 |
 |
ISSN-0303-5212 |
| The
Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association Rawalpindi - Islamabad |
||
 |
Volume 34, Number 1, Jan - June 2009 |  |
| Original article |
| Hypoalbuminemia: a marker of esophageal varices in chronic liver disease due to hepatitis B and C |
| Humera Khan, Noor-ul Iman |
| Objective To evaluate Serum albumin as a marker of Esophageal Varices (EV) in chronic liver disease (CLD) due to hepatitis B and C. Method In this prospective, cross-sectional study, patients with CLD due to HBV and HCV were assessed as per Child-Pugh class. All patients had full blood count, HBsAg, Anti-HCV antibodies by ELISA, abdominal ultrasound and Esophago-gastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Patients were divided into Group A (serum albumin <3.5 gm %) and Group B (normal serum albumin). Results Ninety-seven male (49.2%) and 100 female patients (50.8%)] with age range of 15 to 80 years were evaluated. Mean Serum albumin was 3.8 gm%, (range 2.4-4.9). EV were present in 63 patients (32%) and absent in 134 patients (68%). Group A had 57 patients (28.9% of the total) with 35 patients having EV. Group B had 140 patients (71.1% of the total) with 28 patients having EV. Sensitivity of hypoalbuminemia as a marker of EV was 53.2% and specificity 91%, positive predictive value 73.3% and negative predictive value 80.8% and odds ratio was 11.57. Spearman's rank correlation showed a significant negative correlation of '-0.494' between serum albumin and EV. ROC curve showed 70.7% area under the curve for albuminemia of <3.5 gm%. Conclusions Hypoalbuminemia is a good surrogate marker for the presence of esophageal varices in CLD due to hepatitis B and C viruses.(Rawal Med J 2009; 34: 98-101). |
| Key Words: Chronic liver disease, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal varices. |
| Abbreviations HBV=Hepatitis B virus, HCV=Hepatitis C virus, HBsAg=Hepatitis B surface Antigen, Anti-HCV=Anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies, EV=esophageal varices, EGD=Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy, PV=portal vein, ROC=Receiver Operating Characteristic |
|
