Open AccessRLLB /Alb ratio: a promising noninvasive diagnostic marker in assessing esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients
Author(s) -
Chowdhury Md Faisal Fahad,
Islam Ashekul,
Palit Pulak Kanti,
Mozibullah Md.,
Sohel Md,
Khatun Mst Mahmuda,
Chowdhury Mohammed Mehadi Hassan,
Islam Mohammod Johirul,
Datta Joyonti,
Dhar Suman,
Nath Pradip Kumar,
Nath Sabuj Kanti
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.24589
Subject(s) - esophageal varices , gastroenterology , medicine , varices , cirrhosis , portal hypertension
Background Endoscopy has long been widely used to screen for esophageal varices (EV) in cirrhotic patients. Recurrent endoscopy is a significant burden for the healthcare system of the endoscopic unit as well as uncomfortable and high costs for patients. This study intended to prognosticate Right Liver Lobe Diameter/Serum Albumin Ratio (RLLD/Alb) as a non‐invasive approach in the early diagnosis of EV among chronic liver disease (CLD) Bangladeshi patients enrolled in a specific hospital. Participants and Methods A total of 150 admitted patients with CLD were included in the study. Patients were subjected through a comprehensive biochemical checkup and upper digestive endoscopic or ultrasonographic inspection. The correlation was evaluated between the RLLD/Alb ratio and esophageal varices grades. Results The upper digestive endoscopy demonstration among 150 patients resulted in no EV in 18%, while 24% of patients was identified as EV grade I, 20% as grade II, 20% as grade III, and 18% patients as grade IV. The mean value of the RLLD/Alb ratio was 4.89 ± 1.49 (range from 2.30 to 8.45). The RLLD/Alb ratio diagnosed the EV employing the cut‐off value of 4.01 with 85.3% sensitivity and 68.8% specificity. Furthermore, it was positively correlated with the grading of EV, when this ratio increased the grading of EV increases and vice versa ( r = 0.630, p < 0.001). Conclusion The RLLD/Alb ratio is a non‐invasive parameter giving exact guidance relevant to the ascertainment of the existence of EV and their grading in chronic liver disease patients.