Spleen Stiffness: A Determinant of Portal Hypertension with Esophageal Varices

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Background: Liver and spleen play a vital role in the splanchnic circulation. Variety of etiological agents can cause irreversible injury to hepatic cells leading to fibrosis & ultimately cirrhosis which is manifested in form of clinically significant portal hypertension and its complications including formation of varices at lower end of esophagus. Esophageal varices, an important cause of morbidity & mortality in cirrhotic patients can be diagnosed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and are managed according to various parameters. Recently, there is a growing interest in utilizing spleen stiffness by sonoelastography to predict portal hypertension & its complication viz.