Red cell distribution width/platelet ratio estimates the 3-year risk of decompensation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-induced cirrhosis

Abstract

BACKGROUND

For compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) patients, the first decompensation represents a dramatically worsening prognostic event. Based on the first decompensation event (DE), the transition to decompensated advanced chronic liver disease (dACLD) can occur through two modalities referred to as acute decompensation (AD) and non-AD (NAD), respectively. Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension (CSPH) is considered the strongest predictor of decompensation in these patients. However, due to its invasiveness and costs, CSPH is almost never evaluated in clinical practice. Therefore, recognizing non-invasively predicting tools still have more appeal across healthcare systems. The red cell distribution width to platelet ratio (RPR) has been reported to be an indicator of hepatic fibrosis in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). However, its predictive role for the decompensation has never been explored.

AIM

In this observational study, we investigated the clinical usage of RPR in predicting DEs in MASLD-related cACLD patients.

METHODS

Fourty controls and 150 MASLD-cACLD patients were consecutively enrolled and followed up (FUP) semiannually for 3 years. At baseline, biochemical, clinical, and Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM), Child-Pugh (CP), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), aspartate aminotransferase/platelet count ratio index (APRI), Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), Albumin-Bilirubin (ALBI), ALBI-FIB-4, and RPR were collected. During FUP, DEs (timing and modaities) were recorded. CSPH was assessed at the baseline and on DE occurrence according to the available Clinical Practice Guidelines.

RESULTS

Of 150 MASLD-related cACLD patients, 43 (28.6%) progressed to dACLD at a median time of 28.9 months (29 NAD and 14 AD). Baseline RPR values were significantly higher in cACLD in comparison to controls, as well as MELD, CP, APRI, FIB-4, ALBI, ALBI-FIB-4, and LSM in dACLD-progressing compared to cACLD individuals [all P < 0.0001, except for FIB-4 (P: 0.007) and ALBI (P: 0.011)]. Receiving operator curve analysis revealed RPR > 0.472 and > 0.894 as the best cut-offs in the prediction respectively of 3-year first DE, as well as its superiority compared to the other non-invasive tools examined. RPR (P: 0.02) and the presence of baseline-CSPH (P: 0.04) were significantly and independently associated with the DE. Patients presenting baseline-CSPH and RPR > 0.472 showed higher risk of decompensation (P: 0.0023).

CONCLUSION

Altogether these findings suggest the RPR as a valid and potentially applicable non-invasive tool in the prediction of timing and modalities of decompensation in MASLD-related cACLD patients.

Keywords: Liver cirrhosis; Red blood cell distribution width; Red blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio; Translational Medicine; Prognostic biomarker

Core Tip: The availability of non-invasive tools predicting the first decompensation event (DE) in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)-related compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD) context is still demanded. Red cell distribution width to platelet ratio (RPR) has been shown to predict fibrosis in MASLD. Herein, we demonstrate that: (1) RPR predicts the first DE in MASLD-cACLD; (2) RPR predicts acute decompensation as the first DE in these patients; and (3) Patients presenting baseline Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension and RPR > 0.472 show higher risk of 3-year decompensation occurrence. Overall, RPR predicts time and modalities of DE in MASLD-related-ACLD patients, presenting the potential to be a valuable, easy-to perform, non-invasive clinical index.