Clinical Research
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2007; 13(40): 5331-5335
Published online Oct 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i40.5331
Right liver lobe/albumin ratio: Contribution to non-invasive assessment of portal hypertension
Tamara Alempijevic, Vladislava Bulat, Srdjan Djuranovic, Nada Kovacevic, Rada Jesic, Dragan Tomic, Slobodan Krstic, Miodrag Krstic
Tamara Alempijevic, Vladislava Bulat, Srdjan Djuranovic, Nada Kovacevic, Rada Jesic, Dragan Tomic, Slobodan Krstic, Miodrag Krstic, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute for Digestive Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, 6 Dr Koste Todorovica St., 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Tamara Alempijevic, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Institute for Digestive Diseases, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 6 Dr Koste Todorovica St. 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. altam@eunet.yu
Telephone: +381-11-3635417 Fax: +381-11-3615432
Received: June 16, 2007
Revised: August 8, 2007
Accepted: August 24, 2007
Published online: October 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: 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 gradeIwas 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.

Keywords: Liver cirrhosis, Esophageal varices, Portal hypertension, Ultrasonography