Clinical impact of patients with ruptured esophageal varices with death outcome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: High hemostasis rates for ruptured esophageal varices have been acquired, but many patients die of liver failure afterwards. The aim of the current study is to find clinical information about the patients with ruptured esophageal varices who died during an early period after acquiring a hemostasis.

METHODOLOGY: Forty-five patients with ruptured esophageal varices, including 17 who died during two months after acquiring a hemostasis by an initial endoscopic therapy, were investigated in the current study. The relationship between the clinical data and the prognosis of the patients were examined.

RESULTS

The proportion of cases with Child-Pugh C in patients who died after therapy significantly higher than that in survivors (P < 0.01). The level of hemoglobin in patients who died was significantly lower than that in the survivors (P < 0.01). Moreover the proportion of an elevation of serum C-reactive protein in patients who died was significantly higher than that of the survivors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our investigation suggested that the elevation of serum C-reactive protein level and a devastated liver function influenced by hemorrhage may be indicators of unfavorable outcomes of the patients with ruptured esophageal varices.