[Review of relationship between alcohol drinking and esophageal varices].
The adequate treatment for patients with thrombocytopenia, encephalopathy, ascites and esophagogastric varices due to portal hypertension are very important. This review explains the relations between heavy drinkers and symptoms of portal hypertension, especially with regard to the form of esophageal varices. Between heavy drinker and non-heavy drinker, there was no significant differences for form, color and red color sign of varices. In heavy drinker, the ratio of strong red color sign might be higher than non-heavy drinker. Value of portal pressure in heavy drinker might be higher. These results can bring sudden variceal bleeding in heavy drinkers.
Nakayama
Hisashi
H
Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Ohyaguchi-Kamimachi, Itabashiku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan.
Takayama
Tadatoshi
T
Hemmi
Akihiro
A
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008111:Liver Function Tests