title: Monitoring of selected "non-hepatic" laboratory parameters in hospitalized cirrhotic patients and their influence on prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prognostic importance of the analysis of leucocytes, prothrombin time and selected serum biochemical parameters in hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  At the Intensive Metabolic Care Unit of 1st Department of Internal Medicine we evaluated 150 patients (87 males, 63 females) with liver cirrhosis at average age: 52.51 +/- 7.99 years, Child-Pugh score: 11.34 +/- 2.99. 47 patients have died during hospitalization, 103 patients have improved. Student t-test was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who expired had higher serum leucocyte levels and lower prothrombin time and natriuresis when compared with survivors. Low serum sodium levels, hyperkalemia, decompensated metabolic acidosis, spontaneous hypoglycemia, DIC and renal failure occured more often in the patients with liver cirrhosis who died during hospitalisation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hematological abnmormalities and acid base disturbance are associated with higher hospital mortality rate in patients with liver cirrhosis. (Tab. 6, Ref. 20.)
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Kosice, Slovakia. petjarc@yahoo.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jarcuska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orolin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovacova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hancova
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium