[Caffeine blood concentration as an indicator of liver damage in patients with cirrhosis--correlation with Child's...

In 25 patients with cirrhosis fasting caffeine blood concentration was determined and the results were compared with Child's liver function sufficiency score. The caffeine blood concentrations in patients were higher than those in healthy controls (p less than 0.0001). Differences in comparison with controls were the more evident the greater was the degree of liver damage. Caffeine concentrations correlated well with the score indicating the sufficiency of the organ according to Child (R = 0.61; p = 0.002).