Multicenter study on recent portal venous system thrombosis associated with cytomegalovirus disease

Etiology and Risk Factors for Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis in Non-Cirrhotic, Non-Neoplastic Patients: A Narrative Review

Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting the portal, mesenteric, splenic, and hepatic veins. While frequently associated with liver cirrhosis and malignancy, SVT also occurs in non-cirrhotic, non-neoplastic patients. This narrative review evaluates the epidemiology and risk factors for SVT in this population. The prevalence and incidence of SVT in non-cirrhotic, non-neoplastic patients remain incompletely characterized, with estimates varying widely across studies. The clinical significance of SVT relates to potential complications, including intestinal ischemia, portal hypertension, and a possible underlying systemic disorder. Risk factors for SVT can be categorized into local abdominal conditions, thrombophilias, and systemic disorders. Local factors include inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, abdominal surgery, and trauma. Thrombophilias, both inherited and acquired, are significant contributors to SVT risk. Systemic conditions associated with SVT include autoimmune disorders, pregnancy, hematological diseases, and infections. The complex interplay of these risk factors highlights the need for a comprehensive evaluation of SVT patients. Early recognition and management of these conditions can prevent potentially life-threatening complications and guide decisions regarding anticoagulation and long-term follow-up.

Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients Without Cirrhosis: Current Practical Approaches and Treatment Strategies

Portal vein thrombosis in non-cirrhotic individuals, although uncommon, is an increasingly explored condition that affects mainly young people, consequently representing a significant disease burden. Reports primarily including western European populations have recently shed light regarding the pathophysiology, risk factors, natural history, treatment, and prognosis of this entity. Underlying predisposing conditions are documented in ~70% of cases, encompassing local risk factors, inherited and acquired thrombophilia, cancer, and systemic inflammatory conditions. Non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis can cause significant portal hypertension in the acute setting, but, more frequently, significant portal hypertension-related complications arise when the condition becomes chronic and portosystemic collaterals develop, increasing the risk for variceal bleeding and ascites. The diagnostic approach to screen for underlying thrombophilia remains a challenge, and recommendations in this regard, although scarce and backed by scarce evidence, have changed notably in the last years, leaning toward a universal screen in patients who develop this condition without a clear provoking factor. Recently, studies have shown that long-term anticoagulation may be appropriate even in the absence of clear provoking factors or underlying thrombophilia. Future studies should address which patients may benefit from this approach, which patients may not need it, and what the most appropriate strategies are to approach patients who do not recover portal vein patency with anticoagulation to further prevent portal hypertension-related complications.

Portal vein thrombosis: diagnosis, management, and endpoints for future clinical studies

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) refers to the development of a non-malignant obstruction of the portal vein, its branches, its radicles, or a combination. This Review first provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of PVT, namely the specifics of the portal venous system, the risk factors for PVT, the pathophysiology of portal hypertension in PVT, the interest in non-invasive tests, as well as therapeutic approaches including the effect of treating risk factors for PVT or cause of cirrhosis, anticoagulation, portal vein recanalisation by interventional radiology, and prevention and management of variceal bleeding in patients with PVT. Specific issues are also addressed including portal cholangiopathy, mesenteric ischaemia and intestinal necrosis, quality of life, fertility, contraception and pregnancy, and PVT in children. This Review will then present endpoints for future clinical studies in PVT, both in patients with and without cirrhosis, agreed by a large panel of experts through a Delphi consensus process. These endpoints include classification of portal vein thrombus extension, classification of PVT evolution, timing of assessment of PVT, and global endpoints for studies on PVT including clinical outcomes. These endpoints will help homogenise studies on PVT and thus facilitate reporting, comparison between studies, and validation of future studies and trials on PVT.

Genetic factors, risk prediction and AI application of thrombotic diseases

In thrombotic diseases, coagulation, anticoagulation, and fibrinolysis are three key physiological processes that interact to maintain blood in an appropriate state within blood vessels. When these processes become imbalanced, such as excessive coagulation or reduced anticoagulant function, it can lead to the formation of blood clots. Genetic factors play a significant role in the onset of thrombotic diseases and exhibit regional and ethnic variations. The decision of whether to initiate prophylactic anticoagulant therapy is a matter that clinicians must carefully consider, leading to the development of various thrombotic risk assessment scales in clinical practice. Given the considerable heterogeneity in clinical diagnosis and treatment, researchers are exploring the application of artificial intelligence in medicine, including disease prediction, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and patient management. This paper reviews the research progress on various genetic factors involved in thrombotic diseases, analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used thrombotic risk assessment scales and the characteristics of ideal scoring scales, and explores the application of artificial intelligence in the medical field, along with its future prospects.

Current concepts in the management of non-cirrhotic non-malignant portal vein thrombosis

Non-cirrhotic non-malignant portal vein thrombosis (NCPVT) is an uncommon condition characterised by thrombosis of the portal vein, with or without extension into other mesenteric veins, in the absence of cirrhosis or intra-abdominal malignancy. Complications can include intestinal infarction, variceal bleeding and portal biliopathy. In this article, we address current concepts in the management of NCPVT including identification of risk factors, classification and treatment, and review the latest evidence on medical and interventional management options.

