Observational Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2022; 28(40): 5881-5892
Published online Oct 28, 2022. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i40.5881
Table 1 Patient characteristics (n = 235)

CC, n = 11 (4.5%)
DC, n= 129 (52.9%)
ACLF, n = 95 (38.9%)
P value
Male gender, n (%)6 (54.5)64 (49.6)47 (49.5)0.95
Age, yr57.0 (53.0-59.0)a52.0 (43.0-61.0)c50.0 (37.0-59.0)a,c0.02
Liver cirrhosis etiology, n (%)
Autoimmune1 (9.1)a36 (27.9)c42 (44.2)a,c< 0.01
HCV8 (72.7)a,b42 (32.6)b,c13 (13.7)a,c< 0.0001
Alcoholic liver disease1 (9.1)11 (8.5)9 (9.5)0.93
NASH0 (0.0)7 (5.4)6 (6.3)0.88
Cryptogenic1 (9.1)22 (17.1)18 (18.9)0.76
Other10 (0.0)11 (8.5)7 (7.4)0.84
Comorbidities, n (%)
Type 2 diabetes mellitus3 (27.3)22 (17.1)13 (13.7)0.44
Primary hypertension2 (18.2)20 (15.5)6 (6.3)0.06
Pre-transplant clinical data
MELD-Na11 ± 3a,b19 ± 4b,c25 ± 6a,c< 0.0001
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)1.18 (1.03-1.45)a,b3.39 (2.3-5.46)b,c7.70 (4.14-16.63)a,c< 0.0001
INR1.1 (1.1-1.2)a,b1.5 (1.3-1.7)b1.5 (1.3-2.0)a< 0.0001
Serum creatinine (mg/dL)0.67 (0.57-0.71)a0.73 (0.61-0.88)c0.97 (0.75-1.35)a,c< 0.0001
Leukocyte count (× 109/L)2.9 (2.4-3)a4 (3.1-5)c5.4 (3.8-6.8)a,c< 0.0001
Disease manifestations2, n (%)
Clinical ascites0 (0.0)a,b88 (68.2)b,c88 (92.6)a,c< 0.0001
Encephalopathy0 (0.0)a,b69 (53.5)b,c80 (84.2)a,c< 0.0001
Grade 3-4 encephalopathy (West- Haven)0 (0.0)a,b7 (5.4)b,c37 (38.9)a,c< 0.0001
Table 2 Acute-on-chronic liver failure patients characteristics (n = 95)

ACLF-1,n = 40 (42.1%)
ACLF-2, n = 33 (34.7%)
ACLF-3, n = 22 (23.2%)
P value
Male gender, n (%)21 (52.5)17 (51.5)11 (50.0)0.98
Age, yr55.0 (39.8-60.0)44.0 (36.5-53.0)49.0 (37.5-59.3)0.14
Time to LT since ACLF event54.0 (21.3-122.8)a,b31.0 (7.0-59.5)b22.0 (9.5-46.8)a0.03
Liver cirrhosis etiology, n (%)
Autoimmune14 (35.0)17 (51.5)11 (50.0)0.30
HCV9 (22.5)2 (6.1)2 (9.1)0.14
Alcoholic liver disease2 (5.0)4 (12.1)3 (13.6)0.44
NASH3 (7.5)2 (6.1)1 (4.5)0.99
Cryptogenic10 (25.0)5 (15.2)3 (13.6)0.50
Other12 (5.0)3 (9.1)2 (9.1)0.69
ACLF precipitant, n (%)
Bacterial infection14 (35.0)16 (48.5)11 (50.0)0.39
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage1 (2.5)3 (9.1)1 (4.5)0.44
Active alcoholism0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)0.99
Other10 (25.0)a2 (6.1)0 (0.0)a0.01
Unknown15 (37.5)12 (36.4)10 (45.5)0.77
Organ failures, n (%)
Liver14 (35.0)a,b22 (66.7)b16 (72.7)a< 0.01
Kidney18 (45.0)11 (33.3)14 (63.6)0.09
Brain5 (12.5)a10 (30.3)11 (50.0)a< 0.01
Coagulation3 (7.5)a,b12 (36.4)b11 (50.0)a< 0.001
Circulation0 (0.0)a,b8 (24.2)b,c14 (63.6)a,c< 0.0001
Lung1 (2.5)a3 (9.1)7 (31.8)a< 0.01
ACLF event clinical data
MELD-Na27 ± 4a,b29 ± 5b,c35 ± 4a,c< 0.0001
CLIF-C OF9 ± 1a,b10 ± 1b,c12 ± 2a,c< 0.0001
CLIF-C ACLF39 ± 8a43 ± 6c52 ± 6a,c< 0.0001
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)6.31 (2.99-12.91)a,b13.07 (6.39-22.31)b23.08 (10.56-27.76)a< 0.001
INR1.5 (1.2-1.9)a,b1.9 (1.4-2.5)b2.2 (1.7-2.8)a< 0.001
Serum creatinine (mg/dL)1.86 (1.18-2.27)b0.93 (0.71-1.99)b,c2.25 (1.42-2.87)c< 0.01
Leukocyte count (× 109/L)6.55 (4.73-9.43)a6.60 (4.55-8.25)c8.75 (6.88-13.05)a,c< 0.01
Pre-transplant clinical data
MELD-Na23 ± 4a25 ± 5c29 ± 8a,c< 0.0001
CLIF-C OF8 ± 2a9 ± 210 ± 2a0.01
CLIF-C ACLF37 ± 937 ± 841 ± 120.18
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)4.58 (2.94-8.60)a9.75 (5.40-16.62)19.59 (5.48-34.11)a< 0.01
INR1.4 (1.3-1.7)1.6 (1.3-2.2)1.9 (1.4-2.6)0.05
Serum creatinine (mg/dL)0.96 (0.75-1.29)a0.88 (0.72-1.17)c1.23 (0.94-1.95)a,c< 0.01
Leukocyte count (× 109/L)4.40 (3.23-6.70)4.80 (2.90-6.30)4.75 (2.48-10.45)0.92
Table 3 Posttransplant outcomes (n = 235)

