Spontaneous intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt in a patient with cirrhosis: diagnosis by combined color Doppler and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography

Abstract: Large spontaneous intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts are occasionally found and their diagnosis by Doppler sonography is rarely reported. The authors describe a case of spontaneous intrahepatic porto-systemic venous shunt in liver cirrhosis diagnosed by color Doppler and characterized by an unusual pulsed Doppler spectrum: a continuous flat portal-like pattern of flow in the portal branch, and in both the shunt and the hepatic vein,     

Hepatic vein waveforms in liver cirrhosis re-evaluated

Objective  

There are many studies on changes in Doppler waveforms of hepatic veins in cirrhotic liver. It is postulated that dampening of phasic oscillations appears with worsening of liver function. Our aim was to reevaluate the significance of Doppler waveforms of hepatic vein in cirrhotic patients and to correlate with hepatic blood flow.     

Spontaneous porto-systemic shunts in liver cirrhosis: Clinical and therapeutical aspects

Spontaneous porto-systemic shunts(SPSS) are frequent in liver cirrhosis and their prevalence increases as liver function deteriorates, probably as a consequence of worsening portal hypertension, but without achieving an effective protection against cirrhosis' complications. Several types of SPSS have been described in the literature, each one associated with different clinical manifestations. In particular,recurrent or persistent hepatic encephalopathy is more frequent in patients with splenorenal shunt, while the presence of gastric varices and consequently the incidence of variceal bleeding is more common in gastrorenal shunt. In the advanced stage, the presence of large SPSS can lead to the so called"portosystemic shunt syndrome", characterized by a progressive deterioration of hepatic function, hepatic encephalopathy and, sometimes, portal vein thrombosis. The detection of SPSS in patients with liver cirrhosis is recommended in order to prevent or treat recurrent hepatic encephalopathy or variceal bleeding.     

经颈静脉肝内门体分流术治疗食道静脉曲张破裂出血

采用经颈静脉肝内门体分流术(TIPSS)治疗5例肝硬化门静脉高压症(CPH)食管静脉反复破裂出血病人,平均门静脉压力由术前3.6±0.7kPa,降至术后1.73±0.35kPa,术后24小时全部病例出血均停止,门静脉血流阻力系数降低,曲张静脉消失或减轻。TIPSS 治疗门脉高压食管静脉反复性出血具有损伤小、合并症少,近期疗效确切等特点,是治疗门脉高压食道静脉破裂出血的首选方法。     

Portosystemic shunts in a large cohort of patients with liver cirrhosis: detection rate and clinical relevance

Background  This study aimed to determine the detection rate and clinical relevance of portosystemic collaterals. Methods  We studied 326 cirrhotics. Portosystemic collaterals, portal vein diameter, and splenic area were evaluated by color Doppler sonography; esophageal varices were detected by endoscopy. Results  Of the cirrhotics, 130 had portosystemic collaterals (39.9% total, left gastric vein 11%, paraumbilical vein 7.4%, splenorenal shunts 13.8%, and combined shunts 7.7%). Cirrhotics without portosystemic collaterals or with a paraumbilical vein had a significantly narrower portal vein diameter than cirrhotics with a left gastric vein (P < 0.001). Cirrhotics with a paraumbilical vein had a significantly smaller splenic area than cirrhotics with a left gastric vein (P < 0.001), splenorenal shunts (P < 0.001), combined shunts (P < 0.001), or without portosystemic collaterals (P < 0.05). A significant association between portosystemic collaterals and Child’s classes or presence and type of esophageal varices was found (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0004, respectively). The highest prevalence of Child’s class C and large (F-3) esophageal varices was found in cirrhotics with a left gastric vein (41.7% and 36.1%, respectively), whereas esophageal varices were absent in 47.4% of cirrhotics without portosystemic collaterals and in 58.3% of cirrhotics with a paraumbilical vein. Conclusions  The left gastric vein is associated with some sonographic and clinical markers of disease severity, whereas the absence of portosystemic collaterals or the presence of paraumbilical veins seems to identify cirrhotics with markers predictive of a more favorable clinical course.     

