Underlying mechanism of portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhosis: a hemodynamic and morphological approach

The relationship between portal hypertension and portal hypertensive gastropathy

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) most commonly occurs in the setting of increased portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis. Here, we aimed to understand the correlation between hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and the presence and severity of PHG in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

We examined patients with cirrhosis who underwent HVPG measurement at the Medical University of South Carolina between 2014 and 2020. Extensive demographic, clinical, laboratory, procedural (including precise grading of PHG severity using standard definitions), and outcome data were abstracted at the time of HVPG measurement.

RESULTS

Three hundred and ten patients with HVPG measurements and cirrhosis were identified. Seventy-three patients having endoscopy within 6 months of HVPG measurement were included (mean age 54 ± 11, 44% female). The most common causes of cirrhosis were alcohol (41%) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (32%). The average HVPG was 15 mmHg (±6) and 62 patients had clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) (HVPG ≥ 10 mmHg). Of the 73 patients with HVPG measured, 45 (62%) had PHG, including 40 (89%) of whom had CSPH. Out of the 45 patients with PHG, 41 and four had mild or severe PHG, respectively. MELD scores were similar in patients with and without PHG [15 ± 9 (SD) and 17 ± 9, respectively; p = .37]. HVPG was higher in patients with PHG (17 ± 7 mmHg) than those without PHG (13 ± 4 mmHg) (p = .01) but did not differ between mild and severe PHG.

CONCLUSION

A weak correlation exists between HVPG level and the presence of PHG.

Serum serotonin as a non-invasive marker of portal hypertensive gastropathy in Egyptian patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis

Background and study aims

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is an important complication of portal hypertension (PHT) in cirrhotic patients. We aimed in the current study to investigate the validity of serum serotonin as a probable non-invasive marker for PHG in cirrhotic patients with PHT. We conducted this study on 100 HCV-related cirrhotic patients divided into three groups according to their endoscopic findings; group I: patients with no endoscopic signs of PHG; group II: patients with mild PHG; and group III: patients with severe PHG. All subjects had routine laboratory investigations, serum serotonin level using ELISA kits, calculation of Child's score, abdominal ultrasound, and upper GIT endoscopy.

Results

Serum serotonin was significantly higher in those with PHG than those without (t= 5.128, p <0.001). Moreover, it was significantly higher in patients with severe degree of PHG than those with mild PHG (t=7.357, p<0.001). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between serum serotonin and Child Pugh score (t=7.357, p<0.001). Roc curve analysis revealed that serum serotonin at a level ? 26.5 ng/ml had a 78.82% sensitivity, 73.33% specificity, and accuracy of 78% to discriminate between those with signs of PHG and those without.

Conclusion

Serum serotonin is a valuable non-invasive marker of PHG in HCV-cirrhotic patients. Furthermore, its serial measurements could be used to monitor disease progression.

Role of the posterior mucosal defense barrier in portal hypertensive gastropathy

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a complication of cirrhotic or noncirrhotic portal hypertension. PHG is very important in the clinic because it can cause acute or even massive blood loss, and its treatment efficacy and prognosis are poor. Currently, the incidence of PHG in patients with cirrhosis is 20-80%, but its pathogenesis is complicated and poorly understood. Studies have shown that portal hypertension can cause changes in gastric mucosal microcirculation hemodynamics, leading to changes in gastric mucosal histology and function and thereby weakening the mucosal defense barrier. However, no specific drug treatment plans are currently available. This article reviews the current literature to further our understanding of the mechanism underlying PHG and the relationship between PHG and the posterior mucosal defense barrier and to explore new therapeutic targets.

Portal Hypertensive Polyps as Gastroscopic Finding in Liver Cirrhosis

Background

Portal hypertensive polyps in patients with portal hypertension are described.

Aims

The most significant and serious complication in liver cirrhosis proves to be portal hypertension. Polypoid lesions, which can be seen in the stomach as endoscopic finding in patients with portal hypertension, have not quite been defined in the literature. The aim of this study, therefore, was to define polypoid lesion formation due to portal hypertension in the upper gastrointestinal system in patients with portal hypertension. Study Design. Cross-sectional study.

