Clinical characteristics of idiopathic portal hypertension

Idiopathic portal hypertension is one of the interesting causes of portal hypertension. Even in very developed medical centers, this disorder is still one of the most important misdiagnoses of clinical practice. To inexperienced physicians, presenting esophageal varices and upper gastrointestinal bleeding usually prompt an unfortunate diagnosis of cirrhosis. A heterogenous clinical presentation and progression of this disorder should be recognized by physicians, and management should be directed towards some specific problems confined to this disorder. Although a genetic basis and other factors are implicated in its pathogenesis, exact underlying mechanism（s） is （are） unknown. In this review, we discuss the heterogeneity of idiopathic portal hypertension, its etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation and management issues. With the expectation of an excellent prognosis, a practicing gastroenterologist should be aware that ＂not all varices mean cirrhosis＂.     

Liver pathology of idiopathic portal hypertension. Comparison with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis of India The Japan idiopathic portal hypertension study*,+

ABSTRACT— Morphological changes of the liver were studied in 24 autopsy cases of noncirrhotic portal hypertension of unknown etiology (idiopathic portal hypertension, IPH), and in 123 surgical biopsies from such patients. For comparison, 15 whole-cut liver slices from autopsy cases of noncirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) from India were also studied. Liver pathology was very similar in IPH and NCPF, characterized by phlebosclerotic changes and perivascular fibrosis of the portal vein system, and parenchymal atrophy perhaps secondary to portal circulatory insufficiency. The distribution of lesions was uneven, and despite marked fibrosis and occasional surface nodularity, there was no diffuse pseudonodule formation in the parenchyma. Surgical specimens showed similar changes except for more frequent portal cellular infiltrates, but the changes seen in one biopsy specimen were limited and not always diagnostic. It seems that IPH of Japan and NCPF of India are the same disease, and perhaps hepatoportal sclerosis elsewhere is also the same disease.     

特发性门脉高压症的临床病理学特点

目的 探讨特发性门脉高压症(idiopathic portal hypertension,IPH)的临床病理学特点.方法 回顾性分析了9例IPH的临床及病理学资料,并对其肝脏标本进行常规病理学及免疫组化研究.结果 9例IPH中,5例首发症状为上消化道出血和黑便,3例体检发现脾大脾亢而无临床症状,1例以血管瘤入院.人院检查脾肿大7例,胃底食道静脉曲张6例,腹水征4例,贫血者6例,肝功能正常或接近正常9例.病理组织学显示9例肝小叶结构基本正常.均未见假小叶形成及肝细胞坏死;9例均有不同程度汇管区纤维化,3例汇管区纤细的不全纤维间隔形成并向肝实质延伸,6例有门脉末支管壁纤维化;9例中有6例小叶内肝细胞有不同程度的水肿变性,5例肝窦有不同程度的扩张,2例肝窦扩张较明显,肝细胞萎缩,呈血管瘤样结构,2例有轻-中度肝腺胞3区大泡脂变.脾脏组织学符合淤血性脾肿大病理表现.结论 IPH的临床表现与其他原因所致的肝硬化门脉高压相似,肝穿组织病理学可除外肝硬化,并有一定的特征.诊断时应与各种原因所致肝硬化门脉高压,肝窦阻塞综合征等相鉴别.     

特发性非肝硬化门静脉高压症患者肝脏影像学和病理学特征分析

目的 分析特发性非肝硬化门静脉高压症(INCPH)患者肝脏影像学和病理学特征,并与肝硬化的鉴别要点。方法 2016年1月～2021年7月我院收治的INCPH患者16例和乙型肝炎肝硬化患者28例,常规进行超声、CT和MRI及肝穿刺活检检查。结果 INCPH与肝硬化患者在影像学检查发现的弥漫性结节样改变(0.0%对35.7%)、门静脉直径【9.7(7.2,11.6)mm对13.6(9.2,15.7)mm】、门静脉壁厚【2.6(1.4,4.0)mm对1.4(1.1,1.6)mm】方面比较,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);肝组织学检查发现,INCPH与肝硬化患者在门静脉区域纤维化、肝膈膜纤维化、肝小叶间静脉闭塞、肝细胞坏死和肝细胞水肿或脂肪变性方面【分别为100.0%对0.0%、18.7%对92.8%、56.2%对10.7%、0.0%对75.0%和12.5%对89.3%】,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 INCPH仍是一种病因不明的疾病,注意分析影像学和组织病理学特征可以作出与肝硬化的鉴别诊断。     

Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (idiopathic portal hypertension): experience with 151 patients and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF), the equivalent of idiopathic portal hypertension in Japan and hepatoportal sclerosis in the United States of America, is a common cause of portal hypertension in India. The clinical features, portographic and histological findings, and management of 151 patients with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis are presented. METHODS: The disease is diagnosed by the presence of unequivocal evidence of portal hypertension in the definite absence of liver cirrhosis and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO). Retrospective analysis of records of 151 patients with NCPF was analyzed for the clinical presentation, physical findings, laboratory tests, radiological and histological findings, and for the outcome of treatment. RESULTS: The disease is characterized by massive splenomegaly with anemia, preserved liver function and benign prognosis in a majority of patients. Splenoportovenography (SPV) showed massive dilatation of the portal and splenic veins, and the presence of collaterals. Twenty-four (15.9%) patients showed evidence of natural/spontaneous shunts (splenorenal 15, umbilical nine) on SPV; these patients had a lower incidence of variceal bleeding. Liver histology demonstrated maintained lobular architecture, portal fibrosis of variable degree, sclerosis and obliteration of small-sized portal vein radicles, and subcapsular scarring with the collapse of the underlying parenchyma. Piecemeal or hepatocytic necrosis was absent in all histology specimens. Three patients showed nodular transformation along with abnormal liver functions, and may represent late manifestation of NCPF where features are similar to those seen in patients with incomplete septal cirrhosis. In the initial part of the study, surgery (side-to-side lieno-renal shunt) was the preferred modality of treatment, however, endoscopic sclerotherapy or variceal ligation has now become the preferred first line of management of variceal bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological and clinical features of NCPF have more similarity to IPH than has previously been documented. The development of spontaneous shunts tends to protect these patients from variceal bleeding.     

重视非肝硬化性门静脉高压的诊断和治疗

非肝硬化性门静脉高压(NCPH)是指除肝硬化外多种疾病导致的门静脉高压症。NCPH常见的原因有门静脉血栓形成、先天性肝纤维化和特发性门静脉高压等。这组疾病的主要特点是门静脉高压相关的表现突出,而肝功能储备相对较好,鉴别该类疾病需要临床,影像学和病理学的深入检查。通过适当的内外科治疗,多数患者预后较好。     

胰源性与特发性门脉高压症的临床特点分析

目的探讨PPH与IPH的临床特点,加深对二者的认识,提高临床医师的诊治水平。方法对18例PPH与36例IPH患者的临床资料作一回顾分析。结果二者的肝脏形态、功能正常,病毒学指标阴性,超声检查脾静脉迂曲扩张,脾肿大;PPH患者超声检查门静脉正常,胰腺可见炎症、肿瘤、囊肿等表现;IPH患者门静脉及肠系膜上静脉迂曲扩张,但胰腺方面无异常。IPH患者汇管区纤维组织增生和炎性细胞浸润但无肝硬化改变而PPH患者肝脏组织学正常。结论临床中发现肝脏形态、功能正常,病毒学指标阴性,以门脉高压为主要表现而无肝硬化改变的患者,应考虑IPH与PPH的可能。进一步行超声检查门脉系统及胰腺情况,可进一步区分二者。     

特发性门脉高压症1例分析

1临床资料李某,男,63岁,四川人。主因间断腹胀8个月于2010年4月6日入院。患者于入院前8个月无明显诱因出现腹胀,于当地医院就诊,考虑为肝硬化,腹水,予保肝利尿对症治疗,病情好转。20天前,再次出现腹胀,予消退腹水治疗,病情缓解,今为求进一步诊治转至天津市传染病医院。自发病以来,患者无发热,无腹痛腹泻,无进行性消瘦。否认肝病家族史,     

