End-stage Liver Disease Patients Research Articles

QT prolongation is associated with increased mortality in end stage liver disease.

AIMTo determine the prevalence of QT prolongation in a large series of end stage liver disease (ESLD) patients and its association to clinical variables and mortality.METHODSThe QT interval was measured and corrected for heart rate for each patient, with a prolonged QT cutoff defined as QT > 450 ms for males and QT > 470 ms for females. Multiple clinical variables were evaluated including sex, age, serum sodium, international normalized ratio, creatinine, total bilirubin, beta-blocker use, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), MELD-Na, and etiology of liver disease.RESULTSAmong 406 ESLD patients analyzed, 207 (51.0%) had QT prolongation. The only clinical variable associated with QT prolongation was male gender (OR = 3.04, 95%CI: 2.01-4.60, P < 0.001). During the study period, 187 patients (46.1%) died. QT prolongation was a significant independent predictor of mortality (OR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.03-2.77, P = 0.039). In addition, mortality was also associated with viral etiology of ESLD, elevated MELD score and its components (P < 0.05 for all). No significant reversibility in the QT interval was seen after liver transplantation.CONCLUSIONQT prolongation was commonly encountered in an ESLD population, especially in males, and served as a strong independent marker for increased mortality in ESLD patients.

FRI-013 - Palliative care access for hospitalized patients with end stage liver disease across the United States

Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) often have a high symptom burden. Historically, palliative care (PC) services have been underused in this population. We investigated the use of PC services in patients with ESLD hospitalized across the United States. We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to conduct a retrospective nationwide cohort analysis. All patients >18 years of age admitted with ESLD, defined as those with at least two liver decompensation events, were included in the analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model predicting referral to PC was created. We analyzed 55,208,382 hospitalizations from the 2006-2012 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, with 39,349 (0.07%) patients meeting study inclusion. PC consultation was performed in 1,789 (4.5%) ESLD patients. The rate of PC referral in ESLD increased from 0.97% in 2006 to 7.1% in 2012 (P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with lower referral to PC were Hispanic race (odds ratio [OR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66-0.89; P < 0.01) and insurance coverage (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65-0.84; P < 0.01). Factors associated with increased referral to PC were age (per 5-year increase, OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.08; P < 0.01), do-not-resuscitate status (OR, 16.24; 95% CI, 14.20-18.56; P < 0.01), treatment in a teaching hospital (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.12-1.39; P < 0.01), presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.71-2.33; P < 0.01), and presence of metastatic cancer (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.80-3.18; P < 0.01). PC referral was most common in west coast hospitals (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.53-2.14; P < 0.01) as well as large-sized hospitals (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.22-1.82; P < 0.01). Conclusion: From 2006 to 2012 the use of PC in ESLD patients increased substantially; socioeconomic, geographical, and ethnic barriers to accessing PC were observed. (Hepatology 2017;66:1585–1591).

FRI-023 - When to refer end-stage liver disease patients to palliative care: a survey of practicing liver and palliative care clinicians

FRI-023 - When to refer end-stage liver disease patients to palliative care: a survey of practicing liver and palliative care clinicians

New concepts and techniques of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery

