Liver-Related Events

by | Feb 23, 2026 | Blog | 0 comments

Here are the top 10 liver-related events (LREs) commonly used in clinical research and outcome studies of chronic liver disease. “LREs” refer to major clinical complications and outcomes that indicate progression of liver disease and substantially impact prognosis, resource use, and survival.

🩺 Top 10 Liver-Related Events (LREs)

  1. Development of ascites – Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen due to portal hypertension and liver failure; often the first major decompensating event.
  2. Variceal bleeding – Life-threatening hemorrhage from dilated esophageal or gastric veins caused by portal hypertension.
  3. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) – Neuropsychiatric dysfunction ranging from subtle cognitive changes to coma due to liver-derived toxin accumulation.
  4. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – Primary liver cancer arising on the background of chronic liver injury.
  5. Liver-related death – Mortality directly attributable to liver failure or its complications.
  6. Liver transplantation – Receipt of a transplant as an endpoint representing end-stage liver disease or acute liver failure.
  7. Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) – Severe syndrome with rapid deterioration and multi-organ failure in patients with chronic liver disease.
  8. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) – Infection of ascitic fluid, a serious complication with high morbidity and mortality.
  9. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) – Functional kidney failure triggered by advanced liver disease and portal hypertension.
  10. Portal hypertensive pulmonary or cardiopulmonary syndromes – Includes hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension, reflecting systemic complications of portal hypertension that worsen outcomes.

AND RELATEDLY: Here’s a pithy summary of the 02/2026 article “Progression to Decompensation of Severe Fibrosis Compared to Cirrhosis in MASLD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.”


Summarized–

  • Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, previously termed NAFLD/NASH) can progress to advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, which are key predictors of liver-related complications and mortality.
  • This article synthesizes current evidence comparing progression risks—specifically decompensation—between patients who have severe fibrosis (but not cirrhosis) and those with overt cirrhosis due to MASLD.