Jasmine Kaur1, Navjot Kaur2, Hardeep Singh Deep3, Gaurav Chopra4, Gurjyot Nanda5
BACKGROUND
Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of liver marked by degeneration of cells,
inflammation and fibrous thickening of the tissue. It is a common cause of
morbidity and mortality. Globally, the incidence of liver cirrhosis is on the rise.
Therefore, the exact knowledge of aetiology, mode of clinical presentation, and
pattern of development of complications of cirrhosis will help in optimal and costeffective
control measures of this disease. We undertook this study to evaluate the
cause and mode of presentation of patients with liver cirrhosis presenting in a
tertiary care hospital of North India. We also wanted to determine biochemical
changes in liver cirrhosis.
METHODS
This observational prospective study was conducted in the Department of
Medicine over a period of one year, it included 122 cirrhotic patients of both sexes
between 18 and 75 years irrespective of aetiology who fulfilled inclusion criteria.
After detailed medical history and thorough physical examination, relevant
laboratory investigations, ultrasound of abdomen, and upper GI endoscopy was
done. Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score and model for end-stage liver disease
( MELD) score was calculated. The recorded data was analysed statistically.
RESULTS
Out of 122 patients, 85.2 % were males and 14.8 % were females. Maximum
number of patients 33.60 % were in 41 - 50 years of age. Alcohol was found to be
the most common aetiological factor in 80.3 % patients. The most common
presenting symptom was abdominal distension in 89.9 % patients. Various
complications such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was present in 13.9 %,
anaemia in 93.4 %, thrombocytopenia 75.4 %, deranged international
normalized ratio (INR) 78.6 %, deranged renal function 45.9 %, hyponatremia in
35.2 % patients. Maximum number of patients 72.9 % were in CTP class C. 68 %
patients had MELD score > 14.
CONCLUSIONS
Males are mainly affected by liver cirrhosis due to excessive alcohol consumption
therefore proper preventive measures have to be taken. The raised total
leucocyte count (TLC), serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, decreased serum
albumin, serum sodium and coagulopathy were found to be poor prognostic
markers.
