title: Indocyanine green clearance test and model for end-stage liver disease score of patients with liver cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test (clearance rate (K) and retention rate at 15 minutes (R15)) is a sensitive indicator to evaluate liver function. The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score has emerged as a useful tool for estimating the mortality of patients awaiting liver transplantation and has recently been validated on patients with liver diseases of various etiologies and severity. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the ICG clearance test and MELD score of patients with liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2007 to March 2008, 52 patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to our center were classified into Child-Pugh class A (8 patients), B (14) and C (30). The ICG clearance test (K value and R15) was performed by ICG pulse spectrophotometry (DDG-3300K), and the MELD scores of patients were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As the Child-Pugh classification of liver function gradually deteriorated, the K value decreased, while R15 and MELD score increased. There were significant statistical differences in K value, R15 and MELD score in patients with different Child-Pugh classifications. Significant correlations were found between the parameters of the ICG clearance test (K value and R15) and MELD score. A negative correlation was observed between K value and MELD score (r=-0.892, P<0.05), while a positive correlation was observed between R15 and MELD score (r=0.804, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ICG clearance test and MELD score are good parameters for evaluating liver function. Moreover, K value and R15 have significant correlations with MELD score, especially the K value, which may be a convenient and appropriate indicator to evaluate liver function of patients with liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatosplenic Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Qin-Song
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yong-Jiu
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: De-Fang
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Da-Zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D007208:Indocyanine Green