血清钠对肝硬化并发症及预后的影响

目的 探讨血清钠水平与失代偿期肝硬化患者并发症及预后的关系.方法 225例失代偿期肝硬化患者,根据其入院时血清钠水平分低钠血症轻、中、重度组和血清钠正常组,分析患者血清钠水平与终末期肝病模型(MELD)、Child-Pugh分级、并发症发生率及预后的关系.结果 在235例患者中,低钠血症发生率为54.04％.血清钠水平越低,患者MELD、Child-Pugh分级越高;除消化道出血外,其它并发症如肝性脑病、自发性腹膜炎、低钾血症、肝肾综合征发生率越高;患者腹水程度越严重.血钠正常组、低钠血症轻、中、重度组病死率分别为7.09％、12.77％、28.95％、60.87％,中、重度组病死率明显高于血钠正常组.重度组病死率也高于中、轻度组(P＜0.01).结论 低钠血症与失代偿期肝硬化患者MELD、Child-Pugh分级、并发症及预后密切相关,监测血清钠水平可作为判断肝硬化患者预后的指标之一.     

Prediction of the prognosis in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis using the MELD scoring system

AIM: To predict prognosis in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis (AOCH) using the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring system and to study the effects of age, sex, etiology, low serum sodium, and persistent ascites on MELD. METHODS: The MELD scores of 300 patients with AOCH were calculated according to the original formula. The 3-month mortality in patients was measured, and the validity of the models was determined by means of the concordance (c) statistic. The influential factors on MELD were also assessed. RESULTS: The 3-month mortality of AOCH patients with a MELD score of 20-29 was 56.0%, with a score of 30-39 it was 76.5%, and with a score over 40 it was 98.2%. The concordance (c) statistic of 3-month mortality was 0.782. Univariate analysis showed that mortality was significantly related to age (P=0.047), etiology (P=0.039), serum sodium (P=0.029) and ascites (P=0.031) for patients with MELD scores 20-29. In multivariate analysis, in patients with MELD scores 20-29, age (P=0.012), etiology (P=0.024), serum sodium (P=0.005) and ascites (P=0.017) were independent predictors of mortality; for MELD scores above 30, only MELD score (P=0.015) was independently predictive. CONCLUSIONS: The MELD scoring system is a reliable method for predicting mortality in patients with AOCH. In the group with MELD score 20-29, factors including age, etiology, presence of low serum sodium and persistent ascites may influence the MELD scoring system. The MELD score is the decisive predictor of the prognosis of patients with AOCH when the MELD score is over 30.     

Serum sodium predicts mortality in patients listed for liver transplantation

With the implementation of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), refractory ascites, a known predictor of mortality in cirrhosis, was removed as a criterion for liver allocation. Because ascites is associated with low serum sodium, we evaluated serum sodium as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with cirrhosis who were listed for liver transplantation and whether the addition of serum sodium to MELD was superior to MELD alone. This is a single-center retrospective cohort of all adult patients with cirrhosis listed for transplantation from February 27, 2002, to December 26, 2003. Listing laboratories were those nearest the listing date +/-2 months. Of the 513 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 341 were still listed, while 172 were removed from the list (105 for transplantation, 56 for death, 11 for other reasons). The median serum sodium and MELD scores were 137 mEq/L (range, 110-155) and 15 (range, 6-51), respectively, at listing. Median follow-up was 201 (range, 1-662) days. The risk of death with serum sodium <126 mEq/L at listing or while listed was increased, with hazard ratios of 7.8 (P < .001) and 6.3 (P < .001), respectively, and the association was independent of MELD. The c-statistics of receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting mortality at 3 months based upon listing MELD with and without listing serum sodium were 0.883 and 0.897, respectively, and at 6 months were 0.871 and 0.905, respectively. In conclusion, serum sodium <126 mEq/L at listing or while listed for transplantation is a strong independent predictor of mortality. Addition of serum sodium to MELD increases the ability to predict 3- and 6-month mortality in patients with cirrhosis.     

