Help: We have had some readings from the... - British Liver Trust

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bever01•

7 years ago•14 Replies

We have had some readings from the consultant for my hubby but I don't understand them....

We have ukeld 51

Meld. 17

Child-Pugh score 10

Does anyone know what they mean please?

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bever01

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14 Replies

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RHGB7 years ago

Hello, the Child-Pugh score is how good or bad the cirrhosis is.

CP A is at the milder end of cirrhosis, CP C is at the bad end. Most places won't go into details about it or even mention the grades. I almost had to have a stand up row with my gastro before he told me I was CP A.

This is one of the few sites that actually gives details.

patient.info/doctor/cirrhos...

Skip down to where it says; Classification systems for cirrhosis

Dort1234• in reply toRHGB7 years ago

Hello RGHB your post and link above was very interesting I can't believe till now I never thought of asking on this site my question. Well its about the meld score I was never told mine at the time when I was diagnosed actually didn't no anything till I read up on it. But over the months I have been trying to calculate mine but don't know what the INR reading is. Curiosty got the better of me for looking maybe I'm better off not knowing. I do have copied of all bloods the last few months but none mention the INR. (International normalized ratio) I spelt it out as we all had a ticking off by someone can't remember who for abrieviating are words. And he was right as sometimes I haven't a clue. So if you or anybody knows where or how I find that out it will help.

Thanks

RHGB• in reply toDort12347 years ago

It's a measure of how long your blood (I think a sample) takes to clot.

On my last set of bloods, that section is titled 'Clotting Screen'.

The normal range is 0.8 - 1.2 and mine was 1.1. I think it has to be taken/read in conjunction with 'Prothrombin Time'.

I must admit that I tend to focus more on the platelet count which is about how fast and effective your blood will perform clots, if you have a bleed. The liver produces platelets and a cirrhosis level will not produce the same as a normal person. Which is why, when I had a bleed on the brain, they gave a blood transfusion of platelets to try and stabilise me.

Boring and useless trivia; If you have a blood transfusion (any blood products) you can no longer donate blood.

Dort1234• in reply toRHGB7 years ago

Thanks I will go through my bloods. I actually had a blood transfusion in hospital but I'm not sure why I was to scared to ask think it was low iron they kept mentioning anemia. Didn't know I couldn't give blood though. Mind you what they gave me ( 2 bags) not sure of content they took back with blood samples everyday. There is a sedimentation rate on my list should I go by that as I see no mention of what you have said on my results ..

Thanks

RHGB• in reply toDort12347 years ago

I'll scan and post up (later) my last set of bloods and point out the bits I am on about. My bloods are quite extensive and cover a lot more than most, so don't be surprised if my list has many more tests on it.

Dort1234• in reply toRHGB7 years ago

That would be a great help thanks...

• in reply toRHGB7 years ago

RHGB

If you want to share your blood results with another follower can you please contact them via private message.

It is a rule of the forum that we do not allow blood test results to be published, please see our pinned post.

This is not a medical forum and should not be used to try and make diagnoses or replace advice from your own medical practitioners who have a much wider view of your health and test results.

Many thanks for your understanding,

Best wishes,

Rebecca

Porphyrogennetos• in reply toDort12347 years ago

Hello Dort,

if I understand well the International Normalized Ratio INR was developed for people to be able to calculate their Prothrombin Time PT independently of the lab that was realizing the test, for being able to calculate the correct dose of blood thinners like Warfarin. This is important for example for people with an artifical heart valve on a travel. As one does not know which chemical has been used to realize the PT test, and all the different chemicals in use for that test give a different reading, the manufacturers of the different chemicals agreed on some sort of a reference point to which they refer their own chemicals.

So your blood clotting time PT with chemical X might be 14 seconds, and with chemical Y 14.5 seconds, but as the labs have a reference page, they can calculate the INR.

Please apologize if I am wrong, that is what I have understood, and I sure had a hard time trying to understand it...

Dort1234• in reply toPorphyrogennetos7 years ago

Thankyou for that. You have well educated your self on that. But sorry I'm none the wiser. I understand labs can use different terms to one another and what you mentioned I have no sign of them on my copies. So thanks for taking your time to reply..

bever017 years ago

Thank you - we have been told weeks/months but not a year but never had the levels before. Copy of the consultants letter to gp gave us these. Not sure it's a good idea to know more as I'm now confused over the difference in life expectancy!

RHGB• in reply tobever017 years ago

I was hoping someone else would comment on the other scores, but as you have seen, it is not something people like to mention, as the scores are not totally definitive and gastros do not like mentioning to patients their CP score.

Because I am not on a transplant list or have been involved, my knowledge on the other two scores is somewhat light, but I'll have a go.

The UKELD score is an assessment number for suitability for a transplant, it is not just how ill someone is and in need of a transplant, it covers a whole of things. From, is the person physically strong enough to survive the operation, are they mentally strong enough and able to cope, to, if the cirrhosis was caused by alcohol, have the stopped drinking and will they start drinking again once they have a new liver - it is a lot more complicated than that, but that gives you an idea of what it is about. I believe, that you have to score more than 49 to be considered.

MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) is more of an American score, for the purely medical term of if a patient is ready for a liver transplant, e.g. they have become so ill that they need a transplant now because the health is not good.

Of all the scores you have, UKELD is the most important one. I hope that slightly explains it and sorry if it comes across as a bit ham fisted, but my knowledge is of Child-Pugh and not the other scores.

7 years ago

Hi Bever01,

These results are all part of scoring systems that help assess the prognosis of chronic liver disease.

No one on this forum is medically qualified to interpret them fully for you.

Can we suggest that you contact your husbands liver specialist and they can accurately talk you through what they indicate?

Warm wishes,

Rebecca

bever01• in reply to7 years ago

I didn't expect them to interpret them for me - I am quite aware of our situation - I just wanted clarity on what they were. Our liver specialist is not the greatest advocate for people skills so not the easiest of things to get him to explain !!!

bever01• in reply tobever017 years ago

I am aware that we have access to medical records but information is written in such complex terms that minions like us don't understand them. We are also aware of our situation, support help and understanding are not always forthcoming from specialists and nursing staff. The attitude towards liver disease needs to change. We all have a right to know more - it's us who are living through this nightmare, who daily deal with issues that many medical staff have never dealt with on a personal Level. Forewarned is forearmed!

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