Cross-sectional study identifies low platelet counts and high liver stiffness as significant predictors of esophageal varices in compensated chronic liver disease.
Key Points
The study aims to identify indirect predictors of esophageal varices in patients with compensated chronic liver disease.
Prospective cross-sectional study with 121 newly diagnosed compensated chronic liver disease patients.
Data collected included demographic, clinical, biochemical, and ultrasonography values.
Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to find predictors for esophageal varices.
62 out of 121 patients (51.2%) had esophageal varices.
Independent predictors included low platelet count (OR 1.0, 95% CI 1.00-1.0001) and high liver stiffness (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.12-1.46).
Combined low platelets ≤160500/μL and high liver stiffness ≥14.2 kPa had 90.3% sensitivity and 88.1% specificity.