Predictive values of ALBI and EZ-ALBI scores for early survival of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation / 器官移植

Objective To evaluate the predictive values of albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and easy albumin-bilirubin (EZ-ALBI) scores for early survival (postoperative 3 months) of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 137 recipients diagnosed with liver failure and underwent liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cut-off values of preoperative ALBI, EZ-ALBI and MELD scores to predict early survival of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation were determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The risk factors of early death of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The effects of different ALBI and EZ-ALBI levels upon early prognosis of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation were analyzed. Results The optimal cut-off values of ALBI, EZ-ALBI and MELD scores were 0.21, -19.83 and 24.36, and the AUC was 0.706, 0.697 and 0.686, respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that preoperative alanine aminotransferase(ALT)≥50 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase(AST)≥60 U/L, ALBI score≥0.21 and EZ-ALBI score≥-19.83 were the risk factors for early postoperative death of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation (all P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that preoperative ALBI score≥0.21 was an independent risk factor for early postoperative death of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation (P < 0.05). According to the optimal cut-off value of ALBI score, the early survival rates in the ALBI < 0.21 (n=46) and ALBI≥0.21(n=91) groups were 93.5% and 64.8%, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). According to the optimal cut-off value of EZ-ALBI score, the early survival rates in the EZ-ALBI < -19.83(n=60) and EZ-ALBI≥-19.83(n=77) groups were 88.3% and 63.6%, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions Preoperative ALBI score is of high predictive value for early survival of recipients with liver failure after liver transplantation, which could be utilized as a reference parameter for selecting liver transplant recipients.

Impact of chronic liver disease on COVID-19 infection at Zagazig University Hospitals

Background. Chronic liver disease (CLD) is linked to immune system failure, which increases the risk of infections and consequences brought on by COVID-19. Therefore, we aimed to compare hospitalized COVID -19 patients with and without CLD to assess the effect of CLD on the severity of COVID-19 infection. Methods. The study was conducted between April and October 2022 at Zagazig university hospitals. It enrolled 108 subjects admitted at the isolation hospital for COVID-19 illness. The cases were allocated equally into three groups, group (I): Patients without evidence of liver disease. Group (II): patients with chronic hepatitis, and group (III): patients with cirrhotic liver. Result. There were significant correlations between the severity of COVID -19 and the CTP classification of Group III (r=0.5 p=0.05 in child A, r=0.08 p=0.05 in child B, r=0.4 p=0.001in child C). In addition, there were significant correlations between laboratory parameters such as INR (r=0.6, p=0.05), bilirubin (r=0.4, p=0.001), ALT (r= 0.5, p=0.05), and AST (r=0.08, p=0.05) and severity of COVID -19 in studies groups. Conclusion: Those with CLD and cirrhosis had a higher death rate. COVID-19 severity related to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (CTP) score.

