Abstract
Objective The aim was to determine the role of plasma free serotonin concentrations on the development of esophageal and gastric fundal varices. Background Esophageal and gastric varices are a serious consequence of portal hypertension in patients with the chronic liver disease. Several studies have evaluated possible noninvasive predictors for the presence of varices including plasma serotonin level. Materials and methods This study was conducted on 100 patients: 60 hepatic patients with esophageal and/or gastric varices, 20 hepatic patients without varices, and 20 nonhepatic patients who were admitted to Tropical Medicine Department in Menoufia University Hospitals. Patients and control were subjected to laboratory investigations, abdominal ultrasound, upper endoscopy, and quantitative measurement of plasma free serotonin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results The plasma free serotonin levels were much higher in patients with liver cirrhosis with varices than in nonhepatic patients (mean: 92.240 ± 18.534 vs. 20.015 ± 3.042 ng/ml; P Conclusion Free serotonin is significant in the development of esophageal and fundal varices, indicating the clinical value of serotonergic receptor blockers in these patients.
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