Alcoholic hepatitis is an acute inflammation of the liver from heavy drinking. Untreated, patients with a discriminant function of 32 or more have a one-month mortality of 30–50%. The Lille score at day 7 then shows whether steroids are working.
How to use the Maddrey Discriminant Function Calculator
- Patient prothrombin time
- Control prothrombin time
- Bilirubin
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the patient’s and control prothrombin times and bilirubin.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Patient prothrombin time | In s |
| Control prothrombin time | In s |
| Bilirubin | Units: mg/dL, µmol/L |
Example values
How the main result changes when Patient prothrombin time changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Patient prothrombin time (s) | Maddrey discriminant function |
|---|---|
| 10 | -1.2 |
| 15 | 21.8 |
| 20 | 44.8 |
| 25 | 67.8 |
| 30 | 90.8 |
| 40 | 136.8 |
Health note: this calculator is for education and screening only and is not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Discuss your results with a qualified clinician.
Formula
Maddrey DF = 4.6 × (patient PT − control PT) (s) + bilirubin (mg/dL)
≥ 32: severe alcoholic hepatitis
Worked example
Inputs — Patient prothrombin time: 20 s; Control prothrombin time: 12 s; Bilirubin: 8 mg/dL.
Results — Maddrey discriminant function = 44.8.
Key terms
- DF
- Discriminant function.
Frequently asked questions
What does a score of 32 or more mean?
Severe alcoholic hepatitis with high one-month mortality.
Are steroids always given?
They are considered when there are no contraindications such as infection or GI bleeding.
What other scores are used?
MELD and the Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score.