Maddrey's discriminant function (DF)
Last reviewed 01/2018
NICE suggest the use Maddrey's discriminant function (DF) to determine treatment in people with severe acute alcohol related hepatitis (1)
- Maddrey's discriminant function (DF) was described to predict prognosis
in alcohol-related hepatitis and identify patients suitable for treatment
with steroids
- it is 4.6 x [prothrombin time - control time (seconds)] + bilirubin
in mg/dl.
- to calculate the DF using bilirubin in micromol/l divide bilirubin value by 17
- it is 4.6 x [prothrombin time - control time (seconds)] + bilirubin
in mg/dl.
- DF of 32 or more
- consider liver biopsy to confirm diagnosis
- offer corticosteroid treatment
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