The Surviving ALF Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Long-term outcomes and health care utilisation of patients surviving acute liver failure (the Surviving ALF Study)
IRAS ID
180404
Contact name
Kenneth J Simpson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Acute liver failure (ALF) is a devastating clinical syndrome characterised by sudden loss of liver functions. In Scotland, most patients with ALF are managed centrally in the Scottish Liver Transplantation Unit (SLTU). 62% survive their acute admission without requiring emergency liver transplantation (spontaneous survivors). It is generally believed that these spontaneous survivors regenerate their liver, which returns to normal without any long-term effects on the persons health. However, very little research has been undertaken on the long-term outcomes of this group. Our research plan is focused on answering the question; do spontaneous survivors of ALF have increased ill-health and death rates and hence increased healthcare needs? To improve on the scanty evidence available we will compare the long-term health outcomes in spontaneous ALF survivors with 4 appropriate control populations; a group of patients with emergency liver transplants, a group of patients surviving intensive care admission, a group of patients presenting with paracetamol overdose that have not developed ALF as a result of their overdose and a group of age, sex and post-code matched individuals from the general population. Comparison with these 4 control groups will comprehensively answer our research question. This will provide internationally important long-term outcome data of non-transplanted ALF survivors and potentially lead to a redesign of long-term care for these patients.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
15/SS/0089
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion