Serum pentraxin-3 and tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) predict severity of infections in acute decompensated cirrhotic patients.

BACKGROUND: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3 ) and soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) are new candidate prognostic markers for comorbidities and mortality in various inflammatory diseases. Acute decompensation of cirrhosis is characterized by acute exacerbation of chronic systemic inflammation. Recently, increased circulating PTX3 levels have been reported in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients and positively correlated with disease severity. This study aims to explore serum PTX3 /sTWEAK levels and their relationship with clinical outcomes in cirrhotic patients with acute decompensation.

METHODS: We analyzed serum PTX3 /sTWEAK levels in relation to inhospital and 3-month new clinical events and survivals in cirrhotic patients with acute decompensation.

RESULTS: During admission, serum PTX3 /sTWEAK levels were significantly higher in acute decompensated cirrhotic patients than controls and positively correlated with protein-energy wasting (PEW), new infections, long hospital stays, high medical costs, and high mortality. During a 3-month follow-up, acute decompensated cirrhotic patients with high serum PTX3 /sTWEAK levels had more episodes of unplanned readmission and high 3-month mortality. On multivariate analysis, high PTX3 /sTWEAK levels and PEW were independent risk factors for high mortality.

CONCLUSION: High serum PTX3 /sTWEAK levels and PEW are common in cirrhotic patients with acute decompensation. As compared with low serum PTX3 and sTWEAK cases, cirrhotic patients with high serum PTX3 /sTWEAK levels a have higher probability of new severe infections, severe sepsis, septic shock, type 1 hepatorenal syndrome, in-hospital, and 3-month follow-up mortalities. Therefore, high serum PTX3 /sTWEAK levels on hospital admission predict disease severity and case fatality in cirrhotic patients with acute decompensation.