title: [Risk-classification in liver cirrhosis].
abstract: Prognostic models are useful in estimating disease severity and survivial and are used to make decisions regarding specific medical interventions. These models are developed using analytical methods that involve determining the effects of variables of interest (eg, laboratory values) on specific outcomes such as death. There are two models that are used commonly in the care of patients witch chronic liver disease: the Child-Pugh score and the recently described Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD). MELD score is a prospectively developed and validated chronic liver disease severity scoring system that uses a patient's laboratory values for serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, and the international normalized ratio for prothrombin time (INR) to predict survival. The score was proposed as a the most promising alternative to Child-Pugh score. Weather Child-Pugh score should definitely be abandoned for MELD score remains uncertain. The aims of this paper are to summarize and to compare the characteristics, applications and limitations of Child-Pugh and MELD scores.
authors.affiliation: Städtische Kliniken Esslingen, Leberzentrum, Esslingen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strahl
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D020065:Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine; D001663:Bilirubin