title: Prevalence of gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with Symmers periportal fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Symmers periportal fibrosis secondary to schistosomiasis is a common cause of portal hypertension worldwide. Data on the prevalence of gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in this group of patients with portal hypertension is relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients presenting with portal hypertension secondary to Symmers periportal fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was carried out to determine the prevalence of gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with portal hypertension secondary to Symmers periportal fibrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 143 patients studied, 24 patients (16.8%) had gastric varices (grade I in 10.5%, grade II in 6.3%) and 31 patients (21.7%) had portal hypertensive gastropathy (mild in 11.2%, severe in 10.5%). Gastric varices were more prevalent in patients with grade I and II esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy was more prevalent in those with grade III and IV esophageal varices, but the differences were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that both gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy seem to have a lower prevalence in patients with portal hypertension secondary to Symmers periportal fibrosis when compared to reported data in patients with portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis and non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. hmudawi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hatim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mudawi
authors.forename: Yasir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Tahir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004724:Endoscopy; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013162:Splenic Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography