الفهرس 
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Abstract
The close association between gall bladder wall thickness and portal hypertension is well documented, so the use of non invasive predictors for esophageal varices is beneficial to decrease risk of upper endoscopy which is invasive procedure. Our study was carried on 120 cirrhotic patients divided into 2 groups group 1: 60 cirrhotic patients without EV. group 2: 60 cirrhotic patients with EV. All patients in this work were subjected to: 1- History taking and complete clinical examination. 2- Laboratory evaluation: • Complete blood count • Liver function tests including : (serum albumin , serum bilirubin , ALT , AST , Alkaline phosphatase , Prothrombin time and activity ) • Viral markers including : ( Hepatitis B surface antigen , Hepatitis C antibodies ) 3-Child Pugh score. 4-MELD score. 5-Abdominal ultrasound detecting : (gall bladder wall thickness , portal vein diameter , portal vein flow velosity , portal cross sectional area , gall bladder fasting volume ) 6-Upper gastrointestinal endoscope to detect presence or absence of varices and grade of esophageal varices if present. The result of this study showed that: Gall bladder wall thickness is higher in cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices than in cirrhotic patients without esophageal varices Significant positive correlation between gall bladder wall thickness and portal vein diameter , INR and splenic diameter. Negative correlation between gall bladder wall thickness and platelets counts Significant positive correlation between gall bladder wall thickness and grade of esophageal varices. Gall bladder wall thickness is an independent predictor of esophageal varices with sensitivity 82% and specificity 77%. We concluded that gall bladder wall thickness can be considered as a non invasive predictor of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients.