Predicting the prognosis in acute liver failure: results from a retrospective pilot study using the LiMAx test
Journal Title: Annals of Hepatology - Year 2013, Vol 12, Issue 4
Abstract
Background. Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition and liver transplantation (LTX) remains frequently the only effective therapy. Nevertheless, some patients recover without LTX but the individual indication for or against LTX remains difficult. Aim. To evaluate maximal liver function capacity (LiMAx) for predicting the prognosis of ALF. Material and methods. Clinic data of 12 patients was retrospectively analyzed to compare the different liver function test results with the patients’ clinical outcome. Patients were assessed by the LiMAx test, a non-invasive breath test determining cytochrome P450 1A2 capacity using intravenous 13C-methacetin. Statistical analysis compared patients with spontaneous recovery versus non-recovery (LTX or death). Results. Twelve patients (6 male, 6 female; 49 [11-72] years) with viral hepatitis (n = 2), toxic liver injury (n = 3), or cryptogenic liver failure (n = 7) were analyzed. Seven patients fully recovered from ALF and were discharged without LTX. Three patients died and two underwent LTX. The King’s College Criteria (KCC) was fulfilled in only one out of five patients without recovery. The LiMAx was 19 ± 19 (16-62) for non-recovery vs. 94 ± 119 (39-378) μg/kg/h for recovery (P = 0.018). In contrast, all biochemical parameters [bilirubin (P = 0.106), creatinine (P = 0.343), AST (P = 0.53), ALT (P = 0.876) and INR (P = 0.876) were statistically indistinct. Also the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score did not show a difference [35 ± 4.3 (29-40) vs. 30 ± 11.5 (6-40); P = 0.27]. Conclusions. Maximal liver function capacity determined by LiMAx test is severely impaired in patients with ALF. The LiMAx test might be effective in predicting the individual prognosis and the need for LTX in ALF.
Authors and Affiliations
Johan Friso Lock, Amir Nihad Kotobi, Maciej Malinowski, Antje Schulz, Maximilian Jara, Peter Neuhaus, Martin Stockmann
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP78299
- DOI -
- Views 122
- Downloads 0
Predictors of chronic liver disease in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus infection
Introduction. Chronic liver disease (CLD) is becoming a major cause of mortality in patients who are positive with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Our aim was to assess the prevalence of CLD in HIV+ individuals. Mate...
Acute phase proteins for the diagnosis of bacterial infection and prediction of mortality in acute complications of cirrhosis
Introduction. Bacterial infection is a frequent complication in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and is related to high mortality rates during follow-up of these individuals. We sought to evaluate the diagnost...
Management of liver metastases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)
Introduction. Liver metastases (LM) are crucial prognostic manifestation of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). With the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), management of metastatic GIST has radically changed...
Cefuroxime axetil-induced liver failure
Virological techniques for the diagnosis and monitoring of hepatitis B and C.