CC, n = 11 (4.5%)
DC, n = 129 (52.9%)
ACLF, n = 95 (38.9%)
P value
ICU stay (d) 2.0 (1.0-4.0) 2.0 (1.5-4.0) 3.0 (2.0-5.0) 0.05
Hospital stay (d) 6.0 (3.0-7.0)a7.0 (4.5-10.0) 8.0 (6.0-13.0)a0.01
Any type of complication, n (%)7 (63.6)105 (81.4)85 (89.5)0.05
Infectious complications, n (%)1 (9.1)a38 (29.5)b47 (49.5)a,b< 0.01
Complications (Clavien-Dindo), n (%)
I4 (36.4) 17 (13.2) 19 (20.0) 0.08
II2 (18.2) 51 (39.5) 32 (33.7) 0.31
III1 (9.1)14 (10.9)17 (17.9)0.27
IV0 (0.0)9 (7.0)12 (12.6)0.23
V0 (0.0)14 (10.9)5 (5.3)0.24
Table 4 Acute-on-chronic liver failure posttransplant outcomes (n = 95)

ACLF-1, n = 40 (42.1%)
ACLF-2, n = 33 (34.7%)
ACLF-3, n = 22 (23.2%)
P value
ICU stay (d) 3.0 (2.0-4.0) 3.0 (2.0-6.0) 3.0 (2.0-6.0) 0.68
Hospital stay (d) 8.0 (5.0-11.8)8.0 (6.0-15.5) 6.0 (5.8-14.3)0.54
Any type of complication, n (%) 35 (87.5)31 (93.9)19 (86.4)0.58
Infectious complications, n (%) 20 (50.0)15 (45.5)12 (54.5)0.80
Complications (Clavien-Dindo), n (%)
I7 (17.5) 6 (18.2) 6 (27.3) 0.62
II17 (42.5) 11 (33.3) 4 (18.2) 0.15
III5 (12.5)7 (21.2)5 (22.7)0.50
IV4 (10.0)6 (18.2)2 (9.1)0.49
V2 (5.0)1 (3.0)2 (9.1)0.61
Table 5 Posttransplant survival overall and by acute-on-chronic liver failure grade, n (%)

CC, n = 11 (4.5%)
DC, n = 129 (52.9%)
ACLF, n = 95 (38.9%)
P value
ACLF-1, n = 40 (42.1%)
ACLF-2, n = 33 (34.7%)
ACLF-3, n = 22 (23.2%)
P value
DRI 1.41 (1.36-2.26) 1.38 (1.21-1.53) 1.32 (1.19-1.54) 0.13 1.43 (1.24-1.62) 1.27 (1.20-1.43) 1.38 (1.20-1.69) 0.08
30-d mortality 0 (0.0) 10 (7.8) 3 (3.2) 0.38 1 (2.5)0 (0.0)2 (9.1)0.17
3-mo mortality 0 (0.0)15 (11.6)6 (6.3)0.30 3 (7.5)1 (3.0)2 (9.1)0.65
1-yr survival11 (100)114 (88.4)87 (91.6)0.6035 (87.5)32 (97.0)20 (90.9)0.40
Overall survival110 (90.9)112 (86.8)80 (84.2)0.90 32 (80.0)31 (93.9)17 (77.3)0.15