Question

Which one of the following is NOT used as a criteria in the Child-Pugh classification of liver disease to identify the risk categories?

• A. Serum albumin
• B. SGOT, SGPT ratio
• C. Ascites
• D. Prothrombin

Hint:

Recall the fixed five components of the Child-Pugh score: bilirubin, albumin, prothrombin time, ascites, and encephalopathy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

This question asks which of the four listed parameters is not actually part of the Child-Pugh classification.

1. Serum albumin: This is one of the five official Child-Pugh components, reflecting liver synthetic function.
2. SGOT, SGPT ratio: This AST/ALT ratio is used elsewhere to suggest specific causes of liver disease but is not one of the five parameters scored in the Child-Pugh classification.
3. Ascites: This is one of the five official components, reflecting portal hypertension and fluid retention.
4. Prothrombin: Prothrombin time is one of the five official components, reflecting clotting factor synthesis.

The Child-Pugh score is built from bilirubin, albumin, prothrombin time, ascites, and encephalopathy, so the SGOT/SGPT ratio is the parameter that does not belong.

Let's summarize:

• The Child-Pugh classification has five fixed components: bilirubin, albumin, prothrombin time, ascites, and encephalopathy.
• The SGOT/SGPT ratio is not one of them.

So the parameter NOT used is the SGOT, SGPT ratio.