A prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index scoring critically ill patients.

A new prognostic inflammatory and nutritional index is described allowing the correct follow-up of most pathological conditions. Discriminant analysis of eleven currently utilized blood markers of the phlogistic reaction and of the nutritional status has afforded the selection of the two most reliable acute-phase reactants (orosomucoid and C-reactive protein) and visceral proteins (albumin and prealbumin). These parameters are combined in a simple formula which consistently and accurately stratifies critically ill patients by risk of complications or death. The grading system is determined by a rapid and inexpensive micromethod encompassing both infectious and nutritional poles of the disease spectrum within a self-explanatory scale. The scoring system provides a more sensitive tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of stressed patients than any other method available to date.