Comparative factors | Group I: combined therapy group | Group II: EBL group | P value | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean/Count | %/±SD | Mean/count | %/±SD | ||
History and clinical finding | |||||
 History of hepatic encephalopathy | 4 | 20% | 5 | 25% | 0.705 |
 History of bilharziasis | 5 | 25% | 4 | 20% | 0.705 |
 Previous treatment of oesophageal varices | 9 | 45% | 8 | 40% | 0.749 |
 Bleeding tendency (epistaxis, bleeding gums, ecchymotic patches at venipuncture sites) | 9 | 45% | 8 | 40% | 0.749 |
 Pallor | 20 | 100% | 18 | 90% | 0.136 |
 Palmar erythema | 7 | 35% | 8 | 405 | 0.744 |
 Lower limb edema | 5 | 25% | 8 | 40% | 0.311 |
 Jaundice | 7 | 35% | 5 | 25% | 0.490 |
 Spider nevi | 5 | 25% | 11 | 55% | 0.053 |
 Dilated abdominal veins | 3 | 15% | 3 | 15% | 1 |
 Fever | 2 | 10% | 3 | 15% | 0.633 |
Demographic features | |||||
 Age (years) | 57.75 | ± 7.51 | 57.35 | ± 8.28 | 0.874 |
 Sex (female/male) | 9/11 | 45%/55% | 7/13 | 35%/65% | 0.519 |
 Residence (urban/rural) | 7/13 | 35%/65% | 5/15 | 25%/75% | 0.490 |
Etiology of liver cirrhosis | |||||
 HCV | 18 | 90 | 20 | 100% | 0.349 |
 HBV | 1 | 5% | 0 | 0% | |
 Non-viral | 1 | 5% | 0 | 0% | |
Child-Turcotte-Pugh classification | |||||
 Class A | 8 | 40% | 8 | 40% | 0.920 |
 Class B | 6 | 30% | 5 | 25% | |
 Class C | 6 | 30% | 7 | 35% | |
Laboratory findings | |||||
 ALT (U/L) | 45.60 | ± 16.46 | 48.10 | ± 21.72 | 0.978 |
 AST (U/L) | 56.65 | ± 22.80 | 50.85 | ± 20.22 | 0.464 |
 Albumin (g/dL) | 2.68 | ± 0.59 | 2.73 | ± 0.63 | 0.587 |
 Total bilirubin (mg/dl) | 2.28 | ± 1.24 | 2.47 | ± 1.69 | 0.924 |
 Prothrombin concentration | 58.80 | ± 12.79 | 60.80 | ± 17.36 | 0.498 |
 White blood cell (× 103/mm3) | 5.46 | ± 2.6 | 5.48 | ± 2.6 | 0.968 |
 Platelet count (103/mm3) | 84.80 | ± 29.844 | 91.80 | ± 61.10 | 0.756 |
 Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 6.86 | ± 1.25 | 7.71 | ± 1.66 | 0.074 |