Assessment of severity of disease in liver cirrhosis patients

Abstract

Background: Liver is an interesting organ with high regenerative capacity and complex functions. Cirrhosis is characterized by vascularized fibrotic septa that link portal tracts with each other and with central veins, leading to hepatocyte islands that are surrounded by fibrotic septa and which are devoid of a central vein. We planned the present study to analyse severity of disease in liver cirrhosis patients. Materials & Methods: The present study was undertaken with the aim of analysing the severity of disease in liver cirrhosis patients. A total of 50 patients with presence of cirrhosis of liver were enrolled. Complete demographic clinical details of all the patients were obtained. Physical examination was concentrated to detect stigmata of chronic liver disease like clubbing in fingers and toes, central and peripheral cyanosis, presence of spider angioma, telangiectasia, jaundice, collateral veins in abdomen, ascites, level of consciousness, splenomegaly, dyspnoea, peripheral edema, palmar erythema and pleural effusion for underlying etiology. Liver disease was staged according to Child-Pugh’s grading. All the results were compiled and analyzed by SPSS software. Chi- square test and one- way ANOVA were used for assessment of level of significance. Results: Alcohol was the etiologic factor in 60 percent of the patients while NASH was the etiologic factor in 24 percent of the patients. Hepatitis C was the etiologic factor in 10 percent of the patients. According to child Pugh score grading system, majority of the patients (44 percent) were of severity grade B while 32 percent were of severity grade C. The remaining was of severity grade A. Conclusion: Alcohol was the most common etiologic factor of liver cirrhosis in the present study population with Child Pugh Grade B being the most common.