彩色多普勒超声诊断肝内门-体静脉分流价值探讨*

目的 探讨彩色多普勒超声检查肝内门-体静脉分流（IPSVS）的特征及诊断价值。方法 使用Philips IE33或GE LOGIQ9彩色多普勒超声诊断仪（凸阵探头,频率3.5～5.0 MHz）检查14例IPSVS患者,总结其肝脏超声图像特征及临床资料。所有患者经行多层螺旋CT检查并诊断为IPSVS。结果 在14例存在肝内门静脉分支与体循环静脉分支直接交通者中,男6例,女8例,年龄43～70岁; 1例为结肠癌并发肝内多发转移,2例为肝功能异常,8例为非肝脏疾病就诊的患者, 3例为乙型肝炎肝硬化;本组病变位于右肝12例（85.7%）,明显多于左肝2例[14.3%,P＜0.01];按Park分型,Ⅱ型5例（35.7%）,Ⅲ型9例（64.3%）;超声表现为肝内囊状或迂曲管道状无回声,与门静脉、肝静脉相通,彩色多普勒显示其内为红蓝两色交替或迂曲的血流信号,血流方向为从门静脉至肝静脉。结论 彩色多普勒超声能够敏感地发现异常血流并可测定血流方向、流速、流量,是IPSVS的首选诊断方法。     

Clinical characteristics of patients with liver cirrhosis and spontaneous portosystemic shunts detected by ultrasound in a tertiary care and transplantation centre

Abstract

Objectives: The clinical relevance of spontaneous portosystemic shunts detected by ultrasound is insufficiently investigated. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the frequency and clinical relevance of spontaneous portosystemic shunts in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods: We evaluated portosystemic shunts, liver cirrhosis and spleen size by ultrasound in 982 patients with liver cirrhosis and correlated these with laboratory results, clinical data and the incidence of clinical endpoint deaths, liver transplantation and the development of HCC during the follow-up period (mean 1.26?±?1.53 years [range 0–7.2 years]).

Results: Portosystemic shunts were detected in 34% of the patients. These patients had a higher rate of alcohol-related cirrhosis (37% vs. 30%, p?=?.003), a higher MELD score (p?p?p?p?p?=?.041) and suffered more frequently from Child B/C stages (p?=?.03), hepatorenal syndrome (p?=?.03), massive ascites (p?=?.001) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (p?=?.011).

Conclusions: Patients with portosystemic shunts that are detected by ultrasound should be monitored carefully as these patients are associated with advanced liver disease and multiple clinical risk factors.     

Total area of spontaneous portosystemic shunts independently predicts hepatic encephalopathy and mortality in liver cirrhosis

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Subclavian artery occlusion causing acute myocardial infarction in a patient with a left internal mammary artery graft.

Although atherosclerotic disease of the subclavian artery has previously been reported to cause coronary-subclavian steal syndrome, acute myocardial infarction because of occlusion of the subclavian artery in a graft-dependent coronary circulation is an uncommon and previously unreported mode of clinical presentation. Increasingly, patients undergoing high-risk cardiopulmonary procedures have comorbidities with extensive atherosclerotic disease of many vascular beds including coronary, cranial, and peripheral. Our discussion reviews the clinical presentation of such a case and highlights some of the important treatment options available when confronted with such a finding. The successful outcome achieved by percutaneous stenting of the subclavian artery and salvage of the graft may indicate that this modality is the initial treatment of choice in such cases.     

Doppler study of hepatic vein in cirrhotic patients： Correlation with liver dysfunction and hepatic hemodynamics

INTRODUCTIONThere are many studies on inflow to the liver in liver cirrhosis (LC) in relation to hepatic dysfunction and portal hypertension. In LC, there are changes in liver parenchyma as well as alteration of hepatic vasculature, including morphologica…     