Surgery is the most effective and preferred treatment for hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) tumors. The improvement of HPB surgery technique mainly focus on reducing the amount of bleeding, improving the safety of operation, simplifying the operation, reducing the complications and mortality all the time. As one of the largest HPB centers in China, hepatic center of Tongji hospital has set up a series of new concepts and new techniques of HPB surgery since 1980s. We proposed a new classification standard of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to guide the surgical procedures and evaluation of prognosis. According to this method, HCCs lager than 5 cm were defined as lager (>5 cm and ³ 10 cm). Traditionally, the large/huge HCC patients were thought can’t tolerate hepatectomy because of the insufficient residual liver volume. However, we confirmed the feasibility and safety of the resection of large/huge HCC and applied it in clinic concurrently in 1990s, which greatly extended the inclusion criteria for operation. Serious intraoperative bleeding is another constraint for resection of large/huge HCC. In order to reduce the intraoperative bleeding and increase the safety of major hepatectomies, three new bleeding control techniques for hepatectomy were established: Infrahepatic inferior vena cava clamping combine with occlusion of the portal triad; tying up of inflow and outflow vessels without dissecting the hilus of the liver; and implementation of the liver double-hanging maneuver through the retrohepatic avascular tunnel on the right side of the inferior vena cava. According to the AASLD and the EASL guidelines for HCC management, patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) are excluded from either surgical treatment or TACE, and only palliative therapies are recommended. However, our studies confirmed treating PVTT patient by indicated surgical protocol according to the location and extension of PVTT is safety and effective. Based on the guideline set by western countries, liver resection is contraindicated in patients with portal hypertension. But in China, 85%–90% patients with HCC showed various degrees of liver cirrhosis, and a large proportion of these patients presented clinical signs of portal hypertension. Thus, we set up a surgical treatment strategy (limited liver resection plus splenectomy with or without devascularization of gastroesophageal varices) for HCC combined with portal hypertension. There are still controversies on the optimal extent of hepaticresection to achieve a high percentage of R0 resection for hilarcholangiocarcinoma. We proposed a new concept that treats hilar cholangiocarcinoma using minor liver resection which showed lower operative morbidity and good prognosis. We also created new surgical procedures such as new intrahepatic cholangiojujunostomy for multiple intrahepatic biliary ductal openings and the inserting bilio- jejunostomy for iatrogenic bile duct injury were all invented and proved to be available in clinic. In order to diminish pancreatic leakage, we established Chen’s U-suture technique for end-to-end invaginated pancreaticojejunostomy following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Many end-stage liver disease patients died due to severe shortage of organ donors. To address the shortage, we are the first to establish auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation technique in the world and applied it in clinic successfully.

Liberation From Renal Replacement Therapy After Cadaveric Liver Transplantation.

BackgroundRenal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) is common in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) and is associated with worse outcomes following liver transplantation (LT). We investigated the factors associated with liberation from posttransplant RRT and studied the impact of RRT on patient and graft outcomes.MethodsA 5-year retrospective study of ESLD patients who received pretransplant RRT was conducted. Variables associated with liberation from RRT at 30 days and at 1-year posttransplant were analyzed. We used propensity matching to compare patient and graft outcomes in the study cohort to those of a control group who underwent LT but not pretransplant RRT.ResultsSixty-four patients were included in the study. Twenty-four (38%) were liberated from RRT at 30 days posttransplant. Duration of pretransplant RRT (odds ratio [OR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89-0.98) and severe postreperfusion syndrome (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.08-0.87) were significantly associated with continued RRT at 1-month posttransplant. At one year, 34 (53%) patients were liberated from RRT. Age was significantly associated with lack of liberation from RRT (OR, 0.933; 95% CI, 0.875-0.995). Compared with propensity matched controls, patients who received RRT pretransplant had worse graft and patient survival at 1 year (52% vs 82%; P = 0.01, and 53% vs 83%; P = 0.003, respectively).ConclusionsIn ESLD patients who received pretransplant RRT, one third were liberated from RRT at 1 month, and half at 1 year. Longer duration of pretransplant RRT, postreperfusion syndrome, and older age were associated with lower likelihood of liberation from RRT. Patients who required pretransplant RRT had worse graft and patient survivals compared to matched patients who did not require RRT. Patients who were liberated from RRT post-LT had similar outcomes to patients who never required pre-LT RRT.

The impact of proton pump inhibitor therapy on patients with liver disease.

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy has been reported to be an independent mortality risk factor in patients with cirrhosis. To identify the prevalence of PPI prescription, the appropriateness of this therapy and to investigate the relationship between PPI therapy and overall survival in patients with liver disease. This retrospective cohort study used patient data for 2012 to 2014 collected from the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit and the Hepatology Ward at the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. A total of 64% of the 198 patients discharged from the Hepatology ward were prescribed a PPI. Of the 206 patients assessed and listed for orthotopic liver transplant (OLT), 55% were prescribed a PPI. These percentages are significant, particularly as the majority had no recorded appropriate indication for this therapy. For patients listed for OLT, a logistic regression model revealed significant associations between PPI treatment and male sex, higher model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores and patient encephalopathy. A multivariate Cox regression model showed that MELD and UK model for end-stage liver disease scores were independent predictors of patient mortality, while alcoholic liver disease aetiology was a protective factor. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between patients who were prescribed a PPI at assessment and those who were not. Associations between PPI use, encephalopathy and higher MELD scores imply caution should be exercised in prescribing gastric acid suppressants to patients with cirrhosis, particularly in the absence of clear indications.

