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Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the "gold standard" for the diagnosis of portal hypertension, which could be applied in the evaluation of liver cirrhosis. Combined use of HVPG with model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring system may more accurately match the donors and recipients undergoing liver transplantation for liver cirrhosis, select the appropriate timing of surgery, and provide guidance for bridging treatment for patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation. Besides, HVPG may also predict clinical prognosis of liver transplant recipients, and provide evidence for early detection and intervention of potential complications. Therefore, the value of HVPG in preoperative evaluation and prognosis prediction of liver transplant recipients was reviewed, aiming to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment of liver transplant recipients before and after surgery.
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Objective:To investigate the clinical value of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) in patients with unexplained liver disease complicated with massive ascites or coagulopathy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed from patients underwent TJLB in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhoukou Central Hospital, Shangqiu First People's Hospital and Jincheng People's Hospital from March 2015 to January 2022 due to unexplained liver disease complicated with massive ascites or coagulopathy. A total of 37 patients were included, including 21 males and 16 females, aged (53.5±11.9) years. According to different puncture points, the patients were divided into two groups: transhepatic right vein TJBL and transhepatic middle vein TJBL. The obtained liver tissue sampling effect, puncture times, complications were analyzed.Results:The success rate of TJLB was 97.3%(36/37). Thirty-six patients were able to obtain more than three segments of liver tissue and obtain histological diagnosis, and the pathological diagnosis rate was 100.0%(36/36). The number of puncture times, the amount of hepatic tissue and the number of portal areas in the right hepatic vein group (21 cases) were (3.7±0.9), (3.7±0.7) and (6.5±0.9) respectively, and those in the middle hepatic vein group (15 cases) were (3.7±0.7), (3.7±0.7) and (6.3±0.8) respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion:TJLB is safe and feasible for patients with unexplained liver disease complicated with massive peritoneal effusion and coagulopathy. Good liver tissue specimens can be obtained by TJLB from both right hepatic vein and middle hepatic vein.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) on the prevention of rebleeding in cirrhotic patients of hepatitis B with gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage receiving endoscopic therapy, and its influence on prognosis.Methods:Fifty eight patients with esophageal and gastric varices due to cirrhosis of hepatitis B admitted to Minhang Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (from January 2019 to September 2021, n=18) and Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (from January to September 2017, n=40) were retrospectively included. All of them underwent HVPG determination and endoscopic treatment. They were divided into HVPG≤18 mmHg group and HVPG>18 mmHg group. The rebleeding and survival status of these patients with endoscopic treatment was compared after a follow-up period of 2 years, and Cox regression was performed to analyze the related factors for rebleeding and survival. Results:A total of 58 individuals were included, which were divided into two groups: HVPG≤18 mmHg group (35) and HVPG>18 mmHg group (23). During the 2-year follow-up after the first endoscopic treatment, 13 patients (22.41%) developed rebleeding, including 4 patients in the HVPG≤18 mmHg group and 9 patients in the HVPG>18 mmHg group. The non-bleeding rate in HVPG≤18 mmHg group was significantly higher than that in HVPG>18 mmHg group (91.3% vs 68.7%, RR=3.54, 95% CI: 1.08-11.60, P=0.026), and the difference was statistically significant. Four patients died, including 1 patient in the HVPG≤18 mmHg group and 3 patients in the HVPG>18 mmHg group. There was no statistically significant difference in 2-year survival between the two groups (96.7% vs 86.5%, RR=4.44, 95% CI: 0.45-43.58, P=0.162). Cox regression multivariate analysis was used to analyze the above data, and the results suggested portal vein thrombosis ( HR=3.826, 95% CI: 1.263-11.585, P=0.018), HVPG>18 mmHg ( HR=4.243, 95% CI: 1.290-13.955, P=0.017) were independent risk factors for rebleeding in 2 years after endoscopic therapy. Conclusions:For patients with high HVPG, it should be fully evaluated and considered to receive other pressure lowering therapy, and treatment conversion should be carried out as soon as possible after endoscopic treatment failure.