Methods

The study covered a group of patients with liver cirrhosis and a healthy control group that did not have portal hypertension. All individuals covered by the study received upper GI endoscopy, while the endoscopic features and pathological characteristics of the identified polypoid lesions were defined. Standard histological criteria were used in polyp diagnosis.

Results

A total of 400 individuals were included in the study. Upper GI endoscopy was performed for 200 patients with liver cirrhosis and another 200 healthy individuals with no portal hypertension in the control group. When the cases were gastroscopically assessed with regard to polypoid lesion presence, it was seen that a total of 87 (21.8%) individuals had polyps. While 67 (33.5%) cirrhotic patients were identified to have polyps, 20 (10%) individuals in the healthy control group had polyps. When the results of those with liver cirrhosis who received esophageal variceal endoscopic band ligation (EVL) and who did not were compared, it was observed that a higher number of individuals in the group with EVL had polypoid lesions. When the patient and control groups were compared as to Helicobacter pylori presence, the results showed that it was slightly higher in the dyspepsia group but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Portal hypertension-associated polypoid lesions are common in advanced liver cirrhosis cases. The pathological analyses of these polyps pointed out that they were all benign and no malignant cases were detected. It was argued that these polypoid lesions, referred to as portal hypertensive polyps, were associated with elevated angiogenesis in the gastric mucosa.

Portal hypertensive gastropathy is associated with iron deficiency anemia

Background and aims

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is common in patients with cirrhosis and may cause bleeding. This study systematically explored the independent impact of patient characteristics, portal hypertension and hepatic dysfunction on PHG severity and associated anemia.

Methods

Patients with cirrhosis undergoing endoscopy were included in this retrospective analysis and PHG was endoscopically graded as absent, mild or severe. Clinical and laboratory parameters and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) were assessed with respect to an association with severity of PHG.

Results

A total of 110 patients (mean age: 57 years, 69% male) with mostly alcoholic liver disease (49%) or viral hepatitis (30%) were included: 15 (13.6%) patients had no PHG, 59 (53.6%) had mild PHG, and 36 (32.7%) had severe PHG. Severe PHG was significantly associated with male sex (83.3% vs. 62.2% in no or mild PHG; p = 0.024) and higher Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) stage (CTP-C: 38.9% vs. 27.0% in no or mild PHG; p = 0.030), while MELD was similar (p = 0.253). Patients with severe PHG had significantly lower hemoglobin values (11.2 ± 0.4 g/dL vs. 12.4 ± 0.2 g/dL; p = 0.008) and a higher prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA: 48.5% vs. 26.9%; p = 0.032). Interestingly, HVPG was not significantly higher in severe PHG (median 20 mm Hg) vs. mild PHG (19 mm Hg) and no PHG (18 mm Hg; p = 0.252). On multivariate analysis, CTP score (odds ratio, OR: 1.25, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.02–1.53; p = 0.033) was independently associated with severe PHG, while only a trend towards an independent association with IDA was observed (OR: 2.28, 95% CI 0.91–5.72; p = 0.078).

Conclusion

The CTP score but not HVPG or MELD were risk factors for severe PHG. Importantly, anemia and especially IDA are significantly more common in patients with severe PHG.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s00508-019-01593-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Five-year-term results in cirrhotics without varices, either affected or not by portal hypertensive gastropathy

OBJECTIVES

Information is lacking on the appearance of varices in cirrhotics, either affected or not by portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). We assessed whether the absence or presence and the grade of PHG influenced the development of varices in cirrhotics without varices over time.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty cirrhotics without varices affected or not by PHG at baseline underwent follow-up endoscopy after 5 years. One-tailed t-test and the χ-test were used to evaluate variable comparison and the presence of associations. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and the analysis of variance test were carried out to compare the variables and identify predictors of varices.

