[Echographic parameters in the evaluation of the degree of portal hypertension].

We did a prospective study in thirty one patients with ascites who were hospitalized at Cayetano Heredia Hospital (H.N.C.H.). We investigated the association and correlation between ultrasonographic parameters of portal hypertension (HTP) and the presence and level of HTP (determinate by the serum-to-ascites albumin concentration gradient). In our study, we demonstrated that ultrasonographic splenomegaly studied by longitudinal diameter of the spleen discriminate patients with HTP with a high positive predictive value (94.4%), although it didn't happen with transverse diameter of the spleen. However patients with elevated measurements of high GRAD-Alb (> or = 2.35 +/- 0.05 g/dl) had alterations in the transversal diameter of the spleen with a high negative predictive value (91.7%), these findings were suggested its use like a parameter for reject high levels of HTP. In our study, we demonstrated that the existence of changes at diameters of portal vein and splenic vein could not discriminate patients with HTP. By the way, we didn't find association between degree of high GRAD-Alb and the different splenic measurements.