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Objective:In this study, the liver, spleen, and hepatic portal vein in the portal venous phase images of abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) are artificially segmented and annotated, and the radiomics features are extracted from them. A model for predicting portal pressure in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related cirrhosis is constructed by combining radiomics features with clinical indicators.Methods:A total of 171 patients who had abdominal enhancement CT examination and trans-jugular hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement at the same time were enrolled from January 2016 to May 2020 in the Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University. The liver, spleen, and hepatic portal vein in the portal venous phase images of the CT were manually labeled by using ITK-SNAP 3.8 software. The radiomics features of these three sites were extracted using Python programming, and an HVPG prediction model was established.Results:A total of 171 patients was included in the study. The average age was (51.1±10.3)years, of which 134(78.4%) were males, and the average HVPG was 16.87±5.695. A total of 2 553 radiomics features were extracted from three sites of the portal venous phase images of abdominal enhanced CT in each patient. The 2 553 features extracted were screened using LASSO, and by combing with clinical features and radiomics features, the predictive model of HVPG was obtained: m_HVPG=31.622+ 0.028 8T×total bile acids-6.31(portal venous wavelet-LHH_glcm_ClusterShade)=0.253(portal venous wavelet-LHL_glszm_LargeAreaLowGrayLevelEmphasis)-20.9(spleen wavelet-LLH_glcm_Correlation)-0.000 127(liver original_shape_SurfaceArea)+ 2.79(liver wavelet-LLH_glcm_ClusterShade). The coefficient of determination R2 was 0.345. Conclusions:The study suggests that radiomics features of the liver, spleen, and portal venous combined with clinical features may be used as a non-invasive method to assess the portal pressure in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis.
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Objective:To investigate the relationship between hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and parameters of Doppler ultrasound in patients with pyrroidine alkaloid-related hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (PA-HSOS).Methods:From February 17, 2017 to April 22, 2020, the clinical data of 68 patients with PA-HSOS who underwent HVPG manometry and Doppler ultrasound examination at Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Medical College of Nanjing University were retrospectively analyzed, which included HVPG, Drum Tower severity scoring (DTSS), time from PA-HSOS related symptoms appeared to diagnosis after taking pyrroidine alkaloid (hereinafter referred to as diagnosis time), and parameters of Doppler ultrasound induding portal vein trunk diameter (PD), peak portal vein velocity (PPV), splenic vein trunk diameter (SD) and peak splenic vein velocity (PSV). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of HVPG for predicting non-response to anticoagulation therapy. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for non-response to anticoagulation therapy, and Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the prognostic survival rate of patients with different HVPG levels. Unitary linear regression was applied to analyze the correlation of HVPG with PD, PPV, SD and PSV in patients with different HVPG levels, patients with mild, moderate and severe DTSS, and patients with diagnosis time >1 month or ≤ 1 month. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:The results of ROC analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of HVPG for predicting non-response to anticoagulant therapy was 20.165 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The result of multivariate analysis indicated that high HVPG (HVPG>20.165 mmHg) was an independent risk factor for predicting non-response to anticoagulant therapy ( OR (95% confidence interval)=6.039(1.466 to 24.869), P=0.013). Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated that prognostic survival rate of patients with high HVPG was lower than that of patients with low HVPG (HVPG≤20.165 mmHg) (78.4% vs.96.8%), and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=4.74, P=0.030). The results of unitary linear regression analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between HVPG and PPV in 68 patients with PA-HSOS( r=-0.330, P=0.006); HVPG was positively correlated with PD and SD in patients with high HVPG ( r=0.540 and 0.341, P=0.001 and 0.039); there was a negative correlation between HVPG and PSV in patients with mild DTSS ( r=-0.519, P=0.019), HVPG was negatively correlated with PPV in patients with moderate DTSS ( r=-0.400, P=0.014). In patients with diagnosis time ≤1 month, there was a negative correlation between HVPG and PPV ( r=-0.391, P=0.010). Conclusions:HVPG can assist in judging the response to anticoagulation therapy and the prognosis of patients with PA-HSOS. Parameters of Doppler ultrasound can help to assess the degree of HVPG elevation in patients with PA-HSOS under certain conditions.
