Different Models of Decompensation in Alcoholic versus Nonalcoholic Cirrhotic Patients

BACKGROUND Worldwide, liver cirrhosis is a significant cause of global health burden and is considered to be the top ten leading cause of death. Ascites is the most common of the three major complications of cirrhosis, followed by esophageal bleeding and encephalopathy. AIM The aim of the study is to evaluate the different models of decompensation according to the etiology of liver cirrhosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS 200 cirrhotic patients hospitalized during 2011 - 2014 in our clinic, divided in two main groups (alcoholic and non-alcoholic etiology), were retrospectively analyzed. Hepatic decompensation was confirmed as presence of ascites, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy (HE), esophageal varices bleeding, hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), hepatocarcinoma HCC), or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). RESULTS Alcoholic cirrhosis was present in 51 % of patients. Male dominated in alcoholic cirrhosis 98 % vs 62 % in nonalcoholic group (HBV, HCV, cryptogenic, autoimmune), while female dominated in non-alcoholics (38 % vs.2 %), pless than0.05). Ascites is the main complications in alcoholic cirrhosis (93 % vs.73 %, pless than0.05), while HCC and death dominated in nonalcoholic group (24 % vs.5.8 % and 36.7 % vs.23.5 %, pless than0.05) respectively. CONCLUSIONS Ascites is the leading initial pattern of decompesation in alcoholic cirrhosis whereas HCC and high mortality dominates in non-alcoholics.