VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2016 ) > List of Articles
Mobin Khan, Md Nasirul Islam, Nooruddin Ahmad, Md Fazal Karim
Citation Information : Khan M, Nasirul Islam M, Ahmad N, Fazal Karim M. Plasma Prothrombin Time and Esophageal Varices in Patients with Cirrhosis of Liver. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2016; 6 (1):10-12.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1158
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 01-12-2017
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2016; The Author(s).
Introduction: Cirrhosis of the liver is a common complication of chronic liver disease and is associated with portal hypertension and esophageal varices. In this study, we checked the implication of prothrombin time, if any, in the genesis of esophageal varices. Materials and methods: Sixty patients with cirrhosis of the liver were randomly assigned into two groups: Group I – 30 cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices, and group II – 30 cirrhotic patients without esophageal varices. The prothrombin time was checked for both groups. Results: A positive correlation was found between the prolonged plasma prothrombin time (> 4 seconds) and esophageal varices with a sensitivity of 56.67% and specificity of 73.33%. The Child–Pugh score showed a correlation; however, the size of varices did not exhibit any such relation. Conclusion: Prothrombin time may be cautiously used to assess portal hypertension in a field level and rural setting where endoscopy is not available or feasible.
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