Talat Naheed, Nabeel, Naueen, N U Chaudhry, M A Malik.
Oesophageal varices - what is the cause? Cirrhotic or non-cirrhotic portal hypertension.
Pak J Med Sci Jan ;17(3):133-42.

Objective: To investigate the cause of oesophageal varices in a teaching hospital. Design: A prospective study of 100 patients with portal hypertension. Setting: East Medical Ward, Mayo Hospital Lahore attached with K.E. Medical College, Lahore. Subjects: One hundred consecutive patients of portal hypertension admitted or referred to G/E section of East Medical Ward. Main Outcome Measures: Patients who presented with upper G.I. bleed, oesophageal varices being the cause, effort was made to prove whether it is CPH or NCPH. Results: 10% patients had oesophageal varices due to non-cirrhotic aetiology. 90% were suffering from cirrhotic portal hypertension. Conclusion: Upper GI bleed is a common emergency, which is due to various causes. Portal hypertension being one of them, it is common to think that all patients with varices are cirrhotic. Non-cirrhotic patients have long history of haematemesis and melaena or only melaena, normal or near normal liver functions, moderate to massive splenomegaly and no hepatic encephalopathy. Role of surgery in such patients is beneficial and mortality is not high as in cirrhotics.

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