RESULTS

The Child-Pugh score at baseline and after 5 years was significantly different (5.72±0.98 vs. 6.25±1.67, P<0.001). After 5 years, 10 (25%) cirrhotics were affected by varices, whereas 30 (75%) patients remained without varices. PHG was associated significantly with varices (P=0.001), proving to be a significant predictive independent factor for their development over time (F=4.765, significant=0.004; analysis of variance test, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

A link between the duration of PHG and the development of varices is likely. An early therapeutic management of PHG might delay the development of varices in cirrhotics.

Utility of histology for the diagnosis of portal hypertensive gastroenteropathy. Concordance between the endoscopic image and gastrointestinal biopsies. Role of the CD34 marker

INTRODUCTION

Upper gastroscopy in patients with cirrhosis often reveals non-specific lesions, which are usually oriented as portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). However, the diagnosis of PHG can be difficult, both from an endoscopic and histological point of view. The study of CD34 expression, which enhances the endothelial cells of the microvasculature, could help the differential diagnosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the correlation between endoscopy and histology in the diagnosis of PHG and to assess the utility of CD34 in the diagnosis of PHG.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The results of immunostaining with CD34 gastric fundus biopsies from 100 cirrhotic patients and 20 controls were compared with the endoscopic images.

RESULTS

The correlation between the histology and the endoscopic diagnosis of PHG was very low (kappa=0.15). In addition, the measurement of the diameter of the gastric vessels enhanced by the use of immunohistochemical staining (CD34) did not show good correlation with the endoscopic diagnosis (p=.26) and did not provide relevant information for the histological diagnosis of PHG either.

DISCUSSION

The correlation between histology and endoscopy is low for the diagnosis of PHG. The use of immunostaining for CD34 does not seem to improve the diagnostic yield of the histological study.

Utility of histology for the diagnosis of portal hypertensive gastroenteropathy. Concordance between the endoscopic image and gastrointestinal biopsies. Role of the CD34 marker

INTRODUCTION

Upper gastroscopy in patients with cirrhosis often reveals non-specific lesions, which are usually oriented as portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). However, the diagnosis of PHG can be difficult, both from an endoscopic and histological point of view. The study of CD34 expression, which enhances the endothelial cells of the microvasculature, could help the differential diagnosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the correlation between endoscopy and histology in the diagnosis of PHG and to assess the utility of CD34 in the diagnosis of PHG.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The results of immunostaining with CD34 gastric fundus biopsies from 100 cirrhotic patients and 20 controls were compared with the endoscopic images.

RESULTS

The correlation between the histology and the endoscopic diagnosis of PHG was very low (kappa=0.15). In addition, the measurement of the diameter of the gastric vessels enhanced by the use of immunohistochemical staining (CD34) did not show good correlation with the endoscopic diagnosis (p=.26) and did not provide relevant information for the histological diagnosis of PHG either.

DISCUSSION

The correlation between histology and endoscopy is low for the diagnosis of PHG. The use of immunostaining for CD34 does not seem to improve the diagnostic yield of the histological study.

Portal hypertensive gastropathy as a prognostic index in patients with liver cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a frequently overlooked complication of liver cirrhosis (LC). The clinical implications of PHG as a prognostic factor of LC or a predictive factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been established. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of PHG in patients with LC.

METHODS

Patients with LC were prospectively enrolled and followed in a single tertiary hospital in the Republic of Korea. Baseline hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) was measured, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed. The associations of PHG with HVPG, survival and the development of HCC were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 587 patients were enrolled. The mortality rate was 20.3 % (n = 119), and HCC developed in 9.2 % (n = 54) during the follow-up period (32.6 ± 27.8 months). The grade of PHG was well correlated with HVPG (no PGH: median 9.2 [IQR: 7.2-16.7], mild PHG: 14.6 [10.1-19.3], and severe PHG: 17.3 [12.3-21.5], P < 0.001), as well as with Child-Pugh class, MELD score or survival. However, it was not associated with the development of HCC. The grade of PHG (HR 3.29, 95 % CI: 1.12-9.63, severe vs. no PHG) and Child-Pugh class (HR 3.53, 95 % CI: 1.79-6.97, Child C vs A) showed significant associations with mortality.

CONCLUSION

PHG was well correlated with portal hypertension and could be used as a prognostic factor for LC but not for the prediction of HCC.

The Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy: A Case and Review of Literature

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a cause of high risk for morbidity and mortality. It has been debated in alcoholic cirrhosis, if alcohol exerts an exclusive and causal role upon gastropathy or whether it is linked to cirrhotic portal hypertension. The authors describe an autopsy report regarding mortality caused by gastric bleeding in a 53-year-old patient who suffered from cirrhosis. Literature has evidence of direct, marked damage of alcohol upon the gastric mucosa and there is noteworthy statistical data implying the revaluation of the pathogenesis of the bleeding.

The spectrum of gastric pathology in portal hypertension-An endoscopic and pathologic study of 550 cases

One of the main tasks for pathologists when evaluating gastric biopsies from patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is to examine whether there is increased mucosal vasculature as suggested by endoscopy. However, the full spectrum of pathology findings in patients with portal hypertension (pHTN) is largely unknown. We systematically characterized the endoscopic and pathologic features in gastric biopsies from pHTN patients (study group) and compared with those from patients without pHTN (control group). The study group consisted of 550 consecutive surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopic (EGD) biopsies, whereas the control group included 281 consecutive EGD biopsies for a variety of indications. As expected, the endoscopic prevalence of PHG was 28%, among which two-thirds showed corresponding histopathologic evidence of increased vasculature. However, non-Helicobacter pylori gastritis was the most common finding in pHTN patients on histology (40%). In addition, hyperplastic polyp was also more common in pHTN patients than in controls (6% vs 3%; P=0.0314). In contrast, pathology findings of nonspecific reactive changes (29% vs 51%; P<0.0001), proton pump inhibitor-related changes (16% vs 30%; P<0.0001), and malignancy (1% vs 3%; P=0.0138) were less common in pHTN patients. Our results show a spectrum of gastric endoscopic and pathologic findings in pHTN patients. The predominant gastric pathology in pHTN patients may be associated with pHTN-induced gastric microcirculation impairment.

Portal hypertensive gastropathy with a focus on management

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a painless condition of gastric mucosal ectasia and impaired mucosal defense, commonly seen in patients with elevated portal pressures. While it is typically asymptomatic and incidentally discovered on upper endoscopy, acute and chronic bleeding may occur. There are no definitive recommendations for treatment of asymptomatic PHG. Non-selective β-blockers represent the mainstay of therapy for chronic bleeding, while somatostatin and vasopressin and their derivatives may be used in conjunction with supportive measures for acute bleeding. Salvage therapy with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or rarely surgical shunt is appropriate when medical management fails. The role of endoscopic therapy for PHG is controversial. Liver transplantation should be considered as a final resort in cases of refractory bleeding due to PHG.

Portal hypertensive gastropathy: A systematic review of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, natural history and therapy

AIM

To describe the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, natural history, and therapy of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) based on a systematic literature review.

METHODS

Computerized search of the literature was performed via PubMed using the following medical subject headings or keywords: "portal" and "gastropathy"; or "portal" and "hypertensive"; or "congestive" and "gastropathy"; or "congestive" and "gastroenteropathy". The following criteria were applied for study inclusion: Publication in peer-reviewed journals, and publication since 1980. Articles were independently evaluated by each author and selected for inclusion by consensus after discussion based on the following criteria: Well-designed, prospective trials; recent studies; large study populations; and study emphasis on PHG.