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Nutrition assessment and its effect on various clinical variables among patients undergoing liver transplant.

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in patients undergoing liver transplantation and has been associated to various clinical variables and outcome of the surgery. We recruited 54 adult patients undergoing living donor liver transplant (LT) as study sample. Nutrition assessment was performed by body mass index (BMI), BMI for ascites, albumin, subjective global assessment (SGA) and anthropometry [mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), mid arm muscle circumference (MAMC), and triceps skin-fold (TSF)], Hand Grip strength, and phase angle of the body. Prevalence and comparison of malnutrition was performed with various clinical variables: aetiology, Child Turcotte Pugh scores and model for end stage liver disease (ESLD) grades, degree of ascites, blood product usage, blood loss during the surgery, mortality, days [intensive care unit (ICU), Ventilator and Hospital], and Bio-impedance analysis [weight, fat mass, fat free mass (FFM), muscle mass and body fat%]. Assessment of nutrition status represents a major challenge because of complications like fluid retention, hypoalbuminemia and hypoproteinemia. Different nutrition assessment tools show great disparity in the level of malnutrition among ESLD patients. In the present study recipient nutrition status evaluation by different nutrition assessment tools used showed malnutrition ranging from 3.7% to 100%. BMI and anthropometric measurements showed lower prevalence of malnutrition than phase angle and SGA whereas hand grip strength showed 100% malnutrition. Agreement among nutrition assessment methods showed moderate agreement (κ=0.444) of SGA with phase angle of the body. Malnutrition by different assessment tools was significantly associated to various clinical variables except MELD and days (ICU, Ventilator and Hospital). SGA was significantly (P<0.05) associated to majority of the clinical variables like aetiology, child Turcotte Pugh grades, degree of ascites, blood product usage, blood loss during the surgery, BIA (fat mass, FFM, muscle mass and body fat%). The different nutrition assessment tools showed great variability of results. SGA showed moderate agreement with phase angle of the body and was associated with various clinical and prognostic variables of liver transplantation.

The Role of the Addiction Specialist in the Liver Transplant Setting

The Role of the Addiction Specialist in the Liver Transplant Setting

Cu isotopic signature in blood serum of liver transplant patients: a follow-up study.

End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is life-threatening and liver transplantation (LTx) is the definitive treatment with good outcomes. Given the essential role of hepatocytes in Cu homeostasis, the potential of the serum Cu isotopic composition for monitoring a patient’s condition post-LTx was evaluated. For this purpose, high-precision Cu isotopic analysis of blood serum of ESLD patients pre- and post-LTx was accomplished via multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The Cu isotopic composition of the ESLD patients was fractionated in favour of the lighter isotope (by about −0.50‰). Post-LTx, a generalized normalization of the Cu isotopic composition was observed for the patients with normal liver function, while it remained light when this condition was not reached. A strong decrease in the δ65Cu value a longer term post-LTx seems to indicate the recurrence of liver failure or cancer. The observed trend in favour of the heavier Cu isotopic composition post-LTx seems to be related with the restored biosynthetic capacity of the liver, the restored hepatic metabolism and/or the restored biliary secretion pathways. Thus, Cu isotopic analysis could be a valuable tool for the follow-up of liver transplant patients and for establishing the potential recurrence of liver failure.

