Evaluating Novel Scoring Systems to Predict Outcomes in Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a serious condition where a patient with long-term liver disease suddenly experiences severe liver worsening and failure of other organ systems, such as the kidneys or lungs. ACLF is associated with a high risk of short-term death, making early and accurate prediction of patient outcomes essential for guiding medical decisions.

Conventional scoring systems, such as the Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na) scores, are widely used to assess liver disease severity. However, these traditional models may not fully capture the intense systemic inflammation and multiorgan failure characteristic of ACLF. Recently, novel prognostic scoring models, specifically the CLIF-C ACLF-D score and the MELD-complication score, have been developed to better predict patient outcomes by integrating markers of inflammation, organ dysfunction, and clinical complications.

This study aims to evaluate and validate the clinical usefulness of these novel scoring models compared to conventional scores in predicting in-hospital and 28-day mortality among patients admitted with ACLF.

Participants enrolled in this prospective observational study will be recruited from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department at Al-Rajhi University Hospital. Upon admission, participants will undergo routine clinical examinations, laboratory testing, and imaging. The various risk scores will be calculated at baseline. Participants will be monitored throughout their hospital stay, and their survival status will be followed for 28 days after admission to compare the accuracy of each scoring system.