These included high total bilirubin (TB) levels (P = 0.009), low albumin (Alb) levels (P = 0.001), elevated prothrombin time (PT) (P = 0.004), presence of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) (P = 0.026), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (P = 0.018), high Child-Pugh score (P < 0.001), Child-Pugh grade C (P < 0.001), high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (P = 0.004), Japanese variceal grade F3 (P < 0.001), diameter of EV (P < 0.001), and number of ligature rings used (P = 0.029) (Table 2). Here, ALB is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.