New Exploration to the Clinical Classification of Liver Failure Associated with Hepatitis B Virus

Abstract

Aims: Clinical diagnosis and classification of liver failure (LF) vary in different parts of the world. In this study, novel methods of the clinical classification of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related LF were investigated. Methods: Clinical data from 153 HBV-related LF patients were analyzed by a retrospective study. Clinical classifications of LF were assigned according to the new proposal. Results: Among the 153 HBV-related LF patients, 20 (13.1%) were fulminant type, 53 (34.6%) were sub-acute type, 39 (25.5%) were acute exacerbative type, and 41 (26.7%) were slow progressive type. TBil, ALB, and PT levels were significantly different among the different types of patients with LF. Death or invalidity rate was significantly higher in acute exacerbative and fulminant type patients than in sub-acute type and slow progressive type patients. Conclusion: The proposed clinical classification of LF based on the complications of hepatic encephalopathy and/or HRS is simple and practical. This scheme may help establish uniformity in diagnostic and classified criteria of LF worldwide.