Refractory ascites and dilutional hyponatremia: current management and new aquaretics

Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis and is associated with 50% mortality at 2 years if patients do not receive orthotopic liver transplantation. Recently the International Ascites Club defined ascites into three groups: In grade I ascites fluid is detected only by ultrasound; in grade II, ascites is moderate with symmetrical distention of the abdomen; and in Grade 3 ascites is large or tense with marked abdominal distention. About 10% of patients with ascites are refractory to treatment with diuretics. In refractory ascites, patients do not respond to highest doses of diuretics (spironolactone 400 mg/day and furosemide 160 mg/ day) or develop side effects (hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, hepatic encephalopathy, or renal failure) that prohibit their use. Patients may be treated either by repeated large volume paracentesis plus albumin or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS). Dilutional hyponatremia in cirrhotic patients is defined as serum sodium < or = 130 mEq/L in the presence of an expanded extracellular fluid volume, as indicated by the presence of ascites and/or edema. This complication of cirrhotic patients with ascites has recently gained attention given that several reports indicate that when serum sodium concentration is combined with the Model for End-Stage liver disease (MELD) it improves the prognostic accuracy of MELD score in patients awaiting orthotopic liver transplant (OLT). The first step in the management of dilutional hyponatremia is fluid restriction and discontinuation of diuretics. Water restriction at 1,000 mL/day helps prevent the progressive decrease in serum sodium concentration but usually does not correct hyponatremia in most cases. Actually are developing drugs that are active orally and act by selectively antagonizing the specific receptors (V2 receptor) of arginine vasopressin. These agents act in the distal collecting ducts of the kidneys, by increasing solute free water excretion and, thus, improving serum sodium concentration in hyponatremic patients.     

MELD score and serum sodium in the prediction of survival of patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation

BACKGROUND/ AIMS: Serum sodium predicts prognosis in cirrhosis and may improve the prognostic accuracy of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, but the available information is limited. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of serum sodium in the prediction of survival at 3 and 12 months after listing in patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation, and to compare its predictive value with that of the MELD score. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 308 consecutive patients with cirrhosis listed for transplantation during a 5-year period were included in the study. The end-point was survival at 3 and 12 months before transplantation. Variables obtained at the time of listing were analysed for prognostic value using multivariable analysis. Accuracy of prognostic variables was analysed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The MELD score and serum sodium concentration were the only independent predictors of survival at 3 and 12 months after listing. Low serum sodium was associated with an increased risk of death in all subpopulations of patients with cirrhosis categorised according to the major complication developed before listing. The area under the ROC curves for serum sodium and MELD score was not significantly different both at 3 months (0.83 vs 0.79, respectively) and at 12 months (0.70 vs 0.77, respectively). The addition of serum sodium did not significantly improve the accuracy of the MELD score in the prediction of survival at 3 and 12 months. CONCLUSION: In patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation, serum sodium and MELD were found to be independent predictors of survival. Larger studies are needed to determine whether the addition of serum sodium to MELD can improve its prognostic accuracy.     

