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Generation of a Rat Model of Acute Liver Failure by Combining 70% Partial Hepatectomy and Acetaminophen
Published on: November 27, 2019
Systematic review: acute liver failure - one disease, more than 40 definitions
K A Wlodzimirow1, S Eslami, A Abu-Hanna
1Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|April 18, 2012
Summary
Acute liver failure (ALF) definitions vary widely, hindering research comparability. Standardizing ALF definitions is crucial for improving prognostic studies and patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Clinical Research Methodology
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- Acute liver failure (ALF) is a critical condition with a high mortality rate (60-80%).
- Variability in ALF definitions complicates prognostic research and clinical interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the explicitness and variability of acute liver failure definitions in prognostic literature.
- To identify key components contributing to the diversity of ALF definitions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of MEDLINE and EMBASE (1950-2012) for ALF prognostic studies.
- Independent screening of articles by three reviewers to ensure eligibility.
- Inclusion of English articles reporting original data from clinical trials or observational studies.
Main Results:
- 103 studies were included in the review.
- 87 studies utilized 41 distinct ALF definitions; 16 studies lacked explicit definitions.
- Definition variations stemmed from hepatic encephalopathy (HE) criteria, disease onset-to-HE intervals, coagulopathy, and pre-existing liver disease.
Conclusions:
- The heterogeneity of ALF definitions impedes study comparability and quantitative analysis.
- Improved reporting of ALF definitions in prognostic research is necessary.
- This review provides a foundation for developing a uniform ALF definition.
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