Exploring predictive markers for liver failure post-hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

Abstract

This letter to the editor addresses the study titled “Predictive value of NLR, Fib4, and APRI in the occurrence of liver failure after hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma” by Kuang et al in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. The study acknowledges the comprehensive patient data analysis while suggesting that there is a need for further discussion on the clinical applicability of these markers across diverse patient populations. This letter recommends prospective studies for validation and considers the influence of confounding factors. This finding underscores the significance of this study in improving hepatocellular carcinoma management.

Keywords: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver failure; Hepatectomy; Letter to the Editor; Commentary

Core Tip: Acknowledges the study's comprehensive analysis and its contribution to hepatocellular carcinoma management. These findings suggest further exploration of the clinical applicability of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, fibrosis index based on four factors, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index in diverse patient groups. Prospective studies for the validation of these findings are recommended. This highlights the importance of considering the confounding factors in future research.