Abnormal Intestinal Permeability in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) found in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) cross-react with bacterial proteins and hence molecular mimicry has been proposed as a mechanism for AMA development. Alterations in gastrointestinal permeability would provide a potential route for increased exposure of gut flora to the immune system. In this study we aimed to compare the measured gastrointestinal permeability in patients with PBC to that in patients with liver disease (hepatitis C) and healthy control populations. Subjects drank a mixture of sucrose, lactulose, and mannitol dissolved in water. Eight-hour urinary excretion of the sugars was measured to assess intestinal permeability. Antiendomysial antibody testing was performed to exclude subclinical celiac disease. Eighty-six patients with PBC were evaluated and compared to 69 hepatitis C patients and 155 healthy controls. The mean urinary excretion of sucrose in the PBC patients (133.89 ± 72.56 mg) was significantly higher than that in hepatitis C patients (101.07±63.35) or healthy controls (89.46±41.76) (P=0.0001), suggesting abnormal gastric or proximal small intestinal permeability. Sucrose excretion was not increased among patients with hepatitis C compared to healthy controls. The ratio of lactulose:mannitol excretion, reflecting small bowel permeability, was also elevated in the PBC group (0.017±0.012) compared to healthy controls (0.012±0.007) (P=0.0001) but was equal to that found among patients with hepatitis C (0.016±0.011) (P=NS). We conclude that the permeability of both the stomach and the small bowel is increased in patients with PBC, however, it is unclear if it is a cause, consequence, or manifestation of the disease.     

Gastric permeability to sucrose is increased in portal hypertensive gastropathy

BACKGROUND: Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is frequently found among patients with hepatic cirrhosis and at present the only way to detect and follow PHG is via endoscopy. OBJECTIVE: To assess gastric and intestinal permeability and investigate its relationship to endoscopic findings and indices of portal hypertension and hepatic function. DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-one non-diabetic patients with hepatic cirrhosis and PHG (PHG+) were studied and compared with 17 cirrhotic patients without PHG (PHG-). All patients underwent endoscopy for the assessment of PHG and Helicobacter pylori status, ultrasound determination of the diameters of spleen and portal vein, and, subsequently, an oral load of sucrose, lactulose, and mannitol. Sugar concentrations were determined in 6-h urine specimens and expressed as a percentage of the orally administered dose or as lactulose/mannitol ratio. RESULTS: The urinary sucrose excretion was significantly elevated in patients with PHG compared to those without (PHG+, 0.20% +/- 0.03; PHG-, 0.07% +/- 0.01; P< 0.001). No difference was found for the small intestinal probes lactulose and mannitol. Gastric sucrose permeability correlated positively with the endoscopic lesion score (P < 0.001), but not with other parameters of portal hypertension or hepatic function. H. pylori status did not influence gastric permeability. The sensitivity of this test reached 100% for PHG scores > 2. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric permeability to sucrose is increased in patients with PHG, independently of the presence of H. pylori. Sucrose permeability may be useful for the follow-up of patients with PHG.     

肝硬化患者门静脉高压性胃病发病因素的研究

背景：门静脉高压性胃病是肝硬化患者上消化道出血的原因之一．但其发病机制目前尚不完全清楚。目的：探讨肝硬化患者门静脉高压性胃病的发生与肝硬化分级、食管胃底静脉曲张程度、腹水量和胃肠激素血管活性肠肽（VIP）水平的关系。方法：45例肝硬化患者行胃镜检查观察食管胃底静脉曲张程度和胃黏膜改变．行腹部B超检查观察腹水量，同时检测血清白蛋白、总胆红素、胆碱酯酶、凝血酶原时间等肝功能指标和血浆VIP水平。结果：Child—Pugh A、B、C级肝硬化患者、不同程度食管胃底静脉曲张患者以及不同程度腹水患者之间的门静脉高压性胃病发生率均无显著差异（P〉0．05）。但肝硬化伴门静脉高压性胃病患者的血浆VIP水平较无门静脉高压性胃病者显著升高（P〈0．001）。结论：门静脉高压是门静脉高压性胃病的必要条件，而其他因素．如血浆VIP水平与门静脉高压性胃病的发生也有一定关系。     