肝硬化患者血清钠特点及含钠终末期肝病模型对预后的判断价值

目的 分析终末期肝硬化患者的血清钠特点与患者生存状况和门静脉高压并发症之间的关系,比较终末期肝病模型(MELD)及其含钠模型对预后的判断价值.方法 选取我院2005年6月至2010年10月失代偿期肝硬化患者的住院资料进行登记和随访.将血清钠水平按≤125 mmol/L、＞ 125 ～＜135 mmol/L和≥135 mmol/L进行分级,分析不同血清钠水平肝硬化患者的生存情况及与肝硬化门静脉高压相关并发症的关系,并分析Child-Pugh分级与血清钠水平的相互关系.利用Kaplan-Meier方法分析不同血清钠水平患者的生存率变化,利用接受者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积比较MELD与MELD-Na和iMELD判断患者生存不同时间的准确性.组间均数的比较用t检验或方差分析,率的比较用x2检验,ROC曲线下面积的比较采用正态性Z检验.结果 至随访期截止,共有467例患者被纳入本研究.总体低钠血症(血清钠＜ 135 mmol/L)发生率为50.54％ (236/467),其中死亡患者低钠血症发生率为66.81％ (155/232),生存患者为34.47％ (81/235),差异有统计学意义(x2=9.73,P＜0.01).血清钠≤125 mmol/L、＞125 ～＜135 mmol/L和≥135 mmol/L患者的病死率分别为86.00％ (43/50)、60.10％ (110/183)和33.76％ (79/234),差异有统计学意义(P＜ 0.01).Child-Pugh A、B、C级患者的血清钠水平分别为(138.80±4.42)mmol/L、(135.30±6.66) mmol/L和(131.18±7.53) mmol/L,各组间差异均有统计学意义(P值均＜0.05).肝性脑病、肝肾综合征和自发性腹膜炎的发病率因血清钠水平的下降而升高(r值分别为-0.213、-0.342和- 0.142,P值均＜0.05),腹水量也随血清钠水平的降低而增加(P＜0.01),而消化道出血的发生则与血清钠水平无明显关系(r=0.40,P＞0.05).MELD、MELD-Na和iMELD模型在判断患者3个月预后方面无明显差异(P＞ 0.05),而在判断患者6个月和1年预后方面,MELD-Na和iMELD优于MELD(P值均＜0.05).结论 低钠血症与终末期肝病患者的预后及相关并发症发生有一定的关系.MELD与钠相结合后,可以提高MELD判断患者预后的能力.     

Correlation and comparison of the model for end-stage liver disease, portal pressure, and serum sodium for outcome prediction in patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), and serum sodium (SNa) are important prognostic markers for patients with liver cirrhosis. The correlation among these markers and their predictive accuracy for survival are unclear. METHODS: A total of 213 cirrhotic patients undergoing hemodynamic measurement were analyzed. The correlations between MELD score, SNa, and hemodynamic parameters were investigated. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between MELD and HVPG (r=0.255, P<0.001), between SNa and MELD (r=-0.483, P<0.001), and between HVPG and SNa (r=-0.213, P=0.002). Using mortality as the end-point, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for MELD was 0.789, compared with 0.659 for HVPG (P=0.165) and 0.860 for SNa (P=0.34) at 3 months; the difference between HVPG and SNa was significant (P=0.015). The AUC at 6 months was significantly higher for SNa and MELD compared with that of HVPG. Among 134 patients with low (<14) MELD scores, a high (>16 mm Hg) HVPG, and low SNa (<135 mEq/L) predicted early mortality. In the Cox multivariate model, MELD, HVPG, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores were consistently identified as independent poor prognostic predictors when they were treated either as dichotomous or continuous variables in the model. CONCLUSIONS: MELD score is closely associated with HVPG and SNa in cirrhotic patients. HVPG is not superior to MELD score or SNa for short-term outcome prediction. High HVPG and low SNa may identify high-risk patients with low MELD scores. High MELD, HVPG, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores are independent predictors of poor long-term survival.     

The management of ascites and hyponatremia in cirrhosis

Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis and is associated with an increased risk for the development of infections, dilutional hyponatremia, renal failure, and mortality. Cirrhotic patients who develop ascites and associated complications have a low probability of long-term survival without liver transplantation, and therefore should be referred for evaluation of liver transplantation. While the initial management of uncomplicated ascites with low-sodium diet and diuretic treatment is straightforward in the majority of patients, there is a group of patients who fail to respond to diuretics and develop refractory ascites. The development of specific associated complications such as dilutional hyponatremia may further challenge the management of patients with ascites. New pharmacological agents such as the V2 receptor antagonists, drugs that directly antagonize the effects of elevated plasma antidiuretic hormone levels, induce solute-free water diuresis and seem to be promising in the management of patients with cirrhosis, ascites, and dilutional hyponatremia. This article focuses on the pathophysiology, clinical consequences, current management, and new treatment modalities for ascites and dilutional hyponatremia in cirrhosis.     

