Portal Hypertension In Patients Research Articles

Research status and hotspots in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts based on CiteSpace bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an important technique for treating complications related to portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis, and the number of publications in the TIPS field continues to rise. AIM To facilitate an understanding of the research status and hotspots in the field of TIPS using CiteSpace bibliometric analysis. METHODS CiteSpace is a software that depicts the strength of relationships through graphics and connections with diverse functionalities and can be used to analyze the status and hotspots of areas of research. Articles on TIPS in the Web of Science Core Collection were retrieved, and CiteSpace software was used to visualize and analyze the number of publications, journals, countries, institutions, authors, keywords, and citations. RESULTS A total of 985 relevant documents were included in the analysis. From January 2013 to December 2022, the number of publications increased annually. The journal, institution, and author with the greatest number of publications in the field of TIPS are the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology , the University of Bonn, and Jonel Trebicka, respectively. The main keywords used in this field are “transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt”, “portal hypertension”, “cirrhosis”, “management”, “stent”, “hepatic encephalopathy”, “refractory ascite”, “survival”, “risk”, and “variceal bleeding”. The greatest obstacle to TIPS placement is currently the occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy. The research hotspots are the mechanism, risk factors, management, and control of hepatic encephalopathy. CONCLUSION This bibliometric analysis reported the research status and hotspots of TIPS. Research on postoperative hepatic encephalopathy is the research hotspot in this field.

Clinically significant portal hypertension in patients with primary biliary cholangitis: Clinicopathological features and prognostic value

Introduction and objectivesPrimary biliary cholangitis (PBC) may progress to clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) before the development of cirrhosis. This study aimed to investigate CSPH incidence as well as the clinicopathological characteristics and predictive value of these features for the prognosis of patients with PBC, especially at early histologic stage. Patients and methodsPatients diagnosed with PBC between January 2013 and April 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The prognostic value of baseline clinicopathological characteristics for long-term outcomes in PBC patients with CSPH was assessed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and COX regression analysis. ResultsAmong 280 patients with PBC, 104 underwent liver biopsy and 68 were at early histologic stage. CSPH was present in 47.2 % of participants with 20.6 % at early histologic stage. CSPH was a risk factor for predicting the liver transplant-free survival in PBC patients (hazard ratio [HR], 6.78; 95 % CI, 2.94–15.63), especially those at early stage. Perisinusoidal fibrosis and nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) were common histopathological features in PBC patients with CSPH at the early stages. Fibrous septa formation in the hepatic lobules (HR, 4.85; 95 % CI, 1.51–15.52) and cholestasis (HR, 7.70; 95 % CI, 2.56–23.18) were independent predictors of adverse outcomes. ConclusionsCSPH indicates an increased risk of adverse outcomes in PBC patients, especially those in early histologic stage. Perisinusoidal fibrosis and NRH are valuable histological features of CSPH in patients with early-stage PBC. Identification of clinicopathological features and assessment of portal hypertension (especially at early stage), contribute to the development of personalized strategies.

Efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis can present with features of severe portal hypertension, which can be worsened further by portal vein tumoral thrombosis (PVTT). Due to the technical difficulties and short survival of these patients, HCC was traditionally considered a relative contra-indication for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). However, there is an increasing body of evidence, mainly from China, supporting the use of TIPS in HCC. The present study aimed at analyzing the efficacy and safety of TIPS in patients with HCC. From 2000 through May 2023, MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus were searched for studies analyzing the outcome of TIPS in HCC. Technical and clinical success, adverse events (AE) and mortality were the main outcomes assessed. With the use of a random effects model, the event rates were combined. Total 19 studies with 1498 patients were included in the final analysis. The pooled technical and clinical success rates with TIPS in HCC were 98.8% (98.0-99.7) and 94.1% (91.2-97.0), respectively. After TIPS, ascites was controlled in 89.2% (85.1-93.3) of the cases, while rebleeding was observed in 17.2% (9.4-25.0) of cases on follow-up. The pooled incidence of overall AE, serious AE and post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy (HE) was 5.2% (2.5-7.9), 0.1% (0.0-0.4) and 25.1% (18.7-31.5), respectively. On follow-up, 11.9% (7.8-15.9) of the patients developed shunt dysfunction requiring re-intervention. The present analysis supports the feasibility, safety and efficacy of TIPS in the management of portal hypertension in patients with HCC.

