About 50 to 60 out of 100 people who have cirrhosis develop varices in the esophagus. As the blood pressure in the portal vein system continues to increase, the walls of these expanded veins become thinner, causing the veins to rupture and bleed. This is called variceal bleeding.

What causes esophageal varices to bleed?

Esophageal varices develop when normal blood flow to the liver is blocked by a clot or scar tissue in the liver. To go around the blockages, blood flows into smaller blood vessels that aren't designed to carry large volumes of blood. The vessels can leak blood or even rupture, causing life-threatening bleeding.

Do esophageal varices cause GI bleed?

Bleeding from esophageal varices is the third most common cause of upper GI bleeding, after duodenal and gastric ulcers.