Abstract: Objective To explore the prevalence rate of adrenal insufficiency (AI) in patients with chronic
hepatitis B patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and the relationship between AI and ACLF.
Methods This is a observational single center study. Chronic hepatitis B patients with ACLF without bacterial
infection and steroids use in half a year were enrolled and divided into AI group (serum cortisol < 276 nmol/L)
and non-AI group (serum cortisol ≥ 276 nmol/L) according to the serum cortisol concentration. The indexes
of hemodynamics (SBP, ΔSBP, DBP, ΔDBP, HR and UO), hepatic and renal function (TBil, ALT, AST, ALB,
CHE, Scr and BUN), coagulation function (PTa and INR), MELD score and outcomes between the two
groups were compared. Results Total of 54 cases were enrolled in the trials and 27 cases (50%) of the patients
were with AI. There were 11 cases (55%), 13 cases (52%) and 3 cases (33.3%) in early, middle and later
stage of ACLF, respectively. The prevalence rates of AI among the three stages had no statistically significant
difference(χ 2 = 1.231, P = 0.666). Between AI group and non-AI group, the indexes of hemodynamics (SBP,
ΔSBP, DBP, ΔDBP, HR and UO) were with no statistically significant difference(P > 0.05). The levels of
TBil [(314.5 ± 146.0) µmol/L vs (405.3 ± 123.1) µmol/L] and ALB [(28.2 ± 2.8)g/L vs (30.3 ± 3.1) g/L] in
AI group decreased significantly (P = 0.011, 0.017), the difference in other indexes (ALT, AST, CHE, Scr,
BUN, PTa, INR) were not statistically significant. Finally, there was no significant difference in MELD
scores [(26.1 ± 6.0) vs (27.7 ± 5.0)] and prognostic risks (OR = 0.862, 95%CI: 0.295~2.513) between
the two groups (P = 0.288, 1.000). Conclusions The prevalence rate of AI in chronic hepatitis B patients
with ACLF was 50%, and AI in these patients had no relationship with hemodynamics, severe illness and
prognosis, which did not support the hypothesis that chronic hepatitis B patients with ACLF complicated
with AI could benefit in hepatic function and outcome from treatment of AI.
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