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) as an Adjuvant to Supportive Management in End Stage Liver Disease Patients With High Meld (score >25) Awaiting Liver Transplantation

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) as an Adjuvant to Supportive Management in End Stage Liver Disease Patients With High Meld (score >25) Awaiting Liver Transplantation

Significant Morbidity and Mortality Among Hospitalized End-Stage Liver Disease Patients in Medicare

ContextFor end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients, care focuses on managing the life-threatening complications of portal hypertension, causing high resource utilization. ObjectivesTo describe the end-of-life trajectory of hospitalized ESLD patients in Medicare. MethodsUsing a 5% random sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, we performed a retrospective cohort study, identifying hospitalized ESLD and heart failure (HF) patients (2007–2011). Index hospitalization end points included mortality, discharge to hospice, and length of stay. Postdischarge end points included all-cause mortality, rehospitalization, hospice enrollment, and days alive and out of hospital (DAOH). Follow-up was at one and three years after index hospitalization discharge. A reference cohort of decompensated HF patients was used for baseline comparison. ResultsAt one year, the ESLD cohort (n = 22,311) had 209 DAOH; decompensated HF (n = 85,397) had 252 DAOH. Among ESLD patients, inpatient mortality was 13.5%; all-cause mortality was 64.9%. For these outcomes, rates were higher in those with ESLD than HF. In the ESLD group, rehospitalization rate was 59.1% (slightly lower than the HF group), hospice enrollment rate was 36.1%, and there were higher than expected cancer rates. For hospice-enrolled patients, the median length of time spent in hospice was nine days. The HF cohort had lower hospice enrollment, but more days enrolled. ConclusionThe results of this study show that morbidity and mortality rates associated with end of life in ESLD are substantial. There is an acute need for alternative approaches to manage the care of ESLD patients.

Predictive Value of Hepatic and Renal Dysfunction Based on the Models for End-Stage Liver Disease in Patients With Heart Failure Evaluated for Heart Transplant

BackgroundThe evaluation of prognosis and determination of a long-term treatment strategy is an important element of management in patients with heart failure (HF). MethodsThe aim of the study was to determine the prognostic value of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and its modifications, MELD and serum sodium (MELD-Na) and MELD excluding the international normalized ratio (MELD-XI), as well as other independent risk factors for death during a 4-year follow-up. We analyzed retrospectively 143 patients with advanced HF, evaluated for heart transplant between 2009 and 2011. Patients using warfarin were excluded from the study. The long-term follow-up data were obtained during follow-up visits and/or phone contact with the patients or their families. ResultsThe age of the patients was 54 (48–59) years and 88.1% of patients were male. Mortality rate during the follow-up period was 49%. The MELD scores (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; P < .001), as well as serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP; HR, 1.01; P < .01) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; HR, 1.01; P < .05) levels, were independent risk factors for death. Receiver operator characteristic analysis indicated that a MELD cutoff of 10 (area under the curve [AUC], 0.756; P < .0001], MELD-XI cutoff of 13.0 (AUC, 0.720; P < .0001), MELD-Na cutoff of 13.0 (AUC, 0.813; P < .0001), hs-CRP cutoff of 4.02 (AUC, 0.686; P < .001), and NT-proBNP cutoff of 1055 (AUC, 0.722; P < .001) were the best predictive values as predictors of death. ConclusionsMELD, MELD-Na, and MELD-XI scores are prognostic factors for death during a 4-year follow-up. A high MELD score is an independent prognostic factor for death. NT-proBNP and hs-CRP serum concentrations are other independent factors influencing death.

End-stage liver disease patients with MELD >40 have higher waitlist mortality compared to Status 1A patients.

Status 1A patients are prioritized over end-stage liver disease (ESLD) for liver transplantation (LT). ESLD patients with high MELD may have higher waitlist mortality than Status 1A patients, and may require LT more urgently. Using United Network for Organ Sharing registry data, we retrospectively evaluated LT waitlist mortality and probability of LT between adults in the United States with Status 1A or ESLD with MELD >30 listed for LT from 2003-2013. Overall waitlist mortality and probability of LT were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier and multivariate logistic regression models. From 2003-2013, 15,049 ESLD patients with MELD >30 and 3049 Status 1A patients were listed for LT. While overall 14-day waitlist survival decreased with increasing MELD score among ESLD patients (54.0% for MELD 31-35; 37.1% for MELD 36-40; 27.5% for MELD >40), overall survival at 14days was significantly lower among Status 1A (14.4%). Compared to Status 1A, ESLD patients with MELD >40 had significantly higher 14-day waitlist mortality (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.56-2.36; p<0.001), whereas ESLD patients with MELD 36-40 had a non-significant trend towards higher waitlist mortality (OR 1.16; 95% CI 0.93-1.45; p=0.181). No difference in probability of LT within 14 days was observed between ESLD with MELD >40 and Status 1A (p=0.89). ESLD patients with MELD >40 had higher post-LT survival compared to Status 1A on multivariate regression modeling (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.66-0.96; p<0.02). Among adults in the United States awaiting LT, ESLD patients with MELD >40 have significantly higher waitlist mortality, but similar probability of receiving LT compared to Status 1A patients.

