Prognostic value of progressive decrease in serum cholesterol in predicting survival in Child-Pugh C viral cirrhosis.

The identification of cirrhotic patients with low life expectancy is an open clinical problem. Hypocholesterolemia is frequently found in severe chronic hepatic insufficiency because the liver is the most active site of cholesterol metabolism,but poor information is available on its precise prognostic value. We evaluated the prognostic role of hypocholesterolemia in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Serial serum cholesterol concentrations of 34 patients with virus-induced cirrhosis,from the first appearance of Child-Pugh class C to death,were considered. To compare survival functions,we established three base-line cholesterol cut-off points (150,125,and 100 mg/dl) and stratified patients into groups A and B,with base-line cholesterol levels lower and higher than each cut-off value,respectively.