Validation of the chronic liver disease questionnaire in Serbian patients.

Aim: To translate into Serbian and to investigate the validity of the cross-culturally adapted the chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ).

Methods: The questionnaire was validated in 103 consecutive CLD patients treated between October 2009 and October 2010 at the Clinic for Gastroenterology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade (Serbia). Exclusion criteria were: age < 18 years, psychiatric disorders, acute complications of CLD (acute liver failure, variceal bleeding, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis), hepatic encephalopathy (grade > 2) and liver transplantation.

Role of serotonin in development of esophageal and gastric fundal varices.

Aim: to determine the effect of free serotonin concentrations in plasma on development of esophageal and gastric fundal varices.

Methods: this prospective study included 33 patients with liver cirrhosis and 24 healthy controls. Ultrasonography and measurement of serotonin concentration in plasma were carried out in both groups of subjects.