Supersonic shear imaging for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension in liver diseases: a meta-analysis

Background and aims: The meta-analysis aimed to summarize the technical success rate of supersonic shear imaging (SSI) and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of liver and spleen stiffness measurement (LSM and SSM) with SSI for the detection of liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and gastroesophageal varices in liver diseases.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Technical success rate of SSI was pooled. Area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Results: Included studies regarding the diagnostic performance of SSI for liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and esophageal varices numbered 28, 4, and 4 respectively. The pooled technical success rates of LSM and SSM were 95.3% and 75.5%, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of LSM/SSM for different stages of liver fibrosis were 0.85–0.94, 0.7–0.89, and 0.82–0.92, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of LSM were 0.84 (95%CI = 0.8–0.86), 0.79 (95%CI = 0.7–0.85), and 0.82 (95%CI = 0.72–0.88) for clinically significant portal hypertension, 0.85 (95%CI = 0.82–0.88), 0.8 (95%CI = 0.68–0.88), and 0.8 (95%CI = 0.6–0.92) for any varices, and 0.86 (95%CI = 0.83–0.89), 0.86 (95%CI = 0.76–0.92), and 0.61 (95%CI = 0.35–0.83) for high-risk varices, respectively.

Conclusions: LSM with SSI had a high diagnostic accuracy for liver fibrosis, but a moderate diagnostic accuracy for portal hypertension and esophageal varices.     

Role of hepatic vein catheterisation and transient elastography in the diagnosis of idiopathic portal hypertension

Background

Idiopathic portal hypertension is a rare cause of portal hypertension, frequently misdiagnosed as cryptogenic cirrhosis. This study evaluates specific findings at hepatic vein catheterisation or liver stiffness in idiopathic portal hypertension.

Methods

39 cases of idiopathic portal hypertension patients were retrospectively reviewed. Hepatic vein catheterisation and liver stiffness measurements were compared to matched patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis, included as controls.

Results

Hepatic vein-to-vein communications were found in 49% idiopathic portal hypertension patients precluding adequate hepatic venous pressure gradient measurements in 12. In the remaining 27 patients, mean hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was 7.1 ± 3.1 mmHg. Only 5 patients had HVPG ≥ 10 mmHg. HVPG was markedly lower than in cirrhosis (17 ± 3 mmHg, p < 0.001). Mean liver stiffness in idiopathic portal hypertension was 8.4 ± 3.3 kPa; significantly higher than in non-cirrhotic portal vein thrombosis (6.4 ± 2.2 kPa, p = 0.009), but lower than in cirrhosis (40.9 ± 20.5 kPa, p = 0.005). Only 2 idiopathic portal hypertension patients had liver stiffness >13.6 kPa.

Conclusions

Patients with idiopathic portal hypertension frequently have hepatic vein-to-vein communications and, despite unequivocal signs of portal hypertension, HVPG and liver stiffness values much lower than the cut-off for clinical significant portal hypertension in cirrhosis. These findings oblige to formally rule-out idiopathic portal hypertension in the presence of signs of portal hypertension.     

腹腔镜手术治疗血吸虫病肝纤维化门静脉高压合并胆囊结石

目的 目的 观察腹腔镜胆囊切除术 （LC） 治疗血吸虫病肝纤维化门静脉高压综合征 （门脉高压症） 合并胆囊结石的疗 效。方法 方法 分析2006年6月-2013年6月采用LC治疗的196例血吸虫病肝纤维化门脉高压症合并胆囊结石患者的临床资 料。结果 结果 本组血吸虫病肝纤维化门脉高压症合并慢性结石性胆囊炎154例, 合并急性结石性胆囊炎42例, Child A级160 例, B级36例。189例完成LC; 7例中转开腹, 其中腹腔、 胆囊周围黏连及胆囊三角解剖不清3例, 术中出血, 镜下止血困难4 例。196例全部治愈。结论 结论 LC治疗血吸虫病肝纤维化门脉高压症合并胆囊结石疗效良好。     

