Oral glucose tolerance test predicts prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis

Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Jan;101(1):70-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.00307.x.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was useful in evaluating the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. In all cases, glucose tolerance was diagnosed by a 75-g OGTT according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The relationship of clinical variables to the cirrhosis-related prognosis was investigated using univariate and multivariate regression models.

Results: Diabetes mellitus (DM) was diagnosed in 21 subjects (38%), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in 13 subjects (23%), and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) in 22 subjects (39%) using OGTT. The cumulative survival rates of patients with liver cirrhosis and NGT were 94.7% at 5 yr; liver cirrhosis and IGT, 68.8% at 5 yr; liver cirrhosis and DM, 56.6% at 5 yr. The survival rates of patients with liver cirrhosis and DM significantly differed from those with NGT. Univariate analysis demonstrated that serum albumin, total bilirubin, prothrombin activity, Child-Pugh scores, and glucose intolerance were highly significant prognostic factors. Multiple regression analysis yielded albumin and DM as the most powerful independent negative predictors of survival.

Conclusions: OGTT appears to be useful for evaluating the prognosis of cirrhotic patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Glucose Tolerance Test*
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / mortality*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Probability
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose