Study on Relation of Serum Potassium with Severity of Child Pugh Score and Meld Score in Chronic Liver Disease Patients

Dr. Hrudhay Reddy, Dr. Ivor D'sa, Dr. Yogesh Kini

Abstract: Chronic liver disease CLD significantly impacts global morbidity and mortality, necessitating accurate prognosis to guide management, including liver transplantation. This study aims to explore the correlation between serum potassium levels and the severity of CLD as determined by the Child Pugh CTP and Model for End - Stage Liver Disease MELD scores. A cross - sectional analysis was conducted on 50 male patients with CLD at Justice KS Hegde Charitable Hospital from July 2020 to July 2022. The inclusion criteria included patients over 18 years with clinical and imaging - confirmed liver cirrhosis, excluding those on potassium - altering drugs, or with chronic kidney disease or malignancies. The Pearson correlation analysis was employed to assess the relationship between serum potassium and the CTP and MELD scores. The findings revealed a significant correlation p < 0.05, with higher serum potassium levels observed in patients classified as Child Pugh Class C and those with MELD scores above 30. This study underscores the importance of monitoring serum potassium in CLD patients, particularly those with severe disease, to anticipate and manage potential complications effectively.

Keywords: chronic liver disease, serum potassium, Child Pugh score, MELD score, hyperkalemia