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Portal hypertension (PH) is a commonly seen complication of chronic liver disease and is a direct cause of decompensated cirrhosis. Early diagnosis of PH is essential for the treatment and prognosis of liver cirrhosis. Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of PH, but its invasiveness limits its use. At present, progress has been achieved on the noninvasive diagnostic techniques and of which the serological indicators are simple for use, including inflammatory mediators, vasoactive substances, extracellular matrix (ECM) components and their circulating degrading products. This article reviewed the advances in research on serological assessment of PH.
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Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided portal pressure gradient (EUS-PPG) measurement in the normal porcine model.Methods Four pigs,2 male and 2 female,aged 8-12 months,weighing 20-30 kg were selected in the experiment.Under general anesthesia and EUS guidance,a 22 G fine needle connected to electrocardiograph monitor with a central vein pressure manometer was used to puncture and measure pressures in the portal vein (PV) and hepatic vein (HV) or inferior vena cava (IVC).Pressures were measured three times for each vessel and the mean pressure was recorded.The PPG was recorded as the difference between the PV pressure and HV or IVC pressure.Vital signs during and after the procedure and operation-related complications were monitored.Results EUS-PPG measurement was successful in all targeted vessels.The PV pressure,HV or IVC pressure,and PPG was 11.0±1.0 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),7.3±1.1 mmHg and 3.8±0.9 mmHg,respectively.No adverse event occurred.Conclusion EUS-PPG measurement has a high successful rate and reliable accuracy and safety reflecting the portal vein pressure.
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Objective@#To summarize and analyze the clinical data of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and to explore the application value of HVPG in the diagnosis, evaluation and clinical treatment of portal hypertension in cirrhosis.@*Methods@#The patient data of HVPG measurement performed in Shandong Provincial Hospital from April 2010 to November 2017 were collected.@*Results@#A total of 633 patients with 833 times of HVPG measurements were included. There was significant difference in HVPG between patients with different etiologies, different Child-pugh grades and different degrees of decompensated cirrhosis.@*Conclusion@#The HVPG test is suitable for the diagnosis and evaluation of portal hypertension. The HVPG of patients with different severity of liver cirrhosis can guide the choice of the treatment plan, and the HVPG measurement should also be strictly standardized and quality control.
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Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, is a chronic, occult progression that is potentially reversible and complicated. The hepatic venous pressure gradient is a "gold standard" for risk stratification of liver cirrhosis and is superior to pathological examination of liver. This article briefly assesses the invasive and non-invasive measuring methods of the hepatic venous pressure gradient. With the hepatic venous pressure gradient-guided precise treatment for hepatic cirrhosis of portal hypertension, the incidence of clinical endpoints of hepatic portal hypertension can be significantly reduced. Establishing a long-term monitoring and management model similar to "high blood pressure" is a dream for the diagnosis and treatment of future cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
