Predicting portal hypertension and variceal bleeding using non-invasive measurements of metabolic variables
Journal Title: Annals of Hepatology - Year 2013, Vol 12, Issue 4
Abstract
Background & aim. This study assessed the involvement of metabolic factors (anthropometric indices, insulin resistance (IR) and adipocytokines) in the prediction of portal hypertension, esophageal varices and risk of variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients. Material and methods. Two prospective and retrospective cohorts of cirrhotic patients were selected (n = 357). The first prospective cohort (n = 280) enrolled consecutively in three centers, underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, seeking evidence of esophageal varices. Clinical, anthropometric, liver function tests, ultrasonographic, and metabolic features were recorded at the time of endoscopy, patients were followed-up every 6 months until death, liver transplantation or variceal bleeding. The second retrospective cohort (n = 48 patients) had measurements of the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). Statistical analyses of the data were with the SPSS package. Results. The presence of esophageal varices was independently associated with lower platelet count, raised HOMA index and adiponectin levels. This relationship extended to subset analysis in patients with Child A cirrhosis. HOMA index and adiponectin levels significantly correlated with HVPG. Beside Child-Pugh class, variceal size and glucagonemia, HOMA index but not adiponectin and leptin plasma levels were associated with higher risk of variceal bleeding. Conclusion. In patients with cirrhosis, HOMA score correlates with HVPG and independently predict clinical outcomes. Three simple markers i.e. platelet count, IR assessed by HOMA-IR and adiponectin significantly predict the presence of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients.
Authors and Affiliations
Mohammed Eslam, Javier Ampuero, Maria Jover, Hesham Abd-Elhalim, Diego Rincon, Ines Camacho, Amal Kamal, Oreste Lo Iacono, Zainb Nasr, Lourdes Grande, Rafael Banares, Mahmoud A. Khattab, Manuel Romero-Gomez
Serum cholesterol is a significant and independent mortality predictor in liver cirrhosis patients
Background and Aim. Accurate assessment of cirrhotic patient’s prognosis is essential for decisions regarding the course of treatment. Therefore we aimed to confirm and quantify the predictive value of serum cholesterol...
Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia in a hospital survey: genetics, metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Introduction. Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by abnormally low levels of apolipoprotein-B (apoB) containing lipoproteins. FHBL is caused by APOB, PCSK9 or ANGPTL3 m...
What constitutes liver failure after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation? A proposed definition and grading system
Background and rationale for the study. There is currently no definition of post-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) liver failure (PTLF), which constitutes a barrier to standardization of TIPS results r...
Intrahepatic, perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma: Management and outcomes
Introduction and aims. Cholangiocarcinomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors that can be classified into three clinically distinct types of cancers, intrahepatic, perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma. The inconsist...
Spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C infection post-liver transplant: A rare but real phenomenon? A case report and review of the literature
Recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver transplantation is a significant cause of morbidity, mortality and graft loss. Spontaneous clearance of recurrent HCV after liver transplant is a rarely reported ph...