Validation of the albumin-bilirubin score for identifying decompensation risk in patients with compensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND The albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score is an index of liver function recently developed to assess prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).It can detect small changes in liver dysfunction and has been successfully applied to the prediction of survival in patients with non-malignant liver diseases of various etiologies.AIM To investigate the ALBI score for identifying decompensation risk at the 3-year follow-up in patients with compensated cirrhosis.METHODS One-hundred and twenty-three patients with compensated cirrhosis without HCC in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital diagnosed by imaging were retrospectively enrolled from January 2016 to December 2020.A total of 113 patients(91.9%)had Child A cirrhosis with a median model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score of less than 9.Baseline clinical and laboratory variables and decompensation events were collected.The ALBI score was calculated and validated to classify decompensation risk into low-,middle-,and high-risk groups using three ALBI grade ranges(ALBI grade 1:≤-2.60;grade 2:>-2.60 but≤-1.39;grade 3:>-1.39).Decompensation events were defined as ascites development,variceal bleeding,or grade 3 or 4 hepatic encephalopathy.RESULTS Among 123 cirrhotic patients enrolled,13.8%(n=17)developed decompensating events at a median time of 25[95%confidence interval(CI):17-31]mo.Median baseline ALBI score in compensated cirrhosis was significantly lower than that of patients who developed decompensation events[-2.768(-2.956 to-2.453)vs-2.007(-2.533 to-1.537);P=0.01].Analysis of decompensation risk at 3 years showed that ALBI score had a time-dependent area under the curve(tAUC)of 0.86(95%CI:0.78-0.92),which was significantly better than that of ALBI-Fibrosis-4(ALBI-FIB4)score(tAUC=0.77),MELD score(tAUC=0.66),Child-Pugh score(tAUC=0.65),and FIB-4 score(tAUC=0.48)(P<0.05 for all).The 3-year cumulative incidence of decompensation was 3.1%,22.6%,and 50%in the low-,middle-,and high-risk groups,respectively(P<0.001).The odds ratio for decompensation in patients of the high-risk group was 23.33(95%CI:3.88-140.12,P=0.001).CONCLUSION The ALBI score accurately identifies decompensation risk at the 3-year follow-up in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Those cirrhotic patients with a high-risk grade of ALBI score showed a 23 times greater odds of decompensation.

Compensated liver cirrhosis:Natural course and disease-modifying strategies

Compensated liver cirrhosis(CLC)is defined as cirrhosis with one or more decompensating events,such as ascites,variceal haemorrhage,or hepatic encephalopathy.Patients with CLC are largely asymptomatic with preserved hepatic function.The transition from CLC to decompensated cirrhosis occurs as a result of a complex interaction between multiple predisposing and precipitating factors.The first decompensation event in CLC patients is considered a significant turning point in the progression of cirrhosis,as it signals a drastic decline in median survival rates from 10-12 years to only 1-2 years.Furthermore,early cirrhosis has the potential to regress as liver fibrosis is a dynamic condition.With the advent of effective non-invasive tools for detecting hepatic fibrosis,more and more patients with CLC are currently being recognised.This offers clinicians a unique opportunity to properly manage such patients in order to achieve cirrhosis regression or,at the very least,prevent its progression.There are numerous emerging approaches for preventing or delaying decompensation in CLC patients.A growing body of evidence indicates that treating the underlying cause can lead to cirrhosis regression,and the use of non-selective beta-blockers can prevent decompensation by lowering portal hypertension.Additionally,address-ing various cofactors(such as obesity,diabetes,dyslipidaemia,and alcoholism)and precipitating factors(such as infection,viral hepatitis,and hepatotoxic drugs)that have a detrimental impact on the natural course of cirrhosis may benefit patients with CLC.However,high-quality data must be generated through well-designed and adequately powered randomised clinical trials to validate these diseasemodifying techniques for CLC patients.This article discussed the natural history of CLC,risk factors for its progression,and therapeutic approaches that could alter the trajectory of CLC evolution and improve outcomes.

Non-invasive assessment of esophageal varices:Status of today

With increasing burden of compensated cirrhosis,we desperately need noninvasive methods for assessment of clinically significant portal hypertension.The use of liver and spleen stiffness measurement helps in deferring unnecessary endoscopies for low risk esophageal varices.This would reduce cost and patient discomfort.However,these special techniques may not be feasible at remote areas where still we need only biochemical parameters.More prospective studies validating the non-invasive risk prediction models are definitely needed.

Efficacy observation of Yiguanjian decoction combined adefovir Dipivoxil tablet in treating HBeAg negative chronic viral hepatitis B active compensated liver cirrhosis patients

Objective To explore clinical efficacy of Yiguanjian Decoction(YD)combined Adefovir Dipivoxil Tablet(ADT)in treating HBe Ag negative chronic viral hepatitis B(CVHB)active compensated liver cirrhosis(LC)patients.Methods Totally 68 HBe Ag negative CVHB active compensated LC patients initially treated were assigned to the treatment group and the control group