The Child-Turcotte classification, as modified by Pugh et al., was recorded on diagnosis in 598 completely followed patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The variables that comprise the Pugh classification are ascites, encephalopathy, serum albumin, serum total bilirubin, and prothrombin time. The Pugh score categorized in three classes (class A = score 5 or 6, class B = score 7 to 11, class C = score 12 to 15) separates the series into three groups of approximately equal size with significant differences in median survivals (p less than 0.005) and in survival curves (p less than 0.0001). The characteristics of simplicity, availability, low cost and good discrimination power make the Pugh classification a very useful method to estimate prognosis in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.