Dr. Rose's Peripheral Brain--CIRRHOSIS

CIRRHOSIS

Child's classification

PARAMETER	Class A	Class B	Class C
BILIRUBIN (mg/dl)	<2	2-3	>3
ALBUMIN (mg/dl)	> 3.5	3-3.5	<3
ASCITES	None	Controlled	Refractory
ENCEPHALOPATHY	None	Mild	Advanced
NUTRITION	Excellent	Good	Poor

See also "Milk Thistle" for info on use of this herb in cirrhosis

Some recommend doing periodic endoscopy in pts with cirrhosis to identify large Esophageal Varices so that they can receive prophylactic beta-blockers

Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) for prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in pts with hepatic cirrhosis:

In a randomized trial in 40 women with hepatic cirrhosis attributed to viral etiologies, vitamin K2 45mg/d was ass'd, over 8y of f/u, with sig. lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (RR 0.20) (JAMA 292:358, 2004--abst)