Sajid Nisar, Shaista Nazir, Ambreen Butt, Azhar Hussain, Khalid Rehman Yousaf.
Validity of platelet count/spleen diameter ratio for the noninvasive diagnosis of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;6(1):269-74.

Objective: The objective of the study is to determine the validity of platelet count/Spleen Diameter ratio for the noninvasive diagnosis of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients. Study Design: Cross sectional survey. Setting: Medical Unit 4, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Services Hospital, Lahore. Duration: The study was completed over a period of 6 months. Subjects and methods: One hundred and fifty patients who had coarse echotexture of liver on abdominal ultrasound fulfilling the criteria were selected. Platelet count was calculated after taking blood sample. Spleen diameter was calculated using abdominal ultrasound in millimeters (mm). These patients were then subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy after informed consent and presence or absence of esophageal varices was documented. Results: Platelet count/spleen diameter ratio as a non invasive marker for the presence or absence of EV has a sensitivity of 96.07%, specificity is calculated to be 93.75%, positive predictive value of 97.02% and negative predictive value of 91.83%. Conclusion: Study showed that platelet count spleen diameter ratio is a simple and reproducible means for non invasive diagnosis of EV, and its application may decrease the need for performing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnosis of EV.

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