Elevated calprotectin levels are associated with mortality in patients with acute decompensation of liver cirrhosis

Table 1 Characteristics of included patients

Parameter	Stable cirrhosis (n = 20)	Acute decompensation (n = 200)	P value
Age (yr), mean ± SD	51.35 ± 12.68	57.29 ± 11.56	0.056
Male gender, n (%)	15 (75.0)	143 (71.5)	0.740
Etiology of cirrhosis1, n (%)
Alcohol	12 (60.0)	106 (53.0)	0.549
Hepatitis C	6 (30.0)	58 (29.0)	0.925
Hepatitis B	3 (15.0)	10 (5.0)	0.102
Cryptogenicautoimmune	2 (10.0)	8 (4.0)	0.229
Autoimmune	0 (0.0)	11 (5.5)	0.605
NASH	0 (0.0)	25 (12.6)	0.139
Other2	2 (10.0)	11 (5.5)	0.335
Active alcoholism, n (%)	0 (0.0)	34 (17.0)	0.049
Prior decompensation, n (%)	15 (75.0)	173 (86.5)	0.182
Laboratory data
Leukocyte count (×109), median	4.96	6.54	0.008
Sodium (mEq/L), mean ± SD	138.05 ± 1.50	136.24 ± 5.21	< 0.001
Creatinine (mg/dL), median	0.8	1.11	< 0.001
INR, median	1.15	1.46	< 0.001
Albumin (g/dL), mean ± SD	3.54 ± 0.34	2.63 ± 0.68	< 0.001
CRP (mg/L), median	3.0	18.2	< 0.001
Total bilirubin (mg/dL), median	1.10	2.20	< 0.001
Calprotectin (ng/dL), median	396.5	477.2	0.127
Child-Pugh score, mean ± SD	6.40 ± 1.60	9.24 ± 1.92	< 0.001
Child-Pugh A, n (%)	13 (65.0)	12 (6.0)	< 0.001
Child-Pugh B, n (%)	6 (30.0)	97 (48.5)	0.114
Child-Pugh C, n (%)	1 (5.0)	91 (45.5)	< 0.001
MELD score, mean ± SD	9.4 ± 1.8	17.6 ± 7.0	< 0.001
Complication at evaluation, n (%)
Ascites	2 (10.0)	125 (62.5)	< 0.001
Hepatic encephalopathy	3 (15.0)	99 (48.5)	< 0.001
Gastrointestinal bleeding	-	66 (33.0)
Bacterial infection	-	70 (35.0)
Alcoholic hepatitis	-	11 (5.5)
CLIF-SOFA, median	-	7.00
ACLF, n (%)	-	56 (28.0)
ACLF grade, n (%)
Grade 1	-	37 (18.5)
Grade 2	-	11 (5.5)
Grade 3	-	8 (4.0)

¹More than one etiologic factor could be present in specific cases.

²Other etiologic factors included primary biliary cirrhosis, sclerosing cholangitis.

NASH: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; SD: Standard deviation; INR: International normalized ratio; CRP: C-reactive protein; MELD: Model for end-stage liver disease; CLIF-SOFA: Chronic liver failure - sequential organ failure assessment; ACFL: Acute-on-chronic liver failure.