Lipid profile of cirrhotic patients and its association with prognostic scores: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background - In cirrhosis the production of cholesterol and lipoproteins is altered. Objective - Evaluate the lipid profile by measuring total cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels in patients with cirrhosis caused by alcoholism and/or hepatitis C virus infection and determine its association with Child-Pugh and MELD scores. Methods - Cross-sectional retrospective study of patients treated at the outpatient clinic in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 2006 to 2010. Results - In total, 314 records were reviewed, and 153 (48.7%) met the inclusion criteria, of which 82 (53.6%) had cirrhosis that was due to hepatitis C virus infection, 50 (32.7%) were due to alcoholism, and 21 (13.7%) were due to alcoholism and hepatitis C virus infection. The total cholesterol levels diminished with a Child-Pugh progression (P<0.001). Child-Pugh C was significantly associated with lover levels of low-density lipoprotein (<70 mg/dL; P<0.001), high-density lipoprotein (<40 mg/ dL; P<0.001) and triglyceride (<70 mg/dL; P=0.003). MELD≥20 was associated with lower total cholesterol levels (<100mg/dL; P<0.001), very low-density lipoprotein (<16 mg/dL; P=0.006), and low-density lipoprotein (<70 mg/dL; P=0.003). Inverse and statistically significant correlations were observed between Child-Pugh and all the lipid fractions analyzed (P<0.001). The increase in MELD was inversely correlated with reduced levels in total cholesterol (P<0.001), high-density lipoprotein (P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein (P<0.001), very low-density lipoprotein (P=0.030) and triglyceride (P=0.003). Conclusion - A reduction in the lipid profile in patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus infection and/or alcoholism was significantly associated with the Child-Pugh and MELD prognostic markers. These results suggest that the lipid profile may be used as a tool to assist in evaluating liver disease.