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Objective To evaluate effects of extremely high hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) on the prognosis of endoscopic therapy in secondary prophylaxis for patients with gastroesophageal varices.Methods This was a single center prospective cohort study.From April 1st,2013 to May 31st,2015,patients with gastroesophageal varices and treated for secondary prophylaxis were enrolled and divided into extremely high HVPG group (HVPG≥20 mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and non-extremely high HVPG group (HVPG＜ 20 mmHg).After combination of endoscopic ligation and tissue glue treatment,one-year,two-year and threeyear rebleeding rates and survival statuses were compared.Cox regression was performed for further analysis of prognosis factors related with rebleeding and survive.Results Eventually,126 patients were enrolled and divided into extremely high HVPG group (32 cases) and non-extremely high HVPG group (94 cases).The one-year rebleeding rates of extremely high HVPG group and non-extremely high HVPG group were 37.9 ℃ (11/29) and 27.6 ％ (24/87),respectively,and the difference was not statistically significant (x2 =1.105,P =0.293).The two-year rebleeding rate of extremely high HVPG group was significantly higher than non-extremely high HVPG group 51.7％ (15/29) vs 29.9％ (26/87),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =4.539,P=0.033).And so was the three-year rebleeding rate,51.7％ (15/29) vs 29.9％ (24/87),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =4.539,P=0.033).The one-year,two-year and three-year survival rates of extremely high HVPG group and non-extremely high HVPG group were 92.6％ (25/27) vs 94.0％ (78/83),85.2％ (23/ 27) vs 94.0 ％ (78/83),and 85.2％ (23/27) vs 94.0％ (78/83),and the differences between two groups were not statistically significant (all P＞0.05).Single factor analysis showed that portal vein thrombosis was associated with rebleeding (hazard ratio (HR)=1.883,95％ confidence interval (CI) 1.015 to 3.492,P=0.045).No prognosis factors associated with survival were found.Conclusions Medium and long term rebleeding rate of the extremely high HVPG group is higher than that of the non-extremely high HVPG group.Extremely high HVPG does not affect the one-year prognosis of endoscopic therapy in secondary prophylaxis for patients with gastroesophageal varices.
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Objective To analyze the possibility of assessing portal hypertension in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis via contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and common serum markers.Methods Fifty-four patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were divided into two groups according to hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG):HVPG＜12 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and HVPG ≥12 mmHg.The non-invasive index of routine blood test,liver function,coagulation function,Child-pugh score (CPS) and the results of contrast-enhanced ultrasound such as hepatic artery arrival time (HAAT),hepatic vein arrival time (HVAT)、portal vein arrival time (PVAT),hepatic artery to henatic vein arrive transmit time (HA-HVTT) and portal vein to hepatic vein arrive transmit time (PV-HVTT) were assessed by univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis,and then were used to generate a diagnostic model.The receiver operating characteristic curve was also used for analysis.Results The non-invasive model is Y =-0.217 × PV-HVTT + 1.526 × CPS-7.097.When the area under ROC curve (AUROC) was ≥0.857 and the best cutoff value was ≥0.631,and the sensitivity and specificity in judging HVPG≥ 12 mmHg were 87.5 ％ and 78.6％,respectively.Conclusions The model composed of PV-HVTT and CPS could be used to assess portal hypertension.
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Portal hypertension is a common complication of chronic liver diseases and is responsible for most of the clinical consequences of cirrhosis.Accurate assessment of portal venous pressure is essential for the designing of treatment strategy and judging of prognosis.Measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the gold standard for evaluating portal venous pressure, however, it is an invasive procedure and is hard to be performed routinely in clinical practice.Therefore, it is urgent to explore a noninvasive method for assessing portal venous pressure.Recent evidence highlights that biochemical parameters, transient elastography, CT, MRI and the conjoint analysis model of multiple parameters have the potential diagnostic value.This article reviewed the advances in study on noninvasive assessment of portal venous pressure.
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Objective To investigate the correlation between liver and spleen stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG),and to evaluate its efficiency in the diagnosis of portal hypertension.Methods From April 2014 to March 2016,20 cases underwent HVPG measurement because of liver cirrhosis were enrolled.Before HVPG measurement,liver and spleen stiffness were assessed with ARFI.The correlation between HVPG and age,alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),total hilirubin,serum albumin,platelet count,prothrombin time,aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) score,Child-Pugh score,model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score,liver stiffness and spleen stiffness were analyzed.Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation were performed for statistical analysis.Results HVPG,liver and spleen stiffness were successfully measured in all 20 patients.The mean liver stiffness was (1.78±0.29) m/s,the mean spleen stiffness was (3.37±0.44) m/s and HVPG was (16.10±5.14) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa).Age,ALT,AST,total bilirubin,serum albumin,platelet count,prothrombin time,APRI score,Child-Pugh score and MELD score were all not correlated with HVPG (all P＞0.05).But HVPG was positively correlated with liver and spleen stiffness (r=0.449,P=0.047;r=0.487,P=0.030).In the diagnosis of HVPG≥12 mmHg,the area under curve (AUC) of liver stiffness was 0.875,the optimal cut-off value was 1.77 m/s,the sensitivity was 68.6 ％ and the specificity was 100.0％.In the diagnosis of HPVG≥20 mmHg,the AUC of liver stiffness was 0.798,the optimal cut off value was 1.85 m/s,the sensitivity was 100.0％ and the specificity was 68.8％.The AUC of spleen stiffness was 0.820,the optimal cut-off value was 3.23 m/s,the sensitivity was 100.0 ％ and the specificity was 56.3％.Conclusion In patients with liver cirrhosis,liver stiffness and spleen stiffness assessed by ARFI are positively correlated with HVPG and therefore ARFI has certain application value in the noninvasive diagnosis of portal hypertension.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Non-selective beta blockers (NSBBs) are currently the only accepted regimen for preventing portal hypertension (PHT)-related complications. However, the effect of NSBBs is insufficient in many cases. Bacterial translocation (BT) is one of the aggravating factors of PHT in cirrhosis; therefore, selective intestinal decontamination by rifaximin is a possible therapeutic option for improving PHT. We investigated whether the addition of rifaximin to propranolol therapy can improve hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) response. METHODS: Sixty-four cirrhosis patients were randomly assigned to propranolol monotherapy (n=48) versus rifaximin and propranolol combination therapy (n=16). Baseline and post-treatment HVPG values, BT-related markers (lipopolysaccharide [LPS], LPS-binding protein [LBP], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α]), serological data, and adverse event data were collected. HVPG response rate was the primary endpoint. RESULTS: Combination therapy was associated with better HVPG response rates than monotherapy (56.2% vs 87.5%, p=0.034). In combination therapy, posttreatment BT-related markers were significantly decreased (LPS, p=0.005; LBP, p=0.005; IL-6, p=0.005; TNF-α, p=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Rifaximin combination therapy showed an additive effect in improving PHT compared to propranolol monotherapy. These pilot data suggest that the addition of rifaximin to NSBBs could be a good therapeutic option for overcoming the limited effectiveness of NSBBs.
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Humans , Bacterial Translocation , Decontamination , Fibrosis , Hypertension, Portal , Interleukin-6 , Pilot Projects , Portal Pressure , Propranolol , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , Venous PressureABSTRACT
La hipertensión portal en el curso natural de las enfermedades hepáticas es una de las complicaciones más frecuentes resultado del aumento de la resistencia vascular hepática que determina el desarrollo de otros sucesos responsables de la mayor mortalidad en pacientes con hepatopatías. En consecuencia, el conocimiento de la fisiopatología de la hipertensión portal y de sus causas representa un factor importante para su adecuado manejo y el de las demás complicaciones relacionadas. Es así como se cuentan con métodos diagnósticos de diferentes tipos para la detección temprana y adecuada de dicha entidad; lo cual, además, corresponde al objetivo de la presente revisión: dar una mirada a los métodos diagnósticos utilizados para la detección de hipertensión portal, disponibles en la actualidad.
Portal hypertension is one of the most frequent complications in the natural course of liver disease. It results from increased hepatic vascular resistance and determines the development of other events responsible for increased mortality in patients with liver disease. Consequently, knowledge of the pathophysiology of portal hypertension and its causes is an important factor for handling it and related complications proper. Explanation of the various diagnostic methods for early and appropriate detection is one of the objectives of this review which will take a look at diagnostic methods available and in use for the detection of portal hypertension.