Partial splenectomy for portal hypertension in cystic fibrosis related liver disease

AIMS: To review the middle- and long-term effects of partial splenectomy (PS) on portal hypertension (PHT) and its complications in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) related liver disease risky PHT. METHOD: Over a 20 years period, 19 patients aged 7-23 years underwent partial PS for massive splenomegaly, hypersplenism, and/ or severe PHT. RESULTS: In all but three cases, PHT and hypersplenism have improved for long periods. Noticeable improvement of hepatic tests occurred simultaneously. In all patients PS resolved abdominal discomfort. Fifteen patients are alive and a stabilization of the liver disease occurred with a follow-up of 1-20 years (mean 7.9). One patient died following respiratory insufficiency 10 years after PS although PHT was stable. Manifestations recurred in 2 patients 5 and 6 years after PS. In two patients, the course of the disease evolved to hepatic insufficiency without recurrence of PHT 3 and 8 years after PS. PS did not give the expected results in three cases only, in which PHT was not modified or reoccurred during the following year. No severe complication was observed. Early (three patients) or late (one patient) eventration required surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that PS is a reliable and well-tolerated technique. Therefore, it is a therapeutic option for the management of PHT in CF patients with a preserved liver function. It can prevent and significantly delay a liver transplantation and its constraints.     

Hypoplasia of the right hepatic lobe associated with portal hypertension and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis

A 22-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of thrombocytopenia. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed hypoplasia of the right hepatic lobe, the development of porto-systemic collateral vessels, splenomegaly and a periaortic soft-tissue mass. Laboratory tests and needle liver biopsy indicated no evidence of liver cirrhosis. Consequently, a diagnosis of hypoplasia of the right hepatic lobe associated with portal hypertension and idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis was established. Portal hypertension and hypersplenism was thought to be the cause of the thrombocytopenia. CT arterioportography revealed that anomalies of the portal venous system could have resulted in the hypoplasia of the right hepatic lobe. This is the first report describing hypoplasia of the right hepatic lobe accompanied by supervening idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.     

特发性门静脉高压的肝脏病理学分析

耳的观察特发性门静脉高压的肝脏病理改变,明确病理诊断标准,并探讨临床病理联系。方法收集中日友好医院2005年1月-2007年3月病理确诊的特发性门静脉高压病例29例,对其肝组织行HE、网织纤维加Masson三色染色,以及α-平滑肌肌动蛋白、细胞角蛋白7、细胞角蛋白19免疫组织化学染色,并分析病变特点。结果29例中男9例,女20例。临床有门静脉高压、脾大等症状、体征。23例临床误诊为肝硬化。主要病理改变有：明显的汇管区纤维化,伴终末门静脉细小分支闭锁（缺乏）及不完全细纤维隔形成。部分门静脉支扩张并疝入小叶内。肝细胞萎缩及结节状再生相伴。结论特发性门静脉高压的肝脏病变具有一定的形态学特征,汇管区纤维化、门静脉小支闭锁,部分门静脉分支疝入肝实质,肝细胞萎缩及结节状再生相伴,较具诊断价值。     

特发性非肝硬化门静脉高压症诊治进展

特发性非肝硬化门静脉高压症(idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension,INCPH)是一种罕见疾病,特点是在无肝硬化、无其他导致肝脏疾病的病因以及无内脏静脉血栓病因存在的情况下,出现的门静脉高压.该病的发病机制尚不清楚,但其病理学特征明显有别于肝硬化.在临床实践中,INCP...     

