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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 14, 2014; 20(22): 6989-6994
Published online Jun 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6989
Published online Jun 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i22.6989
New index to predict esophageal variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients
Xiao-Dan Xu, Jian-Jun Dai, Jian-Qing Qian, Xun Pin, Wei-Jun Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Changshu Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changshu 215500, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Xu XD and Qian JQ conceived and designed the study; Dai JJ collected the clinical data; Pin X contributed tools for data analysis; Xu XD, Dai JJ, Qian JQ, Pin X and Wang WJ performed the study; Xu XD and Pin X analyzed and interpreted the data, and wrote the paper.
Supported by Funding from the Changshu Health Department, No. 201204
Correspondence to: Xiao-Dan Xu, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Changshu Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, College Street, Changshu 215500, Jiangsu Province, China. xxd20@163.com
Telephone: +86-512-52706583 Fax: +86-512-52706583
Received: December 5, 2013
Revised: February 7, 2014
Accepted: March 12, 2014
Published online: June 14, 2014
Revised: February 7, 2014
Accepted: March 12, 2014
Published online: June 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Bleeding is a common occurrence in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension and establishing indicators of risk is critical. Although screening by endoscopy is the recommended approach for patients with decompensated cirrhosis, it is an invasive, uncomfortable and costly procedure. In the present study, a new index that combines ultrasound-Doppler and the Model For End-Stage Liver Disease was evaluated as a suitable alternative. This MUI represents a noninvasive, low-cost and convenient method for assessing the risk of esophageal variceal bleeding in decompensated cirrhotic patients.