The gallbladder wall thickness in correlation with portal hemodynamic changes in cirrhotic patients

Abstract

Background The gallbladder wall thickness (GBWT) is affected by portal hypertension, so GBWT can predict portal hemodynamic changes. Aim To determine whether noninflammatory GBWT correlates with portal hemodynamic changes and esophageal varices (EV) in cirrhotic patients. Patients and methods A total of 80 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients consisted of 30 cirrhotic patients with EV, 30 cirrhotic patients without EV, and 20 noncirrhotic individuals as a control group. Complete blood count, liver function tests, hepatitis C virus antibody, and HBsAg were assessed. Child–Pugh score was calculated in cirrhotic patients. Moreover, abdominal ultrasonography was performed for measuring wall thickness of the gallbladder, spleen length, and portal vein diameter. Moreover, portal vein Doppler was done for portal blood mean flow velocity measurement. Upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy was done. Results GBWT was significantly increased in cirrhotic patients with EV compared with cirrhotic patients with without EV and noncirrhotic individuals (P<0.001). Moreover, GBWT was significantly correlated with spleen length, portal vein diameter, and portal velocity in cirrhotic patients with EV (P<0.001). Conclusion The GBWT could be one of the simple noninvasive predictors of portal hypertension and EV as it was positively correlated with portal hemodynamic changes that accompany cirrhotic portal hypertension.