The learning curve of laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization for portal hypertension with 10-year follow-up

Introduction and objectivesLaparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED) are minimally invasive, effective, and safe in treating esophageal-fundic variceal bleeding with portal hypertension (PHT). The study aimed to assess the learning curve of LSED by cumulative summation (CUSUM) analysis. The 10-year follow-up data for LSED and open surgery were also examined.Patients and methodsFive hundred and ninety-four patients were retrospectively analyzed. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, open operation conversion, and postoperative complications were selected as the evaluation indicators of surgical ability. The learning curve of LESD was assessed by the CUSUM approach. Patient features, perioperative indices, and 10-year follow-up data were examined.ResultsTotally 236 patients underwent open surgery, and 358 underwent LSED. Patient characteristics were similar between groups. The LSED patients experienced less intraoperative blood loss, fewer complications, and faster recovery compared to the open surgery cohort. The learning curve of LESD was maximal for a case number of 50. Preoperative general characteristics were comparable for both stages. But the skilled stage had decreased operation time, reduced blood loss, less postoperative complications, and better recovery compared to the learning stage. The LSED group had higher recurrent hemorrhage-free survival rate and increased overall survival in comparison with cases administered open surgery in the 10-year follow-up. Free-liver cancer rates were similar between two groups.ConclusionsAbout 50 cases are needed to master the LSED procedure. Compared to open surgery, LSED is a safer, feasible, and safe procedure for PHT patients, correlating with decreased rebleeding rate and better overall survival.

Plug-Assisted Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration: A Modified Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration of Gastric Varices

AbstractGastric varices (GVs) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are major complications of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis. As most of the GVs drain into the left renal vein via a portosystemic shunt, the concept of retrograde treatment approach such as balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration using sclerosing agents has been introduced. Recently, plug-assisted retrograde transvenous obliteration (PARTO) has been alternatively performed, which uses vascular plug and gelfoam. PARTO utilizes a permanent vascular plug to reduce postprocedural monitoring time as well as to avoid the risk of balloon rupture–related complications. It also eliminates the sclerosing agents–related complications with the use of gelfoam as an embolics. In this review, we introduce technical aspects of PARTO and outline its potential for use as the treatment of GVs and HE.

Results of a personalized approach to surgical correction of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis

Objective: to improve the results of treatment of patients with complicated intrahepatic portal hypertension by developing optimal surgical treatment tactics and choosing drug correction aimed at preventing thrombotic venous complications.Materials and methods: 82 patients with clinically significant portal hypertension of cirrhotic origin were examined and treated. The I group consisted of 24 patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent bypass surgery, the II group included 58 patients for whom the operation was supplemented with selective embolization of the gastric veins. Methods: clinical and laboratory examination, “Thrombodynamics” test using a “prognostic calculator” (RF patent), surgical, statistical.Results: it was established that 26,8% of patients had a risk of developing venous thrombotic complications: in group I 4/24 (16,6%), in group II — 18/58 (31,0%). Personalized drug correction carried out in the postoperative period led to the absence of risk in 2/22 (9,1%) patients in group I and in 8/53 (15,1%) in group II. The number of deaths in group I was 2/24 (8,33%) and in group II 5/58 (8,62%). Shunt thrombosis was detected in 3/22 (13,63%) patients of group I and in 1/53 (1,88%) patients of group II in the period from 24 to 32 months after surgery. Varicose esophageal-gastric bleeding occurred in 2/22 (9,00%) patients with shunt thrombosis of group I and in 1/53 (1,88%) of group II patients who underwent endoscopic ligation of esophageal varices.Conclusion: a method for predicting the risk of developing thrombotic complications in patients with liver cirrhosis is a convenient tool for risk stratification of patients. An individual approach ensures monitoring of the patient not only before, but also after the operation. Drug correction regimens for identifying high, moderate and low risks of complications made it possible to prevent them. TIPS surgery alone and in combination with selective embolization of gastric veins allows achieving comparable results in observation groups against the background of corrective therapy.

