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Background: To assess the prognostic value of plasmatic fibronectin (FN), compared to numeric Child-Pugh classification and its biochemical parameters in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis followed prospectively during a 18 months-period., Methods: Fifty patients with the diagnosis of cirrhosis by hepatic biopsy or clinical and biochemical criteria, were included in the study after the exclusion of hepatocarcinoma and GI bleeding, infection or continous alcohol ingestion in the last 30 days. The mean age was 51.3+/-12.6 years, being 72% males and 17 of them were classified as Child-Pugh A, 18 as B and 15 as C. Serum bilirubin concentration was measured in autoanalyzer, protein electrophoresis was performed on cellulose acetate and prothrombin time by the Quick test. Plasmatic FN was assessed by radial immunodiffusion with anti-human FN in 1% agarose gel slabs., Results: One patient was excluded because no natural death and 12 died owing to hepatic disease. The numeric Child-Pugh [score > 10, Relative Risk (RR)=11.33] and total bilirubins (> 2.5 mg/dL, RR=9.47) were the best predictors of death. Mean plasmatic FN concentration was significantly higher among those who survived when compared with those who died (185+/-66 mg/L x 131+/-38 mg/L, p<0.01), with a RR=6.59, for FN < 165 mg/L. Higher levels of FN, on the other hand, were the best variable to predict survival, since 96% of these 29 patients were alive at the end of follow-up., Conclusion: Although having less accuracy in predicting the risk of death of these patients, plasmatic FN > 165 mg/L was better predictor of survival than Child-Pugh score or any one of its biochemical parameters.

Unlabelled: Patients with alcoholic chronic liver disease when treated with colchicine during a 12 month-period improved significantly the plasmatic levels of albumin and prothrombin when compared with a similar group of patients who took placebo. No differences in the mortality rate and in number of patients admitted at the hospital could be detected among those groups during this period., Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome and the plasmatic levels of albumin, pre-albumin, prothrombin and transferrin in patients presenting alcoholic chronic liver disease taking colchicine or placebo, during a 12-month period., Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, 41 patients with alcoholic chronic liver disease were assigned to either placebo (20 patients) or a colchicine (21 patients) treatment group, assessing their clinical course (mortality rate and hospital admission) and plasmatic protein levels during a 12-month period. Albumin, pre-albumin and transferrin plasmatic levels were assessed through a immunodiffusion radial method and prothrombin time and activity was assessed by a one stage Quick modified method., Results: At the end of the trial, only 7.3% of the patients were lost during follow-up. No statistical differences could be found in mortality and number of patients admitted at the hospital among placebo and colchicine groups. Comparatively to the placebo group, a significant increase in the mean of percentage variation was found in patients of the colchicine group for serum albumin levels (17.9% colchicine x 3.6% placebo, p < 0.05) and for prothrombin activity (19.2% colchicine x 2.1% placebo, p < 0.05). A similar pattern of response was found in pre-albumin serum levels, but such differences were not statistically different. No differences were found in serum transferrin levels among both groups., Conclusion: These results suggest that colchicine intake has a positive effect on plasmatic protein levels in patients with alcoholic chronic liver disease.