scholarly journals Identification of potential metabolic biomarkers in predicting esophageal varices needing treatment in patients with liver cirrhosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Man Moon ◽  
Yun-Young Lee ◽  
Suk-Hee Heo ◽  
Sang-Soo Shin ◽  
Yong-Yeon Jeong

AbstractThe goal of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of in vivo quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to identify the presence of esophageal varices needing treatment (VNT), as well as investigate its correlation with clinical characteristics in patients with liver cirrhosis. Forty cirrhotic patients without VNT showing the negative red color sign, and 40 cirrhotic patients with VNT showing positive red color sign underwent laboratory tests, esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, and 1H-MRS with single-voxel localization in the cirrhotic liver parenchyma. The levels of lactate + triglyceride (TG) and choline in cirrhotic patients with VNT were significantly higher than those in cirrhotic patients without VNT. In multivariate analysis, spleen diameter, platelet count, and platelet count/spleen diameter ratio, as well as lactate + TG, and choline were associated with the presence of VNT. Moreover, lactate + TG and choline levels were positively correlated with spleen diameter and negatively correlated with platelet count in the combined group of cirrhotic patients with and without VNT. Our study demonstrated that higher hepatic lactate + TG and choline levels in cirrhotic patients in conjunction with longer spleen diameter, lower platelet counts, and lower ratios of platelet count to spleen diameter were associated with the presence of esophageal VNT and the risk of developing variceal bleeding. Therefore, in vivo 1H-MRS might be an effective tool for diagnosing and predicting esophageal VNT in patients with liver cirrhosis.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Man Moon ◽  
Sang Soo Shin

Abstract Background: The goal of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of in vivo quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to identify the presence of esophageal varices needing treatment (VNT), as well as to investigate its correlation with clinical variables in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: Forty cirrhotic patients without VNT showing negative red color sign, and 40 cirrhotic patients with VNT showing positive red color sign underwent laboratory tests, esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, and 1H-MRS with single-voxel localization in cirrhotic liver parenchyma. Results: The levels of lactate+triglyceride (TG) and choline in cirrhotic patients with VNT were significantly higher than those of cirrhotic patients without VNT. Lactate+TG and choline levels were positively correlated with spleen diameter and negatively correlated with platelet count in the combined group of cirrhotic patients with and without VNT. In cirrhotic patients with VNT, older age, longer spleen diameter, lower platelet counts, and lower ratios of platelet count/spleen diameter were independently associated with an increase of lactate+TG and choline metabolites in the presence of esophageal VNT. Additionally, the area under the curve used to distinguish cirrhotic liver with VNT from cirrhotic liver without VNT was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95–1.00) for lactate+TG and 0.67 (95% CI 0.55–0.77) for choline. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that higher hepatic lactate+TG and choline levels in cirrhotic patients in conjunction with longer spleen diameter, lower platelet counts, and lower ratios of platelet count to spleen diameter were associated with the presence of esophageal VNT and the risk of developing variceal bleeding. Therefore, in vivo, 1H-MRS may be an effective tool for diagnosing and predicting esophageal VNT in patients with liver cirrhosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-53
Author(s):  
Anil Shrestha ◽  
Dipendra Khadka ◽  
Richa Shrestha

Background: Majority of cirrhotic patients develop  varices over their lifetime and it is anticipated that roughly one third of varices will develop bleeding. Child Turcotte Pugh (CTP) class predicts the risk of variceal bleeding and has been used as a prognostic tool inpatients of liver cirrhosis. Objective: To correlate grade of esophageal varices in Upper Gastrointestinal endoscopy with Child Turcotte Pugh class in patients of liver cirrhosis. Material and method: This is a cross sectional descriptive study conducted in thedepartment of medicine of NGMCTH, Kohalpur between December 2017 to November 2018. A total of 97 patients were included inthe study who were diagnosed as cirrhosis of liver clinically and radio logically. Patient were classified into CTP class A, B and According to CTP score. UGI endoscopy was performed and endoscopic grading of esophageal varices were correlated with CTP classand the data were recorded and analysed. Result: Mean of patients was 50 years. Among 97 patients, 30 (30.9%) were in CTP class A,30 (30.9%) in CTP class B and 37 (38.1%) were in CTP class C. 25 (25.8%) had small varices, 50 (51.5%) had large varices with red colorsign, 20 (20.6%) had large varices without red color sign and 2 (2.1%) had no varices. Most of the patients in CTP class B and C hadlarge varices with red color sign whereas CTP class A had small varices. Conclusion: The cirrhotic patients in CTP class B and C havelarge varices with red color sign and have more chances of bleeding. Hence, routine screening is indicated to determine the presenceof varices. Porphylactic therapy after identifying large varices will decrease the incidence of bleeding leading to reduction inmortality rate.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Revathy Marimuthu Shanmugam ◽  
Vinay C ◽  
Sathya Gopalasamy ◽  
Chitra Shanmugam

