Letter to editor ‘Non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices based on liver and spleen stiffness’

Abstract

This letter to the editor relates to the study entitled "Non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices based on liver and spleen stiffness". Acute bleeding caused by esophageal varices is a life-threatening complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. Due to the discomfort, contraindications, and associated complications of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy screening, it is crucial to identify an imaging-based non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.

Keywords: Cirrhosis; High-risk esophageal varices; Non-invasive prediction model; Spleen stiffness measurement; Liver stiffness measurement; Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Core Tip: Liver cirrhosis is the end of chronic liver disease. Rupture of esophageal varices (EVs) is a common and potentially fatal complication in patients with cirrhosis. In clinical practice, prophylactic treatment is primarily used to prevent events of esophageal venous bleeding, however, this strategy requires invasive and expensive upper gastrointestinal endoscopy testing, leading to poor patient adherence. In recent years, several studies have demonstrated an association between EVs and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) as well as spleen stiffness measurement (SSM). The main objectives of this paper are to elucidate the differences between EVs, SSM, and LSM and explore the feasibility of using LSM and SSM to develop a non-invasive model for predicting high-risk esophageal varices.