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Humans , Male , Female , Biomarkers , Elasticity Imaging Techniques , Fibrosis , Hypertension, Portal , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Portal PressureABSTRACT
Objective To assess the value of hepatic venous pressure gradient in the evaluation of early postoper﹣ative hemorrhage after endoscopic esophageal varices ligation (EVL). Methods 120 cases of rebleeding after EVL from January 2014 to January 2015 as subjects. Collect and study clinical indexes such as the venous pressure gra﹣dient, then used logistic regression analysis method to analyze the threshold assessment. Results Drinking, hemor﹣rhage in early stage, bilirubin, heart rate, blood transfusion, child Pugh score and MELD score were significant dif﹣ferences (P< 0.05); HVPG=16.98 mmHg, for the prediction of rebleeding threshold, and in the time of the highest predictive accuracy. Conclusion The hepatic venous pressure gradient has an accurate evaluation value for early postoperative hemorrhage after endoscopic esophageal varices ligation.
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Objective To explore the correlation between wedged hepatic vein pressure (WHVP) and directly measured portal vein pressure (PVP) and further analyze the correlation between hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and portal pressure gradient (PPG).Methods From December 2012 to April 2014,the related data including WHVP,free hepatic venous pressure (FHVP),inferior vena cava pressure (IVCP) and PVP of patients who received transjugular interahepatic portosystem stentshunt (TIPS) treatment were collected,and HVPG and PPG were calculated.The correlations between WHVP and PVP,between FHVP and IVCP,between HVPG and PPG were analyzed.Pearson's correlation analysis were performed for correlation analysis.Results Twenty two patients matched the criteria were enrolled during the December 2012 to April 2014.The mean pressures of PVP and WHVP were (28.07±4.43) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (26.22±5.91) mmHg,respectively.PVPand WHVP were positively correlated,the correlation coefficient of them was 0.431 (P=0.045) and slope was0.323.The mean pressures of FHVP and IVCP were (7.31±3.37) mmHg and (6.82±4.01) mmHg,respectively.FHVP and IVCP were positively correlated,the correlation coefficient of them was 0.845 (P＜0.01) and slope was 0.711.The mean pressures of PPG and HVPG was (21.02±3.76) mmHg and (18.90±4.86) mmHg,respectively.There was no correlation between PPG and HVPG,the correlation coefficient of them was 0.014 (P=0.951).Conclusions There is a good correlation between PVP and WHVP,and so is the correlation between FHVP and IVCP.However,there is no good correlation between HVPG and PPG in this study because of the effects of many factors.
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<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement is recommended for prognostic and therapeutic indications in centres with adequate resources and expertise. Our study aimed to evaluate the quality of HVPG measurements at our centre before and after introduction of a standardised protocol, and the clinical relevance of the HVPG to variceal bleeding in cirrhotics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HVPG measurements performed at Singapore General Hospital from 2005-2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Criteria for quality HVPG readings were triplicate readings, absence of negative pressure values and variability of ≤ 2 mmHg. The rate of variceal bleeding was compared in cirrhotics who achieved a HVPG response to pharmacotherapy (reduction of the HVPG to < 12 mmHg or by ≥ 20% of baseline) and those who did not.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>126 HVPG measurements were performed in 105 patients (mean age 54.7 ± 11.4 years; 55.2% men). 80% had liver cirrhosis and 20% had non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). The mean overall HVPG was 13.5 ± 7.2 mmHg, with a significant difference between the cirrhosis and NCPH groups (p < 0.001). The proportion of quality readings significantly improved after the protocol was introduced. HVPG response was achieved in 28 (33.3%, n = 84) cirrhotics. Nine had variceal bleeding over a median follow-up of 29 months. The rate of variceal bleeding was significantly lower in HVPG responders compared to nonresponders (p = 0.025).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The quality of HVPG measurements in our centre improved after the introduction of a standardised protocol. A HVPG response can prognosticate the risk of variceal bleeding in cirrhotics.</p>
