Portal hypertensive gastropathy with a focus on management

Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a painless condition of gastric mucosal ectasia and impaired mucosal defense, commonly seen in patients with elevated portal pressures. While it is typically asymptomatic and incidentally discovered on upper endoscopy, acute and chronic bleeding may occur. There are no definitive recommendations for treatment of asymptomatic PHG. Non-selective β-blockers represent the mainstay of therapy for chronic bleeding, while somatostatin and vasopressin and their derivatives may be used in conjunction with supportive measures for acute bleeding. Salvage therapy with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or rarely surgical shunt is appropriate when medical management fails. The role of endoscopic therapy for PHG is controversial. Liver transplantation should be considered as a final resort in cases of refractory bleeding due to PHG.     

The ''mosaic-like'' pattern of portal hypertensive gastric mucosa after variceal eradication by sclerotherapy

The 'mosaic-like' pattern of portal hypertensive gastric mucosa has been evaluated endoscopically in 38 patients referred for elective sclerotherapy, before the first session, after the complete eradication of varices and six months later. Of 38 patients studied, 18 patients exhibited mild, and 20 patients exhibited negative, findings of congestive gastropathy prior to sclerotherapy. Seventeen and 18 patients, respectively, developed aggravated changes of congestive gastropathy after the completion of sclerotherapy (P = 0.003). We consider that obliteration of varices by means of endoscopic sclerotherapy influences the development of gastric congestion changes in the majority of patients. However, further studies are required to relate the direction of blood flow in the portal system as well as the level of portal pressure with the congestive gastropathy findings in such patients.     

超声检查对肝硬化门脉高压性胃病的预测

以超声检查指标对门脉高压性胃病进行预测.经超声和胃镜检查,筛选出与门脉高压性胃病相关且对其判断贡献较大的指标,建立回归方程.门静脉内径、脾长径、脾指数、脾静脉内径、腹水、胆囊壁厚度与门脉高压性胃病呈正相关,经Logistic回归分析对门脉高压性胃病的综合判断符合率为79.3%.超声检查指标对肝硬化患者门脉高压性胃病判断符合率较高,可由超声检查预测肝硬化门脉高压性胃病.     

门脉高压性胃病患者血浆、尿中内皮素浓度变化及意义

本文应用放射免疫法测定４０例门脉高压性胃病（ＰＨＧ）患者血浆、尿呐皮素（ＥＴ）含量。结果：ＰＨＧ患者血浆ＥＴ（ＰＥｔ）尿ＥＴ（ＵＥｔ）及ＰＥｔ／ＵＥｔ显著高于非ＰＨＧ肝硬化患者和正常人,且与食管静脉同张程度、脾厚和门脉宽度成正比。轻、重度ＰＨＧ上述三项指标差异均有显著性,提示,ＥＴ参与ＰＨＧ的形成机制,可能主要与ＥＴ使门脉压增高有关。     

Effect of laparoscopic splenectomy on portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension

Aim:  This study investigated the relationship between portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and splenomegaly, and the effect of laparoscopic splenectomy on PHG in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.
Methods:  Seventy patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension were prospectively studied. Indication for laparoscopic splenectomy was bleeding tendency in 10 patients, induction of interferon in 45, treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in seven, and treatment for endoscopic injection sclerotherapy-resistant esophagogastric varices in eight. The severity of PHG was classified into none, mild, or severe according to the classification by McCormack et al. The severity of liver disease was classified using the Child–Pugh score. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before and 1 month after the operation.
Results:  The prevalence of PHG was significantly correlated with the severity of liver disease using the Child–Pugh score. The severity of PHG was significantly correlated with the resected spleen volume. One month after the operation, PHG was improved in 16 of 17 patients with severe PHG and in 12 of 32 with mild PHG. The Child–Pugh score showed a significant improvement (6.8 ± 1.4 to 6.2 ± 1.2) at 3 months after laparoscopic splenectomy ( P  < 0.0001).
Conclusions:  PHG may be associated with splenomegaly, and laparoscopic splenectomy may have a beneficial effect on PHG, at least for a short time.     

门脉高压性胃病患者胃黏膜中ET-1与HIF-1的表达及其意义

目的 探讨门脉高压性胃病(PHG)患者胃黏膜中内皮素-1(ET-1)和缺氧诱导因子-1(HIF-1)的表达及其相关性,为PHG的发病机制提供一定理论依据.方法 随机选择从2010年11月至2011年6月期间的PHG患者60例、门静脉高压症(PHT)无PHG患者30例和正常对照者20例,PHG组中分为轻型34例、重型26...     