RESULTS

PHG is diagnosed by characteristic endoscopic findings of small polygonal areas of variable erythema surrounded by a pale, reticular border in a mosaic pattern in the gastric fundus/body in a patient with cirrhotic or non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Histologic findings include capillary and venule dilatation, congestion, and tortuosity, without vascular fibrin thrombi or inflammatory cells in gastric submucosa. PHG is differentiated from gastric antral vascular ectasia by a different endoscopic appearance. The etiology of PHG is inadequately understood. Portal hypertension is necessary but insufficient to develop PHG because many patients have portal hypertension without PHG. PHG increases in frequency with more severe portal hypertension, advanced liver disease, longer liver disease duration, presence of esophageal varices, and endoscopic variceal obliteration. PHG pathogenesis is related to a hyperdynamic circulation, induced by portal hypertension, characterized by increased intrahepatic resistance to flow, increased splanchnic flow, increased total gastric flow, and most likely decreased gastric mucosal flow. Gastric mucosa in PHG shows increased susceptibility to gastrotoxic chemicals and poor wound healing. Nitrous oxide, free radicals, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and glucagon may contribute to PHG development. Acute and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding are the only clinical complications. Bleeding is typically mild-to-moderate. Endoscopic therapy is rarely useful because the bleeding is typically diffuse. Acute bleeding is primarily treated with octreotide, often with concomitant proton pump inhibitor therapy, or secondarily treated with vasopressin or terlipressin. Nonselective β-adrenergic receptor antagonists, particularly propranolol, are used to prevent bleeding after an acute episode or for chronic bleeding. Iron deficiency anemia from chronic bleeding may require iron replacement therapy. Transjugular-intrahepatic-portosystemic-shunt and liver transplantation are highly successful ultimate therapies because they reduce the underlying portal hypertension.

CONCLUSION

PHG is important to recognize in patients with cirrhotic or non-cirrhotic portal hypertension because it can cause acute or chronic GI bleeding that often requires pharmacologic therapy.

Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy quantitative morphometric markers associated with portal hypertension in duodenal mucosa

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Early detection of portal hypertension (PH) may help to prevent the morbidity of late-stage cirrhosis by stratifying disease severity and enabling disease-modifying interventions in potentially reversible conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic hepatitis. This study seeks to correlate morphometric features by confocal endomicroscopy with established surrogate clinical markers of PH.

METHODS

Patients with and without PH scheduled for upper endoscopy at VA Boston participated in this IRB-approved study. Real-time probe-based confocal endomicroscopy (pCLE) was performed in the duodenum. Vascular and epithelial morphometry was performed off-line, in a blinded manner, using image-processing software.

RESULTS

Morphometric analysis of pCLE images from 16 patients with PH and 15 control patients was performed. Statistically significant differences were observed among control and PH patients for average vessel diameter (AVD: 11.7 μm vs. 17.1 μm), average vessel branching (AVB: 0.11 vs. 0.31 bifurcations per image frame), and average columnar cell height (ACCH: 40.0 μm vs. 52.0 μm). Spearman correlations comparing AVD, AVB and ACCH to portal gastropathy scores (0.86, 0.44 and 0.70) and to grade of oesophageal varices (0.88, 0.41 and 0.66) were statistically significant. Similarly, Pearson correlations of AVD and ACCH to spleen size (0.72 and 0.57), platelet count (-0.69 and -0.40) and the platelet count/spleen size ratio (-0.69 and -0.41) were also found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Duodenal pCLE reveals microvascular dilatation and altered epithelial cell volume/morphology in PH. These morphometric pCLE markers correlate with surrogate markers of PH. Additional studies will define the correlation between microscopic vascular patterns, epithelial cell volume and the hepatic venous pressure gradient.

Portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotics without varices: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Information is lacking on portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) in cirrhotics without varices; our aim it is to evaluate whether clinical and sonographic parameters are associated with PHG and may provide information suitable for the management of these patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

After endoscopic selection of 145 cirrhotics without varices, 75 with PHG and 70 without PHG, clinical and sonographic characteristics were assessed.

RESULTS

Forty portosystemic shunts were present in 27 patients. The mean Child-Pugh score was 6.3±1.4 and 5.6±0.5 in patients with severe and mild PHG, respectively (P=0.004). The mean portal vein diameter was 10.4±1.7 and 11.6±2.0 mm in cirrhotics without and with PHG, respectively (P=0.0002).

CONCLUSION

A link between the presence of PHG and a more advanced phase of cirrhosis was found. Duplex Doppler sonography was confirmed to be a valuable diagnostic method in monitoring cirrhosis. Management of these patients cannot be performed on the basis of a single diagnostic method, and a multimodal diagnostic approach is required.

Review article: the management of portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia in cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) are important causes of both acute and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.