The evaluation value of three scoring systems for the prognosis of pediatric acute liver failure / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To investigate the prognosis value of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP), pediatrics end-stage liver disease/model for end-stage liver disease(PELD/MELD) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores in pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) at 28 th day. Methods:Fifty-four PALF patients admitted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Infection Department of Pediatrics, Qingdao Women′s and Children′s Hospital from June 1, 2012 to June 1, 2019 were included in the study.According to the survival of PALF patients on the 28 th day, they were divided into the survival group (28 cases) and the death group (26 cases). Baseline characte-ristics and laboratory examination data of PALF patients in both groups were collected and compared.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the prognostic value of CTP, PELD/MELD and SOFA scores in PALF. Results:The mortality rate of 54 PALF patients was 48.1%.Compared with the survival group, PALF patients in the death group were significantly younger than those in survival group [11.0(3.8-39.0) months vs.14.5(7.3-84.0) months]( Z=-2.145, P=0.020). In addition, CTP, PELD/MELD and SOFA scores were significantly higher in the death group than those in survival group [14.0(11.7-15.0) vs.9.0(7.0-10.0), 32.0(29.0-36.0) vs.25.0(22.0-26.0), 13.0(11.0-16.0) vs.6.0(4.0-7.0)]( Z=-5.095, -4.894, -5.502, all P<0.05). Serum lactate level, blood ammonia level, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and international normalized ratio were significantly higher in the death group than those in survival group [3.4(2.1-5.3) mmol/L vs.1.5(0.8-2.3) mmol/L, 69.5(46.9-102.9) μmol/L vs.41.7(27.3-50.3) μmol/L, 173.0(97.0-237.2) μmol/L vs.71.9(62.0-136.9) μmol/L, 132.3(53.6-206.2)μmol/L vs.59.3(62.0-99.7) μmol/L, 2.6(1.8-3.5) vs.1.7(1.5-1.9)]( Z=-4.027, -3.220, -2.649, -2.648, -3.807, all P<0.05). Prothrombin time (PT) was significantly prolonged in the death group than that of survival group [27.5(19.2-41.9)s vs.17.8(16.9-22.2)s]( Z=-3.489, P<0.05). Compared with those of survival group, serum albumin, alanine transaminase (ALT) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) levels were significantly lower in the death group [(30.9±1.0) g/L vs.(33.6±0.9) g/L, 379.2(163.3-880.3) U/L vs.962.5(457.0-1 657.3) U/L, 7.5(0.7-115.8) μg/L vs.22.1(7.9-91.3) μg/L]( t=2.049, Z=-2.510, -2.342, respectively, all P<0.05). The incidence of alimentary tract hemorrhage was significantly higher in the death group than that of survival group (22/26 cases vs.11/28 cases)( χ2=13.340, P<0.05). The cut-off value of CTP, PELD/MELD and SOFA scores in predicting the prognosis of PALF were 11.5, 28.5 and 10.0, respectively.Among the three scoring systems, the specificity and positive predictive value of SOFA scores remained the highest.The sensitivity and specific of a combination of three scoring systems in predicting the prognosis of PALF were 92.3% and 89.3%, respectively, and its Youden index was the highest than that of a single scoring of either CTP, PELD/MELD or SOFA ( Z=2.19, P<0.05). Conclusions:CTP, PELD/MELD and SOFA scores have high predictive value for the short-term prognosis of PALF.The combined detection of the three scoring systems can improve the forecasting efficiency of PALD.

Study of serum uric acid in liver cirrhosis and its correlation with Child Turcotte Pugh, MELD and UKELD score

Background: Liver cirrhosis is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. The availability of liver transplant has stressed on the need for accurate prognostication. Various scoring systems have been developed for the same and studies have been conducted to find the correlation of various biochemical parameters with these.Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted on 100 patients with stigmata of liver cell failure on clinical examination and substantiated by imaging. Serum Uric acid and other biochemical parameters were determined. Child Turcotte Pugh Score, Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, United Kingdom Model for End Stage Liver Disease (UKELD) score was calculated and the correlation obtained.Results: The study showed significant, positive correlation between uric acid level and CTP, MELD and UKELD score. The study also showed the positive correlation of serum uric acid with various biochemical parameters such as total bilirubin, Prothrombin time/ International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) and serum creatinine and negative correlation with serum albumin, with a significant p value. The mean serum uric acid was found to be 4.79(4.79± 2.0)Conclusions: The study showed a correlation between serum uric acid and the various available scoring systems such as CTP score, MELD and UKELD score. Hence serum uric acid can be used as an alternative prognostic parameter in predicting the severity and prognosis of cirrhosis of liver.

Clinical progress of diagnostic and evaluation criteria for liver transplantation in patients with severe liver disease / 器官移植

Liver transplantation, although recognized as the only effective radical treatment for severe liver disease, might be accompanied by high surgical risks, high perioperative mortality and high postoperative complications. Considering the shortage of donor liver and related surgical risks, it is necessary to strictly control the indication of operation and the opportunity of transplantation. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and comprehensive evaluation of the condition of patients with severe liver disease to be treated by liver transplantation is an important part in determining the treatment plan. At present, there are many evaluation criteria for severe liver disease. In addition to the classic ChildTurcotte-Pugh (CTP) score and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, many other evaluation criteria have also been developed. All transplant centers have their own choices and thus there is no uniform diagnostic criterion, with disputes among various criteria, which is exactly what this paper aims to summarize.

