RESUMO
Objective:In this study, a simple and easy diagnostic index of sarcopenia based on computed tomography (CT) images, linear skeletal muscle index (LSMI), was proposed and its diagnostic efficiency was verified.Methods:From April 2013 to September 2017, patients with cirrhotic gastroesophageal varices were selected from the Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. The SMI of the third lumbar lower than 50 cm 2/m 2 in male and 39 cm 2/m 2 in female was defined as sarcopenia. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Youden index and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of LSMI in patients with cirrhotic gastroesophageal varices. Results:A total of 115 patients with cirrhotic gastroesophageal varices were finally recruited. All participants were randomly divided into modeling group ( n=58) and validation group ( n=57). In the modeling group, the area under the ROC curve of LSMI was 0.913(95% CI:0.84-0.986, P<0.001) in total population, 0.895(95% CI:0.793-0.997, P<0.001) in male and 0.917(95% CI:0.782-1.000, P<0.008) in female. The cut-off value of LSMI was 24.114 cm 2/m 2 in male and 22.54 cm 2/m 2 in female. According to the diagnostic cut-off value of the modeling group, the area under the ROC curve of LSMI was 0.846(95% CI:0.737-0.954, P<0.001) in the validation group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and Youden index were 88.5%, 80.6%, 79.3%, 89.3% and 0.691, respectively. Conclusions:48.7% of patients with cirrhosis of esophageal and gastric varices have sarcopenia. LSMI is a simple and convenient method for diagnosis of sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis.
RESUMO
Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with unknown etiology of portal hypertension and investigate the efficacy of endoscopic management of gastroesophageal varices in these patients.Methods:Patients with unknown etiology of portal hypertension and gastroesophageal varices who received liver biopsy between January, 2017 and January, 2020 in Zhongshan Hospital were included. The characteristics of pathology, portal computed tomography (CT) angiography, and endoscopy were recorded and follow-up for the occurrence of bleeding after treatment.Results:A total of 31 patients were included and divided into cirrhosis with unknown etiology group ( n=10) and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension group ( n=21). Patients in the non-cirrhotic group were younger [28.0(29.5-49.5) vs 58.5(43.5-65.8), P=0.004] and mostly male (71.4%), and fewer comorbidities including diabetes (4.8% vs 40.0%, P=0.027). The features of pathology finding including vasculopathy, cholestasis, and hepatic sinusoidal dilatation as well as the Sarin classification and bleeding rate of gastroesophageal varices, proportion of patients receiving endoscopic treatment were shown similar between the two groups ( P>0.05). The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was significantly lower in the non-cirrhotic group [4.5(2.8-12.8)mmHg vs 12(8-18)mmHg, P=0.018]. Among them, 21 patients received endoscopic treatment, and the bleeding rate had no difference between these two groups after endoscopic treatment ( P=0.751). Conclusions:Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in a predominantly young male population has similar clinicalpathological characteristics when compared to cirrhotic portal hypertension with unknown etiology. HVPG can not reflect the actual portal pressure in these patients. Endoscopic treatment is the effective treatment option for the prevention of variceal bleeding.