Database	Time span	Search strategy
Cochrane Hepato‐Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register	June 2016	((((platelet* or thrombocyt*) near (count or distribution or volume)) or PLT or PDW or MPV) OR (((splenic* or spleen*) near3 (enlarg* or hypertroph or length or palpable or size or diamet* or index or examin*)) or splenomegal*)) AND (*esophag* near3 (varic* or varix*))
Cochrane Hepato‐Biliary Diagnostic Test of Accuracy Studies Register	June 2016	((((platelet* or thrombocyt*) near (count or distribution or volume)) or PLT or PDW or MPV) OR (((splenic* or spleen*) near3 (enlarg* or hypertroph or length or palpable or size or diamet* or index or examin*)) or splenomegal*)) AND (*esophag* near3 (varic* or varix*))
The Cochrane Library	2016, Issue 6	#1 MeSH descriptor: [Platelet Count] explode all trees #2 ((platelet* or thrombocyt*) near (count or distribution or volume)) or PLT or PDW or MPV #3 #1 or #2 #4 MeSH descriptor: [Splenomegaly] explode all trees #5 ((splenic* or spleen*) near/3 (enlarg* or hypertroph or length or palpable or size or diamet* or index or examin*)) or splenomegal* #6 #4 or #5 #7 MeSH descriptor: [Esophageal and Gastric Varices] explode all trees #8 *esophag* near/3 (varic* or varix*) #9 #7 or #8 #10 (#3 or #6) and #9
MEDLINE (OvidSP)	1946 to June 2016.	1. exp Platelet Count/ 2. (((platelet* or thrombocyt*) adj (count or distribution or volume)) or PLT or PDW or MPV).mp. [mp=title, abstract, original title, name of substance word, subject heading word, keyword heading word, protocol supplementary concept word, rare disease supplementary concept word, unique identifier] 3. 1 or 2 4. exp Splenomegaly/ 5. (((splenic* or spleen*) adj3 (enlarg* or hypertroph or length or palpable or size or diamet* or index or examin*)) or splenomegal*).mp. [mp=title, abstract, original title, name of substance word, subject heading word, keyword heading word, protocol supplementary concept word, rare disease supplementary concept word, unique identifier] 6. 4 or 5 7. (Esophageal and Gastric Varices).mp. [mp=title, abstract, original title, name of substance word, subject heading word, keyword heading word, protocol supplementary concept word, rare disease supplementary concept word, unique identifier] 8. ((esophag* or oesophag*) adj3 (varic* or varix*)).mp. [mp=title, abstract, original title, name of substance word, subject heading word, keyword heading word, protocol supplementary concept word, rare disease supplementary concept word, unique identifier] 9. 7 or 8 10. (3 or 6) and 9
Embase (OvidSP)	1974 to June 2016	1. exp thrombocyte count/ 2. (((platelet* or thrombocyt*) adj (count or distribution or volume)) or PLT or PDW or MPV).mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword] 3. 1 or 2 4. exp splenomegaly/ 5. (((splenic* or spleen*) adj3 (enlarg* or hypertroph or length or palpable or size or diamet* or index or examin*)) or splenomegal*).mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword] 6. 4 or 5 7. exp esophagus varices/ 8. ((esophag* or oesophag*) adj3 (varic* or varix*)).mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword] 9. 7 or 8 10. (3 or 6) and 9
Science Citation Index ‐ Expanded	1900 to June 2016	#5 #4 AND #3 #4 TS=(*esophag* NEAR/3 (varic* or varix*)) #3 #2 OR #1 #2 TS=(((splenic* or spleen*) NEAR/3 (enlarg* or hypertroph or length or palpable or size or diamet* or index or examin*)) or splenomegal*) #1 TS=(((platelet* or thrombocyt*) NEAR (count or distribution or volume)) or PLT or PDW or MPV)