Use of Population-based Data to Demonstrate How Waitlist-based Metrics Overestimate Geographic Disparities in Access to Liver Transplant Care.

Liver allocation policies are evaluated by how they impact waitlisted patients, without considering broader outcomes for all patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) not on the waitlist. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using two nationally representative databases: HealthCore (2006-2014) and five-state Medicaid (California, Florida, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania; 2002-2009). United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) linkages enabled ascertainment of waitlist- and transplant-related outcomes. We included patients aged 18-75 with ESLD (decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma) using validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9)-based algorithms. Among 16 824 ESLD HealthCore patients, 3-year incidences of waitlisting and transplantation were 15.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] : 15.0-16.6%) and 8.1% (7.5-8.8%), respectively. Among 67 706 ESLD Medicaid patients, 3-year incidences of waitlisting and transplantation were 10.0% (9.7-10.4%) and 6.7% (6.5-7.0%), respectively. In HealthCore, the absolute ranges in states' waitlist mortality and transplant rates were larger than corresponding ranges among all ESLD patients (waitlist mortality: 13.6-38.5%, ESLD 3-year mortality: 48.9-62.0%; waitlist transplant rates: 36.3-72.7%, ESLD transplant rates: 4.8-13.4%). States' waitlist mortality and ESLD population mortality were not positively correlated: ρ = -0.06, p-value = 0.83 (HealthCore); ρ = -0.87, p-value = 0.05 (Medicaid). Waitlist and ESLD transplant rates were weakly positively correlated in Medicaid (ρ = 0.36, p-value = 0.55) but were positively correlated in HealthCore (ρ = 0.73, p-value = 0.001). Compared to population-based metrics, waitlist-based metrics overestimate geographic disparities in access to liver transplantation.

The Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope Is Not Influenced By Beta-blockade In End-stage Liver Disease Patients

The Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope Is Not Influenced By Beta-blockade In End-stage Liver Disease Patients

Attributes and outcomes of end stage liver disease as compared with other noncancer patients admitted to a geriatric palliative care unit.

End stage liver disease (ESLD) is increasingly more prevalent as a noncancer disease to manage in palliative care. Because of the clear lack of a "terminal phase" in ESLD, palliative care is often initiated only when death is perceived as being imminent. Palliative care units (PCUs) serve as an option for continued care for patients living with ESLD and are a limited resource, often not able to accommodate longer patient admissions. Concerns have been raised that ESLD patients may be admitted late in their disease course, not allowing for equitable access to such a service because of a perceived longer length of stay (LOS). The aim of this study is to better characterize the illness experience of patients with ESLD on a geriatric PCU comparing ESLD patients and other noncancer patients in terms of admission PPS, estimated prognosis and LOS. This was a single-center retrospective chart review of all noncancer patients admitted to Baycrest Health Sciences Palliative Care Unit (PCU) in Toronto, Canada over a four-year period. We measured the association between demographic data, estimated prognosis, Palliative Performance Score (PPS), and LOS between patients with ESLD and other noncancer diagnoses. There were 235 patients with noncancer diagnoses admitted to the PCU during the study period, of which 19% had ESLD. Patients with ESLD were both significantly younger (P<0.001) and were admitted with a significantly higher PPS (P<0.001) than patients with other noncancer diagnoses. Estimated prognoses for patients with ESLD compared to other noncancer patients were similar. There were no significant difference in LOS between patients with ESLD and other noncancer patients (P=0.18), although there was a non-significant trend towards a shorter LOS for patients with ESLD. There was no significance in disposition (P=0.30); the vast majority of patients with ESLD and other noncancer diagnoses died on the PCU. Patients with ESLD were younger and had a higher PPS score with no significant difference in estimated prognosis, LOS, or disposition when compared to other noncancer patients. Our findings suggest that patients with ESLD have a short LOS on the PCU with a unique illness experience compared to other noncancer patients.

