Identifying Patients With Cirrhosis Who Might Avoid Screening Endoscopy Based on Serum Albumin and Bilirubin and Platelet Counts

Abstract

The presence of gastroesophageal varices is a major complication of portal hypertension associated with significant morbidity and mortality.¹ The Baveno VI criteria state that patients with liver stiffness measurement (LSM) <20 kPa by transient elastography (TE) and platelet count >150,000/μL can avoid screening endoscopy for high-risk varix (HRV).² However, because TE is not widely available, the Baveno VI criteria could not be applied in many clinical settings. As such, we aim to determine a concise clinical criterion as an alternative noninvasive tool to predict absence of HRV among patients with compensated cirrhosis to avoid screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).