Evaluating prognosis of cirrhotic patients by model of end stage liver disease score combined with serum sodium

Objective To investigate the complications and prognosis of cirrhotic patients by means of model for end stage liver disease(MELD) combined with serum sodium(SNa).Methods MELD score and serum sodium level of 114 cirrhotic patients were documented.The relationship between MELD score,serum sodium and the complications and survival rate were analyzed.Results The mortality of the cirrhotic patients with hyponatremia and MELD score 18 or more increased significantly.The sensitivity and specificity of predicting death evaluated by the method of MELD score combined with hyponatremia during hospitalization reached 76.5% and 86.5% respectively.The MELD score and SNa level in the patients presented with esophageal gastric variceal bleeding,hepatic encephalopathy,spontaneous peritonitis,or hepatorenal syndrome during hospitalization were statistically different from may those in patients without any above complications.Conclusion MELD score combined with SNa level may be a useful and important predictor in evaluating the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis.