Acute decompensation represents a remarkable event in cirrhotic patients, particularly if it is complicated by Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF). Epidemiological data of ACLF are limited.

To determine the prevalence and predictive factors of ACLF in patients hospitalized for decompensated cirrhosis.

We conducted a retrospective study. We included patients with decompensated cirrhosis. ACLF was defined according to the CLIF-C OF score. Prevalence and predictive factors of ACLF were determined.

We included 100 patients. The prevalence of ACLF was 37%. Renal failure was the most frequent organ failure. In univariate analysis, predictive factors for the occurrence of ACLF were female gender, hepatic encephalopathy, upper digestive haemorrhage, the presence of an infection, CRP level, bilirubin level and creatinine level. Prognostic scores (Child-Pugh, MELD, and CLIF-C OF) were also predictive of ACLF. In multivariate analysis, only creatinine level was an independent predictive factor of ACLF. The most frequent precipitating factor of ACLF was infection. The overall mortality rate for patients with ACLF was 65%.

Our study showed that the prevalence of ACLF was 37 %. The main predictive factor of ACLF was creatinine level. The mortality rate was high at 65 %.