🫀 Maddrey Discriminant Function (Alcoholic Hepatitis)
Grade alcoholic hepatitis severity with the Maddrey discriminant function (DF).
Clinical takeaway
DF ≥ 32 indicates severe disease with high short-term mortality.
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When to use
Decide on corticosteroid therapy in alcoholic hepatitis.
How it works
DF = 4.6 × (patient PT − control PT) + total bilirubin (mg/dL). DF ≥ 32 = severe.
Key points
- DF ≥ 32 indicates severe disease with high short-term mortality.
- The classic threshold for considering corticosteroids.
- Reassess steroid response with the Lille score; MELD also used.
References
Decision support for licensed clinicians only; not a substitute for clinical judgement, diagnosis or local protocols.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Patient prothrombin time | 20 s |
|---|---|
| Control PT | 12 s |
| Total bilirubin | 8 mg/dL |
→Maddrey DF44.8
- Interpretation：≥ 32: severe alcoholic hepatitis — consider corticosteroids (if no contraindication) and assess MELD/Lille.
- Formula：4.6 × (PT − control PT) + bilirubin (mg/dL)
Frequently asked questions
- What is Maddrey Discriminant Function (Alcoholic Hepatitis)?
- Grade alcoholic hepatitis severity with the Maddrey discriminant function (DF).
- How is Maddrey Discriminant Function (Alcoholic Hepatitis) calculated? What is the core formula?
- DF = 4.6 × (patient PT − control PT) + total bilirubin (mg/dL). DF ≥ 32 = severe.
- When is Maddrey Discriminant Function (Alcoholic Hepatitis) used?
- Decide on corticosteroid therapy in alcoholic hepatitis.
- What are the key clinical points for Maddrey Discriminant Function (Alcoholic Hepatitis)?
- DF ≥ 32 indicates severe disease with high short-term mortality. The classic threshold for considering corticosteroids. Reassess steroid response with the Lille score; MELD also used.
- What are the limits and cautions when using Maddrey Discriminant Function (Alcoholic Hepatitis)?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- How is Maddrey Discriminant Function (Alcoholic Hepatitis) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Patient prothrombin time 20 s, Control PT 12 s, Total bilirubin 8 mg/dL → Result: Maddrey DF 44.8（Interpretation: ≥ 32: severe alcoholic hepatitis — consider corticosteroids (if no contraindication) and assess MELD/Lille., Formula: 4.6 × (PT − control PT) + bilirubin (mg/dL)）