Hyponatremia in Cirrhosis and End-Stage Liver Disease: Treatment with the Vasopressin V2-Receptor Antagonist Tolvaptan

Hyponatremia is common in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and is characterized by excessive renal retention of water relative to sodium due to reduced solute-free water clearance. The primary cause is increased release of arginine vasopressin. Hyponatremia is associated with increased mortality in cirrhotic patients, those with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) on transplant waiting lists, and, in some studies, posttransplantation patients. Clinical evidence suggests that adding serum sodium to model for ESLD (MELD) scoring identifies patients in greatest need of liver transplantation by improving waiting list mortality prediction. Hyponatremia is also associated with numerous complications in liver disease patients, including severe ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, infectious complications, renal impairment, increased severity of liver disease in cirrhosis, and increased hospital stay and neurologic/infectious complications posttransplant. Vasopressin receptor antagonists, which act to increase free water excretion (aquaresis) and thereby increase serum sodium concentration, have been evaluated in patients with hypervolemic hyponatremia (including cirrhosis and heart failure) and euvolemic hyponatremia (SIADH). Tolvaptan, a selective vasopressin V₂-receptor antagonist, is the only oral agent in this class approved for raising sodium levels in hypervolemic and euvolemic hyponatremia. The SALT trials showed that tolvaptan treatment rapidly and effectively resolved hyponatremia in these settings, including cirrhosis, and it has been shown that this agent can be safely and effectively used in long-term treatment. Fluid restriction should be avoided during the first 24?h of treatment to prevent overly rapid correction of hyponatremia, and tolvaptan should not be used in patients who cannot sense/respond to thirst, anuric patients, hypovolemic patients, and/or those requiring urgent intervention to raise serum sodium acutely.     

145例肝硬化失代偿期低钠血症的回顾性分析

目的探讨肝硬化失代偿期患者不同血清钠水平与病情严重度的关系。方法回顾性分析我科收治145例肝硬化腹水伴低钠血症患者,根据其入院时血清钠水平分为低钠血症轻、中、重度组,比较3组肝肾功能、凝血功能、Child-Pugh评分、主要并发症、低钠纠正效果及病死率。结果患者低钠血症程度与肝肾功能、凝血功能、Child-Pugh分级、主要并发症、低钠纠正效果及病死率均具有相关性（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,仅血清球蛋白在3组间差异无显著性（P〉0.05）。结论肝硬化失代偿期患者的血清钠水平与其病重程度相关,监测血清钠水平可作为判断肝硬化腹水病情严重程度的重要指标之一。     

Evaluation of model for end-stage liver disease for prediction of mortality in decompensated chronic hepatitis B

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the predictive ability of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) for short-term mortality in chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: All patients admitted from 1996 to 2003 because of chronic hepatitis B and its related complications were identified by electronic search of the hospital database. MELD and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scores on initial admissions were calculated. Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the factors associated with mortality. The area under receiver operator characteristics curve (AUC) was used to determine the predictive abilities of the two models for 3-month and 1-yr mortalities. RESULTS: A total of 2,073 patients was admitted because of liver-related problems and 506 patients had chronic hepatitis B-related complications. Two hundred fifty-six (51%) patients died and 16 (3%) patients underwent liver transplantation. In multivariate analysis, MELD and CTP scores were independent predictors of 3-month and 1-yr mortality. Other independent predictors of mortality included older age, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), lamivudine treatment, and lower serum sodium. At both 3 months and 1 yr, the AUC of the MELD score (0.65 and 0.63, respectively) was significantly lower than that of the CTP score (0.75 and 0.77, respectively) (p < 0.0001). The differences remained significant when only liver cirrhosis patients without HCC at presentation were analyzed, but the AUC of the two scores became comparable when patients on lamivudine were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: The MELD score is a valid prognostic model in decompensated chronic hepatitis B. Lamivudine treatment may affect the performance of MELD score. Other variables including those in CTP score may improve its predictive ability.     

