Right liver lobe/albumin ratio: contribution to non-invasive assessment of portal hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To study the value of biochemical and ultraso-nographic parameters in prediction of presence and size of esophageal varices.


METHODS
The study includes selected cirrhotic patients who underwent a complete biochemical workup, upper digestive endoscopic and ultrasonographic examinations. Albumin/right liver lobe diameter and platelet count/spleen diameter ratios were calculated. The correlation between calculated ratio and the presence and degree of esophageal varices was evaluated.


RESULTS
Ninety-four subjects (62 males, 32 females), with a mean age of 52.32 +/- 13.60 years, were studied. Child-Pugh class A accounted for 42.6%, class B 37.2%, whereas class C 20.2%. Esophageal varices (OE) were not demonstrated by upper digestive endoscopy in 24.5%, while OE grade I was found in 22.3% patients, grade II in 33.0%, grade III in 16.0%, and grade IV in 4.3%. The mean value of right liver lobe diameter/albumin ratio was 5.51 +/- 1.82 (range from 2.76 to 11.44), while the mean platelet count/spleen diameter ratio was 1017.75 +/- 729.36 (range from 117.39 to 3362.50), respectively. Statistically significant correlation was proved by Spearman's test between OE grade and calculated ratios. The P values were 0.481 and -0.686, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The right liver lobe diameter/albumin and platelet count/spleen diameter ratios are non-invasive parameters providing accurate information pertinent to determination of presence of esophageal varices, and their grading in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Alempijevic
Tamara
T
Clinical Centre of Serbia, Institute for Digestive Diseases, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 6 Dr Koste Todorovica St. 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. altam@eunet.yu
Bulat
Vladislava
V
Djuranovic
Srdjan
S
Kovacevic
Nada
N
Jesic
Rada
R
Tomic
Dragan
D
Krstic
Slobodan
S
Krstic
Miodrag
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011379:Prognosis; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D012709:Serum Albumin