Spleen Stiffness As Predictor of Esophageal Varices in Cirrhosis of Different Etiologies

Overview

Journal Sci Rep

Specialty Science

Date 2019 Nov 9

PMID 31700031

Citations 12

Authors

Carmen Fierbinteanu-Braticevici

Laura Tribus

Razvan Peagu

Ana Petrisor

Cristian Baicus

Dragos Cretoiu

Artur Pasternak

Gabriela Oprea

Adina Purcareanu

Alexandru C Moldoveanu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine whether esophageal varices (EV) can be identified through the evaluation of spleen stiffness (SSM) via acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI). A total of 135 patients suffering from cirrhosis underwent a clinical exam, laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasound, liver stiffness (LSM) measurement, SSM evaluation and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Based on the endoscopy results, the patients were classified into three groups: those with no evident EV, those with small EV and those with varices needing treatment (VNT). Patients with EV of any grade had significantly higher average SSM values over those with no EV (3.37 m/s versus 2.79 m/s, p-value < 0.001), while patients with VNT showed an even greater difference (3.96 m/s versus 2.93 m/s, p-value < 0.001). SSM proved to be an excellent method of predicting patients with VNT.

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