Can non-invasive measurements aid clinical assessment of volume in patients with cirrhosis?

Table 1 Demographics and standard biochemistry and haematology results in the stable cirrhotic and the acutely decompensated cirrhotic patients

	Compensated	Decompensated
Age (yr)	53.4 ± 1.5	53.9 ± 2.7
Male sex	60%	64%
Weight (kg)	75.2 ± 1.9	76.1 ± 3.2
Sodium (mmol/L)	135.8 ± 1.4	135.9 ± 1.3
Urea (mmol/L)	4.8 (3.4-6.7)	6.1 (2.9-13.4)
Creatinine (μmol/L)	70 (48-81)	65 (45-116)
Albumin (g/L)	32 (31-40.5)	30 (27-33)b
Bilirubin (μmol/L)	36.5 (21-98)	41 (27.5-100.5)
ALT (U/L)	44 (26-55)	31 (19-51)
AST (U/L)	65 (44-98)	63 (46-112)
GGT (U/L)	63 (30-188)	118 (41-263)
ALP (U/L)	117.8 ± 9.4	132.7 ± 14.8
Haemoglobin (g/L)	119 ± 6	101 ± 2a
WBC (× 109/L)	5.31 ± 0.4	9.5 ± 1.5a
Platelets (× 109/L)	92.5 (57.5-134)	84 (53.5-143)
INR	1.58 ± 0.11	1.72 ± 0.08
aPTT s	36.7 ± 2.9	36.3 ± 1.6
Cortisol (μmol/L)	361 (180-483)	361 (208-611)
Synacthen 30 min cortisol (μmol/L)	614 (411-719)	518 (399-767)

Results expressed as mean ± SE, or as percentage, or median (interquartile range).

^aP < 0.05,

^bP < 0.01 vs compensated cirrhotic group. ALT: Alanine aminotranferease; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; GGT: Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; WBC: White blood cells; INR: International normalized ratio.