A prospective cross sectional study on 150 consecutive patients screening for esophageal varices.
Patient groups groups:
Group (1): 100 patients with esophageal varices
Group (2): 50 chronic liver disease patients with no esophageal varices as a control group.
All patients will be subjected to:
1. \- Detailed history-taking
2. \- Full clinical examination
3. \- Laboratory investigations:
* Complete blood picture (CBC)
* Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
* Renal function tests
* Liver function tests
* Prothrombin time and activity
* Viral markers (HCV Ab - HBV Ag)
* Blood ammonia level.
4. \- Pelviabdominal US: Ultrasound examination of the liver, portal venous system, spleen, kidney and other abdominal organs.
5. \- Upper GITendoscopy:
* Varices will be classified according to the Japanese classification 1996,
* The Baveno 11 score will be used to differentiate between mild and severe portal hypertensive gastropathy.