轻微肝性脑病患者经颈静脉肝内门体分流术后不同预后组肠道菌群的变化

目的对比分析肝硬化轻微肝性脑病(MHE)患者经颈静脉肝内门体分流术(TIPS)后不同预后组肠道菌群结构与术前的差异。方法选取2016年7月—2017年7月西京医院消化病院住院并接受TIPS治疗的28例MHE患者,分别于术前1~3 d和术后1个月收集粪便样本及采样时临床资料信息,根据术后预后不同分为3组:无HE组(n=8)、MHE组(n=12)和显性脑病(OHE)组(n=8)。对粪便样本采取16S rRNA高通量测序技术进行测序得到菌群相对丰度并在属水平使用SPSS和R语言对各组间菌群物种多样性,术后变化和变化差异展开分析。计数资料组间比较采用χ^2检验,计量资料3组间比较采用Kruskal-Wallis H检验,采用Bonferroni法进行多个样本的多重比较,同组患者术前术后的比较采用Wilcoxo符号秩检验。微生物组Beta分析基于Bray Curtis距离矩阵进行主坐标分析(PCoA),使用Adonis法(PerMANOVA)对比组间差异。结果基于Bray Curtis距离矩阵的PCoA分析显示,仅MHE组术前和术后的beta多样性明显改变(F=2.71,P=0.049)。术后无HE组原生菌群小杆菌属、粪球菌属、瘤胃菌科某属、解黄酮菌属和狭义梭菌属丰度较术前明显升高(Z值分别为2.521、2.1、2.1、2.1和1.96,P值均<0.05);MHE组术后有害菌群颗粒链菌属(Z=2.521,P=0.012)、肠球菌属(Z=2.51,P=0.012)、链球菌属(Z=2.432,P=0.015)和罗氏菌属(Z=2.001,P=0.045)丰度较术前明显下降,但韦荣球菌属(Z=2.353,P=0.019)和巨球菌属(Z=1.955,P=0.05)丰度却明显上升;OHE组术后仅观察到韦荣球菌属丰度较术前升高(Z=2.38,P=0.017)。3组间菌群变化量(术后丰度/术前丰度)比较差异有统计学意义[无HE组vs MHE组vs OHE组:2.00(1.11~91.61)vs 1.21(0.26~6.79)vs 0.09(0.01~0.92),χ^2=6.249,P=0.043]。结论TIPS术后不同预后患者肠道菌群的变化有明显的差异,原生菌群丰度的升高可能对缓解HE病情有一定影响。     

肝硬化患者肝内LR-3类结节恶变风险评估及预测模型的建立*

目的 探讨存在LR-3类肝内结节的肝硬化患者恶性转变的危险因素,并在此基础上建立恶性转变预测模型。方法 2014年3月～2016年3月我院诊治的124例存在肝内LR-3类结节的肝硬化患者,规律随访进行磁共振成像(MRI)检查,对可疑病灶进行穿刺活检。应用多因素Logistic回归分析影响癌变的危险因素,并建立预测模型。结果 经随访60～78个月(平均74个月),120例患者完成随访,发现癌变24例(20.0%),另96例无癌变;癌变组有饮酒、吸烟、合并糖尿病、乙型肝炎病毒感染和酒精性肝炎者分别为91.7%、87.5%、75.0%、100.0%和41.7%,显著高于未癌变组(分别为45.8%、52.1%、41.7%、58.3%和20.8%,P<0.05);Cox风险回归分析显示,饮酒(HR=2.264,95%CI=1.597～3.210,P<0.001)、糖尿病(HR=1.294,95%CI=1.107～1.513,P=0.001)、乙型肝炎(HR=1.795,95%CI=1.329～2.561,P<0.001)和酒精性肝炎(HR=0.658,95%CI=0.552～0.784,P<0.001)是存在LR-3类病变结节的肝硬化患者癌变的独立危险因素;根据Cox多因素分析结果建立癌变预测模型,即Y=0.817X₁+0.258X₂+0.585X₃-0.419X₄(X₁=饮酒,X₂=糖尿病,X₃=乙型肝炎,X₄=酒精性肝炎)。经ROC分析显示,该模型判断LR-3类病变结节患者癌变风险的AUC为0.812(SE=0.064,95%CI=0.687～0.936,P<0.001),其敏感度为0.833,特异度为0.673。结论 了解危险因素可能对判断肝硬化患者肝内结节的性质有帮助,加强随访,必要时穿刺才是明确诊断的正确方法。     