AIM

To review the current management of PHG and GAVE.

METHODS

PubMed was searched for English language articles using the key words 'GAVE', 'gastric antral vascular ectasia', 'cirrhosis', 'gastrointestinal bleeding', 'acute', 'chronic', 'portal hypertensive gastropathy', 'watermelon stomach', 'radiofrequency ablation', 'band ligation', 'thermoablation' and 'TIPSS'.

RESULTS

GAVE and PHG are both encountered in patients with cirrhosis. They can be seen in asymptomatic patients and in those with either acute or chronic gastrointestinal bleeding. PHG, by definition, requires the presence of portal hypertension, with or without cirrhosis, whereas GAVE requires neither cirrhosis nor portal hypertension. They can often be diagnosed on endoscopic appearance alone, but may require biopsy in certain cases. The treatment of PHG is aimed at reducing hepatic venous pressure gradients, most often by pharmacologic means, but may require shunt procedures in severe cases. Management of GAVE on the other hand is predominantly endoscopic, focusing on various ablative techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Gastric antral vascular ectasia and portal hypertensive gastropathy are distinct entities and are both encountered in cirrhotic patients. Management of portal hypertensive gastropathy is centred on reduction in portal pressures, whereas treatment of gastric antral vascular ectasia is predominantly endoscopic.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori and its virulence factors on portal hypertensive gastropathy and interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels

BACKGROUND/AIM

We aimed to assess the influence of Helicobacter pylori and its virulent factors, cytotoxin associated gene (cag) A and E, on portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and the levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The patients with cirrhosis underwent screening endoscopy and the lesions related to PHG were graded. Biopsies were obtained for histology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of H. pylori 16S rRNA, cagA, cagE, and tissue cytokine levels was carried out. Absent or mild PHG was compared with moderate to severe PHG.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty patients with cirrhosis were studied; males numbered 92 and the mean age of the patients was 50.3 ± 12.0 years, H. pylori positivity in 87 (62.1%) patients was associated with male gender (P = 0.032), younger age (P = 0.029), hepatitis D etiology (P = 0.005), higher serum albumin (0.000), lower Child Pugh score (P = 0.001), and lower portal vein diameter (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in the levels of TNF-α and IL-8. However, a decrease in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was noted with moderate to severe gastropathy. Four H. pylori strains were positive for both cagA and cagE, while four were positive for cagA only. All the four patients with both virulent factors had mild gastropathy only.

CONCLUSION

The presence of H. pylori infection neither affected the severity of PHG nor augmented the IL-8 and TNF-α levels. There was a decline of virulent H. pylori strains and IL-10 levels in patients with advanced PHG.

Treatment with valsartan reduces TGF-β1 expression and collagen fiber content in the portal vein of rats with portal hypertensive gastropathy

AIM: To investigate the effect of treatment with valsartan on portal vein lesions in rats with portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG).

METHODS: Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a PHG model group, a valsartan prevention group, a normal dose valsartan group, and a double dose valsartan group. Partial portal vein ligation was used to induce PHG. Portal venous pressure (PVP) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect TGF-β1 protein expression in the portal vein, and Masson's trichrome technique was used to determine the content of collagen fibers.

RESULTS: The PVP decreased significantly in the normal dose valsartan group, double dose valsartan group and prevention group compared with the model group (13.32 cmH₂O ± 0.96 cmH₂O vs 9.54 cmH₂O ± 0.80 cmH₂O, 9.04 cmH₂O ± 0.96 cmH₂O, 8.30 cmH₂O ± 0.41 cmH₂O, all P < 0.01). TGF-β1 expression and collagen fiber content were significantly higher in the model group than in the sham operation group (8.51 ± 1.42 vs 5.73 ± 0.87, 2.01 ± 1.25 vs 0.82 ± 0.54); however, TGF-β1 expression and collagen fiber content were significantly lower in the valsartan normal dose group, double dose group and prevention group than in the model group (6.54 ± 1.09, 6.45 ± 1.37, 6.42 ± 1.98 vs 8.51 ± 1.42; 0.92 ± 0.53, 1.09 ± 0.40, 1.03 ± 0.36 vs 2.01 ± 1.25, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: TGF-β1 expression and collagen fiber content in the portal vein increase in rats with PHG. Treatment with valsartan can not only reduce portal pressure and TGF-β1 expression in the portal vein but also decrease collagen synthesis.