QT PROLONGATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH MORTALITY IN END STAGE LIVER DISEASE PATIENTS

QT prolongation is associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Previous studies have suggested increased prevalence of QT prolongation in end stage liver disease (ESLD) patients. We aimed to determine the prevalence of QT prolongation in a large series of

Cognition Predicts Quality of Life Among Patients With End-Stage Liver Disease

Impaired cognitive functioning and poor quality of life (QoL) are both common among patients with end-stage liver disease; however, it is unclear how these are related. This study examines how specific cognitive domains predict QoL among liver transplant candidates by replicating Stewart and colleagues' (2010) 3-factor model of cognitive functioning, and determining how variability in these cognitive domains predicts mental health and physical QoL. The sample included 246 patients with end-stage liver disease who were candidates for liver transplant at a large, Midwestern health care center. Measures, including the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, Trail Making Test, Shipley Institute of Living Scale, Short-Form Health Survey-36 Version 2, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, comprised latent variables representing global intellectual functioning, psychomotor speed, and learning and memory functioning. Confirmatory factor analysis results indicate that the 3-factor solution model comprised of global intellectual functioning, psychomotor speed, and learning and memory functioning fit the data well. Addition of physical and mental health QoL latent factors resulted in a structural model also with good fit. Results related physical QoL to global intellectual functioning, and mental health QoL to global intellectual functioning and psychomotor functioning. Findings elucidate a relationship between cognition and QoL and support the use of routine neuropsychological screening with end-stage liver disease patients, specifically examining the cognitive domains of global intellectual, psychomotor, and learning and memory functioning. Subsequently, screening results may inform implementation of targeted interventions to improve QoL.

Preemptive therapy of spontaneous fungal peritonitis

Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report. To the Editor: In a recent study on the empirical antimicrobial treatment of nosocomial spontaneous bacterial peritonitis the authors designed a protocol in which patients with a new diagnosis of nosocomial spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were randomized to receive ceftazidime or meropenem plus daptomycin and patients without response after 48 hours of treatment received fluconazole as systemic antifungal therapy.1 Hassan et al. screened for invasive fungal infection in 46 end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) patients from the intensive care unit: both blood and ascitic fluid samples were collected for fungal culture and polymerase chain reaction.2 Seven patients had isolated invasive fungal infection (four had spontaneous fungal peritonitis [SFP], two had fungemia, and one had a disseminated fungal infection), and five cases had combined fungal and bacterial infections. SFP was attributed to Candida species. The authors concluded that patients with ESLD had a low frequency of invasive fungal infection; however, in patients with these infections, delayed diagnosis and treatment may contribute to a high fatality rate. More recently, Bremmer et al. published the results of a retrospective cohort study using the primary outcome of all‐cause mortality at 28 days: 25 patients were included, and Candida species were the causative pathogen in all cases.3 At the onset of SFP, patients were critically ill, with median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease scores of 22 and 30.3, respectively. The 28‐day mortality rate was 56%; six patients died prior to culture positivity. In conclusion, SFP develops among critically ill patients with ESLD and is associated with high rates of death. Considering the high mortality rate of Candida‐related peritonitis and given the poor outcome that could result from inadequate systemic antifungal therapy for patients with nosocomially acquired SFP and for critically ill patients with community‐acquired SFP, the use of echinocandins is recommended.4 Once a susceptibility report is available, in patients with fluconazole‐susceptible infection of the ascitic fluid, deescalation from echinocandins to fluconazole is advised.5 The deescalation approach led to significant saving in antifungal drug costs and prevention of the emerging phenomenon of antifungal resistance. In conclusion, echinocandins, instead of fluconazole,1 should be considered as empirical or preemptive systemic antifungal therapy for ESLD patients with suspected SFP.