Value of the CLIF-C ACLF score in predicting treatment outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure

Ho The Dung, Thai Thi Hong Nhung, Nguyen Thanh Liem

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Abstract

A prospective cohort study of 132 patients with acutely decompensated cirrhosis treated at Binh Thuan General Hospital from June 2025 to January 2026 found that the prevalence of acute-on-chronic liver failure was 44.7%, with no in-hospital death recorded. Compared with patients without ACLF, those with ACLF had significantly higher total bilirubin, creatinine, potassium, AST, ALT, INR, CLIF-C OF scores, and CLIF-C ACLF scores, whereas sodium and albumin levels were significantly lower. Among patients with ACLF, those who did not improve after treatment had higher white blood cell counts, INR, CLIF-C OF scores, and CLIF-C ACLF scores, together with lower albumin levels compared to those who improved. The CLIF-C ACLF score showed predictive value for non-improvement after treatment, with an optimal cutoff of 58, a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 68.3%. These findings suggest that the CLIF-C ACLF score may help identify patients with ACLF at higher risk of poor treatment response, thereby supporting risk stratification and guiding appropriate monitoring and management in clinical practice.

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References

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