Gallbladder Wall Thickness as a Non-Invasive Tool for Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver Disease

Background: The early identification of esophageal varices in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) is important in order to mitigate the risk of variceal hemorrhage and mortality.  Many noninvasive predictors have been studied for esophageal varices (EVs). Objective: This study investigated...

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Main Authors: Munir Ahmed, Maliha Aziz, Shahzad Riyaz, Mohammad Salih, Rashed Nazir, Muslim Atiq
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Health Research Institute (HRI), National Institute of Health (NIH) 2025-02-01
Series:Pakistan Journal of Medical Research
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Online Access:https://www.pjmr.org.pk/index.php/pjmr/article/view/1026
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author Munir Ahmed
Maliha Aziz
Shahzad Riyaz
Mohammad Salih
Rashed Nazir
Muslim Atiq
author_facet Munir Ahmed
Maliha Aziz
Shahzad Riyaz
Mohammad Salih
Rashed Nazir
Muslim Atiq
author_sort Munir Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description Background: The early identification of esophageal varices in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) is important in order to mitigate the risk of variceal hemorrhage and mortality.  Many noninvasive predictors have been studied for esophageal varices (EVs). Objective: This study investigated the relationship of gallbladder wall thickness (GBWT) with the presence of EVs in patients with HCV-related CLD. Study type, settings & duration: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Gastroenterology, Shifa International Hospital Ltd., Islamabad, Pakistan from February to August 2024.   Methodology: In this study 145 patients were considered and were categorized into Variceal (Group 1) and non-variceal groups (Group II). Group I is further divided into Group 1a (non-advanced /low-risk varices: Grade-I EVs) and Group 1b (Advanced/High-risk varices: Grade II/III EVs). After detailed history, examination laboratory investigations, EGD and ultrasound abdomen were performed. Results: The median age of patients was 54±10.13 years. 89 patients were male (61.4%), and 56 were female (38.6%). 86.9% of patients had EVs Group 1) and 27.6% had no EVs (Group II). GBWT at a cutoff value of 3 mm predicted EVs in patients with HCV-CLD with a sensitivity of 79.37%, specificity of 89.47%, PPV of 98.04%, NPV of 39.53%, diagnostic accuracy of 80.67% with AUC of 0.882. GBWT at 3.7mm predicted advanced/high-risk varices with a sensitivity of 80.65%, specificity of 75.76%, PPV of 90.36%, NPV of 58.15%, and diagnostic accuracy of 79.37% with AUC of 0.813. Conclusion: GBWT demonstrated a significant association with the presence of EVs and advanced .......
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spelling doaj-art-63392bc60b034f878e18472009e92d9f2025-02-12T01:06:20ZengHealth Research Institute (HRI), National Institute of Health (NIH)Pakistan Journal of Medical Research0030-98422025-02-01634Gallbladder Wall Thickness as a Non-Invasive Tool for Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver DiseaseMunir Ahmed0Maliha Aziz1Shahzad Riyaz 2Mohammad Salih 3Rashed Nazir 4Muslim Atiq5Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shifa International Hospital. Islamabad.Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad.Department of Radiology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. Background: The early identification of esophageal varices in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) is important in order to mitigate the risk of variceal hemorrhage and mortality.  Many noninvasive predictors have been studied for esophageal varices (EVs). Objective: This study investigated the relationship of gallbladder wall thickness (GBWT) with the presence of EVs in patients with HCV-related CLD. Study type, settings & duration: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Gastroenterology, Shifa International Hospital Ltd., Islamabad, Pakistan from February to August 2024.   Methodology: In this study 145 patients were considered and were categorized into Variceal (Group 1) and non-variceal groups (Group II). Group I is further divided into Group 1a (non-advanced /low-risk varices: Grade-I EVs) and Group 1b (Advanced/High-risk varices: Grade II/III EVs). After detailed history, examination laboratory investigations, EGD and ultrasound abdomen were performed. Results: The median age of patients was 54±10.13 years. 89 patients were male (61.4%), and 56 were female (38.6%). 86.9% of patients had EVs Group 1) and 27.6% had no EVs (Group II). GBWT at a cutoff value of 3 mm predicted EVs in patients with HCV-CLD with a sensitivity of 79.37%, specificity of 89.47%, PPV of 98.04%, NPV of 39.53%, diagnostic accuracy of 80.67% with AUC of 0.882. GBWT at 3.7mm predicted advanced/high-risk varices with a sensitivity of 80.65%, specificity of 75.76%, PPV of 90.36%, NPV of 58.15%, and diagnostic accuracy of 79.37% with AUC of 0.813. Conclusion: GBWT demonstrated a significant association with the presence of EVs and advanced ....... https://www.pjmr.org.pk/index.php/pjmr/article/view/1026Gallbladder wall thickness (GBWT)Hepatitis-C (HCV)chronic liver disease (CLD)esophageal varices (EVs)CSPH
spellingShingle Munir Ahmed
Maliha Aziz
Shahzad Riyaz
Mohammad Salih
Rashed Nazir
Muslim Atiq
Gallbladder Wall Thickness as a Non-Invasive Tool for Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver Disease
Pakistan Journal of Medical Research
Gallbladder wall thickness (GBWT)
Hepatitis-C (HCV)
chronic liver disease (CLD)
esophageal varices (EVs)
CSPH
title Gallbladder Wall Thickness as a Non-Invasive Tool for Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver Disease
title_full Gallbladder Wall Thickness as a Non-Invasive Tool for Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver Disease
title_fullStr Gallbladder Wall Thickness as a Non-Invasive Tool for Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver Disease
title_full_unstemmed Gallbladder Wall Thickness as a Non-Invasive Tool for Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver Disease
title_short Gallbladder Wall Thickness as a Non-Invasive Tool for Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver Disease
title_sort gallbladder wall thickness as a non invasive tool for prediction of esophageal varices in patients with hepatitis c related chronic liver disease
topic Gallbladder wall thickness (GBWT)
Hepatitis-C (HCV)
chronic liver disease (CLD)
esophageal varices (EVs)
CSPH
url https://www.pjmr.org.pk/index.php/pjmr/article/view/1026
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