Diabetes is associated with poor short-term prognosis in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

Hepatol Int. 2021 Oct;15(5):1093-1102. doi: 10.1007/s12072-021-10243-1. Epub 2021 Aug 10.

Abstract

Background/purpose: Associations between the disturbances in glucose homeostasis and prognosis in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) remain unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics of disturbances in glucose homeostasis and their associations with 90-day mortality in patients with HBV-related ACLF.

Methods: Ninety-six patients with HBV-related ACLF without pre-existing diabetes were prospectively included. Glucose abnormalities were diagnosed based on fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance test results on admission and during follow-up. Homeostasis model assessment was used to establish insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-IS) and HOMA2-β-cell function (HOMA2-β). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for death within 90 days after admission.

Results: Among 96 patients with ACLF, 51 (53.1%) had diabetes, 29 (30.2%) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 17 (17.7%) had hypoglycemia. Patients with diabetes had significantly lower levels of HOMA2-β than did patients with normal glucose tolerance. Of 22 patients with diabetes or IGT and without anti-hyperglycemic treatment, 8 (36.4%) exhibited regression of their glucose metabolism disorders after a follow-up of 32.8 ± 28.8 days, and higher platelet levels were associated with regression. Twenty-five patients (25.0%) with ACLF died of liver failure within 90 days. Diabetes [odds ratio (OR) 3.601, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.342-9.661] and age (OR 1.045, 95% CI 1.010-1.082) were the independent risk factors associated with mortality.

Conclusion: Impaired pancreatic β-cell function is related to diabetes development, and diabetes is associated with high mortality in patients with chronic HBV-related ACLF.

Keywords: Acute-on-chronic liver failure; Diabetes; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatogenous diabetes; Hypoglycemia; Impaired glucose tolerance; Oral glucose tolerance test; Prognosis; Stress-induced hyperglycemia; β-Cell function.

MeSH terms

  • Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure*
  • Diabetes Mellitus* / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B virus
  • Hepatitis B*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic* / complications
  • Humans
  • Prognosis