Патофізіологічні особливості портопульмональної гіпертензії: огляд англомовної літератури

Portopulmonary hypertension (PPH) is the coexistence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and portal hypertension in patients with or without cirrhosis. PAH may develop in 2-6% of patients with portal hypertension and is the result of complex pathophysiological interactions between the portal and pulmonary circulations. The pathogenic mechanisms are unknown and depend both on the underlying severity of the liver disease and on the adaptation of the heart to the disease of the pulmonary vessels. Various pathophysiological aspects appear to be involved in the development of PPH, including angiogenesis, genetics, humoral changes, and inflammation with increased pulmonary phagocytosis. Female gender and estrogen metabolism with elevated estrogen levels are associated with the development of PPH. Of particular interest is the activation of powerful local vasoconstrictor systems, the imbalance between vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, which contributes to the narrowing of pulmonary vessels. Increased pulmonary blood flow causing shear stress can lead to endothelial damage and dysfunction with vasoconstriction and progressive vascular remodeling. However, only a small number of patients develop PPH, which indicates the involvement of other factors. Therefore, other numerous theories have been proposed that require further study.

Higher risk of in-hospital mortality and hepatic encephalopathy during weekend admission in Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt procedure

ObjectivesTransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure used to alleviate portal hypertension in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. The weekend effect refers to a higher risk of adverse outcomes associated with procedures performed on weekends compared to weekdays. The goal of this study is to determine whether a weekend effect is evident in TIPS procedures. Materials and MethodThe study identified patients who underwent TIPS procedures in the NIS database from 2015 to 2020. Patients who were admitted on the weekday or weekends were classified into two cohorts. Preoperative variables, including demographics, comorbidities, primary payer status, and hospital characteristics, were noted. Multivariable analysis was used to assess outcomes. ResultsCompared to patients admitted on the weekdays, weekend patients had higher in-hospital mortality (12.87 % vs. 7.96 %, aOR = 1.62, 95 CI 1.32–1.00, p < 0.01), hepatic encephalopathy (33.24 % vs. 26.18 %, aOR = 1.41, 95 CI 1.23–1.63, p < 0.01), acute kidney injury (39.03 % vs. 28.36 %, aOR = 1.68, 95 CI 1.46–1.93, p < 0.01), and transfer out (15.91 % vs. 12.76 %, aOR=1.33, 95 CI 1.11–1.60, p < 0.01). It was also found that weekend patients had longer wait from admission to operation (3.83 ± 0.15 days vs 2.82 ± 0.07 days, p < 0.01), longer LOS (11.22 ± 0.33 days vs 8.38 ± 0.15 days, p < 0.01), and higher total hospital charge (219,973 ± 7,352 dollars vs 172,663 ± 3,183 dollars, p < 0.01). ConclusionOur research unveiled a significant relationship between weekend admission and a higher risk of mortality and morbidity post-TIPS procedure. Eliminating delays in treatment associated with the weekend effect may mitigate this gap to deliver consistent and high-quality care to all patients.

Alterations of the peptidomic composition of peripheral plasma after portal hypertension correction by transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Portal hypertension develops in patients with advanced chronic liver diseases (CLD), especially cirrhosis and is associated with complications, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and ascites resulting in high mortality. The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a treatment option for portal hypertension, aiming to decrease portal venous pressure by establishing an artificial passage for blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver vein. This study focuses on the differences in the molecular composition of plasma samples from patients with portal hypertension before and after TIPS intervention to identify and characterise potential mediators influencing gut-liver cross-talk. The plasma of 23 patients displaying advanced CLD with portal hypertension was collected from peripheral veins before and after TIPS treatment and analysed using a well-established non-targeted chromatography-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) approach. Sialomucin core protein 24(CD164)(160–180), meckelin(99-118), Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase(MLL3)(3019-3045) and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 5(TRPV5)(614-630) were identified to be downregulated after the TIPS treatment. In addition, the metabolites 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropionic acid (CMPF), uric acid, dopamine, homoarginine, leucylproline and 5-methyluridine were significantly decreased after TIPS, whereas one yet unidentified low molecular-weight metabolite showed an increase after the medical procedure. In conclusion, these substances are novel potential biomarkers for portal hypertension in patients with CLD, with mechanistic clues of involvement in regulating pathological gut-liver cross-talk.

FRI-028 Spleen stiffness measurement improves non-invasive prediction of clinically significant portal hypertension in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease of mixed etiology

FRI-028 Spleen stiffness measurement improves non-invasive prediction of clinically significant portal hypertension in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease of mixed etiology

Management of Portal Hypertension in the Older Patient.

