2 Jul 2025 • A hospital-based study from Agra underscores the prognostic value of venous blood gas (VBG) analysis in chronic liver disease (CLD), offering a safer alternative to arterial sampling.

In a predominantly male cohort (63%) with nearly 50% alcohol-related CLD, low pH (7.21±0.09), reduced bicarbonate (16.3±4.1 mmol/L), and elevated lactate (4.9±1.7 mmol/L) were linked to advanced disease.

Serum lactate >4.5 mmol/L predicted a 7.1-fold increased 30-day mortality risk, highlighting its potential as a powerful marker for risk stratification and clinical decision-making in hospitalized CLD patients.

Source: Cureus | Read Full Story