Publication:

Correlation of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index with child-turcotte-pugh score and model for end stage liver disease score in patients of liver cirrhosis

Background Though liver biopsy is considered to be a gold standard for the diagnosis and severity of liver cirrhosis, recently many non-invasive markers have come up for the same. In the current study, we investigated the correlation of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index with other severity scores of liver cirrhosis namely child-turcotte-Pugh score and model for end stage liver disease score.

Methods Fifty-one patients with cirrhosis, identified on the basis of abdomen ultrasonographic findings were enrolled in the study. APRI was calculated for every patient using the formula, (AST/upper limit of normal/platelet count;109/l)×100. The MELD score was calculated according to the original formula proposed by the Mayo clinic group: 3.8×loge (bilirubin; mg/dl)+11.2×loge(INR)+ 9.6×loge (creatinine; mg/dl)+6.4. CTP scoring was calculated based on the severity of hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, total bilirubin, albumin, and INR. Correlation of APRI with MELD and CTP score was established using Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results APRI scores correlated well with the severity of the cirrhosis. With the progression of the CTP class from A to C and with increase in the MELD score, increase in the APRI index was also observed.

Conclusions APRI showed positive correlation with CTP and MELD score.