Diagnostic accuracy of Platelet Count for prediction of Esophageal varices in patients presenting with Chronic Liver disease.

Abstract

Thrombocytopenia increases the risk of bleeding in CLD patients. The determination of the presence of Esophageal Varices (EV) by endoscopy is an invasive procedure. As a noninvasive tool, low platelet count (PC) can be helpful in prediction of variceal bleed in CLD patients with esophageal varices. Objectives: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of thrombocytopenia in predicting the presence of esophageal varices in patients with chronic liver disease. Study Design: Descriptive Cross sectional study. Setting: Medicine Unit I, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. Period: 6 months from 1-07-2015 to 31-12-2015. Material and Methods: About 150 cases were included in our study through Non-Probability, Consecutive sampling method after obtaining written Informed consent. Blood sample was obtained from each patient and were immediately sent to the laboratory for assessment of platelet count. Reports were assessed. Those with low platelet count were referred to endoscopy room for confirmation of esophageal varices. Reports of endoscopy were compared with platelet count. Data was entered and analyzed through SPSS version 23. Results: Mean age of patients was 49.64±11.54 years. There were 97(64.7%) male and 53(35.3%) female patients. Mean duration of chronic liver disease of patients was 3.51±1.39. Mean platelet count of patients was 172.3±81.20. Sensitivity and Specificity of Thrombocytopenia for prediction of esophageal varices in patients presenting with chronic liver disease was 92.63% and 89.09%. While PPV, NPV and Diagnostic accuracy of Thrombocytopenia for prediction of esophageal varices was 93.62%, 87.5% and 91.33% respectively. Conclusion: It has been concluded from the present study that PC has high accuracy for detection of EVs and can be helpful in prediction of EVs in CLD patients.