Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Features in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Kim, Gi Tae; Park, Chang Hwan; Moon, Bum; Paek, Kang Woo; Kim, Shin Mook; Kim, Hyun Soo; Koo, Cheol; Choi, Sung Kyu; Rew, Jong Sun; Yoon, Chong Mann

Abstract

It is well known that various upper gastrointestinal lesions besides esophageal vaices, such as gastric varices, congestive gastropathy, peptic ulcer and erosive gastritis are more frequent in liver cirrhosis. In recent years, many workers reported that endoscopic features of upper gastrointestinal tract in cirrohtic patients. However, the pathogenesis and pathophysiology have not been established. To investigate the incidence and relating factors of upper gastrointestinal lesions, the author observed the endoscopic features in 206 patients with liver cirrhosis in Chonnam National University Hospital from January in 1993 to June 1995. The results were as follows: 1) The incidence of upper gastrointestinal lesions were as follows: esophgeal varices 77.7% (160/206), gastric varices 23.3% (46/206), congestive gastropathy 41.3% (85/206), gastric ulcer 19.4% (40/206), duodenal ulcer 10.7% (22/206), erosive gastritis 18.4% (38/206). 2) There was no difference in the frequency of upper gastrointestinal lesion according to the Child-Pugh's classification. 3) The incidence of gastric ulcer was more frequent in habitual alcoholics (p<0.05). 4) The incidence of congestive gastropathy was more frequent in patients with high spleen index or thrombocytopenia (p<0.01). These findings suggest that the incidence of gastric ulcer in cirrhotic patients is related to the habitual alcohol drinking and congestive gastropathy is significantly correlated with the severity of splenomegaly or thrombocytopenia.