Albumin-Bilirubin and Platelet-Albumin-Bilirubin Grades Do Not Predict Survival After Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the capability of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) grades in predicting transplant-free survival (TFS) in patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study included 342 ALBI and 337 PALBI patients (62% men; age 53-54 years) with cirrhosis (median MELD 15) and portal hypertension complications (variceal bleeding, 55%; ascites, 35%; other, 10%) who underwent TIPS between 1998 and 2017. Serum albumin, bilirubin, and platelet levels within 24 h prior to TIPS were used to calculate ALBI and PALBI grades. The influence of ALBI and PALBI grade on 30-day, 90-day, and overall post-TIPS TFS was assessed using C-indices, binary logistic regression, and the Cox proportional model, adjusting for Child-Pugh (CP) and MELD scores.

RESULTS

The cohort spanned 110 (32%) and 232 (68%) ALBI grades 2 and 3 patients, and 40 (12%) and 297 (88%) PALBI grades 2 and 3 patients. While there were no differences in 30-day survival between ALBI and PALBI grades 2/3 (P > 0.05), 90-day and overall TFS showed statistically significant differences in survival between ALBI and PALBI grades 2/3 (P < 0.05). Nonetheless, using univariate logistic regression, ALBI-PALBI C-indices (0.55-0.58) were inferior to the MELD score (0.81-0.84). Moreover, ALBI-PALBI did not associate with TFS on multivariable models adjusting for CP and MELD. Only MELD independently associated with TFS (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

ALBI and PALBI grades do not stratify survival outcomes beyond MELD score following TIPS. MELD score remains the most robust metric for predicting post-TIPS survival outcomes.