scholarly journals The magnitude and correlates of esophageal Varices among newly diagnosed cirrhotic patients undergoing screening fibre optic endoscope before incident bleeding in North-Western Tanzania; a cross-sectional study

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.

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.


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.


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 1857-1862
Author(s):  
Ashok Kumar Lohano ◽  
Shamsuddin Shaikh ◽  
Nazia Arain

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and relation to severity of hyponatremia in liver cirrhotic patients associated with hepatic encephalopathy. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Medicine Department of Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences Nawabshah from 26th October 2016 to 25th April 2017. Material and Methods: All patients of either gender with 15 to 70 years associated liver cirrhosis, were included in the study. Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was confirmed by laboratory and ultrasonographic findings. Exclusion criteria were patients outside of patient range, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, or anotherco morbid. Sodium levels were measured by 2cc bloodsample by blood from cubital vein preferably. Encephalopathy was evaluated via West Haven classification. All the data were entered into SPSS 20 version and were analyzed by using the same software. Results: A total of 369 patients met the inclusion criteria. Among them were 129 males and 240 females. The overall mean age of study subjects was 57.07±9.23 years. The overall mean duration of hepatic encephalopathy was 2.53±0.733 days. The overall mean serum sodium level for study subjects was 129.59±7.11 mEq/L. Most of the study subjects, 83.5% had HCV, 12.7% patients were HBV positive whereas 3% were positive for HBV as well as HCV. 26 patients had grade 1 encephalopathy, 30 patients had grade II encephalopathies, 258 patients had grade III encephalopathies, and 55 patients had grade IV encephalopathy. In our study, 73.2% study subjects were observed with hyponatremia. Out of 270 study subjects found with hyponatremia, 25.2% had mild hyponatremia, 44.8% had moderate hyponatremia, and 30% had severe hyponatremia. The results showed that there was a significant association of hyponatremia with viral markers (p=0.030), duration of hepatic encephalopathy (p=0.102) and grades of hepatic encephalopathy (p=0.746). Conclusion: We concluded hyponatremia is frequently found in patients with cirrhosis liver. Significant correlation of hyponatremia with the severity of hepatic encephalopathy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyuan Zhao ◽  
Xiaoshuang Zhou ◽  
Chengying Yuan ◽  
Rongshan Li ◽  
Yuehong Ma ◽  
...  

Abstract Sarcopenia is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, evidence has emerged that skeletal muscles mediate their protective effect against sarcopenia by secreting myokines. Therefore, we investigated whether irisin was associated with sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis. This was an observational cross-sectional study of data collected from 187 cirrhotic patients. Sarcopenia was defined by computed tomography (CT) scans using specific cutoffs of the 3rd lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle index (L3 SMI). Morning irisin levels were obtained in all patients. Of the 187 patients, sarcopenia was noted in 73 (39%). Irisin concentrations were lower in sarcopenic patients (32.40 pg/ml [interquartile range (IQR): 18.70, 121.26], p < 0.001) than in nonsarcopenic patients. There was a weak correlation between L3 SMI and irisin levels (r = 0.516, p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis including L3 SMI, body mass index (BMI), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), adiponectin, and irisin levels showed that L3 SMI (odds ratio [OR] = 0.915, p = 0.023), adiponectin levels (OR = 1.074, p = 0.014), irisin levels (OR = 0.993, p < 0.001) and BMI (OR = 0.456, p = 0.004) were independently associated with sarcopenia. Irisin levels are associated with sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis. This paper addresses a gap in the literature and facilitates the future transition into clinical treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (09) ◽  
pp. 1308-1314
Author(s):  
Tauqeer Shaikh ◽  
Hamid Ali Kalwar ◽  
Ghulam Mujtaba ◽  
Adeel Rahat ◽  
Kamaran Ali ◽  
...  

Objective: To Determine the frequency of hyponatremia in cirrhotic patients with encephalopathy. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study. Setting: Department of Gastroenterology Liaquat National Hospital Karachi. Period: 6 Dec 2017 to 6 June 2018. Material & Methods: All those fulfilling the inclusion criteria and admitted in the Gastroenterology department of Liaquat National Hospital Karachi were taken in the study after their ethical approval alongside an informed and written consent. Brief history was taken, clinical examination was done, and serum sodium level was delivered to the institutional laboratory to reach the outcome i-e hyponatremia. Results: - A number of 369 patients having encephalopathy were taken into study. 207 patients (56.1%) were males and 162 patients (43.9%) were females with an average age of 50.03+10.333 years. Hyponatremia was seen in 138 patients (37.4%). Conclusion: Dilutional hyponatremia is a common finding in liver cirrhosis patients with encephalopathy leading to neurological impairment, hepatorenal syndrome, osteoporosis and high mortality. Therefore, early management of hyponatremia is key to prevent liver cirrhosis related complications.


2018 ◽  
pp. 77-81

Thrombocytopenia is commonly encountered hematological abnormality, which might be attributed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in acute and chronic infection. This study aims to determine the prevalence of thrombocytopenia as a clinical manifestation of chronic HCV infection in non-cirrhotic patients having spleen of normal size. A cross sectional study was carried out in Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan in Gastroenterology and Medical Outpatient Department from January to October 2017. The investigation was carried out on patients between age 20 to 60 years with anti-HCV antibody positive. All patients having liver cirrhosis, or fibrosis and splenomegaly, or having thrombocytopenia from other causes i.e. any drug use or other chronic infections were excluded from the study. A total of 67 patients fulfilling the criteria were selected. Thrombocytopenia was observed in 34.3% of the subjects, among them 17.9% exhibited mild thrombocytopenia (150000/μL to 400000/μL); 11.9% (51000/μL to 100000/μL) exhibited moderate thrombocytopenia while 4.5% (less than 50000/μL) showed severe thrombocytopenia. Thus, the study exhibited the presence of thrombocytopenia in chronic HCV patients without liver cirrhosis and splenomegaly that proves the contribution of HCV to induce thrombocytopenia. Keywords: Thrombocytopenia, HCV, Cirrhosis


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document