Platelet count in predicting the presence of large esophageal varices in cirrhosis

Objective To evaluate platelet count (PC) , a non-invasive index, in predicting the presence of large esophageal varices (EV) in cirrhosis patients.Methods The analysis was performed in 80 patients with hepatic cirrhosis.PC were recorded in all the patients.The degree of esophageal varices in the patients were examined with electronic gastroscope.PC and electronic gastroscope were rechecked after 1 month.Then the relationship between PC and degree of esophageal varices was evaluated.Results 5 patients withdrew because of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and 3 patients did not recheck.PC in the large EV patients was obviously lower than that in non-large EV team (P<0.01) .There was no significant difference in PC among the same degree of EV (P>0.05) .PC decrease significantly in non-large EV patients whose EV aggravate into large degree (P<0.01) .Conclusion PC is a non-invasive index to judge the large esophageal varices.The decrease of PC in short time may show that the degree of EV aggravate into large degree.