Role of lipid profile in assessment of severity of cirrhosis

Background: Cirrhosis is defined anatomically as a diffuse process with fibrosis and nodule formation. It is the result of the fibrogenesis that occurs with chronic liver injury. For reduced liver biosynthesis capacity, low level of serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) is usually observed in the chronic liver disease. Due to the high prevalence of chronic liver disease in our country we have conducted this study to determine role of lipid profile in a patient with cirrhosis and to assess its relationship to the severity of cirrhosis.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients classified in 3 groups as per CTP classification for severity of cirrhosis. Serum lipid profile was observed in these patients. The primary aim was to assess changes in various parameters of lipid profile and its relationship with severity of liver cirrhosis.Results: About 74 cirrhotic patients were enrolled, 20 in class A, 25 in class B and 29 in class C. serum lipid profile was observed in these patients. Serum cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were decreased with increasing severity of cirrhosis. Serum triglyceride level increases with progression of cirrhosis and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) level has no correlation with severity of cirrhosis.Conclusions: Serum cholesterol and HDL level decreases with progression of cirrhosis. In future serum lipid profile can be used in classification criteria for assessing severity of liver cirrhosis.