second infections, and admission values of high MELD, low MAP, high white blood count and low albumin. In conclusion, using multi-center study data in hospitalized decompensated infected cirrhotic patients, I-ACLF defined by the presence of two or more organ failures using simple definitions is predictive of poor survival.

Bacterial infections are an important cause of mortality in cirrhosis but there is a paucity of multi-center studies. The aim was to define factors predisposing to infection-related mortality in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. Methods A prospective, cohort study of cirrhotic patients with infections was performed at eight North American tertiary-care hepatology centers. Data were collected on admission vitals, disease severity [MELD and sequential organ failure (SOFA)] scores], first infection site, type [community-acquired, health care-associated (HCA) or nosocomial], and second infection occurrence during hospitalization. The outcome was mortality within 30 days. A multi-variable logistic regression model predicting mortality was created. Results 207 patients (55 years, 60% men, MELD 20) were included. Most first infections were HCA (71%), then nosocomial (15%) and community-acquired (14%). Urinary tract infections (52%), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP, 23%) and spontaneous bacteremia (21%) formed the majority of the first infections. Second infections were seen in 50 (24%) patients and were largely preventable: respiratory, including aspiration (28%), urinary, including catheter-related (26%), fungal (14%) and C. difficile (12%) infections. Forty-nine patients (23.6%) who died within 30 days had higher admission MELD (25 vs 18, p<0.0001), lower serum albumin (2.4g.dL vs. 2.8g/dL, p=0.002), and second infections (49% vs. 16%, p<0.0001) but equivalent SOFA scores (9.2 vs. 9.9, p=0.86). Case fatality rate was highest for C. difficile (40%), respiratory (37.5%) and spontaneous bacteremia (37%), and lowest for SBP (17%) and urinary infections (15%). The model for mortality included admission MELD (OR: 1.12), heart rate (OR:1.03) albumin (OR:0.5) and second infection (OR:4.42) as significant variables. Conclusions Potentially preventable second infections are predictors of mortality independent of liver disease severity in this multi-center cirrhosis cohort.

Background Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare syndrome of severe, rapid-onset hepatic dysfunction without prior advanced liver disease that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Intensive care and liver transplantation provide support and rescue, respectively. Objective To determine whether changes in causes, disease severity, treatment, or 21-day outcomes have occurred in recent years among adult patients with ALF referred to U.S. tertiary care centers. Design Prospective observational cohort study. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00518440) Setting 31 liver disease and transplant centers in the United States. Patients Consecutively enrolled patients–without prior advanced liver disease–with ALF (n = 2070). Measurements Clinical features, treatment, and 21-day outcomes were compared over time annually for trends and were also stratified into two 8-year periods (1998 to 2005 and 2006 to 2013). Results Overall clinical characteristics, disease severity, and distribution of causes remained similar throughout the study period. The 21-day survival rates increased between the two 8-year periods (overall, 67.1% vs. 75.3%; transplant-free survival [TFS], 45.1% vs. 56.2%; posttransplantation survival, 88.3% vs. 96.3% [P < 0.010 for each]). Reductions in red blood cell infusions (44.3% vs. 27.6%), plasma infusions (65.2% vs. 47.1%), mechanical ventilation (65.7% vs. 56.1%), and vasopressors (34.9% vs. 27.8%) were observed, as well as increased use of N-acetylcysteine (48.9% vs. 69.3% overall; 15.8% vs. 49.4% [P < 0.001] in patients with ALF not due to acetaminophen toxicity). When examined longitudinally, overall survival and TFS increased throughout the 16-year period. Limitations The duration of enrollment, the number of patients enrolled, and possibly the approaches to care varied among participating sites. The results may not be generalizable beyond such specialized centers. Conclusion Although characteristics and severity of ALF changed little over 16 years, overall survival and TFS improved significantly. The effects of specific changes in intensive care practice on survival warrant further study. Primary Funding Source National Institutes of Health.

