Prediction Of Oesophageal Varices In Cirrhotic Patients By Prothrombin Time As A Non-invasive Marker

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of prothrombin
time for the non invasive diagnosis of esophageal varices keeping upper gastrointestinal
endoscopy as Gold Standard.
Methods: The study was conducted in Medical unit 4, Services Hospital Lahore over a period of
6 months. It is a cross-sectional study
Results: In our study, 43.5%(n=87) were between 12-30 years and 56.5%(n=113) were
between 31-60 years, mean±sd was calculated as 39.90±12.29 years, 43.5%(n=87) were male
and 56.5%(n=113) were females, frequency of esophageal varices keeping upper
gastrointestinal endoscopy as gold standard was recorded in 57%(n=114) while 43%(n=86) had
no findings of the morbidity, diagnostic accuracy of prothrombin time for the non-invasive
diagnosis of esophageal varices keeping upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as gold standard
53%(n=106) true positive, 2%(n=4) false positive, 4%(n=8) false negative and 41%(n=82) as true
negative. Whereas specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and
diagnostic accuracy was calculated as 92.98%, 95.35%, 96.36%, 91.11%, and 94% respectively.
Conclusion: We concluded that the predictive value of prothrombin time for presence of
oesophageeal varices is a higher and it is a useful non-invasive diagnostic modality