Rrelationship between liver volume atrophy rate,liver stiffness measurements and Child-Turcotte-Pugh value with Laennec histopathological classification in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the relationship between the liver volume atrophy rate,liver stiffness measurements(LSM) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh(CTP) value with the Laennec histopathological classification in the patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and its value in the quantitative diagnosis of liver cirrhosis degree.Methods The clinicopathological data of liver biopsy tissue pathological slides,FibroScan,CT examination and hematological detection in 32 cases of hepatitis B cirrhosis were retrospectively analyzed.Liver cirrhosis was divided into mild,moderate and severe according to the Laennec liver cirrhosis histopathological classification.Then the relationship between the liver volume atrophy rate,LSM and CTP score with liver cirrhosis histopathological.Results Among 32 cases,9 cases(28.12％) were mild,12 cases(37.50％) were moderate and 11 cases(34.38％) were severe.The liver volume atrophy rates of mild,moderate and severe groups were (16.75±2.20)％,(23.11±6.67)％ and(35.55±5.70)％ respectively;LSM were(14.96±3.36),(20.21± 3.07),(37.03 ± 16.44) kPa respectively,the difference among 3 groups was statistically significant (P＜ 0.01).The CTP scores had no statistical difference among the 3 groups were(P＞0.05).The cirrhosis histopathological grade had the positive correlation with the liver volume atrophy rate and LSM(r=0.93,0.74,P＜0.01),however had no obvious correlation with the CTP scores(r=0.27,P＞0.05);the liver volume atrophy rate was positively correlated with LSM and CTP score(r=0.90,0.91,P＜0.01);while LSM had no obvious correlation with CTP score (r =0.15,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The more severe the cirrhosis histoathological grade,the bigger the liver volume atrophy rate and the higher the FibroScan detection value;the liver volume atrophy rate and LSM may serve as the quantitative diagnosis indicators of liver fibrosis histopathological severity.

Relación entre el factor de crecimiento hepático y el estadio de la cirrosis / Relationship between Hepatocyte Growth Factor (Hgf) and Stage of Cirrosis

Introducción: en el hígado, el factor de crecimiento hepático (FCH) es conocido por ser un potente agente mitogénico tanto in vivo como in vitro. Sin embargo, el papel del FCH en la cirrosis no está completamente claro y algunos estudios lo señalan como un marcador de severidad en la cirrosis, en la insuficiencia hepática aguda y en la hepatitis crónica. Objetivos: determinar la relación entre el FCH y el estadio de la cirrosis hepática e identificar los factores asociados con los niveles de FCH en esta población. Metodología: se evaluaron todos los pacientes con cirrosis hepática atendidos desde enero a marzo de 2014. La elastografía transitoria (ET), la recopilación de la información clínica y la extracción de la muestra para la determinación del FCH se realizó de forma simultánea en el momento de la inclusión. Resultados: no se encontró relación entre los niveles de FCH y la clasificación de Child-Pugh; sin embargo, se observaron niveles más elevados en pacientes con enfermedad descompensada. Se determinó una asociación lineal positiva entre el FCH y la dureza hepática estimada por elastografía (b = 0,53; r2 = 0,26; p = 0,002) y una asociación lineal negativa con la albúmina (b = -0,62; r2 = 0,39; p <0,001). Únicamente la albúmina conservó esta asociación en el análisis multivariante. Conclusión: el FCH es un marcador de severidad en la cirrosis hepática. La albúmina y el grado de fibrosis determinada por ET se asociaron con niveles de FCH

Introduction: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is known to be a potent mitogenic agent both in vivo and in vitro. The role of HGF in cirrhosis is not completely clear, but some studies point to it as a marker of severity in cirrhosis, acute liver failure and chronic hepatitis. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between HGF and the stage of hepatic cirrhosis and to identify factors associated with HGF levels in this population. Methodology: All patients with hepatic cirrhosis treated from January to March 2014 were evaluated. At the time patients were enrolled in the study their clinical histories were taken and they underwent transient elastography and extraction of samples for measurement of HGF. Results: No relationships were found between HGF levels and Child-Pugh classifications, however, higher levels of HGF were observed in patients with decompensated disease. A positive linear relations was found between HGF and hepatic hardness estimated by elastography (b = 0.53, r2 = 0.26, p = 0.002) and a negative linear relation was found between HGF and albumin (b = -0.62, r2 = 0.39, p <0.001). Only albumin retained this association in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: HGF is a marker of severity in liver cirrhosis. Albumin and the degree of fibrosis determined by transient elastography were associated with HGF levels.

