Noninvasive variceal pressure measurement may be useful for predicting effect of sclerotherapy for esophageal varices.

This study assessed the relationship between variceal pressure and morphological findings and hemodynamics of esophageal varices as well as the effect of sclerotherapy. Esophageal variceal pressure was measured in 40 patients with portal hypertension, using a noninvasive method. Esophageal variceal pressures were significantly higher in moderate or large varices than they were in small varices. Variceal pressures were significantly higher in patients with red color signs on the varices than in those without. According to the percutaneous transhepatic portography, the structure of the esophageal varices was classified into two types: the bar type and the palisading type. The maximum variceal pressure was significantly higher in the bar type than in the palisading type. In patients who underwent more than five sessions of sclerotherapy, the variceal pressure was significantly higher than in those receiving less than four sessions. These results suggest that variceal pressure may well reflect the vascular pattern and be useful for predicting the effect of sclerotherapy.