Portal hypertensive colopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis

AIM: In patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, portal hypertensive colopathy is thought to be an important cause of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of colonic mucosal changes in patients with liver cirrhosis and its clinical significance. METHODS: We evaluated the colonoscopic findings and liver function of 47 patients with liver cirrhosis over a 6-year period. The main cause of liver cirrhosis was post-viral hepatitis (68%) related to hepatitis B (6%) or C (62%) infection. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to examine the presence of esophageal varices, cardiac varices, and congestive gastropathy, as well as a full colonoscopy to observe changes in colonic mucosa. Portal hypertensive colopathy was defined endoscopically in patients with vascular ectasia, redness, and blue vein. Vascular ectasia was classified into two types: type 1, solitary vascular ectasia; and type 2, diffuse vascular ectasia. RESULTS: Overall portal hypertensive colopathy was present in 31 patients (66%), including solitary vascular ectasia in 17 patients (36%), diffuse vascular ectasia in 20 patients (42%), redness in 10 patients (21%) and blue vein in 6 patients (12%). As the Child-Pugh class increased in severity, the prevalence of portal hypertensive colopathy rose. Child-Pugh class B and C were significantly associated with portal hypertensive colopathy. Portal hypertensive gastropathy, esophageal varices, ascites and hepatocellular carcinoma were not related to occurrence of portal hypertensive colopathy. Platelet count was significantly associated with portal hypertensive colopathy, but prothrombin time, serum albumin level, total bilirubin level and serum ALT level were not related to occurrence of portal hypertensive colopathy. CONCLUSION: As the Child-Pugh class worsens and platelet count decreases, the prevalence of portal hypertensive colopathy increases in patients with liver cirrhosis. A colonoscopic examination in patients with liver cirrhosis is indicated, especially those with worsening Child-Pugh class and/or decreasing platelet count, to prevent complications such as lower gastrointestinal bleeding.     

The natural history of portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis and mild portal hypertension

BACKGROUND: Portal hypertensive gastropathy is a potential cause of bleeding in patients with liver cirrhosis. Studies on its natural history have often included patients submitted to endoscopic or pharmacological treatment for portal hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 222 cirrhotic patients with mild degree of portal hypertension (i.e., with no or small varices at entry, without previous gastrointestinal bleeding and medical, endoscopic, or angiographic treatment) were followed up with upper endoscopy every 12 months for 47 +/- 28 months. RESULTS: Upon enrollment 48 patients presented portal hypertensive gastropathy (43 mild and 5 severe) and the presence of esophageal varices was the only independent predictor of the presence of this gastric lesion at multivariate analysis. The incidence of portal hypertensive gastropathy was 3.0% (1.1-4.9%) at 1 yr and 24% (18.1-29.9%) at 3 yr, while the progression was 3% (1-6.9%) at 1 yr and 14% (4.2-23.8%) at 3 yr. The presence of esophageal varices and the Child-Pugh class B or C at enrollment were predictive of the incidence of portal hypertensive gastropathy, while only Child-Pugh class B or C was correlated with the progression from mild to severe, at multivariate analysis. During follow-up 16 patients bled from portal hypertensive gastropathy (9 acutely and 7 chronically) and one patient died of exsanguination from this lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The natural history of portal hypertensive gastropathy is significantly influenced by the severity of liver disease and severity of portal hypertension. Acute bleeding from portal hypertensive gastropathy is infrequent but may be severe.     

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.     