Application of Child-Turcotte-Pugh Scores in Predicting the Risk of Death for In-hospital Heart Failure Patients / 中国循环杂志

Objective: Heart failure (HF) patients are usually associated with liver function impairment, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scores can evaluate liver function, but its effect in HF patients has been unclear. We want to study the application of CTP scores in predicting the risk of death for in-hospital HF patients. Methods: A total of 1180 consecutive in-hospital HF patients were enrolled. According to CTP scores evaluated liver function at admission, the patients were divided into 3 groups: CTP grade A group, n=951, CTP grade B group, n=206 and CTP grade C group, n=23. The endpoint of this study was all-cause death. Results: There were 180 patients died at 1 year follow-up period, the in-hospital and 1 year mortalities were increased with the elevated CTP grades accordingly: for in-hospital mortalities in CTP grade A, B and C groups were (0.8%, 11.7% and 56.5%) respectively, P Conclusion: CTP scores may independently predict the risk of death for in-hospital HF patients, the levels of CTP scores might be used for evaluating the efficacy of in-hospital treatment.

A study of cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotics.

Background: The heart and liver are organs that are closely related in both health and disease. Due to the limited number of human studies, the management of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy remains largely empirical. Material and methods: 30 Patients included in the study were recruited from the Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Narayana Medical College Hospital, Nellore. Consecutive patients diagnosed to have cirrhosis of nonalcoholic etiology formed the study group. The parameters that were assessed in echocardiography are E/A ratio, end diastolic volume (EDV), end systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction. QTc interval more than 440 msec and E/A ratio less than 1 were considered diagnostic of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy in this study. Results: In 9 cases, cirrhosis was due to hepatic B viral infection, 4 due to due to hepatities C and in 17 patients it was cryptogenic. Of the 30 cases included in the study. Results: In 9 cases, cirrhosis was due to hepatic B viral infection, 4 due to hepatitis C and in 17 patients it was cryptogenic. Of the 30 cases included in the study, 7 cases (23.3%) had Class A CTP. 16 cases (53.3%) had Class B CTP, 7 cases had Class C CTP. Of the 30 patients included in this study, 21 patients had end diastolic volume above 90. 2 patients had end systolic volume above 38. 29 patients had ejection fraction above 60%. Out of the 30 cases, 23 showed features of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. 7 patients had CTP Class A. 16 patients had CTP Class B.7 patients had CTP Class C. 12 patients with cirrhotic cardiomyopathy had CTP Class B. 7 patients with cirrhotic cardiomyopathy had CTP Class C. 3 patients with CTP Class A and 4 patients with CTP Class B did not have cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. The QTc was prolonged in 16 (53.3%) of patients in this study. 29 cases had ejection fraction above 60. Of the 23 cases that had cirrhotic cardiomyopathy 21 cases had ascites. 27 of the 30 cases had varices. 70.0% of the cases had end diastolic volume above 90. 76.2% of the cases with EDV above 90 had E/A ratio below 1. Conclusion: Cirrhotic patients with non alcoholic etiology do have evidence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. The presence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy was independent of the etiology. Some degree of diastolic dysfunction is seen in most of the cirrhotics. Prolongation of QTc interval correlates with severity of cirrhosis. Ventricular end diastolic volume, end systolic volume and ejection fraction do not correlate with severity of cirrhosis.