Direct oral anticoagulants for the treatment of splanchnic vein thrombosis: A state of art

Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is a manifestation of venous thromboembolism in an unusual site. Portal, mesenteric, and splenic veins are the most common vessels involved in SVT which occurs mainly in patients with liver cirrhosis, although non-cirrhotic patients could be affected as well. Thrombosis of hepatic veins, also known as Budd-Chiari syndrome, is another manifestation of SVT. Prompt diagnosis and intervention are mandatory in order to increase the recalization rate and reduce the risk of thrombus progression and hypertensive complications. Traditional anticoagulation with heparin and vitamin-K antagonists is the treatment of choice in these cases. However, recent studies have shown promising results on the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in this setting. Available results are mainly based on retrospective studies with small sample size, but first clinical trials have been published in the last years. This manuscript aims to provide an updated overview of the current evidence regarding the role of DOACs for SVT in both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients.

Hepatic Manifestations of Systemic Diseases

In addition to being the primary target of infections such as viral hepatitis, the liver may also be affected by systemic disease. These include bacterial, mycotic, and viral infections, as well as autoimmune and infiltrative diseases. These conditions generally manifest as abnormal liver biochemistries, often with a cholestatic profile, and may present with additional signs/symptoms such as jaundice and fever. A high index of suspicion and familiarity with potential causal entities is necessary to guide appropriate testing, diagnosis, and treatment.

Management of splanchnic vein thrombosis

The expression splanchnic vein thrombosis encompasses Budd-Chiari syndrome and portal vein thrombosis. These disorders have common characteristics: they are both rare diseases which can cause portal hypertension and its complications. Budd-Chiari syndrome and portal vein thrombosis in the absence of underlying liver disease share many risk factors, among which myeloproliferative neoplasms represent the most common; a rapid comprehensive work-up for risk factors of thrombosis is needed in these patients. Long-term anticoagulation is indicated in most patients. Portal vein thrombosis can also develop in patients with cirrhosis and in those with porto-sinusoidal vascular liver disease. The presence and nature of underlying liver disease impacts the management of portal vein thrombosis. Indications for anticoagulation in patients with cirrhosis are growing, while transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is now a second-line option. Due to the rarity of these diseases, studies yielding high-grade evidence are scarce. However, collaborative studies have provided new insight into the management of these patients. This article focuses on the causes, diagnosis, and management of patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome, portal vein thrombosis without underlying liver disease, or cirrhosis with non-malignant portal vein thrombosis.

Prognostic and therapeutic significance of microbial cell-free DNA in plasma of people with acute decompensation of cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although the effect of bacterial infection on cirrhosis has been well-described, the effect of non-hepatotropic virus (NHV) infection is unknown. This study evaluated the genome fragments of circulating microorganisms using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in individuals with acute decompensation (AD) of cirrhosis, focusing on NHVs, and related the findings to clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Plasma mNGS was performed in 129 individuals with AD of cirrhosis in the study cohort. Ten healthy volunteers and 20, 39, and 81 individuals with stable cirrhosis, severe sepsis and hematological malignancies, respectively, were enrolled as controls. Validation assays for human cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation were performed in a validation cohort (n = 58) and exploratory treatment was instituted.

RESULTS

In the study cohort, 188 microorganisms were detected in 74.4% (96/129) of patients, including viruses (58.0%), bacteria (34.1%), fungi (7.4%) and chlamydia (0.5%). A NHV signature was identified in individuals with AD, and CMV was the most frequent NHV, which correlated with the clinical effect of empirical antibiotic treatment, progression to acute-on-chronic liver failure, and 90-day mortality. The NHV signature in individuals with acute-on-chronic liver failure was similar to that in those with sepsis and hematological malignancies. CMV was detected in 24.1% (14/58) of patients in the validation cohort. Of the 14 cases with detectable CMV by mNGS, nine were further validated by real-time PCR or pp65 antigenemia testing. Three patients with CMV reactivation received ganciclovir therapy in an exploratory manner and experienced clinical resolutions.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that NHVs may play a pathogenic role in complicating the course of AD. Further validation is needed to define whether this should be incorporated into the routine management of individuals with AD of cirrhosis.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

A non-hepatotropic virus (NHV) signature, which was similar to that in individuals with sepsis and hematological malignancies, was identified in individuals with acute decompensation of cirrhosis. The detected viral signature had clinical correlates, including clinical efficacy of empirical antibiotic treatment, progression to acute-on-chronic liver failure and short-term mortality. Cytomegalovirus reactivation, which is treatable, may adversely affect clinical outcomes in some individuals with decompensated cirrhosis. Routine screening for NHVs, especially cytomegalovirus, may be useful for the management of individuals with acute decompensation of cirrhosis.

Human cytomegalovirus: a survey of end-organ diseases and diagnostic challenges in solid organ transplant recipients

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most important infectious complications in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, early detection and prompt treatment are imperative to improve transplant outcomes. This article highlights the clinical characteristics of the most common CMV end-organ diseases in SOT recipients and their diagnostic modalities and challenges.

RECENT FINDINGS

CMV can cause a variety of end-organ diseases in SOT recipients. Although CMV nucleic acid amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is frequently employed to detect CMV reactivation or infection, its predictive value for various CMV end-organ diseases remains uncertain. Given the limitation of PCR or other noninvasive tests, confirmation of CMV end-organ disease may require tissue biopsy, which may not be feasible or available, or may cause untoward complications.

SUMMARY

The utility of PCR to diagnose CMV end-organ disease is limited. As CMV can infect any organ system(s), clinicians caring for SOT recipients need to maintain vigilance for any signs and symptoms of end-organ disease to allow early recognition and prompt treatment. Invasive procedures might be needed to confirm the diagnosis and minimize the empirical use of antiviral therapy that may have substantial drug toxicities.