人脐带间充质干细胞治疗失代偿性肝硬化患者的初步研究

目的评价人脐带间充质干细胞(UC-MSCs)治疗失代偿性肝硬化的安全性及临床疗效。方法采用平行对照、单盲法将26例失代偿性肝硬化患者进行分组,其中20例为治疗组,接受UC-MSCs外周静脉回输治疗;6例为对照组,给予0.9%NaCl溶液回输,两组均同时行综合内科治疗。测定回输后不同时间点治疗组与对照组白蛋白(Alb)、下腹腹水及终末期肝病模型(MELD)评分的变化。结果 UC-MSCs回输后,除个别患者体温有自限性升高外,无其他不良反应。接受UC-MSCs回输48周后,Alb较治疗前显著升高、腹水较治疗前显著减少(P<0.05);随访末,两组腹水情况比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),但MELD评分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论人UC-MSCs治疗失代偿性肝硬化患者安全性好,能减轻患者的临床症状,减少腹水形成。     

The MELD score in patients awaiting liver transplant: strengths and weaknesses

Adoption of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) to select and prioritize patients for liver transplantation represented a turning point in organ allocation. Prioritization of transplant recipients switched from time accrued on the waiting list to the principle of "sickest first". The MELD score incorporates three simple laboratory parameters (serum creatinine and bilirubin, and INR for prothrombin time) and stratifies patients according to their disease severity in an objective and continuous ranking scale. Concordance statistics have demonstrated its high accuracy in stratifying patients according to their risk of dying in the short-term (three months). Further validations of MELD as a predictor of survival at various temporal end-points have been obtained in independent patient cohorts with a broad spectrum of chronic liver disease. The MELD-based liver graft allocation policy has led to a reduction in waitlist new registrations and mortality, shorter waiting times, and an increase in transplants, without altering overall graft and patient survival rates after transplantation. MELD limitations are related either to the inter-laboratory variability of the parameters included in the score, or to the inability of the formula to predict mortality accurately in specific settings. For some conditions, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, widely accepted MELD corrections have been devised. For others, such as persistent ascites and hyponatremia, attempts to improve MELD's predicting power are currently underway, but await definite validation.     

MELD scoring system is useful for predicting prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis and is correlated with residual liver function: a European study

BACKGROUND: Indices for predicting survival are essential for assessing prognosis and assigning priority for liver transplantation in patients with liver cirrhosis. The model for end stage liver disease (MELD) has been proposed as a tool to predict mortality risk in cirrhotic patients. However, this model has not been validated beyond its original setting. AIM: To evaluate the short and medium term survival prognosis of a European series of cirrhotic patients by means of MELD compared with the Child-Pugh score. We also assessed correlations between the MELD scoring system and the degree of impairment of liver function, as evaluated by the monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated survival of a cohort of 129 cirrhotic patients with a follow up period of at least one year. The Child-Pugh score was calculated and the MELD score was computed according to the original formula for each patient. All patients had undergone a MEGX test. Multivariate analysis was performed on all variables to identify the parameters independently associated with one year and six month survival. MELD values were correlated with both Child-Pugh scores and MEGX test results. RESULTS: Thirty one patients died within the first year of follow up. Child-Pugh and MELD scores, and MEGX serum levels were significantly different among patients who survived and those who died. Serum creatinine, international normalised ratio, and MEGX(60) were independently associated with six month mortality while the same variables and the presence of ascites were associated with one year mortality. MELD scores showed significant correlations with both MEGX values and Child-Pugh scores. CONCLUSIONS: In a European series of cirrhotic patients the MELD score is an excellent predictor of both short and medium term survival, and performs at least as well as the Child-Pugh score. An increase in MELD score is associated with a decrease in residual liver function.     

