Plasma Prothrombin Time and Esophageal Varices in Patients with Cirrhosis of Liver

time in predicting esophageal varices in a Bangladeshi setup as a noninvasive approach to accomplish this. MATERIALs AND METhODsA prospective study was done at the Department of Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, within a period extending from January 2010 to December 2011.Sixty patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: Group I comprised 30 cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices and group II comprised 30 cirrhotic patients without esophageal varices.Patients having coagulation disorder/s, those on warfarin therapy, pregnant females, those with contraindication of endoscopy, and those with a history of endoscopic treatment for esophageal varices were excluded from the study.Phytomenadione (vitamin K) 10 mg IV was given for 1 day before the measurement of prothrombin time.Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done in all patients.During endoscopy, all patients were assessed for the presence and grades of esophageal ABsTRACTIntroduction: Cirrhosis of the liver is a common complication of chronic liver disease and is associated with portal hypertension and esophageal varices.In this study, we checked the implication of prothrombin time, if any, in the genesis of esophageal varices. Materials and methods:Sixty patients with cirrhosis of the liver were randomly assigned into two groups: Group I -30 cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices, and group II -30 cirrhotic patients without esophageal varices.The prothrombin time was checked for both groups.Results: A positive correlation was found between the prolonged plasma prothrombin time (> 4 seconds) and esophageal varices with a sensitivity of 56.67% and specificity of 73.33%.The Child-Pugh score showed a correlation; however, the size of varices did not exhibit any such relation. Conclusion:Prothrombin time may be cautiously used to assess portal hypertension in a field level and rural setting where endoscopy is not available or feasible.