Study of relationship between liver function and the enhancement degree of liver parenchyma in the hepatobiliary phase with Gd-BOPTA / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between the MRI enhancement ratios of liver parenchyma in hepatobiliary phase with gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)and liver function.Methods Fifty-nine patients who underwent Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MRI were retrospectively enrolled in the study.The enhancement ratio of signal to noise ratio and enhancement ratio of the contrast ratio were calculated.The relationships between the enhancement ratio and CTP grading and MELD score were analyzed.Results The signal enhancement ratios in hepatobiliary phase in patients with CTP A classification were higher than those with CTP B classi-fication (P <0.01).Meanwhile,the ratios in patients with MELD scores less than 10 points were higher than those with MELD scores more than 10 points (P <0.01).Conclusion The MR enhancement degree of liver parenchyma in the hepatobiliary phase with Gd-BOPTA may reflect the liver function.

Evaluated the Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification and MELD score for the prognosis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhosis / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the preoperative liver function and prognosis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with cirrhosis,using the Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification and the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) score.Methods From January 2009 to June 2013,973 patients who were admitted to the Department of General Surgery of our hospital and the HuiZhou Municipal Central Hosptial were studied.Of the 373 patients with cirrhosis,38 patients were excluded because of Child C,MELD ＞ 30,or laparotomy.The remaining 335 patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into two groups The Child grade and MELD score were retrospectively analyzed.Results There was no significant difference in intraoperative hemorrhage between the Child A group [(106 ± 11) ml] and the Child B group [(109 ± 11) ml] (P ＞ 0.05).The R ＜ 14 scores in the MELD group [(58 ± 15) ml] was significantly lower than that in the R≥ 14 group [(120 ± 28) ml] (P ＜ 0.01).There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the Child group A (10 cases,12％) and the Child group B (17 cases,21％) (P ＞0.05).There was a significantly lower incidence in the R ＜ 14 scores in the MELD group (10 cases,12％) than the R ≥ 14 group (27 cases,33％) (P ＜ 0.05).There was also no significant difference in the hospital stay between the Child A group (9 ± 1) and the Child B group (10 ± 2)(P ＞0.05) ; the R ＜ 14 score of the MELD group (7 ± 1) was significantly less than that of the R≥ 14 group (11 ±2) (P ＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the cost of hospitalization between the Child A group (1.337 ± 0.063) and the Child B group (1.359 ± 0.089) (P ＞ 0.05) ; the R ＜ 14 group (MELD score 1.108 ± 0.123) was significantly less than that of the R ≥ 14 group (1.568-± 0.117)(P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Compared with the Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification,the MELD score was more scientific,objective and accurate in judging the preoperative liver function.It helped to predict the amount of intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative morbidity,reduced hospital stay and hospitalization expenses.Therefore,the MELD scoring system more objectively guided the treatment of patients with cholecystitis with cirrhosis.

Evaluation effect of three scoring systems in the prediction of short-term outcomes following liver transplantation / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the predictive effect of preoperative CTP score,MELD score and MELD-Na score on short-term prognosis (≤ 3 months) after liver transplantation,to analyze factors which correlated with survival,and to seek indicators that accurately predicted short-term outcomes.Methods The clinical data of 73 consecutive patients with end-stage liver diseases who underwent liver transplantation in a single center were retrospectively analyzed.The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to determine the predictive power.Correlated factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.The statistical processing package used was SAS 9.1.3 software.Results 11 (15.1％) of 73 patients died within 3 months after liver transplantation.The areas under the ROC curve of the preoperative CTP score,MELD score and MELD-Na score for predicting short-term survival were 0.817,0.839 and 0.860 respectively.There was no significant difference among these 3 scoring systems.On univariate analysis,indicators significantly correlated with early mortality were preoperative serum sodium,serum urea,PT-INR,CTP score,MELD score and MELD-Na score.On logistic multiple regression,only MELD-Na score remained as a significant indicator (P =0.001,β =-2.496,OR =0.085,95％ CI:0.019 ～ 0.370).Conclusions The MELD-Na scoring system showed superior predictability of early mortality in patients who underwent liver transplantation.The preoperative MELD-Na score was an independent risk factor of short-term survival.The higher the MELD-Na score,the higher was the early mortality.

