ACCURACY OF MELD-NA SCORE AND OTHER NON-INVASIVE PREDICTORS OF ESOPHAGEAL VARICES STATUS IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Internal Medicine

2 Department of Anesthesia

Abstract

Esophageal varices (OV) are a serious and common complication of portal hypertension associated
with liver cirrhosis. Hemorrhage from OV rupture is a life-threatening complication with
high mortality. The model for end stage liver disease (MELD), MELD-Na+ scores are predictors
of non-transplant surgical mortality among patients with cirrhosis and has been a useful
tool predicting the mortality in patients awaiting liver transplantation. As well, they have been
suggested in many studies as useful predictors of OV presence and severity.
This study evaluated accurate cut-off values of MELD-Na and aspartate aminotransferase to
platelet count ratio index (APRI), AST/ALT (AAR), creatinine (ASR/Cr) as well as AST/ Bilirubin
(AST/Bil.) ratios as new non-invasive predictors for liver cirrhosis patients.

Keywords