Prevalence of sublingual varices in patients with cirrhosis and the correlation with nitrogen compounds.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify the presence and severity of sublingual varices in patients with cirrhosis and the correlation between these varices and nitrogen compounds (i.e., ammonia, urea and nitric oxide) in blood and saliva. STUDY DESIGN: This is a case-control observational study of 52 patients with cirrhosis and 52 normoreactive individuals, aimed at assessing the presence (degrees 0 and 1) and severity (mild, moderate, and severe) of sublingual varices. Medical records of the patients with cirrhosis, including complications of cirrhosis, were also obtained. Blood and saliva were collected to evaluate the presence of nitrogen compounds by means of automated enzymatic colorimetric assays. RESULTS: The cirrhosis group had a higher prevalence (n = 39; 75%) compared with controls (n = 22; 42.3%) as well as higher severity (moderate n = 12 [23.1%]; and severe n = 16 [30.0%]) (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively). Of the 39 patients with cirrhosis and sublingual varices, 84.6% had gastroesophageal varices. No correlations were found between the presence/severity of sublingual varices and cirrhotic complications/nitrogen compounds. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and severity of varices were higher in the cirrhosis group, but no correlations between the presence/severity of sublingual varices and nitrogen compounds were found.