Potential Role of Gall Bladder Wall Thickness as Non-Invasive Screening Parameter for Detecting Oesophageal Varices

Abstract Background Liver cirrhosis is defined pathologically as fibrosis and inflammation of the liver which is caused by chronic HBV, chronic HCV, NASH, NAFLD, chronic alcohol use and auto immune diseases which lead to portal hypertension. Aim and Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate whether non-inflammatory gall bladder wall thickness serve as predictor of oesophageal varices in combination and comparison with other non- invasive clinical and laboratory parameters. Subjects and Methods This case-control study was conducted at the Hepatology and Gastroenterology Department, Ain Shams University, Egypt. The study was conducted over a period of one year, from January 2022 until January 2023. Result There was no statistically significant difference between both groups as regard age, sex and associated comorbidities. There was statistically significant higher rate of clinical findings either gastrointestinal or systematic in subjects with esophageal varices that those without varices. 37.78% of subjects with cirrhosis without esophageal varices have normal clinical examination. Conclusion According our study, measuring gallbladder wall thickness is very useful for detection of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients as we find significant association between gallbladder wall thickness and liver cirrhosis patients with esophageal varices. GBWT improve the non-invasive monitoring of liver disease patients to assess the risk for the presence of EV.