A maxed-out liver: a case of acute-on-chronic liver failure

A 51-year-old man from Puerto Rico with Child-Turcotte-Pugh Class C decompensated cirrhosis due to genotype 1a chronic hepatitis C was referred for worsening jaundice and diuretic-resistant ascites. He began experiencing symptoms of hepatic decompensation 5 months prior to referral with new-onset ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, evolving into diuretic-resistant ascites, increasing jaundice, and a MELD increase from 12 to 29. During his hospitalization, his MELD score increased to >40 from a rapidly increasing international normalized ratio (INR) and evolving type 1 hepatorenal syndrome. Clinically, the patient appeared quite well despite such a high MELD score. After an extensive pretransplant evaluation and exclusion of infection, he underwent successful orthotopic liver transplantation. After histologic examination of the explanted liver, he subsequently admitted to 5 months of daily use of a detoxifying supplement known as MaxOne (?), containing D-ribose- L-cysteine, consistent with a drug-induced acute-on-chronic liver failure. The use of complementary and alternative medicines and its potential for causing drug-induced liver injury and acute-on chronic liver failure requires a high index of suspicion and increased awareness among health care providers.     

Prognostic scores of cirrhosis

Prognostic models are useful to estimate disease severity, establish expected survival in a specific situation, and calculate the risk of certain medical interventions. Of all the scores described in liver cirrhosis, those with the widest clinical applicability are the Child-Pugh classification and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD). Although the Child-Pugh classification was used for many years to stratify patients and select those that can safely undergo liver surgery, currently this classification has been substituted by the MELD. This model uses only three simple and objective variables and has consequently become the most widely used instrument, especially to fix priorities when allocating organs in liver transplantation. Nevertheless, this model has some limitations since some indications for liver transplantation (hepatocarcinoma, metabolic diseases, etc.) and certain comorbidities in patients with cirrhosis (hepatic encephalopathy, hyponatremia, refractory ascites) are not well represented in the MELD.     

Direct Bilirubin Is More Valuable than Total Bilirubin for Predicting Prognosis in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Background/AimsMost prognostic prediction models for patients with liver cirrhosis include serum total bilirubin (TB) level as a component. This study investigated prognostic performance of serum direct bilirubin (DB) and developed new DB level-based prediction models for cirrhosis.MethodsA total of 983 hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis were included. DB-Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was calculated using MELD score formula, with serum DB level replacing TB level.ResultsMean age of study population was 56.1 years. Alcoholic liver disease was the most frequent underlying condition (471 patients, 47.9%). Within 6 months, 144 patients (14.6%) died or received liver transplantation due to severe liver dysfunction. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for prediction of 6-month mortality with DB level was significantly higher than that with TB level (p<0.001). The AUROC of DB-MELD score for prediction of 6-month mortality was significantly higher than that of MELD score (p<0.001). Patients were randomly divided into training (n=492) and validation (n=491) cohorts. A new prognostic prediction model, “Direct Bilirubin, INR, and Creatinine” (DiBIC) score, was developed based on the most significant predictors of 6-month mortality. In training set, AUROC of DiBIC score for prediction of 6-month mortality was 0.892, which was significantly higher than that of the MELD score (0.875, p=0.017), but not different from that of DB-MELD score (0.886, p=0.272). Similar results were observed in validation set.ConclusionsNew prognostic models, DB-MELD and DiBIC scores, have good prognostic performance in liver cirrhosis patients, outperforming other currently available models.     

