Publication:

A hospital-based study on acute on chronic liver failure underlying etiology and precipitating factors

Background Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is an increasingly recognised entity that includes the acute deterioration of chronic liver disease usually associated with a precipitating event, development of one or more organ failure and high short-term mortality.

Methods This is a prospective observational study. Clinical data of patients admitted with ACLF at Goa Medical College between November 2019 to November 2021 are summarized and analyzed using relevant statistical tests.

Results A total of 70 patient’s data was collected. Most common cause of underlying chronic liver disease was alcohol (85.7%) followed by hepatitis B (4.3%), autoimmune diseases (4.3%), cryptogenic (4.3%) and hepatitis C (1.4%). Infections were the most common precipitating factors for ACLF (42.8%) followed by alcohol (28.5%), upper gastrointestinal bleeding (21.42%), drug (AKT) induced (1.42%), unknown cause (10%).

Conclusions Infection and alcohol were found to be important precipitating factors. A multicentre study involving larger numbers of patients are required to know further details and to form a standard treatment protocol.