Immunohistochemical localization of vascular endothelial growth factor in the rat portal hypertensive gastropathy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is now recognized to be a distinct entity. Recently, angiogenesis has been noticed as a key factor in clarifying the pathophysiology of various diseases. Angiogenesis in the PHT of explored gastric mucosa has yet to be explored. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate whether the hypoxic state exists in PHG, and whether VEGF appears more strongly in PHG than in normal gastric mucosa and, if so, what exactly is the role of the hypoxic state and VEGF in PHG. METHODS: At 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after either a portal ligation or sham operation, the portal venous pressure, the gastric mucosal blood flow volume and the blood gas were measured and, the expression of VEGF and antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in gastric mucosal specimens was immunohistochemically assessed. RESULTS: The portal pressure (PP) and the gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) in the PHT rats were significantly greater than in the control (CTR). Both the SaO2 and PaO2 of the arterial blood gas were lower in the PHT rats than in the control rats. The percentage of VEGF expression in the PHG was found to be higher than that in the control gastric mucosa. The percentage of PCNA expression in the PHG was higher than that in the control gastric mucosa. CONCLUSION: The levels of SaO2 and PaO2 were lower in the PHT rats. There is a possibility that a kind of portal hypertensive gastric change may trigger an enhanced histochemical expression of VEGF. The increased activity of VEGF may have a possibility of the hypoxic gastric mucosal state caused by the presence of active congestion. This damaged mucosal state 'PHG' may thus facilitate the fragility in PHG and such lesions may be slow and insidious, which may therefore lead to sudden and severe anemia, thus causing massive and sometimes fatal hemorrhaging.     

Underlying mechanism of portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhosis: A hemodynamic and morphological approach

Background and Aim:  Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is an important cause of bleeding in patients with cirrhosis associated with portal hypertension. Histologically, the condition is characterized by dilation of the mucosal and submucosal vessels of the stomach; however, its mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to evaluate the role of portal and systemic hemodynamic features, humoral factors and hepatocellular function in the development and severity of PHG in patients with cirrhosis.
Methods:  Forty-six patients with cirrhosis of different etiologies underwent endoscopy. Portal hypertension was evaluated by hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). The gastric mucosa was analyzed using two diagnostic methods: endoscopy according to the McCormack criteria and histological by histomorphometric analysis.
Results:  The prevalence of PHG according to the endoscopic and histomorphometric methods was 93.4% and 76.1%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in HVPG measurements between the patients with mild (16.0 ± 5.9 mmHg) and severe PHG (16.9 ± 6.5 mmHg; P  = 0.80) or between patients who did not have (15.2 ± 8.0 mmHg) and those who had PHG (16.3 ± 5.7 mmHg). No correlation was found between the presence or severity of PHG and systemic vascular resistance index ( P  = 0.53 and 0.34, respectively), Child–Pugh classification ( P  = 0.73 and 0.78, respectively) or glucagon levels ( P  = 0.59 and 0.62, respectively).
Conclusions:  The present data show no correlation between the presence or the severity of PHG and portal pressure, Child–Pugh classification or systemic hemodynamics, suggesting that other factors may be involved in the physiopathology of PHG, such as local gastric mucosal factors or other underlying factors.     

门脉高压性胃病肝郁脾虚证与胃动素水平关系的研究

[目的]从胃动素(MTL)水平探讨门脉高压性胃病(PHG)肝郁脾虚证的病理生理基础,为PHG肝郁脾虚证的中医辨病辨证提供理论依据。[方法]入选对象120例,分为:PHG组(P组)、慢性乙型肝炎组(H组)、慢性胃炎组(G组)、正常对照组(C组),每组30例。详细询问每例患者的病史、临床症状,进行肝郁脾虚证的评分;在早晨空腹状态下采肘前静脉血,检测血浆MTL水平。[结果]①P组MTL水平最高,并与其他各组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.01);②P组McCormick分度重度患者MTL水平比轻度者为高(P0.01);③P组肝郁脾虚证积分与血浆MTL水平呈正相关(P0.01);④P组肝功能Child-Pugh分级,C级MTL水平均明显高于B级和A级,各级之间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。[结论]①MTL参与PHG的形成,促进其发展,在PHG的形成与发展中起重要作用;②症状越重,积分越高,MTL水平升高越明显,PHG胃黏膜改变越重;③肝功能损害越明显,MTL水平越高,PHG胃黏膜改变越重;④MTL可作为PHG肝郁脾虚证的检测指标。     