Aging is a process of physiological slowing, reduced regenerative capacity and inability to maintain cellular homeostasis. World Health Organisation declared the commencement of population aging globally, largely attributed to improvement in the healthcare system with early diagnosis and effective clinical management. Liver ages similar to other organs, with reduction in size and blood flow. In this review we aim to evaluate the effect of aging in liver disease. Aging causes dysregulation of major carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism in the liver. Age is a major risk factor for liver fibrosis accelerated by sinusoidal endothelial dysfunction and immunological disharmony. Age plays a major role in patients with liver cirrhosis and influence outcomes in patients with portal hypertension. Transient elastography may be an useful tool in the assessment of portal hypertension. Hepatic structural distortion, increased vascular resistance, state of chronic inflammation, associated comorbidities, lack of physiological reserve in the older population may aggravate portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis and may result in pronounced variceal bleed. Cut-offs for other non-invasive markers of fibrosis may differ in the elderly population. Non-selective beta blockers initiated at lower dose followed by escalation are the first line of therapy in elderly patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, unless contraindicated. Acute variceal bleed in the elderly cirrhotic patients can be life threatening and may cause rapid exsanguination due to poor reserve and associated comorbidities. Vasoactive drugs may be associated with more adverse reactions. Early endoscopy may be warranted in the elderly patients with acute variceal bleed. Role of TIPS in the elderly cirrhotics discussed. Management of portal hypertension in the older population may pose significant challenges to the treating clinician.

Platelet Count to Prothrombin Time: A Noninvasive Predictor of Esophageal Varices in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease.

Introduction Esophageal variceal bleeding is a potentially deadly consequence of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis. Although upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is still the preferred method for identifying esophageal varices (EV), the present study measured the platelet count to prothrombin time (PLT/PT) ratio for the assessment of portal hypertension and subsequent diagnosis of EVs in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Methods This was an observationalcomparative study conducted in the outpatient department of Patel Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Ethical approval was obtained from the Patel Hospital ethical review committee (PH/IRB/2022/028). An independent sample t-test was used for parametric data, whereas the Mann-Whitney U test was used for non-parametric data. The chi-square test was used to compare the categorical data of patients with and without EV. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the cutoff values for the PLT/PT ratio, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). Results The study involved 105 patients with and without EV. Among them, 38 (63.3%) males and 22 (36.7%) females had EV, whereas 30 (66.7%) males and 15 (33.3%) females did not. The platelet (PLT) count was also significantly lower in patients with EV (87.6 ± 59.8) than in those without (176.6 ± 87.7) (p < 0.001). The PLT/PT ratio was significantly lower in patients with EV (median: 5.04, IQR: 3.12-9.21) compared to those without (median: 14.57, IQR: 8.08-20.58) (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the PLT/PT ratio for identifying EVs were 97.80% and 83.30%, respectively. Conclusion We found a significantly lower PLT/PT ratio in cases with EV than those without EV. After defining an optimal cutoff, PLT/PT had a high sensitivity in identifying cases with EVs in CLD. Therefore, we conclude that in patients with CLD, the PLT/PT ratio is a noninvasive predictor for the presence of EV.

Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tests for Portal Hypertension in Patients with HBV- and HCV-Related Cirrhosis: A Comprehensive Review

Clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease indicates an increased risk of decompensation and death. While invasive methods like hepatic venous–portal gradient measurement is considered the gold standard, non-invasive tests (NITs) have emerged as valuable tools for diagnosing and monitoring CSPH. This review comprehensively explores non-invasive diagnostic modalities for portal hypertension, focusing on NITs in the setting of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis. Biochemical-based NITs can be represented by single serum biomarkers (e.g., platelet count) or by composite scores that combine different serum biomarkers with each other or with demographic characteristics (e.g., FIB-4). On the other hand, liver stiffness measurement and spleen stiffness measurement can be assessed using a variety of elastography techniques, and they can be used alone, in combination with, or as a second step after biochemical-based NITs. The incorporation of liver and spleen stiffness measurements, alone or combined with platelet count, into established and validated criteria, such as Baveno VI or Baveno VII criteria, provides useful tools for the prediction of CSPH and for ruling out high-risk varices, potentially avoiding invasive tests like upper endoscopy. Moreover, they have also been shown to be able to predict liver-related events (e.g., the occurrence of hepatic decompensation). When transient elastography is not available or not feasible, biochemical-based NITs (e.g., RESIST criteria, that are based on the combination of platelet count and albumin levels) are valid alternatives for predicting high-risk varices both in patients with untreated viral aetiology and after sustained virological response. Ongoing research should explore novel biomarkers and novel elastography techniques, but current evidence supports the utility of routine blood tests, LSM, and SSM as effective surrogates in diagnosing and staging portal hypertension and predicting patient outcomes.