BACKGROUND: Many noninvasive surrogate marker for Portal hypertension or for the presence or grade of esophageal varices were studied..Splenomegaly along with splenic congestion secondary to splenic hyperdynamic circulation is seen secondary to Portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients that can be quantified by elastography. AIM:The aim of this study was to investigate whether spleen stiffness, assessed by TE, useful tool for grading chronic liver diseases and to compare its performance in predicting the presence and size of esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis patients. METHODOLOGY:86 patients with cirrhosis and 80 controls underwent transient elastography of liver and spleen for the assessment of liver stiffness (LSM) and spleen stiffness (SSM) . Upper GI endoscopy done in all Cirrhotic patients. RESULTS: Spleen stiffness showed higher values in liver cirrhosis patients as compared with controls: 58.2 kpa vs14.8 kpa (P < 0.0001) and also found to be significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared with varices and those without varices (69.01 vs 42.05 kpa, P < 0.0001). Liver stiffness was also found to be higher in cirrhotic patients with varices when compared to patients without varices (38.5vs 21.2 kpa). Using both liver and spleen stiffness measurement we can predicted the presence of esophageal varices correctly. CONCLUSION: Spleen stiffness can be assessed using transient elastography, higher value correlated well with liver cirrhosis and presence of esophageal varices although it couldn’t correlate with grade of Esophageal Varix. Combined assessment of spleen and liver stiffness had better prediction of presence of Esophageal Varix.


Author(s):  
Naglaa El-Toukhy Ramadan El-Toukhy ◽  
Sharaf Elsayed Ali Hassanien ◽  
Ramy A. Metwaly ◽  
Medhat A. Khalil ◽  
Badawy A. Abdulaziz

Background and Study Aims: Portal hypertension is one of the most important complications of liver cirrhosis. The prevalence of varices among cirrhotic patients is variable. Therefore, endoscopic screening of all patients with liver cirrhosis would result in a large number of unnecessary additional burdens to endoscopic units. Our aim was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of spleen stiffness measured by transient elastography (Fibroscan) for prediction of the presence of varices in patients with hepatitis C related cirrhosis. Patients and Methods: The study was carried out on 100 patients with HCV-induced cirrhosis and were divided into 2 groups according to presence or absence of varices by Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy: Group I: patients with HCV-induced cirrhosis with varices; Group II: patients with HCV-induced cirrhosis without varices. Clinical and laboratory parameters, andominal ultrasonography, Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and transient elastography to assess the liver and spleen stiffness were carried out to all studied persons. Results: Spleen stiffness had significant diagnostic value to differentiate between cirrhotic patients with varices and cirrhotic patients without varices , it had significant diagnostic value in presence of esophageal varices at cut-off (≥46.4 K Pascal) the sensitivity for detection of esophageal varices was 93%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 80%, negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%; accuracy was 95% and area under the curve was 0.98 denoting that spleen stiffness is a good predictor of esophageal varices. Conclusion: Spleen stiffness was considered as an excellent predictor of esophageal varices and better than liver stiffness in prediction of esophageal varices presence and had significant diagnostic value to differentiate between the patients with varices and patients without varices at cut off (≥46.4 K Pascal) and it may have a role in variceal grading.


F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Anum Afsar ◽  
Muhammad Nadeem ◽  
Syed Asim Ali Shah ◽  
Huma Hussain ◽  
Aysha Rani ◽  
...  

