RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIZE OF ESOPHAGEAL VARICES AND PORTAL VEIN DIAMETER IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between the size of esophageal varices and portal vein diameter in patients with chronic liver disease.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences/Civil Hospital, Karachi.

Period: Six months.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 200 consecutive patients aged 30-65 years with an ultrasonographical confirmed chronic liver disease who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for evaluation of esophageal varices. The diameter of portal vein was measured on abdominal ultrasonography, and esophageal varices were classified endoscopically as small (less than 2 mm), medium (2 to 4 mm) or large (more than 4 mm). A structured proforma was used to collect demographic and clinical characteristics. The analysis of the data was done with SPSS version 26.0. Statistically significant p-values were defined as p values of ≤0.05.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 50.2 ± 9.8 years, with 128 (64.0%) males. Small, medium and large esophageal varices were seen in 52 (26.0%), 87 (43.5%) and 61 (30.5%) patients, respectively, by endoscopy and the mean portal vein diameter was 14.6 ± 2.1 mm. The mean portal vein diameter was found to be significantly larger with larger varices (12.2 ± 1.1 mm, 14.3±1.2 mm and 17.0 ± 1.5 mm for small, medium and large varices, respectively, p<0.001). Portal vein diameter was well correlated with variceal size by Spearman's analysis (ρ=0.782, p<0.001), regardless of the stratification.

Conclusion: Portal vein diameter was highly correlated with esophageal varices size in CLD patients.