Background & Aims: The liver plays an essential role in lipid metabolism. For reduced liver biosynthesis capacity, low levels of triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (TC) is usually observed in chronic liver diseases. We conducted this study to determine the relationship between serum lipids and MELD score level in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

 Materials & Methods: A checklist was prepared to collect data for calculation of MELD score and serum lipid profile (TG, TC, HDL, and LDL) and the demographic factors in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Correlation between MELD score and lipid profile were calculated.

 Results: 100 patients (50 male/50 female) with age range of 25 to 84 years old with mean age of 52.49 years entered the study. The value of Serum TC (121 ± 33.0), TG (122±32.88), LDL (64.8±15.8) and HDL (36.01±15.77) level were measured as lipid panel and INR (2.42 ± 1.59), total bilirubin (4.68 ± 0.66) and Creatinine level (2.02 ± 1.53) measured for calculating MELD Scores (13.13 ± 6.82).

 Conclusion: The Pearson correlation of MELD score with LDL, HDL, TC, TG levels is highly significant (p<0.001), and is more powerful with TC level (Pearson’s R= -0.87).This relationship was evaluated with adjust of age and sex. Lower lipid panel can be an indicator for severity of hepatic failure. 

  SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2013: 24(7): 498 ISSN: 1027-3727