Randomized clinical trial of vessel sealing system (LigaSure) in esophagogastric devascularization and splenectomy in patients with portal hypertension

BACKGROUND

The LigaSure vessel sealing system (Valleylab, Boulder, CO) has been tested, with excellent results, in different fields of surgery. However, no study has evaluated the efficiency of the LigaSure in open esophagogastric decongestion and splenectomy in a randomized trial to date.

METHODS

Patients scheduled to undergo esophagogastric decongestion and splenectomy were assigned to the use of either the LigaSure or a conventional clamp-and-tie technique. Primary outcome measures were operating time and intraoperative blood loss. Secondary outcome measures were postoperative drainage volume, complications such as spleen fever, bleeding, portal vein thrombosis, length of incision, pain, and time to discharge.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were randomized to the LigaSure (n = 30) and clamp-and-tie (n = 30) groups. The groups were well matched with respect to liver function, associated illnesses, and grading of esophageal varices. Postoperative outcomes in drainage and major complications did not differ between the groups, while operative time and the volume of blood loss were significantly decreased in the LigaSure group compared with the clamp-and-tie group (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the LigaSure is safe and effective in vessel division and homeostasis in the esophagogastric decongestion and splenectomy, with statistically significant decreases in operative time and intraoperative blood loss and without significantly modifying postoperative results.

The management of portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia

Portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia are gastric mucosal lesions that can cause chronic gastrointestinal haemorrhage and, consequently, chronic anaemia, in patients with cirrhosis. Although chronic anaemia is the most common clinical manifestation, these entities may also lead to acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Despite similar clinical manifestations, their pathophysiology and management are entirely different. Their diagnosis is endoscopic and although generally each of them has a characteristic endoscopic appearance and distribution, there are cases in which the differential is difficult and must rely on histology. This review focuses on the management of both entities. The mainstay of management of portal hypertensive gastropathy is based on portal-hypotensive pharmacological treatment whilst gastric antral vascular ectasia benefits from endoscopic therapy. More invasive options should be reserved for refractory cases.

Portal gastropathy and duodenopathy in children with extrahepatic and intrahepatic portal hypertension: endoscopic diagnosis and histologic scoring

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of portal gastropathy (PG) and duodenopathy (PD) in children, to document the correlation of various clinical and laboratory parameters associated with portal hypertensive gastroduodenal lesions, to compare the endoscopic portal hypertensive lesions with different histologic findings, and to evaluate the use of a possible histologic scoring system.

METHODS

All children undergoing endoscopic investigation for portal hypertension (PH) between January 2006 and November 2007 were analysed retrospectively. Clinical and demographical data and endoscopic and histologic findings were recorded. Histologic findings suggestive of PG and PD (capillary dilation, increased numbers of capillaries, histologic bleeding, and edema) were scored.

RESULTS

Of 51 consecutive children (29 boys, mean age 10.1 ± 3.6 years [range 2.5-15.8 years]), 28 were cirrhotic. PG was diagnosed in 58.8% endoscopically. Children with cirrhotic PH had the highest rate of PG (64.3%), whereas those with extrahepatic or intrahepatic noncirrhotic PH were alike (50% and 54.5%, respectively). Baveno PG scores were higher in children with cirrhosis with higher Child-Pugh scores. Capillary dilation was the only histologic finding showing significant association with the endoscopic diagnosis. Only 9% had PD on endoscopy. None of the histologic findings correlated with endoscopic diagnosis of PD.

CONCLUSIONS

PG and PD are seen in children with extrahepatic and intrahepatic PH at rates similar to those reported in adult studies. Baveno PG scores increased in parallel with Child-Pugh class in children with cirrhosis. Capillary dilation was the only histologic finding showing significant association with the endoscopic diagnosis of PG in this study.