Comparison of indocyanine green clearance with Child's-Pugh score and hepatic histology: a multivariate analysis.

Background/aims: Indocyanine green clearance, measured by percentage disappearance rate, detects alterations in liver function and may be used as a non-invasive determinant of hepatic reserve. The aims of this study were to compare liver histology and Child's-Pugh score with percentage disappearance rate and determine which variables correlated with PDR.

Methodology: Child's-Pugh score, liver function tests, liver biopsies and indocyanine green testing (0.5mg/kg) were performed in 102 consecutive patients with cirrhosis of diverse etiologies. Indocyanine green concentration was determined using spectrophotometric analysis (806nm) and plotted logarithmically with Michaelis-Menten kinetics to calculate the percentage disappearance rate. Liver biopsies were graded using the modified Knodell score to obtain a histological activity index.

Results: In bivariable analysis, percentage disappearance rate significantly correlated with Child's-Pugh score, albumin, bilirubin, prothrombin time and histological activity index. Albumin, prothrombin time and histological activity index were independent predictors of percentage disappearance rate in the final model (albumin p<0.01, prothrombin time p<0.046, histological activity index p=0.033), accounting for 46.2% of variability in percentage disappearance rate measurements.

Conclusions: Percentage disappearance rates correlated with Child's-Pugh scores in this series of cirrhotic patients. However, 46.2% of its variability was accounted for by albumin, prothrombin time and histological activity index.