血红素加氧酶-1在门静脉高压性胃病患者胃黏膜的表达

目的 探讨血红素加氧酶-1(HO-1)在肝硬化门静脉高压性胃病(PHG)患者胃黏膜的表达情况及其意义.方法 分别采集22例正常受试者(对照组)、20例门静脉高压(PHT)患者(PHT组)和22例PHG患者(PHG组)的胃黏膜标本,观察胃黏膜组织学变化,测定门静脉血流量(PVF).应用免疫组织化学法和Western blot方法检测HO-1蛋白在胃黏膜组织的表达情况,并分析HO-1蛋白与PVF、内镜下PHG严重程度的相关性,以及内镜下PHG严重程度与临床参数的相关性.结果 PHG组和PHT组患者胃黏膜中HO-1蛋白表达明显高于对照组(P＜0.05),而PHG组与PHT组之间比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).PHG患者胃组织HO-1蛋白表达与内镜下PHG严重程度积分呈显著正相关(r =0.459,P＜0.05).内镜下PHG严重程度积分与食管静脉曲张程度(r=0.059,P＞0.05)、Child-Pugh分级(r=-0.001,P＞0.05)均无显著性相关.PHG组与PHT组患者的胃黏膜组织HO-1蛋白表达与PVF无显著性相关(r=0.071,P＞0.05).结论 HO-1蛋白在PHG患者胃黏膜中呈高表达,参与了PHG患者胃黏膜血液循环紊乱的发生.     

门脉高压性胃病临床研究进展

肝硬化患者常常发生门脉高压症,继发胃肠道血流动力学和黏膜改变,导致门脉高压性胃病（PHG）。近年来,PHG引起的上消化道出血逐渐受到重视,在肝硬化上消化道出血病因中仅次于食管胃静脉曲张破裂出血,对其研究也越来越多。     

Somatostatin reduces gastric mucosal blood flow in patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy

Agents which decrease gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) are postulated to have beneficial effects in arresting gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that in a dose that significantly lowers wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP), a bolus injection of somatostatin will significantly decrease GMBF in patients with portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). In this placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study, 20 cirrhotic patients with PHG were randomly assigned to receive either somatostatin followed by placebo (Group A) or placebo followed by somatostatin (Group B). Wedged hepatic venous pressure was monitored. GMBF in the antrum and corpus was assessed by reflectance spectrophotometry. Indices of hemoglobin concentration (IHb) and indices of oxygen content (ISO₂) were recorded. Nine patients were assigned to Group A, and 11 to Group B. Mild PHG was seen in 16 patients, and severe PHG in 4 patients. Baseline WHVP, IHb, and ISO₂ were similar in both treatment groups. Wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP) was significantly lowered [median, 17.6%; interquartile range (–27.0, –12.6%); P=0.0008] after a 250-µg bolus injection of somatostatin. This dose of somatostatin significantly reduced IHb both in the antrum [–10.2% (–23.4, 0.4%)] and in the corpus [–5.8% (–16.6, 5.6%)] compared to placebo (P=0.02 and 0.04, respectively). Intravenous bolus injection of 250 µg somatostatin significantly reduces WHVP and GMBF in patients with PHG. Whether this ability to decrease the GMBF in PHG makes somatostatin an effective treatment in acute gastrointestinal bleeding in PHG deserves to be studied.     

Zinc L-carnosine protects against mucosal injury in portal hypertensive gastropathy through induction of heat shock protein 72

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Increased susceptibility to gastric mucosal injury is observed in portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). In this study, the effects of zinc L-carnosine, an anti-ulcer drug, were evaluated on expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 72 and cytoprotection in gastric mucosa in a rat model of PHG. METHODS: Portal hypertensive gastropathy with liver cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation for 4 weeks in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Expression of gastric mucosal hsp72 was evaluated by Western blotting at 6 h after intragastric administration of L-carnosine, zinc sulfate, or zinc L-carnosine. Blood was also collected for determination of serum zinc level. Mucosal protective abilities against hydrochloric acid (HCl) (0.6N) followed by pretreatment with L-carnosine, zinc sulfate or zinc L-carnosine were also studied. RESULTS: L-carnosine, zinc sulfate, and zinc L-carnosine induced hsp72 in gastric mucosa of rats with bile duct ligation. Zinc sulfate and zinc L-carnosine suppressed HCl-induced mucosal injury. However, L-carnosine could not suppress HCl-induced mucosal injury. Serum zinc levels were significantly elevated after zinc L-carnosine administration. Furthermore, pretreatment with zinc L-carnosine (30-300 mg/kg) increased the expression of hsp72 in gastric mucosa and prevented HCl-induced mucosal injury in rats with bile duct ligation in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc derivatives, especially zinc L-carnosine, protected portal hypertensive gastric mucosa with increased hsp72 expression in cirrhotic rats. It is postulated that zinc L-carnosine may be beneficial to the mucosal protection in PHG as a 'chaperone inducer'.     