Clinical profile and predictors of mortality in patients of acute-on-chronic liver failure

BackgroundAcute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterised by acute hepatic insult manifesting as jaundice and coagulopathy, complicated within 4 weeks by ascites and/or encephalopathy in patients with previously diagnosed or undiagnosed chronic liver disease. We studied the clinical, biochemical and etiological profiles of ACLF patients investigating variables which could predict mortality.MethodsConsecutive ACLF patients were enrolled and given standard intensive care management. They were monitored for predictors of 90-day mortality.Results91 patients were included; besides jaundice (median bilirubin 23.1 mg/dL) and coagulopathy, acute onset ascites with or without encephalopathy was the presenting symptom in 92%. In all patients a first diagnosis of chronic liver disease was made, mainly due to hepatitis B (37%) or alcohol (34%). Reactivation of chronic hepatitis B and alcoholic hepatitis were the common acute insults. The 90-day mortality was 63%. On multivariate analysis, hepatic encephalopathy, low serum sodium, and high INR were found to be independent baseline predictors of mortality. Amongst all severity scores studied, MELD, SOFA and APACHE-II scores had AUROCs of >0.8 which was significantly higher than that of Child–Turcotte–Pugh.ConclusionsACLF has very high mortality. Hepatic encephalopathy, low serum sodium and high INR predict poor outcome. Mortality can also be predicted by baseline MELD, SOFA or APACHE-II scores.     

Selecting an optimal prognostic system for liver cirrhosis: the model for end‐stage liver disease and beyond

In comparison with the Child–Turcotte–Pugh (CTP) system, recent studies suggested that the model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) may more accurately predict the survival for patients with cirrhosis. In the US, the liver allocation system was changed in 2002 from a status‐based algorithm utilizing CTP scores to one using continuous MELD severity scores as a reference system in prioritizing adult patients on the waiting list. Direct evidence that demonstrates the benefits of MELD is the fact that the mortality rates of transplant candidates on the waiting list have remarkably decreased after the implementation of the MELD. The MELD score is closely associated with the degree of portal hypertension as reflected by the hepatic venous pressure gradient. Hyponatraemia occurs as a result of advanced cirrhosis, and a serum sodium (Na) level <126 mEq/L at the time of listing for transplantation is a strong independent predictor of mortality. Several MELD‐derived prognostic models that incorporate serum Na into calculation have been proposed in the hopes of further improving the MELD's prognostic accuracy. Additionally, serum parameters such as creatinine and international normalized ratio are subject to interlaboratory variations and may need unifying standardizations. Patients with refractory complications of cirrhosis may need a priority MELD score to prioritize them on the waiting list. Appropriate modifications and the fine‐tuning of the MELD based on well‐designed prospective studies are necessary in solving the current controversial issues.     

Impact of preoperative serum sodium concentration in living donor liver transplantation

Background and Aims: The importance of hyponatremia in deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) has been recently discussed frequently. However, its impact on the outcomes in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has not yet been elucidated. The current study was designed to demonstrate the impact of pre‐transplant sodium concentration on postoperative clinical outcomes. Methods: One hundred and thirty‐four patients who underwent LDLT for end‐stage liver diseases were examined to evaluate the significance of pre‐transplant hyponatremia (Na ≤ 130 mEq/L) on the short‐term clinical outcomes and the efficacy of the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease and serum sodium (MELD‐Na) score using the sodium concentration and original MELD score. Results: The preoperative sodium and MELD score for all patients were 133.9 mEq/L (range: 109–142) and 16.2 (range: 6–38), respectively. According to a multivariate analysis, not only the MELD score (P = 0.030) but also the sodium concentration (P = 0.005) were found to be significant predictive factors for short‐term graft survival. Preoperative hyponatremia was a significant risk factor for the occurrence of sepsis (P < 0.001), renal dysfunction (P < 0.001) and encephalopathy (P = 0.026). The MELD‐Na score was 19.6 (range: 6–51) and the area under the receiver–operator curve of that (c‐statistics: 0.867) was higher than MELD score and sodium concentration (c‐statistics: 0.820 and 0.842, respectively). Conclusion: Preoperative hyponatremia was a significant risk for postoperative complications and short‐term graft loss. The addition of sodium concentration to MELD score might therefore be an effective predictor for post‐transplant short‐term mortality in LDLT.