Thromboelastography maximum amplitude predicts short-term mortality in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

Patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) exhibit complex hemostatic defects. Thromboelastography (TEG) can be used to reveal global hemostasis in patients with liver disease; however, little is known about the association between TEG and the outcome of patients with HBV-related ACLF. The present study aimed to investigate the value of TEG for predicting 90 day mortality in patients with HBV-related ACLF. A total of 51 patients with HBV-related ACLF, 26 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 26 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in the present study. TEG, standard coagulation tests, routine blood tests, biochemical markers and demographic variables were recorded and assessed for prognostic value. The results indicated that a prolonged reaction and kinetics (K) time, a shortened alpha angle and a decreased maximum amplitude (MA) and coagulation index (CI) were observed in patients with HBV-related ACLF, compared with CHB and HC subjects. Patients with HBV-related ACLF in the mortality group exhibited a decrease in alpha angle, MA, lysis at 30 min, CI, fibrinogen and platelet count, and an increase in K time, international normalized ratio (INR) and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in comparison with the survival group. MA and INR were two independent predictors of 90 day mortality in patients with HBV-related ACLF, with hazard ratios of 0.918 (95% CI, 0.867-0.971; P=0.003) and 3.141 (95% CI, 1.843-5.354; P<0.001) respectively. When predicting 90 day mortality, MA + INR exhibited the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, followed by INR, MELD score and MA. Patients with ACLF and MA <less than or equal to>51.5 mm exhibited a poorer outcome than those with MA >51.5 mm, as revealed via the Kaplan-Meier analysis. In summary, the findings of the present study suggested that TEG MA was associated with 90 day mortality in patients with HBV-related ACLF, and a combination of MA and INR was superior to MA, INR and MELD score in terms of prognostic value.