Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure Is Independently Associated With Lower Survival in Patients With Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a decompensation of cirrhosis with an in-hospital mortality ranging from 20% to 40%. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze if EASL-CLIF definition of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is able to predict mortality in cirrhotic patients with SBP. METHODS: Historical cohort study conducted in a public tertiary care teaching hospital. Data from medical records from January 2009 to July 2016 were obtained by searching the hospital electronic database for samples of ascites collected in the period. Electronic and physical medical records were analyzed and patients were included if they were over 18-years old, with cirrhosis and an ascites fluid compatible with SBP: 69 patients were included. Liver-specific scores were calculated and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used for univariate analysis and a stepwise approach to the Cox regression for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: All cause mortality was 44%, 56.5% and 74% for 28-, 90- and 365-day, respectively. The prevalence of ACLF was 58%. Of these, 65% grade 1, 17.5% grade 2 and 17.5% grade 3. In multivariate analysis, the use of proton-pump inhibitors, alanine transaminase lower than 40 U/L, hemoglobin higher than 9 g/dL, absence of ACLF and lower CLIF-SOFA and MELD scores were independently associated with higher survival for both 28- and 90-day interval. CONCLUSION: The presence of ACLF and higher CLIF-SOFA scores were independently associated with higher 28- and 90-day mortality in cirrhotic patients admitted due to SBP.