Computed Tomography Findings as a Novel Predictor of Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis Outcomes

Accurate prediction of outcomes for alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is critical, as prognosis determines treatment eligibility. Computed tomography (CT) features may provide prognostic information beyond traditional models. Our aim was to identify CT features that predict outcomes in AH. We studied 108 patients retrospectively with definite or probable AH, who underwent admission abdominal CT. A radiologist blinded to outcome evaluated eight CT features. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality. Twenty-five (23.2%) patients died within 90 days. While traditional prognostic tools, including Maddrey discriminant function (DF), predicted 90-day mortality (OR 1.01 [1.00, 1.03], P = 0.02), abdominal CT findings were also accurate predictors. On abdominal CT, patients with severe AH had larger volume of ascites (moderate/large volume: 34.0 vs. 8.2%, P