Background Liver cirrhosis is a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, accounting for approximately 4% of deaths worldwide, with a significant burden in India. The Child-Pugh scoring system is widely used to assess disease severity and predict mortality in cirrhosis. However, additional biomarkers may enhance prognostic accuracy. Serum prolactin levels are known to be elevated in cirrhosis due to altered hypothalamic-pituitary regulation and impaired hepatic metabolism. This study evaluates the correlation between serum prolactin levels and Child-Pugh score and its potential role as a prognostic marker. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out at Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences, Belgavi, from January 2023 to December 2023. There were seventy-two patients with a liver cirrhosis diagnosis. Serum prolactin measurement, ultrasound of the abdomen, biochemical investigations (including liver function tests, renal function tests, and coagulation profile), and clinical evaluation were all carried out. Using Child-Pugh score, patients were categorised. SPSS version 20.0 was used for the statistical analysis, and a significance level of p < 0.05 was applied. Results The mean age of participants was 52.95 ± 12.91 years; 86.1% were male. The mean serum prolactin level was 38.65 ± 30.05 ng/ml. Prolactin levels showed significant correlation with severity of ascites (p=0.027) and grades of hepatic encephalopathy (p=0.001). Although prolactin levels increased progressively from Child-Pugh Class A to C, the association was not statistically significant when analyzed across all three classes (p=0.733). However, when grouped as Class C versus Class A & B, serum prolactin showed significant association (p=0.003). The diagnostic accuracy was 65.28%, with a specificity of 85.71%. Conclusion Serum prolactin levels correlate with the severity of cirrhosis and its complications, particularly ascites and hepatic encephalopathy. It may serve as an adjunct prognostic biomarker in assessing disease severity in cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis of Liver, Serum Prolactin, Child-Pugh Score, Ascites, Hepatic Encephalopathy, Prognostic Marker