HCV infection is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide.
Liver cirrhosis is the final stage of chronic liver injury with a high mortality.
The transition from compensated forms to decompensated cirrhosis occurs at
a rate of 5-7% per year. Once patients have developed the first episode of decompensation, complications tend to accumulate and life expectancy is dramatically decreased. Portal Hypertension is the initial and main consequence of cirrhosis and is responsible for the majority of its complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and gastroesophageal varices. Variceal haemorrhage is considered the most lethal complications of portal hypertension with a six-week mortality after an episode of bleeding ranges between 15% and 25%. So early detection and management of esophageal varices is very crucial in cirrhotic patients.
Serum WFA- M2BP, is a cell adhesive glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix secreted as a ligand of galectin 3.It is secreted from many cell types, particularly hepatocytes. It has been shown to increase with the progression of liver fibrosis.