Serum lipid profile as an indicator of the severity of liver damage in cirrhotic patients.

Background and Aims: Lipid abnormalities are commonly observed in cirrhosis liver. This study was conducted to determine lipid profile in cirrhotic patients and to assess its relationship with the severity of the disease. Materials and Methods: In an analytical cross-sectional study, we studied 204 patients with cirrhosis (case) and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy normolipidemic patients (comparison) .A questionnaire containing personal characteristics, etiology of cirrhosis, pathologic criteria of Child Pugh and MELD (model for end–stage liver disease) and lipid profile (low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein, total cholesterol and triglyceride) was completed for every patient. Results: There was a significant decrease in serum triglyceride, total, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels in patients with cirrhosis compared to the comparison group (mean of 84.2vs. 189.8, 140.9vs. 186.6, 82.5vs. 139.2, and 38.7vs. 42.5 mg/dL, respectively; all p