ABSTRACT
350 million people are infected with Hepatitis B virus [HBV] and 60 million people with Hepatitis C virus [HCV]. Chronic infection by these viruses leads to cirrhosis of liver and hepato-cellular carcinoma [HCC]. Esophageal varices develop in cirrhotic patients which can be demonstrated by invasive methods or predicted by non-invasive methods. An observational, Cross sectional study was conducted in Medical Unit-IV, Liver Center of District Head Quarters Hospital and Medical units of Allied Hospital, Faisalabad for 6 months from 23 May 2007 to 22 November 2007. The study was conducted on 100 patients diagnosed as post viral cirrhosis of liver of either sex between 25 -70 years of age. The ratio between platelet count and spleen size was calculated .The mean ratio for those with esophageal varices was found to be 650 [100 -1614] and for those without esophageal varices, the mean value of the ratio was calculated to be 2453 [1600-3483], which was significantly different [p<0.05]. Non-invasive markers have been used to predict varices in cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotics with esophageal varices have a significantly lower platelet count and a significantly greater ultrasonographic spleen size as compared to those patients of liver cirrhosis without esophageal varices [13,14] a fact also consistant with our study [p < 0.05]