Albumin-Bilirubin Score Predicts Short-Term Mortality in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-Related Decompensated Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) score is a new index for assessing the severity of liver dysfunction. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) related decompensated cirrhosis (HBV-DeCi) has a high short-term mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the prognostic role of the ALBI score in patients with HBV-DeCi. METHODS: This retrospective study included 81 patients who had been diagnosed with HBV-DeCi. All patients were followed up with for at least 2 months, and the relationships between prognosis and ALBI score were analysed. RESULTS: The ALBI score was positively correlated with the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score. Moreover, non-surviving patients had a significantly higher ALBI score than surviving patients (-0.79 vs. -1.16, respectively; p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis suggested that the ALBI and MELD scores were independent predictors of 1-month mortality in HBV-DeCi patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ALBI score is a simple biomarker to predict 1-month mortality in patients with HBV-DeCi and may assist physicians in determining treatment options.