Platelet count to prothrombin (PLT/PT) ratio to predict esophageal varices in patients with hepatitis C related chronic liver disease
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63521/pjg.41.4.2025.19Keywords:
Platelet count to prothrombin time (PLT/PT) ratio, Esophageal varices, HCV-related chronic liver disease.Abstract
Background
Variceal hemorrhage is a serious complication of portal hypertension in patients with chronic liver disease caused by various etiologies. In order to identify varices at earlier stages many noninvasive predictors have been studied to avoid unnecessary EGD and reduce bleeding related mortality.
Objective
To identify the relationship of PLT/Pt ratio with presence of esophageal varices in patients with HCV-CLD.
Methods
In this cross sectional study 140 patients with HCV related CLD were included. They distributed into those with and without esophageal varices. Variceal group was further subdivided into those low risk (Grade-I) and high risk Varices (Grade-II/III). All patients were subjected to detailed history and examination. Laboratory tests. Ultrasound abdomen and EGD was performed.
Results
Median age of patients was 54+/- 10.18 years. 61.4% patients were male (n=86) and 38.6% were female (n=54). 86.4% (n=121) had EVs and 13.5 %( n=19) had no varices. PLT/PT ratio at cut off value of ≤12384 predicted esophageal varices with sensitivity of 85.12%. Specificity of 73.68%, PPV of 95.37%, NPV of 43.74% and diagnostic accuracy of 83.57% with AUC of 0.817. PLT/PT ratio at cut-off value of ≤11145.03, with AUC of 0.707, sensitivity of 88.64%, specificity of 54.55%, PPV of 83.87%, NPV of 64.29% and diagnostic accuracy of 79.34%.
Conclusion
PLT/PT ratio has significant association with both the presence of esophageal varices and advanced grades of varices.
Key words: Platelet count to prothrombin time (PLT/PT) ratio, Esophageal varices, HCV-related chronic liver disease.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Munir Ahmed (Author)
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