抗线粒体抗体与原发性胆汁性胆管炎临床血清学和肝硬化指标的相关性

目的探究首次就诊的抗线粒体抗体(AMA)阳性原发性胆汁性胆管炎(PBC)患者的AMA水平及其与临床指标的相关性。方法通过北京大学人民医院信息系统,收集2013年1月至2016年12月首次检测AMA和(或)M2型抗线粒体抗体(AMA-M2)阳性的1323例患者的临床资料,其中采用间接免疫荧光法183例、免疫印迹法431例、ELISA法709例;分为未诊断PBC组(973例)和新诊断PBC组(350例,其中非肝硬化者268例,肝硬化者82例)。709例采用ELISA法的患者中,未诊断PBC组567例,新诊断PBC组142例(PBC非肝硬化组115例,PBC肝硬化组27例)。183例采用间接免疫荧光法的患者中,未诊断PBC组118例,新诊断PBC组65例;其中AMA滴度为低滴度(1∶40~1∶80)者69例(未诊断PBC组53例,新诊断PBC组16例)、中滴度(1∶160~1∶320)者95例(未诊断PBC组59例,新诊断PBC组36例)、高滴度(≥1∶640)者19例(未诊断PBC组6例,新诊断PBC组13例)。比较各组患者的AMA水平,分析其与PBC临床指标免疫球蛋白(Ig)G、IgM、血小板计数、ALT、AST、GGT、ALP、血清总蛋白、TBil、总胆固醇,以及肝硬化指标天冬氨酸转氨酶与血小板比率指数(APRI)、基于四因子的纤维化指数(Fib-4)的相关性。统计学方法采用Mann-Whitney U检验、Kruskal-Wallis检验和线性回归分析。结果采用ELISA法检测的709例患者的AMA-M2滴度中位值为53 RU/mL,新诊断PBC组的血清AMA和AMA-M2中位水平均高于未诊断PBC组(1∶320比1∶80和180 RU/mL比47 RU/mL),差异均有统计学意义(χ^2=14.111,Z=-7.531,P均<0.01)。未诊断PBC组的AMA-M2值与年龄、IgG、IgM、AST、GGT、ALP、血清总蛋白、总胆固醇水平均呈正相关,均有统计学意义(Rho值=0.114、0.108、0.337、0.089、0.197、0.086、0.121、0.073,P均<0.05);新诊断PBC组的AMA-M2值与年龄、IgM、血清总蛋白、总胆固醇水平均呈正相关,与血小板计数呈负相关,均有统计学意义(Rho值=0.218、0.483、0.230、0.161、-0.183,P均<0.05);PBC非肝硬化组的血清AMA和AMA-M2中位水平均有低于PBC肝硬化组的趋势(1∶160比1∶320和174 RU/mL比495 RU/mL),但差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05);PBC肝硬化组者组患者的AMA-M2值与IgM水平呈正相关(r=0.38,P=0.039),但与APRI、Fib-4均无明确相关性(P均>0.05)。采用间接免疫荧光法检测的183例患者的AMA滴度中位值为1∶160;未诊断PBC组中AMA低滴度、中滴度和高滴度者的IgM中位水平逐渐升高(分别为1.2、1.7和1.8 g/L),新诊断PBC组中AMA低滴度、中滴度和高滴度者的IgM、GGT、ALP的水平均逐渐升高(中位水平分别为1.5、3.7和4.1 g/L,144、182和317 U/L,137、168和221 U/L),差异均有统计学意义(χ^2=6.260、7.081、8.030、15.226,P均<0.05)。总体中未诊断PBC组男性的血清AMA-M2中位水平低于女性(41 RU/mL比50 RU/mL),差异有统计学意义(Z=-2.945,P=0.003);新诊断PBC组男性的血清AMA-M2中位水平有低于女性的趋势(113 RU/mL比206 RU/mL),但差异无统计学意义(P=0.257)。结论血清AMA水平与诸多临床指标有一定的相关性,并可能与PBC患者的疾病严重程度相关。     

Is there ileopathy in portal hypertension?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Portal hypertensive gastropathy and colopathy are well described endoscopic abnormalities in patients with portal hypertension. Endoscopic abnormalities in the ileum in patients with portal hypertension have not been well described. The aim of the present study was to evaluate endoscopic abnormalities in the ileum of patients with portal hypertension. METHODS: Patients with portal hypertension of various etiologies were included in the study. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed to record esophageal varices, gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy. Colonoscopy with retrograde intubation of the ileum was performed and the presence of colorectal varices, colopathy and mucosal findings in the ileum were noted. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (age 16-80 years, 33 men) were studied. Esophageal varices were present in all. Portal hypertensive gastropathy was present in 27/41 (66%) patients. Rectal varices were noted in 22/41 (54%) patients and 17/41 (42%) patients had features suggestive of colopathy. Ileum could be intubated in 38 patients (93%). Endoscopic abnormalities in the ileum were noted in 13/38 (34%) patients. Ileopathy as evident by endoscopic mucosal abnormalities was observed in 10/38 (26%) patients. Ileal varices were present in 8/38 (21%) patients. Three of these had ileal varices alone while the remaining five patients also had associated ileopathy The presence of ileopathy was significantly associated with the presence of portal hypertensive gastropathy and colopathy but not with esophageal, gastric or rectal varices. CONCLUSIONS: Ileopathy occurs in one-third of patients with portal hypertension and is significantly associated with the presence of portal hypertensive gastropathy and colopathy.     

