Ma. Alkarawi et al., LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF ENDOSCOPIC SCLEROTHERAPY OF VARICEAL BLEEDING - COMPARATIVE-STUDY BETWEEN SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND OTHERS, Hepato-gastroenterology, 43(7), 1996, pp. 287-292
Background/Aims: This comparative study was conducted on 111 patients
to evaluate the long term outcome of endoscopic variceal therapy in pa
tients with portal hypertension, and particularly with schistosomiasis
. Patients and Methods: There were 45 patients with chronic liver dise
ase due to schistosomiasis, 31 with chronic hepatitis B and 21 with ch
ronic NNb hepatitis. The remaining 14 had chronic liver disease of oth
er etiologies. The mean, follow up period was 40 months. Results: Esop
hageal varices were completely sclerosed in 32 out of 111 patients in
5 sessions (average) over a mean duration of 8 months. A comparison of
patients with schistosomal and non-schistosomal liver diseases reveal
ed that 68% of the schistosomal group patients were in child's A class
ification, compared to 30% of the patients in, the non-schistosomal gr
oup. There was no significant difference with respect to early rebleed
ing and recurrence of oesophageal varices. The outcome of sclerotherap
y in schistosomal group was better with respect to survival span. over
a 5 year period of 78% while for the nonschistosomal group it was les
s than 59%. Conclusions: This study has shown that injection sclerothe
rapy for bleeding oesophageal varices gives best results when liver fu
nction is usually well preserved and for chronic schistosomal liver di
sease.