Frequency of different types of gastric varices in patients with cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of different types of gastric varices in patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis.

METHODS

The observational cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2014 to August 2015 at Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Gujrat, Pakistan, using non-probability consecutive sampling. Patients having liver cirrhosis only due to chronic hepatitis C virus, portal vein diameter >12mm or spleen size >12cm in long axis and ascites with no previous history of variceal banding were included. Patients having cirrhosis due to other causes were excluded. Data was collected using a proforma that was filled by taking history, laboratory studies, abdominal ultrasound and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Gastric varices were classified using Sarin classification. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Out of 205 patients undergoing esophago-gastroduodenoscopy, 122(59.5%) were male and 83(40.5%) were female with an overall mean age of 49.5±7.49 years. Gastric varices were present in 30(14.6%) patients. Among them, type 1 was present in 23(76.71%), type 2 in 6(19.86%) and isolated gastric varices type 1 in 3(10.27%).Isolated gastric varices type 2 was not present in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastric varices were present in minority of patients undergoing esophago-gastroduodenoscopy, and among them, gastroesophageal varices type 1 was the most common, while isolated gastric varices type 2 was not present in any patient.