垂体后叶素对门脉高压性胃病胃粘膜灌注的影响

目的 探讨垂体后叶素对门脉高压性胃病（ＰＨＧ）大鼠胃粘膜血流量（ＧＭＢＦ）和血浆胰高粘素的影响。方法 部分结扎大鼠门脉主干２ｗｋ后,采用激光多普勒血流计（ＬＤＦ）测定大鼠ＧＭＢＦ,观察了垂体后叶素输注前和输注后３０ｍｉｎ ＧＭＢＦ,门脉压力（ＰＶＰ）的变化;测定了输注垂体后叶素３０ｍｉｎ后血浆胰高糖素的含量。结果 输注垂体后叶素１０ｍｉｎ ＰＨＧ大鼠的ＧＭＢＦ开始降低（Ｐ〈０．０５）,１５ｍｉｎ显     

肝硬化门静脉高压性胃病的胃镜表现及相关因素分析

目的探讨门静脉高压性胃病(PHG)胃镜下胃黏膜特征及其与食管胃静脉曲张、溃疡病及肝硬化并发症之间的关系。方法回顾性分析2012年8月-2018年6月陆军军医大学大坪医院867例肝硬化患者临床资料,统计其胃镜下食管胃静脉曲张、PHG、溃疡病发生的情况,收集肝硬化并发自发性细菌性腹膜炎、肝性脑病、原发性肝癌的数据资料。计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验,相关性分析采用Spearman相关性检验。结果肝硬化患者PHG发生率高达66.2%(574/867),轻度PHG胃黏膜改变以红点灶(68.6%)和蛇皮征(56.8%)为主,而重度PHG以弥漫红斑为主(76.5%)。PHG在不同程度的食管静脉曲张中发生率差异显著(χ2=304.712,P<0.05),并且随着食管静脉曲张加重,PHG程度亦越来越重(r=0.515,P<0.05)。不同程度胃静脉曲张的患者PHG发生率差异有统计学意义(χ2=81.004,P<0.05),且PHG程度与胃静脉曲张程度相关(r=0.292,P<0.05)。不同部位静脉曲张患者PHG的发生率差异显著(χ2=41.361,P<0.05),当患者仅出现胃静脉曲张时,PHG发生率(34.8%)最低,且均为轻度;而食管和胃均出现静脉曲张时,PHG发生率(85.6%)最高。未合并PHG患者中有71例(24.2%)因呕血和(或)黑便就诊住院,而574例PHG患者中有316例(55.1%)因此而住院,二者差异显著(χ2=74.562,P<0.05)。结论不同PHG严重程度的患者胃黏膜特征差异显著,PHG的发生和严重程度与食管胃静脉曲张程度密切相关,且是肝硬化消化道出血重要原因,应积极治疗和预防PHG以降低消化道出血风险和相关并发症。     

The effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt on portal hypertensive gastropathy

In addition to variceal bleeding, haematemesis may occur due to haemorrhagic gastritis in patients with portal hypertension. This has been known as portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG). We have evaluated the effects of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) on portal venous pressure (PVP) and endoscopic gastric mucosal changes observed in patients with portal hypertension. We performed TIPS in 12 patients with complications due to portal hypertension as follows: variceal bleeding in nine patients (bleeding from oesophageal varices in seven and gastric varices in two), refractory ascites in three and haemorrhage from severe PHG in one. Endoscopic examinations were performed before and after TIPS for all patients. Changes of PVP and gastric mucosal findings on endoscopy were analysed. Before TIPS, PHG was seen in 10 patients. Portal venous pressure decreased from an average of 25.1 ± 8.8 to 17.1 ± 6.2 mmHg after TIPS ( P < 0.005). On endoscopy, PHG improved in nine of 10 patients. Oesophagogastric varices improved in eight of 11 patients. In one patient with massive haematemesis, haemorrhage from severe PHG completely stopped after TIPS. Because TIPS effectively reduced PVP, this procedure appeared to be effective for the treatment of uncontrollable PHG.     