Evaluation of the model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score on the surgical prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the value of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score in predicting the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods Seventy patients with liver cirrhosis were selected.The MELD and CTP score before surgery was calculated and was analyzed the correlation between the two models was analyzed.The prognosis ability by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was evaluated.Results Twenty three cases (32.9％,23/70) appeared post operative serious complication.The scores of MELD and CTP in complication group (23 cases) was (19.58 ±5.90),(8.84 ± 1.87) scores,the scores of MELD and CTP in without complication group (47 cases) was ( 12.27 ± 2.94),(6.10 ± 1.12) scores,there were significant differences between two groups (P ＜ 0.01 ).According to the MELD score,70 patients was divided into ＜ 14 scores group(30 cases),14 - 23 scores group(28 cases),＞ 23 scores group( 12 cases),the rate of complication was 10.0％(3/30),35.7％( 10/28 ) and 83.3％(10/12),there were significant differences among three groups(P＜ 0.05).According to the CTP score,70 patients were divided into A grade(29 cases),B grade (25 cases) and C grade( 16 cases),the rate of complication was 10.3％ ( 3/29 ),36.0％ (9/25) and 68.8％ ( 11/16 ),there were significant differences among three groups (P ＜ 0.05 ).The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that the MELD score and CTP score had significant correlation (r =0.874,P ＜ 0.01 ).The area under the ROC curve of the MELD score and CTP score in prognosis the perioperative complication was 0.877 (95％ CI:0.84 - 0.95 ) and 0.852 (95％ CI:0.83 - 0.94),there was no significant difference ( U =0.157,P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion Both MELD and CTP score can accurately predict the short term prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Is there any vindication for low dose nonselective beta-blocker medication in patients with liver cirrhosis?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonselective beta-blockers (NSBBs), such as propranolol, reportedly exert a pleiotropic effect in liver cirrhosis. A previous report suggested that survival was higher in patients receiving adjusted doses of NSBBs than in ligation patients. This study investigated whether low-dose NSBB medication has beneficial effects in patients with liver cirrhosis, especially in terms of overall survival. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 273 cirrhotic patients (199 males; age 53.6+/-10.2 years, mean+/-SD) who visited our institution between March 2003 and December 2007; follow-up data were collected until June 2011. Among them, 138 patients were given a low-dose NSBB (BB group: propranolol, 20-60 mg/day), and the remaining 135 patients were not given an NSBB (NBB group). Both groups were stratified randomly according to Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) classification and age. RESULTS: The causes of liver cirrhosis were alcohol (n=109, 39.9%), hepatitis B virus (n=125, 45.8%), hepatitis C virus (n=20, 7.3%), and cryptogenic (n=19, 7.0%). The CTP classes were distributed as follows: A, n=116, 42.5%; B, n=126, 46.2%; and C, n=31, 11.4%. Neither the overall survival (P=0.133) nor the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-free survival (P=0.910) differed significantly between the BB and NBB groups [probability of overall survival at 4 years: 75.1% (95% CI=67.7-82.5%) and 81.2% (95% CI=74.4-88.0%), respectively; P=0.236]. In addition, the delta CTP score did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Use of low-dose NSBB medication in patients with liver cirrhosis is not indicated in terms of overall and HCC-free survival.

Comparison of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh Classification and the Model for End-stage Liver Disease Score as Predictors of the Severity of the Systemic Inflammatory Response in Patients Undergoing Living-donor Liver Transplantation

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) classification system and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in predicting the severity of the systemic inflammatory response in living-donor liver transplantation patients. Recipients of liver graft were allocated to a recipient group (n = 39) and healthy donors to a donor group (n = 42). The association between the CTP classification, the MELD scores and perioperative cytokine concentrations in the recipient group was evaluated. The pro-inflammatory cytokines measured included interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha; the anti-inflammatory cytokines measured included IL-10 and IL-4. Cytokine concentrations were quantified using sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassays. The IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 concentrations in the recipient group were significantly higher than those in healthy donor group patients. All preoperative cytokine levels, except IL-6, increased in relation to the severity of liver disease, as measured by the CTP classification. Additionally, all cytokine levels, except IL-6, were significantly correlated preoperatively with MELD scores. However, the correlations diminished during the intraoperative period. The CTP classification and the MELD score are equally reliable in predicting the severity of the systemic inflammatory response, but only during the preoperative period.

