Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of liver failure patients with or without Human Immunodeficiency Viral infection/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).Methods A retrospective review of 47 cases of liver failure patients with HIV /AIDS (group 1) and 108 cases of liver failure patients without HIV/AIDS (group 2) collected from January 2017 to August 2020 was performed by analyzing their general data, etiologies, classifications, laboratory examination, complications and prognosis.Results The liver failure patients in both groups were mainly middle-aged men. There were no significant differences in gender, age and length of stay between two groups of patients (P>0.05). The most common etiology was hepatitis virus, accounting for 59.57% (28 cases) and 71.30% (77 cases) in group 1 and group 2 of patients, respectively, followed by drug that accounting for 38.30% (18 cases) and 22.22% (24 cases), respectively. The highest proportion of liver failure was caused by HBV, accounting for 57.45% (27 cases) and 69.44% (75 cases) respectively. It was mainly acute(subacute)-on-chronic according to clinical classification, accounting for 70.21% (33 cases) and 65.74% (71 cases), respectively. The highest incidence of complications was infection, accounting for 70.21% (33 cases) and 56.48% (61 cases), respectively. The infections were mainly due to peritonitis and pneumonia, accounting for 66.67% (22 cases) and 68.85% (42 cases), and 42.42% (14 cases) and 40.98% (25 cases), respectively. There were significant differences in fungal infection rate (16 cases, 34.04% vs 4 cases, 3.70%), regular treatment of HBV (10 cases, 21.28% vs 9 cases, 8.33%), ineffectiveness/mortality ratio (30 cases, 63.83% vs 45 cases, 41.67%), the proportion of drug factors in etiology (18 cases, 38.30% vs 24 cases, 22.22%), incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (14 cases, 29.79% vs 15 cases,13.89%) as well as the levels of SCRP (40.23 mg/L vs 17.60 mg/L), PCT (1.00 ng/mL vs 0.79 ng/mL), PT (28.20 s vs 23.75 s), INR (2.37 vs 1.99), ALB (25.72 g/L vs 28.89 g/L), CHE (2074.64 U/L vs 2810.79 U/L), CD4 (186.76 cells/uL vs 390.24 cells/uL) between groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Liver failure patients with HIV/AIDS have more severe liver damage, deficiency in liver synthesis function, and higher rate of ineffective treatment and deaths.

Key words: Liver failure, Human Immunodeficiency Viral infection/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, clinical features