ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Non-cirrhotic portal vein cavernoma (PVC) is a cause of portal hypertension (PH) frequently affecting women of childbearing age. Cavernous transformation of the portal vein is frequently associated with prothrombotic disorders and often entails multiple hemodynamic changes, porto-collateral shunt development and thrombopenia, all of which can affect the course of pregnancy. Our aim was to evaluate the risk of PH-related complications and pregnancy outcomes in patients with PVC. METHODS: Retrospective case series study of patients with PVC undergoing pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital. RESULTS: Eight pregnancies fulfilled the eligibility criteria. All patients had a predisposing factor for PVC. One episode of variceal bleeding was reported at week 28. Six cesarean sections were scheduled to avoid labor while two urgent surgeries were indicated due to fetal distress and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In all but one case, anticoagulation was prescribed after delivery. No hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications were reported. There were four cases of IUGR with no case of miscarriage or stillbirth. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy in patients with PVC has an overall favorable outcome albeit a higher risk of PH-derived complications, and IUGR may be expected. Hence, PVC must not be considered a contraindication for pregnancy although larger prospective studies are necessary.
Subject(s)
Esophageal and Gastric Varices , Hypertension, Portal , Hypertension , Pregnancy Complications , Venous Thrombosis , Pregnancy , Humans , Female , Pregnancy Outcome , Portal Vein , Esophageal and Gastric Varices/complications , Retrospective Studies , Venous Thrombosis/etiology , Prospective Studies , Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/complications , Hypertension, Portal/complications , Hypertension, Portal/surgery , Hypertension/complicationsABSTRACT
Safety of regorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) has been recently demonstrated. We aimed to assess the survival benefit of regorafenib compared with best supportive care (BSC) in LT patients after sorafenib discontinuation. This observational multicenter retrospective study included LT patients with HCC recurrence who discontinued first-line sorafenib. Group 1 comprised regorafenib-treated patients, whereas the control group was selected among patients treated with BSC due to unavailability of second-line options at the time of sorafenib discontinuation and who were sorafenib-tolerant progressors (group 2). Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) of group 1 compared with group 2. Secondary endpoints were safety and OS of sequential treatment with sorafenib + regorafenib/BSC. Among 132 LT patients who discontinued sorafenib included in the study, 81 were sorafenib tolerant: 36 received regorafenib (group 1) and 45 (group 2) received BSC. Overall, 24 (67%) patients died in group 1 and 40 (89%) in group 2: the median OS was significantly longer in group 1 than in group 2 (13.1 versus 5.5 months; P < 0.01). Regorafenib treatment was an independent predictor of reduced mortality (hazard ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-0.89; P = 0.02). Median treatment duration with regorafenib was 7.0 (95% CI, 5.5-8.5) months; regorafenib dose was reduced in 22 (61%) patients for adverse events and discontinued for tumor progression in 93% (n = 28). The median OS calculated from sorafenib start was 28.8 months (95% CI, 17.6-40.1) in group 1 versus 15.3 months (95% CI, 8.8-21.7) in group 2 (P < 0.01). Regorafenib is an effective second-line treatment after sorafenib in patients with HCC recurrence after LT.