Usefulness of Model for End-stage Liver Disease Score for Predicting Mortality after Intra-abdominal Surgery in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis in a Single Hospital / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies have suggested that the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is superior to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score as a predictor of postoperative mortality, especially up to 90 days. This study aimed to determine whether MELD score can predict the postoperative outcome of patients with liver cirrhosis in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 98 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent intra-abdominal surgery under generalized anesthesia between March 2003 and December 2008 at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. Univariate and multivariate cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to determine the correlation between risk factors and mortality. RESULTS: Eighty-two percent of patients (n=80) were male. Mean MELD score was 10.82+/-3.84. Common causes of liver cirrhosis were hepatitis B (57.2%) and alcohol (22.4%). Ninety-day mortality ranged from 2.1% (MELD score, or =17). By multivariate analysis, MELD score>9 (HR 2.490; [95% CI 1.116-5.554; p=.026]) and American Society of Anesthesiologists Class > or =IV (HR 2.433; [95% CI 1.039-5.695; p=.041]) predicted mortality at 30 days after surgery. Only MELD score was a predictor of prognosis at 90 days (HR 2.446; [95% CI 1.118-5.352; p=.025]). Etiology of cirrhosis and CTP score were not predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: MELD score was a useful predictive parameter of postoperative mortality at 30 days and 90 days, independent of the etiology of cirrhosis.

Assessment of Cardiovascular Autonomic Function in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Using Heart Rate Variability, Blood Pressure Variability and Baroreflex Sensitivity / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis is associated with several hemodynamic abnormalities, including an impairment of autonomic nervous system reflexes, but very few have compared the disease severity with cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction assessed by spectral analysis of blood pressure and electrocardiogram. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score and autonomic indices in patients with liver cirrhosis using the heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure variability (BPV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled for liver transplantation recipients under general anesthesia were enrolled in the study. Beat-to-beat blood pressure and RR interval were measured for five minutes before anesthesia induction. HRV and BPV were estimated by power spectral analysis of RR interval and systolic blood pressure. BRS was estimated by both the sequence method (Sequence BRS) and high frequency (HF) gain of transfer function analysis (HF BRS). RESULTS: Significant inverse correlations between CTP score and Sequence BRS (r = -0.61), HF BRS (r = -0.59), low frequency (LF) and HF power of HRV (r = -0.57, r = -0.46), LF power of BPV (r = -0.37) were found. However, no significant correlations were observed between CTP score and LF/HF ratio of HRV (r = -0.02) and HF power of BPV (r = 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that autonomic dysfunction assessed by spectral analysis was associated with increasing severity of liver cirrhosis. Further study will be needed to clarify relationship between our findings and hemodynamic fluctuations during anesthesia for liver transplantation.

New Scoring Systems for Severity Outcome of Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Issues Concerning The Child-Turcotte-Pugh Score and The Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) Score / 대한간학회지

It has been approximately 30 years since Child-Turcotte-Pugh score has been used as a predictor of mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, new prognostic models such as Model for End-Stage Liver disease (MELD), Short- and Long-term Prognostic Indices (STPI and LTPI), Rockall score, and Emory score were proposed for predicting survival in patients with liver cirrhosis treated by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). In MELD scoring, three independent variables which showed a wide range of results including serum creatinine, serum bilirubin and international normalization ratio (INR) of prothrombin time were evaluated in log(e) scale in comparison with simply categorized-into-three scoring system of Child-Turcotte-Pugh. The etiology of liver cirrhosis was applied to the score of MELD: alcoholic or cholestatic, 0; viral or others, 1. Concurrent statistic (C-statistic) of MELD (0.73-0.84) was slightly superior or insignificantly different to that (0.67-0.809) of Child-Turcotte-Pugh score. In February 2002, UNOS status 2a and 2b were replaced with MELD score for priority allocation of liver transplantation. MELD score does not reflect the severity of patients with HCC or metabolic disorders. For assessing prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis or HCC, there seems little reason to replace the well established Child-Turcotte-Pugh score. Herein the literatures was briefly reviewed.