Comparison of Serum Prolactin Level with Child-Pugh Scoring System in Predicting the Complications of Cirrhosis of Liver: A Cross-Sectional Study  (Code- T0354)

Introduction: Cirrhosis of the liver is a progressive disease characterized by fibrosis and 
impaired hepatic function, leading to complications such as portal hypertension, hepatic 
encephalopathy, and ascites. Emerging evidence suggests that hyperprolactinemia in cirrhosis 
results from disrupted dopamine inhibition due to hepatic dysfunction. This study evaluates 
the correlation between serum prolactin levels and the Child-Pugh scoring system in 
predicting cirrhosis-related complications. 
Aims and Objectives: 
To compare the serum prolactin level with child puugh scoring system in Predicting the 
complications of cirrhosis of liver.  
1) To study the prevalence of hyper prolactenemia in cirrhosis of liver  
2) To assess the child pugh score in cirrhosis of liver  
3) To compare the serum prolactin level with child pugh scoring system in predicting the 
complications of cirrhosis of liver  
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 12 months on 70 cirrhotic patients at 
SRM Medical College. Inclusion criteria included patients aged ≥18 years with a confirmed 
diagnosis of cirrhosis. Serum prolactin levels were measured using radioimmunoassay, and 
disease severity was classified using the Child-Pugh scoring system. Statistical analysis, 
including correlation and ROC curve analysis, was performed to evaluate prolactin's 
predictive value. 
Results: A significant positive correlation (r = 0.641, p < 0.001) was observed between serum 
prolactin levels and Child-Pugh scores. Elevated prolactin levels were significantly 
associated with ascites, portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, and esophageal varices 
(p < 0.001). Patients with higher prolactin levels had increased six-month mortality risk (p < 
0.0001), with ROC analysis (AUC = 0.98) confirming prolactin's predictive capability. 
Conclusion: Serum prolactin is a reliable biomarker for assessing cirrhosis severity and 
predicting complications. It serves as a complementary tool to the Child-Pugh scoring 
system, potentially guiding early intervention in high-risk patients. 
Keywords:Cirrhosis,Serum Prolactin, Child-Pugh Score, Complications, 
Hyperprolactinemia, Biomarker.