Cureus. 2023 Nov 6;15(11):e48360. doi: 10.7759/cureus.48360. eCollection 2023 Nov.
ABSTRACT
Introduction Liver cirrhosis is a global health concern with various etiologies, leading to portal hypertension and gastroesophageal varices. Variceal bleeding, a severe complication of cirrhosis, necessitates early detection and intervention to reduce mortality. Endoscopic screening is the gold standard for varices detection but is invasive and expensive. This study evaluates the Lok Score, a non-invasive predictive tool, for identifying esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study involving 150 liver cirrhosis patients was conducted. The Lok score was calculated using specific parameters. Patient data, including age, gender, etiology of liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh class, varices presence, and grades, were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM Corp. Released 2013. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp., and diagnostic parameters for Lok Score were computed. Results The study demonstrates that the Lok score exhibits significant potential as a predictive tool for esophageal varices. The mean Lok score significantly differed between individuals with and without varices, suggesting a correlation between Lok score and varices presence. Higher Lok scores may indicate more advanced varices. Utilizing the Lok score in clinical practice could lead to timely interventions, improving patient outcomes. Conclusion The Lok score shows promise as a valuable predictive tool for esophageal varices in liver cirrhosis patients. Early identification using this non-invasive parameter can aid in risk stratification and guide appropriate management strategies. However, further validation and larger studies are needed to fully integrate the Lok score into clinical practice for the benefit of cirrhosis patients.
PMID:38060753 | PMC:PMC10699156 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.48360
