Is prothrombin index an indirect marker of severe liver fibrosis?
The prothrombin index was well correlated with pathological liver fibrosis score, had a high diagnostic accuracy for severe fibrosis or cirrhosis especially due to alcohol, and was not influenced by other pathological lesions. The prothrombin index was reproducible. Thus, the prothrombin index expressed as a percentage is an accurate, reproducible, inexpensive and easily available marker of severe liver fibrosis.
These findings, based on consecutive cases, suggest that bupropion may pose the same risks as other antidepressants in precipitating manic episodes in depressed bipolar patients. The authors conclude that caution should be exercised when using bupropion in the treatment of bipolar disorders.