What liver conditions can lead to esophageal varices?

What liver conditions can lead to esophageal varices?

Any type of serious liver disease can cause esophageal varices. Cirrhosis is the most common type of liver disease. More than 90% of these patients will develop esophageal varices sometime in their lifetime, and about 30% will bleed.

In patients who have cirrhosis, large sections of scar tissue develop throughout the liver and cause blood flow to slow. Cirrhosis can be caused by alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis or other diseases of the liver.