Immunological profile of patients with non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis

The aetiopathogenesis of non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF), a common cause of portal hypertension in India, is not known. To study the immune status of NCPF patients and to see whether immunological mechanisms have a role to play, humoral and cell-mediated immunological studies were carried out in 43 patients with NCPF and compared with equal number of matched healthy controls and 31 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis. Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and complement (C3, C4) levels were significantly (P less than 0.001) lower in NCPF patients compared with controls and cirrhotics. There was no significant difference between the total or the relative concentration of the immunoglobulins and complements between NCPF patients and healthy controls, but, in patients with cirrhosis, concentration of all the immunoglobulins was higher. The cutaneous response to dinitrochlorobenzene was poorer in patients with NCPF, but the difference between cirrhotics and controls was not significant. A decrease in the suppressor/cytotoxic (T8) phenotype of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and an increase in the ratio of helper/inducer (T4) and T8 lymphocytes was seen in patients with NCPF and cirrhosis. Although these results indicate definite immunological abnormalities in NCPF patients, their role in the pathogenesis of NCPF remains to be investigated.     

门脉CT血管造影成像和胃镜在门脉高压诊断中的价值

目的:了解门脉高压食管胃静脉曲张在门脉CT血管造影成像(CTA)和胃镜上的特点,比较两者对于食管胃静脉曲张的检出正确性.方法:对60例临床疑为门脉高压食管的患者分别行门脉CTA和胃镜检查.所有检查均由消化科和放射科指定专业医师进行操作并作出诊断进行总结分析.结果:门脉CTA、胃镜两种方法检出食管静脉曲张42例和45例,诊断率为70.0%和75.0%,两者的诊断一致率为70.8%.门脉CTA和胃镜两种方法检出的胃静脉曲张分别为52例和30例,诊断率分别为86.7%和30.0%,两者的诊断一致率为26.7%.通过以上的检查和病史分析,60例门脉高压患者均明确了病因,包括肝炎后肝硬化42例,血吸虫性肝硬化7例,酒精性肝硬化3例,胰源性门脉高压7例,门脉海绵样变性1例.结论:门脉CTA对于食管和胃静脉曲张的检出率较高,对胃镜不能观察到的非黏膜面的曲张静脉及其他部位静脉均可作出诊断.对非肝硬化原因的门脉高压亦能作出正确诊断.对疑诊门脉高压的患者,结合门脉CTA和胃镜检查可以对门脉高压病因、病情进行全面的评估.     

特发性门静脉高压症的彩色多普勒超声诊断与临床价值

目的探讨特发性门静脉高压症（IPH）的声像图特征,评价彩色多普勒对IPH的临床诊断价值。方法对25例IPH患者进行彩色多普勒超声检查,观察肝脏表面、内部回声、脾脏大小及肝内外门静脉系统等。结果25例患者中,25例均见门静脉肝内分支管壁增厚、回声增强、管腔狭窄甚至闭塞,15例实质回声增粗,门静脉海绵样变性22例,门静脉系统血栓5例,均为门静脉主干、脾静脉及肠系膜上静脉血栓,15例伴有胆道系统的异常。结论临床上不明原因的门脉高压及脾功能亢进患者均应进行彩色多普勒超声检查,肝内门静脉分支管壁增厚、管腔狭窄甚至闭塞的特征性改变及门静脉海绵样变性可提示IPH。     

Portal-systemic shunting in a patient with normal portal vein pressures and histological evidence of idiopathic portal hypertension

Although idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is clinically characterized by portal hypertension and marked splenomegaly, we have experienced a case of spontaneous portal-systemic shunt without splenomegaly in whom the liver histology resembled IPH but with normal portal pressure. We admitted a 64 year old man who had suffered from hepatic encephalopathy for 2 years. Laparoscopy revealed a dark grey liver with a sharp edge and a concave surface. Examination of a liver biopsy specimen revealed peri-portal fibrosis consistent with IPH. A single, large, portal-systemic shunt was identified by percutaneous transhepatic portography. The shunt arose from the left gastric vein and flowed through the left renal vein into the inferior vena cava. No varices were identified. There were no morphological changes in the hepatic or portal veins. Portal vein pressure was normal. There was a slight difference between the portal pressure and the wedged hepatic vein pressure, suggesting a presinusoidal block. This case raises important questions concerning the aetiology of IPH and the relationship between portal hypertension and the development of collateral venous circulation.