Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy in patients with Symmers periportal fibroses.

This is a prospective study, carried out in patients with portal hypertension and bleeding oesophageal varices secondary to Symmers (Schistosomal) periportal fibroses, to determine the efficacy of sclerotherapy, the number of sessions needed to achieve full sclerosis, the complications associated with sclerotherapy and the incidence and risk factors for rebleeding. In total, 85 patients were studied with a mean age of 38 years, 76.5% were males. All underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, had different grades of oesophageal varices and underwent intravariceal injection with 5% ethanolamine oleate until they achieved full sclerosis or were referred to surgery. Complications of sclerotherapy included oesophageal strictures, deep oesophageal ulcers, pleural effusion and ascites. Following obliteration of oesophageal varices, 3.5% and 20% developed new gastric varices and portal gastropathy, respectively. Rebleeding occurred in 32% - the only significant predictive risk factor for which was patients with GIII varices following the first sclerotherapy session. Varices recurred in 6% of patients after a mean follow-up period of one year. In total, 93% of our patients achieved full sclerosis after an average of four sessions, and 3.5% were referred for surgery. Three patients (3.5%) died, all from massive rebleeding. In conclusion, sclerotherapy is a safe effective method for treating patients with oesophageal varices due to periportal fibroses.