Background: Bleeding from esophageal varices is a life-threatening complication in cirrhosis. Screening endoscopy is recommended in cirrhotic patients to identify patients at risk of variceal hemorrhage, but this is an invasive procedure and has limitations. Therefore, thrombocytopenia has been proposed to predict the existence and grade of esophageal varices. The aim of the current study was to determine a correlation between platelet count and grades of esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the POF Hospital, Wah Cantt from 1st October, 2017 to 30th May, 2018. Newly diagnosed cases of cirrhosis having varices of any grade on endoscopy were included. Endoscopic findings of patients were standardized using Paquet grading system. On the basis of platelet count, patients were divided into four subgroups. Platelet count groups were correlated with grading of esophageal varices using Spearman rank correlations. Chi Square test was used to see association between the platelet count and grade of esophageal varices. Results: 110 patients were included in the study, 55.5% (n=61) were male. Mean age of the patients was 59.89±9.01 years. Platelet count was <50,000/uL in 35.5% patients, 50,000-99,000/uL in 26.4%, 100,000-150000 in 12.7%, and >150,000/uL in 25.5% patients. Grade I esophageal varices were found in 23.6% of patients, whereas grade II, III and IV were found in 24.5%, 33.6% and 18.2% of patients, respectively. Mean platelet count was 213884.62/mm3 in patients with grade I varices, whereas it was 119518.52/mm3, 58386.49/mm3 and 21600.00/mm3 in patients with grade II, III and IV varices, respectively (p=<0.0001). A significant negative correlation between platelet count and grades of esophageal varices was found (p<0.001). Conclusion: Platelet count can predict the grade of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients. There is significant negative correlation between platelet count and grades of esophageal varices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W. Gunda ◽  
Semvua B. Kilonzo ◽  
Zakhia Mamballah ◽  
Paulina M. Manyiri ◽  
David C. Majinge ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Bleeding esophageal varices is a deadly complication of liver cirrhosis. Guidelines recommend an early diagnosis of esophageal varices before incident bleeding by screening all patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Though it has been reported elsewhere that the presence of esophageal varices varies widely among cirrhotic patients this has not been assessed in Tanzania since endoscopy is not readily available for routine use in our setting. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of esophageal varices and assess the utility of clinical parameters in predicting the presence of varices among cirrhotic patients in northwestern Tanzania. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of adult patients with liver cirrhosis was done at Bugando Medical Centre. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and endoscopic data were collected and analyzed using STATA 13. The presence of esophageal varices was detected using endoscopic examination and associated factors were assessed by logistic regression. The predictive value of clinical predictors was also assessed by calculating sensitivity and specificity. Results A total of 223 patients were enrolled, where 88 (39.5%; 95%CI: 33.0–45.9) had esophageal varices. The varices were independently associated with increased age (OR: 1.02; 95%CI: 1.0–1.04; p = 0.030); increased splenic diameter (OR:1.3; 95%CI:1.2–1.5; p <  0.001), increased portal vein diameter (OR:1.2; 95%CI: 1.07–1.4; p = 0.003), having ascites (OR: 3.0; 95%CI: 1.01–8.7; p = 0.046), and advanced liver disease (OR: 2.9; 95%CI: 1.3–6.7; p = 0.008). PSDR least performed in predicting varices, (AUC: 0.382; 95%CI: 0.304–0.459; cutoff: < 640; Sensitivity: 58.0%; 95%CI: 46.9–68.4; specificity: 57.0%; 95%CI: 48.2–65.5). SPD had better prediction; (AUC: 0.713; 95%CI: 0.646–0.781; cut off: > 15.2 cm; sensitivity: 65.9%; (95% CI: 55–75.7 and specificity:65.2%; 95%CI: 56.5–73.2), followed by PVD, (AUC: 0.6392; 95%CI: 0.566–0.712;cutoff: > 1.45 cm; sensitivity: 62.5%; 95CI: 51.5–72.6; specificity: 61.5%; 95%CI: 52.7–69.7). Conclusion Esophageal varices were prevalent among cirrhotic patients, most of which were at risk of bleeding. The non-invasive prediction of varices was not strong enough to replace endoscopic diagnosis. However, the predictors in this study can potentially assist in the selection of patients at high risk of having varices and prioritize them for endoscopic screening and appropriate management.


1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
V De Angelis ◽  
M Zambon ◽  
L Toffolo ◽  
C Donada ◽  
G L Molaro ◽  
...  

Coagulation abnormalities are among the number of potential risk factors toinitiate the bleeding episodes from gastrcr-esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis. The impairment of liver clearance of activated coagulation factors, the release of thromboplastin-like activity from the necrotic liver cells and the hemodynamic changes due to expanded bollaterals may all contribute to activate the coagulation cascade.However, little is known about the mechanisms leading to this activation. Activated Factor VII (FVIIa) is known totrigger both intrinsec and extrinsec coagulation pathway. Therefore, we measured FVIIa in a group of 33 cirrhotic patients in order to see if a difference between bleeders and non-bleeders patients would correlate with Factor VII activation. The patients were divided in two groups according to the presence or the absence of major bleeding from gastroesophageal varices; haemorragic episodes were confirmed by a gastroscopic examination performed during or immediately after bleeding episodes. Factor VII coagulant assay (VII:C - one stage clotting method) and Factor VII coupled amidolytic assay (VII:CHR) were performed and a factor VII activity ratio (VIIa) was calculated as VII:C/VII:CHR. The results (mean ± S.E.) are summarized in this table:No difference in Vila distribution was seen when the patients were divided on the base of liver impairment (according to Child’s criteria) .Our study shows that FVII activation is related to bleeding from esophageal varices but not to the degree of liver impairment and strongly suggests the existence of an hypercoagulable state in liver cirrhosis, probably related to major bleeding from gastroesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-40
Author(s):  
Dipendra Khadka ◽  
Sudhamshu KC ◽  
Sandip Khadka ◽  
Kiran Regmi ◽  
Pooja KC

Introduction: Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy still remains the gold standard for screening of patients suspected to have esophageal varices but not without limitations. So, this study was conducted to access the diagnostic validity and correlation between non-invasive parameters like platelet count, spleen diameter and their ratio with esophageal varices (EV) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: A hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Liver unit of National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, from October 2016 to September 2017. Complete blood count, liver function tests, liver ultrasound and UGI endoscopy were done for all patients included in the study to detect esophageal varices and the platelet count/spleen diameter (PC/SD) ratio was calculated and analyzed to determine whether it can predict the presence of esophageal varices or not. Results: Total patients of liver cirrhosis studied after exclusion were 191 EV was present in 125 patients (65.4%). The platelet count/spleen diameter ratio using a cutoff value of ≤ 909 to detect EV independent of the grade had 93% sensitivity and 100% specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 100% and 91% respectively. Conclusions: PC/SD ratio now can be used as a predictor of presence of esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document