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Terlipressin plus albumin was associated with greater improvement in renal function vs albumin alone in patients with cirrhosis and HRS-1. Patients had similar rates of HRS reversal with terlipressin as they did with albumin. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT01143246.

Although infection status remains an important predictor of death, NACSELD-ACLF was independently validated in a separate large multinational prospective cohort as a simple, reliable bedside tool to predict 30-day survival in both infected and uninfected patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of cirrhosis. (Hepatology 2018;67:2367-2374).

In smaller single-center studies, cirrhotic patients are at a high readmission risk but a multi-center perspective study is lacking. Aim To evaluate the determinants of 3-month readmissions in cirrhotic inpatients using the prospective 14-center NACSELD (North American Consortium for the Study of End-Stage Liver Disease) cohort. Methods Cirrhotics hospitalized for non-elective indications were consented and followed for 3-months post-discharge. The number of 3-month readmissions and their determinants on index admission and discharge were calculated. We used multivariable logistic regression for all readmissions, and for hepatic encephalopathy (HE), renal/metabolic and infection-related readmissions. A score was developed using admission/discharge variables for the total sample, which was validated on a random half of the total population. Results 1353 patients were enrolled, 1177 were eligible on discharge and 1013 had 3-month outcomes. Readmissions occurred in 53% (n=535;316 with one, 219 with ≥2), with consistent rates across sites. The leading causes were liver-related (n=333, HE, renal/metabolic and infections). Cirrhotics with worse MELD, diabetes, those taking prophylactic antibiotics and with prior HE, were more likely to be readmitted. The admission model included MELD and diabetes (c-statistic=0.64; after split-validation 0.65). The discharge model included MELD, proton pump inhibitor use and lower length-of-stay (c-statistic=0.65; after split-validation 0.70). 30% of readmissions could not be predicted. Patients with liver-related readmissions consistently had index-stay nosocomial infections as a predictor for HE, renal/metabolic and infection-associated readmissions (OR 1.9–3.0). Conclusions Three-month readmissions occurred in about half of discharged cirrhotics, which were associated with cirrhosis severity, diabetes and nosocomial infections. Close monitoring of advanced cirrhotics and prevention of nosocomial infections could reduce this burden.

Background & Aims A consensus conference proposed that cirrhosis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) be defined as an increase in serum creatinine by >50% from the stable baseline value in <6 months or by ≥0.3mg/dL in <48 hrs. We prospectively evaluated the ability of these criteria to predict mortality within 30 days among hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and infection. Methods 337 patients with cirrhosis admitted with or developed an infection in hospital (56% men; 56±10 y old; model for end-stage liver disease score, 20±8) were followed. We compared data on 30-day mortality, hospital length-of-stay, and organ failure between patients with and without AKI. Results 166 (49%) developed AKI during hospitalization, based on the consensus criteria. Patients who developed AKI had higher admission Child-Pugh (11.0±2.1 vs 9.6±2.1; P<.0001), and MELD scores (23±8 vs17±7; P<.0001), and lower mean arterial pressure (81±16mmHg vs 85±15mmHg; P<.01) than those who did not. Also higher amongst patients with AKI were mortality in ≤30 days (34% vs 7%), intensive care unit transfer (46% vs 20%), ventilation requirement (27% vs 6%), and shock (31% vs 8%); AKI patients also had longer hospital stays (17.8±19.8 days vs 13.3±31.8 days) (all P<.001). 56% of AKI episodes were transient, 28% persistent, and 16% resulted in dialysis. Mortality was 80% among those without renal recovery, higher compared to partial (40%) or complete recovery (15%), or AKI-free patients (7%; P<.0001). Conclusions 30-day mortality is 10-fold higher among infected hospitalized cirrhotic patients with irreversible AKI than those without AKI. The consensus definition of AKI accurately predicts 30-day mortality, length of hospital stay, and organ failure.