MELD score is a better prognostic model than Child-Turcotte-Pugh score or Discriminant Function score in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to compare MELD score, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, modified Maddrey's Discriminant Function (DF) score, and the related variables in predicting in-hospital mortality of patients with alcoholic hepatitis.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review and statistical analyses were done on 202 patients consecutively admitted for alcoholic hepatitis from 1997 to 2002 at the Liver Unit at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine patients died during the hospitalization. Admission MELD score (OR 1.1, P=0.005), first week MELD score (OR 1.2, P<0.0001), and first week increase in MELD score (OR 1.3, P<0.0001) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) for the first week increase in MELD score was higher compared to CTP score (P=0.0004) and DF score (P=0.059). Moreover, the first week MELD score >/=20 had the best sensitivity (91%) and specificity (85%) compared with admission or first week change MELD score.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study indicates that in patients with alcoholic hepatitis, admission, first week, and first week change in MELD score are significantly independent predictors for in-hospital mortality. MELD score is a more valuable model than CTP or DF score in patients admitted with alcoholic hepatitis.
Srikureja
Wichit
W
Division of Gastroenterology, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Kyulo
Namgyal L
NL
Runyon
Bruce A
BA
Hu
Ke-Qin
KQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index