CAN FIBROSCAN + FIB -4 SCORE BE USED AS A RELIABLE PREDICTOR FOR PRESENCE OF ESOPHAGEALAND GASTRIC VARICES IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED LIVER CIRRHOSIS? – USEFULNESS IN COVID-19 ERA.

Background: Variceal bleeding is the most dangerous complication of liver cirrhosis. Endoscopy is recommended for diagnosis and surveillance of esophageal and gastric varices. We used a non-invasive scoring method of severity of liver disease and examined whether it can reliably predict the presence and severity of varices. Methods: Study was carried over a period of 12 months including all cirrhosis patients. Fibroscan and FIB-4 score were used to formulate a non-invasive score and compared with endoscopic findingsResults: The presence of varices and its severity correlated with Fibroscan+FIB-4 score. Higher the score, higher the likelihood of varices requiring endoscopic intervention. A score of >6 can be used as cut off to stratify patients requiring endoscopy.Conclusions: Fibroscan + FIB-4 score can be reliably used as a marker of presence of varices, the severity and chances of bleeding from varices. This can be of importance in the present Covid-19 pandemic, where in upper GI endoscopic procedures carry the highest rate of infection to healthcare workers and patients.