Higher In-Hospital Mortality among Asian Americans Undergoing Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Procedure

Background: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure to alleviate portal hypertension in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. While prior research highlighted racial disparities in TIPS, Asian Americans were not included in the investigation. This study aimed to investigate disparities in the immediate postprocedural outcomes among Asian American patients who underwent TIPS. Methods: The study identified Asian American and Caucasian patients who underwent TIPS in the National Inpatient Sample from Q4 2015–2020. Preprocedural factors, including demographics, comorbidities, primary payer status, and hospital characteristics, were matched by 1:2 propensity-score matching between the groups. In-hospital outcomes after TIPS were examined. Results: There were 6,658 patients who underwent TIPS with 128 (1.92%) Asian Americans and 4,574 (68.70%) Caucasians, where 218 Caucasians were matched to all Asian Americans. Asian Americans had higher in-hospital mortality (14.06% vs. 7.34%, p = 0.04) and higher total hospital charge (253,756 ± 37,867 vs. 163,391 ± 10,265 US dollars, p = 0.02). The occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy, acute kidney injury, transfers out to other hospital facilities, and length of stay did not differ between cohorts. Conclusion: Despite their heightened risk for cirrhosis, Asian Americans are significantly underrepresented in TIPS and had higher in-hospital mortality after TIPS. This highlights the need for enhanced access to diagnosis and treatment care of liver cirrhosis for Asian Americans.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Prognosis and Assessment of 60 Cases of Decompensated Cirrhotic Patients with Portal Hypertension.

To investigate the risk factors for the development of portal hypertension in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and analyze their prognosis. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis who were admitted to our hospital and Qu fu People's Hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were included in this study. Among them, there were 45 male and 15 female patients, with a median age of 56 (range: 35-77) years. A comparative analysis was performed between Group A (hepatic venous pressure gradient, HVPG <16 mmHg) and Group B (HVPG ≥16 mmHg) patients, along with various clinical outcomes. Multivariate analysis was conducted to explore the risk factors influencing the occurrence of portal hypertension and adverse prognosis in patients with cirrhosis. In Group A patients with portal hypertension, we observed lower levels of aspartate aminotransferase, laminin, serum hyaluronic acid, type III procollagen N-terminal peptide, total bile acids, and cholylglycine acid compared to Group B. On the other hand, levels of alanine aminotransferase, white blood cells, and serum albumin were higher in Group A than in Group B. These differences between the groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis of the aforementioned risk factors indicated that low white blood cell count, high cholylglycine acid levels, and high serum hyaluronic acid levels were identified as independent risk factors for the occurrence of difficult-to-control complications in decompensated portal hypertension among patients with liver cirrhosis (P < 0.05). Liver cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension and multiple risk factors like low white blood cell count and high liver transaminase levels should be cautious regarding the progression of portal hypertension when combined with splenomegaly, liver fibrosis, and bile stasis, as it often indicates a poor prognosis.

Management of Portal Hypertension in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Systemic Treatment: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives.

The management of CSPH in patients undergoing systemic treatment for HCC has emerged as a critical concern due to the absence of reliable diagnostic criteria and uncertainties surrounding therapeutic approaches. This review aims to underscore the primary pathophysiological aspects linking HCC and PH, while also addressing the current and emerging clinical strategies for the management of portal hypertension. A review of studies from January 2003 to June 2023 was conducted using the PubMed database and employing MeSH terms, such as "hepatocellular carcinoma", "immune checkpoint inhibitors", "systemic therapy", "portal hypertension", "variceal bleeding" and "tyrosine kinase inhibitors". Despite promising results of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in animal models for PH and fibrosis, only Sorafenib has demonstrated similar effects in human studies, whereas Lenvatinib appears to promote PH development. The impact of Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab on PH remains uncertain, with an increasing risk of bleeding related to Bevacizumab in patients with prior variceal hemorrhage. Given the absence of specific guidelines, endoscopic surveillance during treatment is advisable, and primary and secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding should adhere to the Baveno VII recommendations. Furthermore, in patients with advanced HCC, refinement of diagnostic criteria for CSPH and guidelines for its surveillance are warranted.

