Histologic Analysis of Transjugular Liver Biopsy Specimens for Early Prediction of Prognosis in Acute Liver Failure

The prognosis of acute liver failure (ALF) treated with conservative therapy is extremely poor. Histologic diagnosis at the time ALF occurs provides important clues for determining the prognosis, including indications for liver transplant. Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB), which helps clarify the pathology of ALF, may be an effective clinical parameter that contributes to prognosis prediction, including indications for liver transplant.

In this prospective study, 79 patients who underwent TJLB with ALF were enrolled between May 2002 and March 2021. The relationships between prognosis and the extent of tissue necrosis on TJLB specimens, serum parameters related to the cause, and clinical parameters were investigated.

Model for end-stage liver disease-sodium, hepatic encephalopathy predicting, total bilirubin, hepatocyte growth factor, ammonia, coma rate, and histologic diagnosis were identified as prognostic factors on univariate analysis. Histologically, 13 of 16 patients with massive hepatic necrosis died or had a liver transplant. On multivariate analysis, the only prognostic factor was massive hepatic necrosis. There were no treatment-related complications, and TJLB was technically successful in all patients.

In diagnosing the cause of ALF and understanding its pathology, TJLB contributes to predicting the prognosis of ALF based on histologic findings together with liver function tests and imaging findings, and it is an important diagnostic technique for determining diagnostic and treatment eligibility, including indications for liver transplant. When determining the best timing for patient selection and liver transplant, the finding of massive hepatic necrosis on TJLB specimens at the time ALF occurred was the most important prognostic factor.