Optimizing nutrition in hepatic cirrhosis:A comprehensive assessment and care approach

Cirrhosis is considered a growing cause of morbidity and mortality,which represents a significant public health problem.Currently,there is no effective treatment to reverse cirrhosis.Treatment primarily centers on addressing the underlying liver condition,monitoring,and managing portal hypertension-related complications,and evaluating the potential for liver transplantation in cases of decompensated cirrhosis,marked by rapid progression and the emer-gence of complications like variceal bleeding,hepatic encephalopathy,ascites,malnutrition,and more.Malnutrition,a prevalent complication across all disease stages,is often underdiagnosed in cirrhosis due to the complexities of nutritional assessment in patients with fluid retention and/or obesity,despite its crucial impact on prognosis.Increasing emphasis has been placed on the collaboration of nutritionists within hepatology and Liver transplant teams to deliver compre-hensive care,a practice that has shown to improve outcomes.This review covers appropriate screening and assessment methods for evaluating the nutritional status of this population,diagnostic approaches for malnutrition,and context-specific nutrition treatments.It also discusses evidence-based recommendations for supplementation and physical exercise,both essential elements of the standard care provided to cirrhotic patients.

Liver transplantation is beneficial regardless of cirrhosis stage or acute-on-chronic liver failure grade:A single-center experience

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation for the most critically ill remains controversial;however,it is currently the only curative treatment option.AIM To assess immediate posttransplant outcomes and compare the short(1 year)and long-term(6 years)posttransplant survival among cirrhotic patients stratified by disease severity.METHODS We included cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation between 2015 and 2019 and categorized them into compensated cirrhosis(CC),decompensated cirrhosis(DC),and acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF).ACLF was further divided into severity grades.Our primary outcomes of interest were total days of intensive care unit(ICU)and hospital stay,development of complications and posttransplant survival at 1 and 6 years.RESULTS 235 patients underwent liver transplantation(CC=11,DC=129 and ACLF=95).Patients with ACLF had a significantly longer hospital stay[8.0(6.0-13.0)vs CC,6.0(3.0-7.0),and DC 7.0(4.5-10.0);P=0.01]and developed more infection-related complications[47(49.5%),vs CC,1(9.1%)and DC,38(29.5%);P<0.01].Posttransplant survival at 1-and 6-years was similar among groups(P=0.60 and P=0.90,respectively).ACLF patients stratified according to ACLF grade[ACLF-1 n=40(42.1%),ACLF-2 n=33(34.7%)and ACLF-3 n=22(23.2%)],had similar ICU and hospital stay length(P=0.68,P=0.54),as well as comparable frequencies of overall and infectious posttransplant complications(P=0.58,P=0.80).There was no survival difference between ACLF grades at 1 year and 6 years(P=0.40 and P=0.15).CONCLUSION Patients may benefit from liver transplantation regardless of the cirrhosis stage.ACLF patients have a longer hospital stay and frequency of infectious complications;however,excellent,and comparable 1 and 6-year survival rates support their enlisting and transplantation including those with ACLF-3.