PREDICTIVE ACCURACY OF MODEL FOR END STAGE LIVER DISEASE (MELD) AS A PROGNOSTIC MARKER FOR CIRRHOSIS IN COMPARISON WITH CHILD – PUGH SCORE

Child – Pugh Classification Vs MELD

Abstract

Objective: To compare Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and Child-Turcott-Pugh (CTG) scoring as predictors of survival in cirrhotic patients.

Study Design: Observational prospective study.

Place and Duration of Study: Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from 1^st Dec 2008 to 30^th April 2009.

Material and Methods: The study was carried out at Military Hospital, Rawalpindi a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan. Study included 55 patients suffering from cirrhosis of both genders being above 12 years of age, admitted in medical wards during the period from 1st December, 2008 to 30^th April 2009. Each patient was assigned a MELD and CTP score.  On discharge, these patients were followed up at 03-months, 06months and 1-year duration through telephone.

Results: Thirty seven (67.3%) patients were male while 18 (32.7%) were female patients, with age ranging from 27 years to 75 years (mean 53). Fourteen (25.4%) patients were dead at 3-months, 22 patients (40%) were dead at 6-months and 29 (52.7%) patients were dead at 1-year follow up. MELD score proved to be a better indicator of survival than CTP score over a period of 01 year follow-up.

Conclusion: MELD score is a better prognostic marker for cirrhotic patients as compared to CTP score.