Can platelet count/spleen diameter ratio be used for cirrhotic children to predict esophageal varices?

Table 1 Laboratory and ultrasonographic data in the age group of 6-12 years

	Patient with varices (n = 29)	Control(n = 13)	P value
Mean age (yr)	9.7 ± 2.0	10.0 ± 1.9	0.595
Gender (% female)	45	38.5	0.384
INR	1.5 ± 0.5	1.4 ± 0.5	0.860
ALT (IU/L)	57.3 ± 50.8	44.3 ± 29.3	0.210
AST (IU/L)	79.1 ± 71.5	53.1 ± 32.9	0.241
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	3.5 ± 6.0	2.5 ± 4.7	0.618
Albumin (mg/dL)	3.9 ± 0.6	4.2 ± 0.6	0.231
Ultrasonographic ascites (%)	27.5%	0%	0.037
Spleen diameter (mm)	167.3 ± 39.1	151.3 ± 32.4	0.206
Platelet count (thousand/mm3)	129000 ± 53519	153000 ± 97798	0.312
Platelet count/spleen diameter	976.6 ± 793.5	1062.4 ± 718.0	0.741
Child-Pugh score	6.3 ± 1.5	5.7 ± 1.4	0.193

INR: International normalized ratio; ALT: Alanine transaminase; AST: Aspartate transaminase.

Table 2 Laboratory and ultrasonographic data in the age group of 12-18 years

	Patient with varices (n = 40)	Control(n = 16)	P value
Mean age (yr)	14.2 ± 1.7	13.5 ± 1.2	0.161
Gender (% female)	48	56	0.591
INR	1.3 ± 0.3	1.4 ± 0.6	0.347
ALT (IU/L)	86.5 ± 76.1	60.5 ± 67.2	0.250
AST (IU/L)	115.2 ± 124.2	105.5 ± 231.8	0.842
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	5.0 ± 10.4	5.3 ± 12.5	0.931
Albumin (mg/dL)	3.8 ± 0.7	3.9 ± 0.7	0.757
Ultrasonographic ascites (%)	35%	6%	0.028
Spleen diameter (mm)	181.4 ± 37.2	150.3 ± 34.2	0.389
Platelet count (thousand/mm3)	103000 ± 55867	115000 ± 65472	0.499
Platelet count/spleen diameter	733.9 ± 737.4	830.78 ± 553.5	0.637
Child-Pugh score	6.9 ± 1.9	6.2 ± 1.8	0.214

INR: International normalized ratio; ALT: Alanine transaminase; AST: Aspartate transaminase.