门脉高压性胃病与HBV感染关系探讨

为探讨门脉高压性胃病 (PHG)与乙肝病毒 (HBV)感染的关系 ,对 5 8例乙肝后肝硬化并 PHG患者(PHG组 )行内窥镜检查 ,同时取其胃粘膜组织行免疫组织化学 (ABC法 )检查。结果显示 PHG组胃粘膜组织HBs Ag和 HBc Ag阳性率分别为 31.0 3%和 2 5 .86 % ,与对照组比较 ,P<0 .0 1;PHG病变的程度与 HBV抗原阳性率呈正比。认为 PHG及其病变程度可能与 HBV感染有关     

门脉高压胃病与前列环素I2的关系

目的 了解血浆前列环素在肝硬化门脉高压性胃病发病中的作用.方法 应用特异性放射免疫分析法测定49例肝硬化门脉高压性胃病患者及30例正常对照者血浆前列环素水平.结果 49例肝硬化门脉高压性胃病患者前列环素水平(137.31±61.82)pg/ml明显高于对照组(89.62±2.6)pg/ml,(t=1.684,P＜0.05).其中门脉高压性胃病轻、中度患者与对照组比较,均有明显差异(t=1.725,t=1.853,P＜0.05),门脉高压性胃病重度患者与对照组比较,差异更明显(t=2.117,P＜0.025).但门脉高压性胃病各级间比较均无明显差异(P＞0.05).结论 肝硬化门脉高压性胃病患者血浆前列环素明显升高,作为具有扩血管作用的炎性介质,在门脉高压性胃病发病中起重要作用.     

Reliability in endoscopic diagnosis of portal hypertensive gastropathy

AIM: To analyze reliability among endoscopists in diagnosing portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and to determine which criteria from the most utilized classifications are the most suitable.METHODS: From January to July 2009, in an academic quaternary referral center at Santa Casa of São Paulo Endoscopy Service, Brazil, we performed this single-center prospective study. In this period, we included 100 patients, including 50 sequential patients who had portal hypertension of various etiologies; who were previously diagnosed based on clinical, laboratory and imaging exams; and who presented with esophageal varices. In addition, our study included 50 sequential patients who had dyspeptic symptoms and were referred for upper digestive endoscopy without portal hypertension. All subjects underwent upper digestive endoscopy, and the images of the exam were digitally recorded. Five endoscopists with more than 15 years of experience answered an electronic questionnaire, which included endoscopic criteria from the 3 most commonly used Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy classifications (McCormack, NIEC and Baveno) and the presence of elevated or flat antral erosive gastritis. All five endoscopists were blinded to the patients’ clinical information, and all images of varices were deliberately excluded for the analysis.RESULTS: The three most common etiologies of portal hypertension were schistosomiasis (36%), alcoholic cirrhosis (20%) and viral cirrhosis (14%). Of the 50 patients with portal hypertension, 84% were Child A, 12% were Child B, 4% were Child C, 64% exhibited previous variceal bleeding and 66% were previously endoscopic treated. The endoscopic parameters, presence or absence of mosaic-like pattern, red point lesions and cherry-red spots were associated with high inter-observer reliability and high specificity for diagnosing Portal Hypertensive Gastropathy. Sensitivity, specificity and reliability for the diagnosis of PHG (%) were as follows: mosaic-like pattern (100; 92.21; High); fine pink speckling (56; 76.62; Unsatisfactory); superficial reddening (69.57; 66.23; Unsatisfactory); red-point lesions (47.83; 90.91; High); cherry-red spots (39.13; 96.10; High); isolated red marks (43.48; 88.31; High); and confluent red marks (21.74; 100; Unsatisfactory). Antral elevated erosive gastritis exhibited high reliability and high specificity with respect to the presence of portal hypertension (92%) and the diagnosis of portal hypertensive gastropathy (88.31%).CONCLUSION: The most suitable endoscopic criteria for the diagnosis of PHG were mosaic-like pattern, red-point lesions and cherry-red spots with no subdivisions, which were associated with a high rate of inter-observer reliability.     

瑞巴派特对门脉高压性胃病的临床疗效观察

目的 评价瑞巴派特对门脉高压性胃病的临床疗效及安全性。方法 将患者随机分为正常对照组、正常干预组、空白对照组及试验组各15例，其中正常干预组及试验组给予口服瑞巴派特治疗4周。观察治疗前后临床症状积分和内镜表现的变化。结果 治疗前试验组与空白对照组的症状积分无显著性差异，而药物治疗4周后试验组患者剑突下疼痛、上腹不适、烧心等症状明显缓解，与治疗前相比，差异有显著性（P〈0．01），腹胀虽有缓解，但不如前者明显（P〉0．05）；而空白对照组则症状无缓解；试验组的总有效率为85．7％。治疗前试验组有胃窦和／或胃体水肿糜烂，甚至呈mosaic样改变，治疗后这些表现明显改善。结论 瑞巴派特能改善门脉高压性胃病患者的临床症状及胃黏膜病变。