Value of Fibroscan in Evaluation of Portal Hypertension in Children

Abstract

ortal hypertension is an almost unavoidable complication of cirrhosis, and it is responsible for the more lethal complications of this syndrome: gastro-esophageal varices and massive gastrointestinal bleeding .Varices develop eventually in most patients with cirrhosis. Bleeding due to rupture of esophageal varices is one of main causes of death in liver cirrhosis that endoscopy screening is recommended. Upper endoscopy is the best mode to screen for esophageal and gastric varices and should be done once portal hypertension is suspected. However endoscopy is invasive and frequently cannot be performed due to contraindication, high cost and uncomfortable effect to the patients particularly on patients who have not had any bleeding before. Consequently, it is necessary to find other assessment which can predict the presence of esophageal varices Recent studies found liver stiffness measurement by the liver transient-elastography is one of non invasive measurement to evaluate liver fibrosis. To this aim of this study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness, objectivity and safety of transient elastorgraphy (Fibroscan) in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices in pediatric patients with portal hypertension comparing