Survival and prognostic indicators in compensated and decompensated cirrhosis

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 31, pages468–475(1986)Cite this article

Abstract

Six-year survival of cirrhosis was assessed in a series of 1155 consecutive patients (751 men, 404 women). Among the men, 33% were alcoholics and 18% were HBsAg positive; corresponding figures for the women were 15% and 6%, respectively. Features of decompensation at first presentation were observed in 63% of the patients. Six-year survival was 54% in compensated and 21% in decompensated patients. No significant differences in survival were found between alcoholics and nonalcoholics. Leading causes of death were liver failure (49%), hepatocellular carcinoma (22%), and bleeding (13%). The prognostic role of 21 variables was evaluated separately in compensated and decompensated patients by the Cox's regression model. The following variables were found to be significant predictors of death risk in compensated patients: male sex, HBsAg positivity, age, prothrombin time prolongation, and esophageal varices. In decompensated disease the significant indicators of death risk were: hepatocellular carcinoma, encephalopathy, hemorrhage, SGOT, esophageal varices, gamma globulins, prothrombin time prolongation, continued abuse of alcohol, HBsAg positivity, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, and cholinesterase. A simple prognostic index based upon the relative risk coefficient of the significant variables is suggested.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, “V. Cervello” Hospital, Palermo, Italy

    Dr. Gennaro D'amico MD, Alberto Morabito MS, Luigi Pagliaro MD & Ettore Marubini MD

  2. Academic Department of Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy

    Dr. Gennaro D'amico MD, Alberto Morabito MS, Luigi Pagliaro MD & Ettore Marubini MD

  3. Institute of Biometrics, University of Milano, Italy

    Dr. Gennaro D'amico MD, Alberto Morabito MS, Luigi Pagliaro MD & Ettore Marubini MD

Authors
  1. Dr. Gennaro D'amico MD
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  2. Alberto Morabito MS
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  3. Luigi Pagliaro MD
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  4. Ettore Marubini MD
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Consortia

The Liver Study Group of “V. Cervello” Hospital

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Correspondence to Dr. Gennaro D'amico MD.

Additional information

Members of the Liver Study Group are: Maria Caltagirone, Gabriella Filippazzo, Giovanni Gatto, Gandolfo Giannuoli, Silvio Margin, Guiseppe Malizia, Lorenzo Maniaci, Maria Pia Marcenó, Alberto Maringhini, Rocco Micciolo, Salvatore Orsini, Fabio Pace, Ugo Palazzo, Linda Pasta, Giuseppina Russo, Rosa Giovanna Simonetti, Mario Spinello, Mario Traina, Mario Valenza, Maria Vinci, Giovanni Vizzini.

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D'amico, G., Morabito, A., Pagliaro, L. et al. Survival and prognostic indicators in compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. Digest Dis Sci 31, 468–475 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01320309

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Keywords

  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma
  • Cholinesterase
  • Esophageal Varix
  • Prognostic Index
  • Prognostic Role