Hepatic venous pressure gradient correlates with advanced hepatic fibrosis: a retrospective review

The Balloon Catheter Method and the End-hole Catheter Method in the Measurement of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient: a Comparative Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the differences between The balloon catheter method and End-hole Catheter Method in measuring hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) among cirrhosis patients.

METHODS

From October 2017 to January 2024, patients who underwent HVPG measurements using both methods were consecutively included. HVPGs obtained from both methods were compared with the portal vein pressure gradient (PPG) obtained via transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) using paired comparisons. Additionally, the consistency and predictive ability for bleeding risk of the two methods, as well as the impact of intrahepatic veno-venous shunt (IHVS), were analyzed.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 145 patients, each of whom had HVPG measured by both methods. PPG was measured in 61 patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the PPGs and HVPGs measured by both the balloon catheter method and the end-hole catheter method (P < 0.001), with the HVPG mean values obtained by the end-hole catheter method being closer to the PPGs. In the non-IHVS group, no significant statistical difference was found between the two methods (P = 0.071). In contrast, the IHVS group showed a significant difference (P < 0.001), with a mean difference of 2.98 ± 4.03 mmHg. When IHVS was absent, the measurement results from the end-hole catheter method and the balloon catheter method were found to be highly correlated. The end-hole catheter method has a higher screening capability for patients at risk of bleeding compared to the balloon catheter method (75.90% vs. 72.86%).

CONCLUSION

HVPG measurements using either the balloon catheter method or end-hole catheter method showed significant difference with the PPG. The end-hole catheter method has a higher screening capability for patients at risk of bleeding, and IHVS could lead to lower HVPG measurements with The balloon catheter method.

Hepatic venous pressure gradient evaluates the Scheuer stage of liver fibrosis by transjugular liver biopsy: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the criterion for assessing sinusoidal portal hypertension. Using HVPG to assess the degree of liver fibrosis by transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) is still being explored, as no data has been shown that portal hypertension may already be present in patients with advanced hepatic fibrosis (Scheuer stage ≥ S3). The objective of this study was to observe whether portal hypertension exists before progressing to cirrhosis (Scheuer stage = S4).

METHODS

Fifty patients who underwent TJLB and HVPG were enrolled. The correlation between Scheuer stage and HVPG was analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, and the ROC curve predicted the diagnostic value of HVPG in patients with hepatic fibrosis.

RESULTS

The Scheuer stage and HVPG significantly correlated (r = 0.654, p < 0.001). The AUC of HVPG in predicting advanced liver fibrosis was 0.896, and of cirrhosis was 0.810. There were 45 patients with portal hypertension (HVPG> 5 mmHg), 12 with S3, 29 with S4; There were 42 patients with CSPH (HVPG≥ 10 mmHg), 11 with S3, and 29 with S4.

CONCLUSION

HVPG is valuable in evaluating the Scheuer stage of liver fibrosis in patients with TJLB. Portal hypertension might already exist before the progression to cirrhosis in some patients.

Transjugular Liver Biopsy with Hemodynamic Evaluation: Correlation between Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Histologic Diagnosis of Cirrhosis

Objectives:

Measurement of hepatic vein pressures is the accepted gold standard for the evaluation of portal hypertension. This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between hepatic vein pressure measurements and histologic findings from transjugular liver biopsies. The hypothesis was that higher hepatic venous pressure gradients would correlate with a histologic diagnosis of cirrhosis.

Material and Methods:

We identified all patients who underwent transjugular liver biopsies at our institution between January 2015 and December 2019. Of these, 178 patients who had undergone hemodynamic evaluations during the biopsy procedure were included in the study. Demographic information and laboratory data were extracted from the patients’ electronic medical records. The hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) was determined by subtracting the free hepatic venous pressure from the wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP), and the portosystemic gradient (PSG) was determined by subtracting the right atrial pressure from the WHVP. HVPG and PSG were compared by linear regression analysis and by calculating their receiver operating characteristics (ROC).

Results:

HVPG and PSG measurements were significantly associated with cirrhosis, with area under the ROC curve of 0.79 and 0.78, respectively. At the optimal cutoff of 9 mmHg, sensitivity and specificity for HVPG were 71% and 83% for HVPG and 67 % and 81% for PSG, respectively. No statistical difference was observed between the two measurements.

Conclusion:

A transhepatic venous pressure gradient above a cutoff of 9 mmHg is predictive of histologic cirrhosis, regardless of whether it is expressed as HVPG or PSG, with acceptable to excellent performance characteristics.

Hemodynamic characteristics of biliary cirrhosis in rats

AIM

To elucidate the hemodynamic characteristics of biliary cirrhosis in common bile duct ligated rats.

METHODS

Biliary cirrhosis was induced in rats by common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Rats were divided into a sham group and a CBDL group. At the end of 4 weeks, portal pressure (PP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured directly via catheters. Liver or spleen coefficient was the ratio of liver weight or spleen weight to body weight. Proliferation of fibrous tissue was evaluated by Masson staining.

RESULTS

At the end of 4 wk, the liver of CBDL rats was yellow in color and enlarged. The surface of some livers was scattered with numerous nodules. Masson staining indicated extensive proliferation of fibrous tissue and pseudolobule. PP of CBDL rats was increased and MAP was decreased compared with sham rats. There was a significant positive correlation between PP and MAP (R² = 0.9096). PP of rats with severe ascites was lower than that of rats with mild or no ascites.

CONCLUSION

After 4 wk of CBDL, liver cirrhosis and portal hyper-tension develop. PP is determined by the degree of ascites and MAP.