Natural history of portal hypertensive gastropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis. The New Italian Endoscopic Club for the study and treatment of esophageal varices (NIEC)

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The clinical importance of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) as a source of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis is poorly defined. We investigated the natural history of this condition in a large series of patients. METHODS: All patients with cirrhosis seen at 7 hospitals during June and July 1992 were followed up with clinical and endoscopic examinations every 6 months for up to 3 years. Gastropathy was classified according to the classification of the New Italian Endoscopic Club. RESULTS: The prevalence of gastropathy was 80% and was correlated with the duration of disease, presence and size of esophagogastric varices, and a previous history of endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy. During 18+/-8 months of follow-up, gastropathy was stable in 29% of patients, deteriorated in 23%, improved in 23%, and fluctuated with time in 25%. The evolution of gastropathy with time was identical in patients with and without previous or current sclerotherapy. Acute bleeding from gastropathy occurred in 8 of 315 patients (2.5%). The bleeding-related mortality rate was 12.5%. Chronic bleeding occurred in 34 patients (10.8%). CONCLUSIONS: PHG is common in patients with cirrhosis, and its prevalence parallels the severity of portal hypertension. Gastropathy can progress from mild to severe and vice versa or even disappear completely. Bleeding from this lesion is relatively uncommon and rarely severe. Sclerotherapy of esophageal varices does not seem to influence the natural history of this condition.     

Endoscopic Evaluation of Rectal Mucosal Reddening in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Background: Colonic mucosal lesions observed in patients with portal hypertension have been reported as portal hypertensive colopathy. We studied the rectal mucosa in patients with liver cirrhosis to evaluate the prevalence of mucosal reddening which looks like gastric red spots in the portal hypertensive gastropathy and to determine whether there is a correlation between this lesion and portal hypertension or the severity of liver disease. Methods: Seventy‐two patients with liver cirrhosis and 50 control subjects were examined. Colonoscopy was performed to evaluate the presence of mucosal reddening in the rectum. We investigated the relations between rectal mucosal reddening and esophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy and the severity of liver cirrhosis. Results: Rectal mucosal reddening was observed in eight of 72 patients with liver cirrhosis but in none of the 50 control subjects; its prevalence in cirrhosis patients was significantly higher than that in the control subjects (P < 0.05). Cirrhosis patients with esophageal varices were more likely to have rectal mucosal reddening than cirrhosis patients without esophageal varices (P < 0.05). In addition, the occurrence of rectal mucosal reddening correlated with the severity of cirrhosis, based on Child–Pugh's classification (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We have shown that rectal mucosal reddening develops in patients with liver cirrhosis and is associated with the existence of esophageal varices and the severity of liver cirrhosis. These results suggest the possibility that portal hypertension and impaired liver function may play an important role in the pathogenesis of rectal mucosal reddening in patients with cirrhosis.     

Effects of chronic therapy with non-steroideal antinflammatory drugs on gastric permeability of sucrose: A study on 71 patients with rheumatoid arthritis

AIM: To evaluate the gastric permeability after both acute and chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to assess the clinical usefulness of sucrose test in detecting and following NSAIDs- induced gastric damage mainly in asymptomatic patients and the efficacy of a single pantoprazole dose in chronic users. METHODS: Seventy-one consecutive patients on chronic therapy with NSAIDs were enrolled in the study and divided into groups A and B (group A receiving 40 mg pantoprazole daily, group B only receiving NSAIDs). Sucrose test was performed at baseline and after 2, 4 and 12 wk, respectively. The symptoms in the upper gastrointestinal tract were recorded. RESULTS: The patients treated with pantoprazole had sucrose excretion under the limit during the entire follow-up period. The patients without gastroprotection had sucrose excretion above the limit after 2 wk, with an increasing trend in the following weeks (P = 0.000). A number of patients in this group revealed a significantly altered gastric permeability although they were asymptomatic during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Sucrose test can be proposed as a valid tool for the clinical evaluation of NSAIDs- induced gastric damage in both acute and chronic therapy. This tecnique helps to identify patients with clinically silent gastric damages. Pantoprazole (40 mg daily) is effective and well tolerated in chronic NSAID users.     

