Increased Endotoxin Activity Is Associated with the Risk of Developing Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) leads to systematic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ failure. This study investigated the relationship between endotoxin (Et) and ACLF with the aim of determining whether Et activity (EA) is useful as a predictive biomarker of ACLF development a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hiroaki Takaya, Tadashi Namisaki, Shinya Sato, Kosuke Kaji, Yuki Tsuji, Daisuke Kaya, Yukihisa Fujinaga, Yasuhiko Sawada, Naotaka Shimozato, Hideto Kawaratani, Kei Moriya, Takemi Akahane, Akira Mitoro, Hitoshi Yoshiji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/5/1467
Description
Summary:Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) leads to systematic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ failure. This study investigated the relationship between endotoxin (Et) and ACLF with the aim of determining whether Et activity (EA) is useful as a predictive biomarker of ACLF development and whether rifaximin treatment decreased the risk of ACLF development. Two hundred forty-nine patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this study. Et concentration was determined in the whole blood by a semiquantitative EA assay. Predictive factors of ACLF development and the risk of ACLF development with and without rifaximin treatment were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis using Fine and Gray’s proportional subhazards model. EA level was higher in Child-Pugh class B than in class A patients, and class B patients had an increased risk of ACLF development compared with class A patients. Multivariate analysis showed that EA level was a predictive factor independently associated with ACLF development. Rifaximin decreased EA level and the risk of ACLF development in Child-Pugh class B patients. Et levels were associated with functional liver capacity and were predictive of ACLF development in cirrhotic patients. Rifaximin decreased Et level and the risk of ACLF development in advanced cirrhotic patients.
ISSN:2077-0383