F2 and esophageal varices: Table 1 shows the baseline characteristics of patients with and without CHE. Total bilirubin (p < 0.05), blood ammonia (p < 0.01), ALBI score (p < 0.001), and FIB-4 index (p < 0.01) in patients with CHE were significantly higher than those in patients without CHE. Conversely, platelet count (p < 0.05), albumin (p < 0.01), prothrombin time (p < 0.05), 25(OH)D3 (p < 0.01), and zinc (p < 0.05) in patients with CHE were significantly lower than those in patients without CHE. The prevalence of esophageal varices was significantly higher in patients with CHE than in those without CHE (p < 0.001).