Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of patients with alcoholic liver failure. Methods A total of 456 patients diagnosed of alcoholic liver failure from January 2010 to May 2015 in our hospital were enrolled, and the clinical features and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. Comparisons of clinic characteristics and prognosis between the 456 patients and another 394 patients with HBV related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-related ACLF) during the same period were carried out. Results These alcoholic liver failure patients, including 98.25% males and 1.75% females, were with an average age of 47.68 ± 9.35 ranging from 18 to 86 years old. Patients aging from 40 to 60 accounted for the majority (69.74%). The proportion of alcoholic liver failure was increasing yearly, and alcoholic liver failure had become the second predominant cause of liver failure. Comparing with HBV-related ACLF patients, patients with alcoholic liver failure showed significantly lower model for end stage liver disease (MELD) score, hospital stay and levels of albumin(Alb), hemoglobin(Hb), blood platelet (PLT) and cholinesterase (CHE) in patients with alcoholic liver failure were significantly lower, respectively (P=0.000). However, there were no significant difference between the two groups in age, total bilirubin (TBil) and direct/ total bilirubin (D/T), respectively (P=0.201, 0.094 and 0.567).Besides, the hospital mortality rate was higher in alcoholic liver failure group than that in HBV-related ACLF group (P=0.006). Conclusion Hospitalization rates for alcoholic liver failure is on rise year by year, and those patients mainly aging 40~60 years old with relatively poor prognosis.

Key words: Alcoholic liver failure, Clinical features, Infection