Baveno VI criteria as a prognostic factor for clinical complications in patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nCombination of liver stiffness measurement and platelets count is a tool to safely rule out varices needing treatment (VNT) in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD).\n\n\nAIMS\nto evaluate 4-year liver-related complications and survival in low-risk patients according to Baveno VI criteria.\n\n\nMETHODS\nwe conducted a monocentric retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of all consecutive patients, with cirrhosis (LSM≥12.5\xa0kPa) and without previous complication, evaluated between 2012 and 2015. Liver-related complications and survival were compared between 2 groups of patients: favourable (LSM< 20\xa0kPa and platelet count>150.000/mm3) and unfavourable Baveno VI status patients (LSM ≥ 20\xa0kPa or platelet count ≤150.000/mm3).\n\n\nRESULTS\n455 patients with cACLD were analysed. Two hundred patients had favourable Baveno VI criteria, 3.6% with VNT. The 4-year probability of being free of acute decompensation was higher in low-risk patients (94.4\xa0±\xa01.8% vs. 85.7%±2.6%, p\xa0=\xa00.018). Unfavourable Baveno status was independently associated with acute decompensation. The probability of being free of HCC was significantly higher in low-risk patients (94.2\xa0±\xa01.8% vs. 87.6\xa0±\xa02.4%, p\xa0=\xa00.048). Liver-related mortality was not different between the 2 groups (p\xa0=\xa00.56).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe Baveno VI criteria could predict clinical outcome in cACLD.