抗线粒体抗体及其分型对原发性胆汁性肝硬化的诊断价值

目的 研究抗线粒体抗体(AMA)及其分型检测对原发性胆汁性肝硬化(PBC)的诊断价值。 方法 应用间接免疫荧光法测定血清中AMA抗体,用免疫印迹法检测AMA-M2、M4、M9亚型。78例PBC患者、35例其他肝病患者和20名健康体检者检测AMA及M2,其中30例PBC患者检测M4、M9亚型。 结果 78例PBC患者中74例(94.9％)AMA及M2均阳性,1例AMA阳性而M2阴性,3例AMA及M2均阴性。35例其他肝病患者M2均阴性,2例AMA阳性,1例AMA弱阳性。30例M2均阳性PBC患者中,16例M4阳性(53.3％),4例M9阳性(13.3％)。20名健康体检者AMA及M2均阴性。 结论 AMA及其分型,特别是M2抗体检测可作为临床诊断PBC的重要血清免疫学指标。     

Effects of chronic therapy with non-steroideal antinflammatory drugs on gastric permeability of sucrose： A study on 71 patients with rheumatoid arthritis

AIM: To evaluate the gastric permeability after both acute and chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to assess the clinical usefulness of sucrose test in detecting and following NSAIDs- induced gastric damage mainly in asymptomatic patients and the efficacy of a single pantoprazole dose in chronic users. METHODS: Seventy-one consecutive patients on chronic therapy with NSAIDs were enrolled in the study and divided into groups A and B (group A receiving 40 mg pantoprazole daily, group B only receiving NSAIDs). Sucrose test was performed at baseline and after 2, 4 and 12 wk, respectively. The symptoms in the upper gastrointestinal tract were recorded. RESULTS: The patients treated with pantoprazole had sucrose excretion under the limit during the entire follow-up period. The patients without gastroprotection had sucrose excretion above the limit after 2 wk, with an increasing trend in the following weeks (P = 0.000). A number of patients in this group revealed a significantly altered gastric permeability although they were asymptomatic during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Sucrose test can be proposed as a valid tool for the clinical evaluation of NSAIDs- induced gastric damage in both acute and chronic therapy. This technique helps to identify patients with clinically silent gastric damages. Pantoprazole (40 mg daily) is effective and well tolerated in chronic NSAID users.     

Earlier recurrence of esophageal varices, following therapy, in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) compared with non-PBC patients

Background Variceal bleeding is a common, life-threatening complication of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Recently, several reports have suggested that the existence of esophageal varices in patients with PBC is a significant factor in the assessment of disease prognosis. However, there have been no reports on the recurrence of esophageal varices following treatment in patients with PBC. In this study, we investigated the recurrence of esophageal varices in PBC patients and attempted to identify predictive factors for the recurrence of esophageal varices.Methods Between April 1993 and August 2003, 138 patients with esophageal varices who had been treated by endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL; 96 men and 42 women; age, 33–83 years; mean, 62.6 ± 10.1 years), were enrolled in the present study. The diagnosis of esophageal varices was made by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and the varices were graded according to the criteria of the Japanese Research Society for Portal Hypertension. The relationship between the recurrence of esophageal varices and factors such as biochemical and hematological parameters, as well as the etiology of the liver disease, was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the multivariate Weibull regression model.Results PBC patients had an earlier recurrence of esophageal varices compared to non-PBC patients, and two factors, prothrombin time and etiology (PBC/non-PBC), were indicative of significantly earlier recurrence of esophageal varices.Conclusions We should be extra careful in the follow-up of patients with PBC after therapy for esophageal varices.     

Effects of aspirin and Helicobacter pylori on the gastroduodenal mucosal permeability to sucrose.

BACKGROUND: A non-invasive marker is needed to identify patients with significant gastrointestinal injury due to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Gastrointestinal permeability to sucrose has been suggested as such a test. AIMS: To assess the utility of sucrose permeability as a marker of gastroduodenal mucosal injury after single and multiple doses of aspirin, to identify the site of increased sucrose permeability, to explore the relation between sucrose permeability and endoscopic findings, and to evaluate whether Helicobacter pylori infection influenced gastroduodenal sucrose permeability. METHODS: After a fasting urine was obtained, 500 ml of a solution containing 100 g of sucrose was ingested. Urine was collected for five hours and assayed for sucrose by high performance liquid chromatography. Sucrose permeability was also assessed 20 minutes after ingestion of 650 mg of aspirin and eight to 12 hours after a 72 hour course of 650 mg aspirin four times a day. The site of increased permeability was identified after pyloric occlusion with a double balloon tube. RESULTS: Thirty seven healthy volunteers participated. Sucrose permeability (mean (SEM)) increased after both single (195.2 (27) mg and multiple (196.4 (31) mg) doses of aspirin compared with baseline (53.7 (10) mg; p < 0.0005). Balloon pyloric occlusion confirmed that the site of increased sucrose permeability was the stomach. The effect of aspirin on sucrose permeability was similar in those with and without H pylori infection. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the use of sucrose permeability as a marker of aspirin induced gastroduodenal mucosal injury and identify the stomach as the major site of increased permeability. H pylori infection does not seem to change gastric mucosal sucrose permeability either at baseline or after ingestion of aspirin.     