无肝素化连续性肾脏替代治疗肝硬化并发肝性脑病患者疗效研究*

目的 探讨无肝素化连续性肾脏替代疗法(CRRT)治疗肝硬化并肝性脑病(HE)患者的疗效以及血氨和细胞因子水平的变化。方法 2018年1月～2021年1月我院诊治的62例肝硬化并发HE患者,其中接受常规护肝和抗肝昏迷治疗31例(对照组),在此基础上接受无肝素化CRRT治疗31例(观察组)。采用ELISA法检测血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白介素-6(IL-6)和IL-10水平,采用谷氨酸脱氢酶法检测血氨水平。结果 观察组患者神志转清时间为(3.1±1.0)d,住院时间为(8.1±1.3)d,显著短于对照组【分别为(4.8±1.1)d和(12.5±1.5)d,P<0.01】,观察组患者病死率为6.5%,显著低于对照组的25.8%(P<0.05);治疗后,观察组血氨、TNF-α和IL-6水平分别为(69.3±10.5)mmol/L、(7.1±1.7)ng/L和(9.5±2.0)ng/L,显著低于对照组[分别为(94.8±8.1)mmol/L、(9.4±1.9)ng/L和(12.4±2.5)ng/L,P<0.01],而两组血清IL-10水平[(8.1±1.4)ng/L对(7.3±1.6)ng/L,P>0.01]比较,无显著性差异;观察组血清总胆红素水平为(41.2±8.6)μmol/L,显著低于对照组[(50.4±9.7)μmol/L,P<0.05],而两组血清白蛋白[(32.9±3.2)g/L对(32.4±2.8)g/L]和INR [(1.2±0.4)对(1.3±0.4)]相比,无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论 采用无肝素化CRRT治疗肝硬化并发HE患者效果显著,可有效降低血氨和细胞因子水平,提高生存率,值得进一步观察。     

Visual attention orienting in liver cirrhosis without overt hepatic encephalopathy

The attention system in patients with liver cirrhosis has not yet been fully investigated. We therefore studied visual attention orienting in cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy. Seventy cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy (aged 57±10 yr., mean±s.d.) and 55 controls (aged 49±12 yr.) were enrolled. Visual attention orienting was evaluated by a computerized neuropsychological test. The Reitan A test, commonly used to detect subclinical hepatic encephalopathy, was used to evaluate mental performance. Psychometric test scores were reduced in cirrhotics compared to controls (attention test: neutral condition =495±149 vs. 401±98 msec; valid condition =434±110 vs. 398±84 msec; invalid condition =485±146 vs. 392±110 msec; p<0.001; Reitan A test =52±20 vs. 35±11 sec., p<0.001). The attention effect of the cue was found both in controls and cirrhotics; however, it was significantly higher in cirrhotics than in controls (61±111 vs. 33±41 msec; p<0.002). The attention effect was directly correlated with Reitan A test (r=0.23, p=0.05) in cirrhotics. In conclusion, in cirrhotic patients without overt hepatic encephalopathy, visual attention orienting was present and focusing to an indexed location had a higher effect on reaction time compared to controls, possibly because of reduced basal arousal.     

Inflammation:A novel target of current therapies for hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis

Hepatic encephalopathy(HE) is a severe neuropsychiatric syndrome that most commonly occurs in decompensated liver cirrhosis and incorporates a spectrumof manifestations that ranges from mild cognitive impairment to coma. Although the etiology of HE is not completely understood, it is believed that multiple underlying mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of HE, and one of the main factors is thought to be ammonia; however, the ammonia hypothesis in the pathogenesis of HE is incomplete. Recently, it has been increasingly demonstrated that inflammation, including systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation and endotoxemia, acts in concert with ammonia in the pathogenesis of HE in cirrhotic patients. Meanwhile, a good number of studies have found that current therapies for HE, such as lactulose, rifaximin, probiotics and the molecular adsorbent recirculating system, could inhibit different types of inflammation, thereby improving the neuropsychiatric manifestations and preventing the progression of HE in cirrhotic patients. The antiinflammatory effects of these current therapies provide a novel therapeutic approach for cirrhotic patients with HE. The purpose of this review is to describe the inflammatory mechanisms behind the etiology of HE in cirrhosis and discuss the current therapies that target the inflammatory pathogenesis of HE.     

