Criteria for therapeutic indication of solitary gastric varices: verification of the criteria

Abstract

In 2005 we retrospectively analyzed natural history of solitary gastric varices, and revealed that risk factors for hemorrhage from the varices were (1) decompensated hepatic reserve (Child C) (2) history of sclerotherapy of esophageal varices (3) heavy drinkers (4) erosion and positive red color sign on the varices (5) presence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Since we found these risk factors, we defined the indication of therapy for solitary gastric varices as “cases with large varix having erosion or positive red color sign which accompanies one or more above-mentioned risk factors”. We retrospectively compared cases experienced before 2005 and those after 2006, and revealed that setting of the criteria significantly reduced the incidence of hemorrhage.
Our criteria is effectiveand valid for the selection of candidates for prophylactic therapy of solitary gastric varices.