Role of platelet-albumin-bilirubin score in predicting re-bleeding after band ligation for acute variceal hemorrhage

Platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) score was proposed by Roayaie et al with modification of previously studied albumin-bilirubin score to include platelet as an indicator of portal hypertension in 2015. Predictive value of this score was recently tested by Elshaarawy et al for re-bleeding in patients presenting with acute variceal hemorrhage. We did a similar study at our center (n = 170) to look at incidence of re-bleeding after band ligation defined as drop in 2 units of hemoglobin and witnessed melena or hematemesis within 2 wk of the procedure. We calculated PALBI scores for all patients based on lab values prior to the procedure. Of 25.3% had re-bleeding episodes, area under receiver operating characteristic curve for PALBI as predictor of re-bleeding was 0.601 (95% confidence interval: 0.502-0.699). PALBI score showed moderate accuracy at predicting re-bleeding in our population.