Can Ultrasound/Doppler Be Used To Predict Decompensation In Chronic Liver Disease

Author(s): Sandeep Kaur Toor, Himanshu Gupta, Akshyaya Kumar Nag, Kabir Singh Kang, Shahbaaz Singh Tiwana

The chronological sequence of events in chronic liver disease includes two discrete stages. The first phase which is compensated is usually the phase of early liver disease. This part of the disease spectrum has non-specific symptoms and is detected either on routine investigations or is incidentally detected. The decompensated stage has significant morbidity and mortality. Ultrasound is the most common noninvasive investigation advised for patients with chronic liver disease. This was a cross-sectional study done to investigate any possible relevant differences in patients with compensated and decompensated chronic liver disease. The different parameters which were used to evaluate any significant differences were the liver size, spleen size, portal vein diameter, portal vein velocity, splenic vein size, presence of redistributions or collaterals. All the parameters showed differences in the two groups especially liver size, spleen size and splenic vein diameters; however, it could not be proved to be of any significance.