Correlation between Severity of Liver Disease According to CHILD & MELD Scores and Degree of Cardiac Impairment

Abstract

Abstract Background Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism. The prevalence of cirrhosis has nearly doubled over the last decade, and the number of hospitalizations has similarly increased. Objective To detect correlation between severity of liver disease according to Child and MELD scores and degree of cardiac impairment such as systolic and diastolic functions and ECG changes. To elucidate this aim 60 cases were included in the current study. Patients and Methods Type of Study: Cross-sectional Study. Study Setting: This study was carried out in El-Demerdash Hospital-Ain Shams University and El-Qabbary Hospital - Alexandria. Study Period 6 months Results In the current study, there was statistically significant increase in age of positive ECG cases than negative ECG cases; also the percentage of males in positive ECG cases was found higher than those of negative ECG cases. There was statistically significant increase in child B and C in positive ECG group than negative ECG group. There was statistically significant increase in the level of Meld score, T. bilirubin and D. bilirubin in positive ECG group than negative ECG group; and statistically significant decrease in the level of albumin and NA in positive ECG group than negative ECG group. That there was statistically significant positive correlation found between MELD score and AST, ALT, total biliruibn, direct bilirubin, PT, INR and creatinine and also negative correlation found between meld score and albumin and NA levels. Conclusion There was statistically significant relation found between child score, MELD.S (the severity of cirrhosis) and ECG results. There was a high statistically significant difference in between ECHO and MELD.S but no statistically significant difference in between ECHO and CHILD.S, therefore, in order to prepare the best post-procedural management of cirrhotic patients, echocardiography is required for all patients before any interventional procedure or liver transplantation regardless of the stage of cirrhosis. The mechanism of cardiac involvement in patients with cirrhosis seems to be complex and multifactorial.