Bedside Utility of Liaoning Score a Non-Invasive As Predictor of Esophageal Varices in Hepatitis C Associated Chronic Liver Disease in Pakistani Population

1. Abstract

1.1. Introduction Portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients results in the development of esophageal varices (EVs) with uncontrolled variceal bleeding accounting for approximately 50% of mortality in cirrhotic patients. Endoscopy is avoided by most of the patients due to its invasiveness. Liaoning score has been used previously in a Chinese population as a noninvasive predictor of EVs, Hence, the aim of this study was to validate the role of Liaoning score as a non-invasive predictor of esophageal varices in Pakistani population.