Serum Creatinine Levels Unrelated to Child-Pugh Status in Uncomplicated Cirrhosis of Liver with Ascites

Abstract

Introduction: Liver cirrhosis and renal failure are two diseases that may occur in conjunction due to mutually related pathological processes. Liver cirrhosis causes portal hypertension that ultimately causes splanchnic vasodilatation leading to hepatorenal syndrome. Hypovolemia is another cause of renal failure in liver cirrhosis. The study presented here was done to assess the renal functions in patients with liver cirrhosis with ascites. Materials and methods: Sixty patients with uncomplicated cirrhosis of liver with ascites with normal renal function were included in this study. All patients were examined physically and biochemical. Main biochemical variables were serum bilirubin, serum albumin, serum creatinine and prothrombin time. Enrolled patients were categorized according to Child-Pugh class B and C. Serum creatinine levels were measured in all cases. Results: Mean level of serum albumin, serum creatinine and prothrombin time among Child B and C classes of liver cirrhosis patients were 27.36 vs 26.84 gm/dl, 0.79 vs 0.93 mg/dl, 15.97 vs 19.26 seconds respectively. No statistically significant change in the serum creatinine level among Child B and C were noticed. Conclusion: This study showed that the effect of liver cirrhosis on renal dysfunction would be minimal, if any.