The Child-Pugh Score is a clinical tool designed to assess the severity of chronic liver disease, particularly cirrhosis. Developed in the 1960s and later modified, it remains a widely used system for estimating survival and determining treatment strategies. The score incorporates both biochemical values and clinical features, recognizing that cirrhosis impacts not only liver function but also systemic health.

The score is based on five parameters: serum bilirubin, serum albumin, prothrombin time (or INR), ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Each is assigned a score of 1 to 3 depending on severity, with higher numbers indicating worse function. The sum of these points categorizes patients into three classes: Child-Pugh A, B, or C. Class A represents well-compensated disease, Class B indicates significant functional compromise, and Class C denotes decompensated cirrhosis with poor prognosis.

Clinically, the Child-Pugh Score is valuable in multiple contexts. It helps estimate survival rates, inform timing of liver transplantation referral, and guide decisions on surgical or interventional procedures. For example, patients in Class A may tolerate surgery, while those in Class C have high perioperative risk. The score also provides useful prognostic information for counseling patients and families about expected outcomes.