The application of ratio of serum total bilirubin to glutamyltransferase in prognostic judgement of liver cirrhosis patients

Objective To find a index of prognostic judgement in liver cirrhosis patients.Methods 62 inpatients with viral liver cirrhosis were followed up during January 2001 to September 2004.Serum total bilirubin,glutamyltransferase,the ratio of serum total bilirubin to glutamyl-transferase(TB/GGT),prothrombin time(PT),INR,serum albumin and creatinine,degree of ascite and hepatoencephalopathy were included.At the sametime the score of Child-Pugh,MELD and ratio of TB/GGT were calculated respectively.The grade of MELD was ranked by A(10),B(10-18),C(18);the grade of TB/GGT by A(0.5)、B(0.5-1.5)、C(1.5);and the score of Child-Pugh was ranked by A,B,C.The patients were followed up to September 2005 and the final event was died by cirrhosis.Results 27 of 62 patients died during follow up periods(1-54 months).There were no difference statistically among the grades of TB/GGT,Child-Pugh and MELD in total and dead patients,and so as the mortality at each time.The mortality(95%CI) of 3 months and one year were 6.90%(1.0-32.0%),23.81%(8.0%-47.0%),41.76%(15.0%-72.0%) and 13.79%(4.0%-32.0%),38.10%(22.0%-66.0%),58.33%(38.0-85.0%) respectively.Conclusion The ratio of TB/GGT may be a simple index in predicting the prognosis of viral liver cirrhosis.