Management of portal hypertension in patients receiving atezolizumab-bevacizumab for hepatocellular carcinoma

Management of portal hypertension in patients receiving atezolizumab-bevacizumab for hepatocellular carcinoma

Portal hypertension in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Current knowledge and challenges.

Portal hypertension (PH) has traditionally been observed as a consequence of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in advanced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, recent studies have provided evidence that PH may develop in earlier stages of NAFLD, suggesting that there are additional pathogenetic mechanisms at work in addition to liver fibrosis. The early development of PH in NAFLD is associated with hepatocellular lipid accumulation and ballooning, leading to the compression of liver sinusoids. External compression and intra-luminal obstacles cause mechanical forces such as strain, shear stress and elevated hydrostatic pressure that in turn activate mechanotransduction pathways, resulting in endothelial dysfunction and the development of fibrosis. The spatial distribution of histological and functional changes in the periportal and perisinusoidal areas of the liver lobule are considered responsible for the pre-sinusoidal component of PH in patients with NAFLD. Thus, current diagnostic methods such as hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement tend to underestimate portal pressure (PP) in NAFLD patients, who might decompensate below the HVPG threshold of 10 mmHg, which is traditionally considered the most relevant indicator of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). This creates further challenges in finding a reliable diagnostic method to stratify the prognostic risk in this population of patients. In theory, the measurement of the portal pressure gradient guided by endoscopic ultrasound might overcome the limitations of HVPG measurement by avoiding the influence of the pre-sinusoidal component, but more investigations are needed to test its clinical utility for this indication. Liver and spleen stiffness measurement in combination with platelet count is currently the best-validated non-invasive approach for diagnosing CSPH and varices needing treatment. Lifestyle change remains the cornerstone of the treatment of PH in NAFLD, together with correcting the components of metabolic syndrome, using nonselective beta blockers, whereas emerging candidate drugs require more robust confirmation from clinical trials.

A computational model-based study on the feasibility of predicting post-splenectomy thrombosis using hemodynamic metrics.

For portal hypertensive patients with splenomegaly and hypersplenism, splenectomy is an effective surgery to relieve the complications. However, patients who have undergone splenectomy often suffer from portal venous system thrombosis, a sequela that requires prophylaxis and timely treatment to avoid deterioration and death. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of predicting post-splenectomy thrombosis using hemodynamic metrics based on computational models. First, 15 portal hypertensive patients who had undergone splenectomy were enrolled, and their preoperative clinical data and postoperative follow-up results were collected. Next, computational models of the portal venous system were constructed based on the preoperative computed tomography angiography images and ultrasound-measured flow velocities. On this basis, splenectomy was mimicked and the postoperative area of low wall shear stress (ALWSS) was simulated for each patient-specific model. Finally, model-simulated ALWSS was statistically compared with the patient follow-up results to investigate the feasibility of predicting post-splenectomy thrombosis using hemodynamic metrics. Results showed that ALWSS could predict the occurrence of post-splenectomy thrombosis with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) equal to 0.75. Moreover, statistical analysis implied that the diameter of the splenic vein is positively correlated with ALWSS (r = 0.883, p < 0.0001), and the anatomical structures of the portal venous system also influence the ALWSS. These findings demonstrated that the computational model-based hemodynamic metric ALWSS, which is associated with the anatomorphological features of the portal venous system, is capable of predicting the occurrence of post-splenectomy thrombosis, promoting better prophylaxis and postoperative management for portal hypertensive patients receiving splenectomy.

Determinants of Survival of Ablation Treatment for Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicated with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) is extremely poor. This study investigated whether local ablation-a curative treatment similar to resection-could improve the prognosis of patients with Child-Pugh B/C PVTT. Between January 2020 and December 2023, 25 patients with Child-Pugh B/C PVTT HCC were enrolled, and their overall survival with radiofrequency ablation treatment and the associated drivers were investigated. Overall survival (median 282 days) differed between the group treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE, 285 days) and the group without it (159 days, p=0.0151). The median survival in the esophagogastric variceal exacerbation group (120.5 days) was shorter than that in the non-exacerbation group (284.0 days, p=0.00964). In multivariate analysis, concomitant TACE had a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.121 (p=0.0097), and the exacerbation of esophagogastric varices had a HR of 6.761 (p=0.01). Local ablation for PVTT may promote patient survival specifically by inhibiting the exacerbation of portal hypertension in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.