Portal hypertension and portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis: a haemodynamic study

BACKGROUND/AIM: The relationships between the levels of portal hypertension and the morphologic alterations of gastric mucosa in patients with liver cirrhosis--generally described as portal hypertensive gastropathy--are poorly defined. PATIENTS: In total, 62 patients with cirrhosis of different aetiologies, were examined by endoscopy and measurement of portal hypertension by hepatic venous pressure gradient. RESULTS: Portal hypertensive gastropathy was observed in 49 cases; six patients showed gastric antral vascular ectasia always associated with gastric lesions described as severe portal hypertensive gastropathy with different localizations. Hepatic venous pressure gradient showed severe portal hypertension in 37 cases, and averaged 17.7 +/- 4.3 mmHg. It was much higher in patients with severe lesions (p=0.0004). Hepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with endoscopic signs of isolated antral gastropathy was lower (p=0.04) than in those with isolated lesions in body-fundus. No relationship was found between hepatic function, as assessed by the Child-Pugh score, and portal hypertensive gastropathy. CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that the severity of portal hypertensive gastropathy is related to portal hypertension, but portal hypertension is not the sole determinant of the occurrence of endoscopic abnormalities of gastric mucosa. The derangement of liver function does not appear to play any role in the occurrence of portal hypertensive gastropathy.     

超声造影对肝硬化小结节的诊断价值探讨

目的 探讨超声造影对肝硬化小结节的诊断价值。方法 2012年2月~2016年2月我院收治的130例肝硬化患者,分别进行增强CT扫描和超声造影检查。结果 在130例肝硬化患者肝内169个小结节中,经手术或肝活检组织病理学检查确诊为肝癌92例（70.8%）,包括115个病灶;增强CT扫描发现符合肝癌表现者62例,其Kappa值为0.250,诊断的准确率为65.4%（85/130）,敏感性为67.4%（62/92）,特异性为60.5%（23/38）;超声造影发现符合肝癌表现者87例,其Kappa值为0.871,诊断准确率为94.6%（123/130）,敏感性为94.6%（87/92）,特异性为94.7%（36/38）,两者相比,差异显著（P<0.05）;增强CT扫描和超声造影诊断的AUC分别为0.630和0.935,后者明显大于前者（P<0.05）。结论 超声造影能显著提高对肝硬化小结节的定性诊断,值得临床进一步研究。     

肝硬化患者轻微肝性脑病临床相关危险因素分析

目的评估肝硬化人群中轻微型肝性脑病（MHE）发生的相关因素.方法在121例肝硬化患者,分别进行心理肝性脑病得分（PHES）和临界闪烁频率（CFF）测定,并评估肝功能分级状态.结果在121例肝硬化患者中,检出MHE者70例（57.9%）.性别、受教育程度、肝病病因、肝功能Child-Pugh分级、血浆氨浓度等因素对肝硬化患者发生MHE无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;经Logistic多因素回归分析,仅发现年龄为MHE发生的危险因素（P=0.041, OR=1.035）,而MHE发生与性别、教育程度、肝病病因、肝功能Child-Pugh分级和血浆氨浓度无关（P〉0.05）.结论在肝硬化患者中MHE发生率较高,年龄增长是肝硬化患者发生MHE的危险因素.     

临界视觉闪烁频率在肝硬化失代偿期患者轻型肝性脑病诊断中的价值

目的 探讨临界视觉闪烁频率（CFF）对肝硬化失代偿期患者轻型肝性脑病诊断上的应用价值。方法 对160例肝硬化失代偿期患者进行CFF检测,并与对照组进行比较。结果 肝硬化失代偿期患者CFF值＜ 39.0 Hz以下者占多数（76.25%）,而对照组CFF值均＞ 40.0 Hz,两组间比较差异有统计学意义（t = 7.35,P ＜ 0.01）。CFF值＜ 39.0 Hz以下的患者平均血氨异常率为78.96%,分别与CFF值＞ 39.0 Hz各组比较,差异有统计学意义（t = 5.65,P ＜ 0.01）。结论 检测CFF值是肝硬化失代偿期患者及早发现轻型肝性脑病的一项客观而敏感的诊断方法。     

Branched chain amino acids in hepatic encephalopathy and sarcopenia in liver cirrhosis: Evidence and uncertainties

Liver cirrhosis is commonly associated with nutritional alterations,reported in 20% of patients with compensated disease and over 60% of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Nutritional disturbances are associated with a worse prognosis and increased risk of complication. Serum levels of branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs) are decreased in patients with liver cirrhosis. The imbalance of amino acids levels has been suggested to be associated with the development of complications,such as hepatic e...