Which patients with primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis should undergo endoscopic screening for oesophageal varices detection?
GROUND: Recent guidelines from an AASLD Single Topic Symposium suggest that patients with cirrhosis, including those with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), should be screened for oesophageal varices when the platelet count is <140,000/mm3. AIM: To determine the validity of these guidelines in clinical practice in patients with PBC or PSC. METHODS: Retrospective review of individuals undergoing screening upper endoscopy for oesophageal varices at a single centre. Oesophageal varices were reported as being present or absent. RESULTS: A total of 235 patients with chronic liver disease, including 86 patients with PBC (n=79) or PSC (n=7), 104 patients with chronic viral hepatitis, and 45 with non-alcoholic cirrhosis of differing aetiologies, underwent a single screening endoscopy between 1996 and 2001. Oesophageal varices were detected in 26 (30%) of the PBC/PSC group, 38 (37%) of the viral hepatitis group, and 21 (47%) of the "other" group. Applying m
Related Questions
- Which patients with primary biliary cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis should undergo endoscopic screening for oesophageal varices detection?
- WHICH PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY BILIARY CIRRHOSIS OR PRIMARY SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS SHOULD UNDERGO ENDOSCOPIC SCREENING FOR ESOPHAGEAL VARICES DETECTION?
- Is high-dose ursodeoxycholic acid effective for the treatment of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis?
