Authors
Vani Durgam, Sujeet Marandi, Rishi Tuhin Guria, Siddharth Kapoor, Rupesh Prasad, Satish Kumar, Divakar Kumar, Shishir Kumar Mahto, Gagan Gunjan
Published in
Annals of African medicine. Jul 10, 2026. Epub Jul 10, 2026.
Abstract
Esophageal varices (EV) are a major complication of portal hypertension in decompensated chronic liver disease (DCLD), but endoscopy is invasive and resource-limited. This study assessed serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) as a noninvasive predictor of EV occurrence and severity.
Prospective cross-sectional study (January 2023-May 2024) of 76 adults (≥18 years) with DCLD and ascites at RIMS, Ranchi. SAAG was calculated postparacentesis; EV graded via endoscopy (Westaby: Grade 0-3). SPSS v23 analyzed data: t-tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), correlations (r), logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) (P < 0.05).
Mean age 43.66 ± 10.16 years; 68.4% male; 67.1% alcoholic etiology. EV present in 81.6% (n = 62). Mean SAAG higher with EV (1.93 ± 0.37 vs. 1.38 ± 0.12 g/dL; t = 9.81, P < 0.001). Point-biserial r = 0.542 (P < 0.001); SAAG rose with grade (ANOVA F = 22.32, P < 0.001). ROC: AUC = 0.951, cutoff 1.585 g/dL (sensitivity 89% and specificity 100%). Serum albumin predicted EV independently (odds ratio [OR] =6.98, P = 0.007); SAAG OR = 25,933 (P < 0.001).
SAAG strongly correlates with EV occurrence/severity, supporting its use for screening in the resource-poor settings. Optimal cutoff: 1.585 g/dL.
Enables noninvasive risk stratification, reducing endoscopy burden; validate in multi-center trials.
PMID:
42437720
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 13 Jul 2026.
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