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Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Esophageal and Gastric Varices , Follow-Up Studies , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage , Hypertension, Portal , Liver Cirrhosis , Portal Pressure , Physiology , Prognosis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the role of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) for prediction of long-term mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data from 97 non-critically-ill cirrhotic patients with HVPG measurements were retrospectively and consecutively collected between 2009 and 2012. Patients were classified according to clinical stages and presence of ascites. The prognostic accuracy of HVPG for death, survival curves, and hazard ratios were analyzed. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 24 (interquartile range, 13-36) months, 22 patients (22.7%) died. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curves of HVPG for predicting 1-year, 2-year, and overall mortality were 0.801, 0.737, and 0.687, respectively (all p17 mm Hg, respectively (p=0.015). In the ascites group, the mortality rates at 1 and 2 years were 3.9% and 17.6% with HVPG 17 mm Hg, respectively (p=0.044). Regarding the risk factors for mortality, both HVPG and model for end-stage liver disease were positively related with long-term mortality in all patients. Particularly, for the patients with ascites, both prothrombin time and HVPG were independent risk factors for predicting poor outcomes. CONCLUSION: HVPG is useful for predicting the long-term mortality in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, especially in the presence of ascites.
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Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Ascites/mortality , Hepatic Veins/physiopathology , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Liver Cirrhosis/blood , Liver Failure/diagnosis , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , Proportional Hazards Models , ROC Curve , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness Index , Venous PressureABSTRACT
Background: Literature regarding safe dose of carvedilol is limited and also safe dose across different child classes of chronic liver disease is not very clear. Aim: We aimed primarily to study, the effect of reasonably safe dose (12.5 mg) of carvedilol in acute reduction of portal pressure and compared it with chronic reduction of portal pressure, after proper optimization of dose of carvedilol. Second aim of our study was to define predictors of response for acute and chronic reduction of portal pressure and to assess difference in dose tolerated and response across different child class on chronic basis. Methods: One hundred two consecutive patients of cirrhosis of liver with significant portal hypertension were included and hepatic venous pressure gradient was measured at the base line and after 90 minutes of administration of 12.5 mg carvedilol. After proper dose optimization of carvedilol, hepatic venous pressure gradient was again measured after 3 months to assess the chronic response. Results: The mean age of study population was 58.3±6.6 years. A total of 42.2%, 31.9% and 26.6% patients had child class A, child class B and Child class C cirrhosis, respectively. Mean pre-drug hepatic venous pressure gradient was 16.75±2.12 mmHg which dropped to 13.07±2.32 mmHg after 90 minutes of administration of 12.5 mg of carvedilol. The mean drop of hepatic venous pressure gradient was 4.5±2.2 mmHg and 2.4±1.9 mmHg among responders and non-responders, respectively. Overall, 51% showed acute response while 49% were nonresponders. Low cardiac output and high mean arterial pressure were significantly predicting the acute response, while, low baseline cardiac output was found as an independent predictor. After dose optimization, number of responders increased from 52 to 62. Mean dose of carvedilol was higher in non–responders as compared to responders, though statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Mean reduction of hepatic venous pressure gradient from baseline and after 3 months was 5.5±1.7 mmHg and 2.8±1.6 mmHg among responders and non responders on chronic basis, respectively (p<0.001). Absence of any adverse events (OR 11.3, 95% CI; 1.9-67.8), and more than 2.5 mmHg fall in hepatic venous pressure gradient during acute response (OR 8.7, 95% CI; 3.1-25.3) were found as independent predictors of chronic response (p<0.05). Univariate analysis found that no adverse events, no ascites, low baseline cardiac output, more than 2.5 mmHg fall in hepatic venous pressure gradient during acute response, as predictors of chronic response. However, etiology, child class, variceal size (large vs small) and gender were not significantly associated with chronic response Conclusion: At safe dose and with proper optimization of dose, carvedilol may achieve greater response with minimum side effects among different child classes of liver disease.