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Digestive Diseases and Sciences

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01-10-2013 | Original Article

Relationship Between ¹³C-Aminopyrine Breath Test and the MELD Score and Its Long-Term Prognostic Use in Patients with Cirrhosis

Authors: Edoardo G. Giannini, Vincenzo Savarino

Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences | Issue 10/2013

Abstract

Background

¹³C-Aminopyrine breath test (¹³C-ABT) is a non-invasive, dynamic, quantitative liver function test, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) is a recognised biochemical score used to predict survival in patients with cirrhosis.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the ¹³C-ABT and MELD score in a cohort of cirrhotic patients and, moreover, to assess the prognostic value of ¹³C-ABT results in the same group of patients.

Patients and Methods

Forty-six patients with cirrhosis and without hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent ¹³C-ABT and who had at least 1-year follow-up were prospectively included in this study. MELD score was calculated at entry into the study in all patients. End-points of the study were 1-year liver-related death or liver transplantation.

Results

¹³C-ABT %dose/h at 30 min (%dose/h₃₀) results showed significant, inverse correlation with MELD scores (r = −0.414, P = 0.004). During 1-year follow-up nine patients died (19.6 %) and two were transplanted (4.3 %). Median ¹³C-ABT %dose/h₃₀ results (3.2 vs. 1.8) were significantly higher in patients who survived as compared to those who died or underwent transplantation (P = 0.04). Receiver operating characteristics curves showed that a ¹³C-ABT %dose/h₃₀ cut-off of 2.0 had the best accuracy (c-index = 0.717) in assessing 1-year prognosis.

Conclusions

We observed a correlation between a flow-independent quantitative liver function test and the MELD score, and found that the ¹³C-ABT may accurately provide long-term prognostic information in cirrhotic patients.

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Title: Relationship Between 13C-Aminopyrine Breath Test and the MELD Score and Its Long-Term Prognostic Use in Patients with Cirrhosis
Authors: Edoardo G. Giannini
Vincenzo Savarino
Publication date: 01-10-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Digestive Diseases and Sciences / Issue 10/2013
Print ISSN: 0163-2116
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2568
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2739-1

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Relationship Between ¹³C-Aminopyrine Breath Test and the MELD Score and Its Long-Term Prognostic Use in Patients with Cirrhosis

Abstract

Background

Aims

Patients and Methods

Results

Conclusions

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Abstract

Background

Aims

Patients and Methods

Results

Conclusions

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