7223 Peripheral venous endotoxin levels in patients with esophageal varices during the course of a new form of endoscopic variceal ligation.

Purpose: This study mainly investigated the following: (1) comparison of peripheral venous endotoxin levels in cirrhotic patients with varices before modified endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation (EVL) ("intensive ligation" method: a radical obliterative approach to the treatment of esophageal varices); (2) whether modified EVL affected peripheral venous endotoxin levels in these patients during the course of this therapy. Methods: Twenty patients were treated with modified EVL. The endotoxin level was detected using a new modification of a chromogenic substrate assay (Endospec-SP test) before and after EVL therapy. The normal range of endotoxin was considered 3.0 pg/dl or less. Student's t test was used. The level of significance was p