Increased Prevalence of Left Lobe Atrophy in Long-standing Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe long-term changes in standard blood tests and ultrasound (US) findings in pediatric patients with Extrahepatic Portal Vein Obstruction (EHPVO) who have not undergone Meso-Rex Bypass (MRB) surgery. METHODS: US, laboratory, and endoscopic data of 77 patients were analyzed and compared at 2 different points in time: at initial workup and at most recent follow-up. Differences were assessed using McNemar and Wilcoxon tests, while correlations were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was the most frequent initial manifestation of EHPVO, in 45.4% of subjects. The mean age at diagnosis was 4.3 years. Seventy-four percentage had a previous history of umbilical catheterization and/or neonatal sepsis. Over time, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and, interestingly, of left lobe atrophy (LLA), even though the number of esophageal varices and the need for endoscopic interventions reduced. A significant correlation was found between history of umbilical catheterization and LLA, splenomegaly and LLA, and gallbladder wall thickening and LLA. Overall, the number of patients with cholelithiasis at initial workup was low (and therefore, not analyzed with inferential statistics); however, we observed a relative increase over time. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with EHPVO followed over more than 8 years without treatment with MRB, we report the novel finding of a significant increase in the prevalence of LLA over time. LLA correlated with past medical history of umbilical catheterization, and findings of splenomegaly and gallbladder wall thickening. We propose that that LLA should be further explored as a marker of portal hypertension, particularly in the context of a history of umbilical catheterization.

Ultrasonographic predictors of esophageal varices.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify ultrasonographic predictors of esophageal varices (EVs) in children and adolescents with chronic liver disease (CLD) and extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO). METHODS: This study evaluates 53 patients younger than 20 years with CLD or EHPVO and no history of bleeding or prophylactic EVs treatment. They were divided into 2 groups: group I (35 with CLD) and group II (18 with EHPVO). Splenorenal shunt (SS), gallbladder wall varices, gallbladder wall thickening (GT), and lesser omental thickness (LOT) were compared with the presence of EVs, gastric varices, and portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). Univariate (χ² test, Fisher exact test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test) and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were performed. The area under the receiver operating curve was calculated. RESULTS: EVs were observed in 48.5% of patients with CLD and in 83.3% of patients with EHPVO. SS (P = 0.0329) and LOT (P = 0.0151) predicted EV among patients with CLD. A median of 5.3 mm of LOT was considered a predictor of EVs among these patients. Multivariate analysis showed SS as an independent predictor of EVs in patients with EHPVO (odds ratio 15). Gallbladder varices (P = 0.0245) and GT (P = 0.0289) predicted EVs among patients with EHPVO. PHG occurred more often among patients with CLD who had SS (P = 0.0384) and greater LOT (P = 0.0226). CONCLUSIONS: SS and a greater LOT were indicative of EV among children and adolescents with CLD. Gallbladder varices and GT were indicative of EVs among patients with EHPVO. SS and a greater LOT were indicative of PHG among patients with CLD.