Active peptic ulcer disease in patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis: the role of Helicobacter pylori infection and portal hypertensive gastropathy.

BACKGROUND & AIM: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease in cirrhosis remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of H pylori infection and portal hypertension gastropathy in the prevalence of active peptic ulcer among dyspeptic patients with compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis. METHODS: Patients undergoing upper endoscopy with compensated HCV-related cirrhosis were enrolled. Child-Pugh's score was determined at the entry. Variceal size was measured endoscopically and the severity of portal hypertensive gastropathy was graded. H pylori infection status was determined by urea breath testing and/or histology. RESULTS: A total of 178 patients positive for HCV (A and B Child-Pugh's score) were prospectively included. The prevalence of H pylori infection was 43%. An active peptic ulcer was found in 14 patients (8%) and was significantly more common among those with H pylori infection (16% versus 2% in H pylori uninfected patients, odds ratio: 8.0). No association was observed between H pylori infection and variceal size, or hypertensive gastropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with compensated cirrhosis and H pylori infection showed higher risk of developing a peptic ulcer. Clinical relevance of this result would be that dyspeptic patients with HCV-related cirrhosis may benefit from preventive screening and eradication of H pylori, especially those with features of insufficient hemostasis.     

Does portal hypertension contribute to the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer associated with liver cirrhosis?

The prevalence of gastric ulcers in patients with liver cirrhosis is increased compared with that in the general population, and portal hypertension may contribute to the increased risk of gastric ulcer in cirrhosis patients. Aggressive factors involved in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer are diminished in association with portal hypertension. In contrast, most of the important gastric mucosal defense mechanisms are shown to be impaired in portal hypertension; many of these mechanisms are also found to be altered in patients with liver cirrhosis. Portal hypotensive treatment with propranolol reduces ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in portal hypertensive rats and improves endoscopic signs of portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhosis patients. Together, these findings suggest portal hypertension-induced impairment of the gastric mucosal defenses to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer in patients with liver cirrhosis. Prospective studies of portal pressure-reducing procedures, such as pharmacotherapy with propranolol, and their effect on the incidence of gastric ulcer in cirrhosis patients are needed to confirm this suggestion.     

原发性胆汁性肝硬化患者血清抗GP210和抗SP100检测的临床意义

目的研究抗GP210和抗SP100检测诊断原发性胆汁性肝硬化（PBC）的临床意义。方法采用免疫印迹法检测118例自身免疫性肝病患者血清抗GP210和抗SP100。结果 71例PBC和47例非PBC患者两抗体阳性率无显著性差异;在PBC患者,抗GP210、抗SP100和两抗体同时阳性诊断的特异性分别为40.2%、76.6%和82.4%,敏感度分别为26.8%、11.2%和10.2%;不同病理分期PBC患者血清抗体阳性率无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。结论抗GP210和抗SP100的检测并不能提高诊断PBC的效能。     

Prevalence of portal hypertensive duodenopathy in cirrhosis: clinical and haemodynamic features

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of portal hypertensive duodenopathy (PHD) in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and to evaluate its relationship with clinical and haemodynamic parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Endoscopy reports and clinical history of 549 consecutive patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension were evaluated retrospectively. A diagnosis of PHD was obtained in those patients with a congestive vascular pattern of the duodenum. RESULTS: PHD was found in 46 patients (8.4%). Previous endoscopic band ligation and coexistence of severe gastropathy were significantly more frequent in PHD group. Systemic and hepatic haemodynamic evaluations were performed in 20 patients with PHD and 160 without PHD: the mean hepatic venous pressure gradient was higher in those cases with PHD (22.5 (5.4) vs. 19.8 (5.5) mmHg, P=0.045). Hypertensive colopathy was found in seven out of the 10 patients with PHD and a colonoscopic evaluation. In five of six patients PHD disappeared after liver transplant. CONCLUSIONS: PHD is an uncommon finding of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients. It is associated with previous endoscopic band ligation, to manifestations of portal hypertension in other sites of the gastrointestinal tract and to greater values of hepatic venous pressure gradient. The clinical relevance of this syndrome remains to be determined.