Assessment of Baveno VII Criteria for Non-Invasive Prediction of Esophageal Varices in Patients with Compensated Chronic Liver Disease at a Tertiary Care Centre (Code T0346)

Introduction: Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a progressive condition that frequently leads to 
portal hypertension and the formation of esophageal varices. While upper gastrointestinal (GI) 
endoscopy remains the diagnostic gold standard, it is invasive, costly, and often unnecessary in 
low-risk patients. The Baveno VII criteria, incorporating liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and 
platelet count, offer a non-invasive and efficient alternative for stratifying patients according to 
their risk. 
Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Baveno VII criteria in predicting the 
presence of esophageal varices among patients with compensated CLD and to determine its 
sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy. 
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 68 patients with compensated CLD. Liver 
stiffness was assessed using transient elastography (Fibroscan), and platelet counts were 
measured via standard hematological analysis. All patients underwent upper GI endoscopy for 
confirmation of esophageal varices. Stratification into risk groups was done according to Baveno 
VII guidelines. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, ROC curve plotting, and calculation 
of correlation coefficients to assess the predictive strength of the criteria. 
Results: Elevated LSM values (>25 kPa) and decreased platelet counts (<150,000/µL) were 
significantly associated with the presence of esophageal varices. The Baveno VII criteria showed 
a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 86%, and an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.88, 
indicating strong predictive capability. 
Conclusion: The Baveno VII criteria offer a highly effective, non-invasive strategy for 
predicting esophageal varices in patients with compensated CLD. Their high sensitivity and 
specificity make them a valuable tool in routine clinical practice, significantly reducing the need 
for unnecessary endoscopic procedures. 
Keywords: Chronic liver disease, Esophageal varices, Baveno VII criteria, Portal hypertension, 
Liver stiffness measurement, Platelet count, Non-invasive diagnostic methods.