Zardi EM, et al. - In this investigation, researchers ascertained if the absence or presence and the grade of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) influenced the development of varices in cirrhotics without varices over time. After 5 years, forty cirrhotics without varices affected or not by baseline PHG were subjected to follow-up endoscopy. To assess variable comparison and the presence of associations, one-tailed t-test and the χ²-test were used. Investigators found that the Child–Pugh score was significantly different at baseline and after five years. There is likely to be a link between the duration of PHG and varices development. The development of varices in cirrhotics may be delayed by early therapeutic management of PHG.