Risk factors for esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis

Abstract

Objective To analyze the risk factors of esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding （EGVB） in patients with cirrhosis. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 638 hospitalized pa- tients with cirrhosis from 2002 to 2009, who were divided into study group as having EGVB （ n = 286） and control group as not having EGVB （ n = 352）. Differences between 2 groups were analyzed with univariate a- nalysis and multivariate logistic regression. Results Child-pugh classification, serum albumin, prothrombin time, portal vein diameter and spleen thickness were significantly different between 2 groups （ P 〈 0. 05 ）. Univariate analysis showed that serum albumin（ OR = 0. 944, P = 0. 000） , prothrombin time （OR = 1. 067, P = 0. 007 ） , portal vein diameter （ OR = 3.423, P = 0. 007 ） and spleen thickness （ OR = 1. 276, P = 0. 007） were correlated with EGVB. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum albumin （ OR = 0. 936, P = 0. 000）, portal vein diameter （ OR = 4. 098, P = 0. 013 ） and spleen thickness （ OR = 1. 275, P = 0. 000） were independent risk factors for EGVB in patients with cirrhosis. Conclusion Low se- rum albumin level, increased portal vein diameter and spleen thickness are the risk factors for EGVB in pa- tients with cirrhosis, which can be important predictors. To some extent, increasing serum albumin might re- duce the risk of EGVB. Key words: Esophageal varices hemorrhage; Liver cirrhosis; Risk factors