Hepatic venous pressure gradient measurement: is it mandatory in the management of portal hypertension?

Abstract   Portal hypertension can be evaluated by hepatic vein catheterization and measurement of wedged and free hepatic vein pressures. The hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the difference between both pressures and its normal value is lower than 5 mmHg. The technique is safe and reliable provided several requirements are fulfilled to get accurate results. HVPG measurement is useful to determine the site of increased resistance either presinusoidal, sinusoidal or postsinusoidal. If HVPG is normal in the presence of clinical signs of portal hypertension, evaluation of the portal venous system and direct measurement of portal vein pressure is required. HVPG measurement may also be used as a prognostic marker to evaluate the risks of developing complications such as ascites or variceal bleeding; in addition, it has been suggested that it could provide prognostic information for variceal rebleeding or survival. Primary and secondary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding can be achieved with a pharmacological treatment using beta blockers and/or nitrates. Repeated HVPG measurements are probably useful to monitor the treatment; it has been suggested that decreasing HVPG by 20% or below 12 mmHg is a reasonable target to define a good hemodynamic response and hopefully a low risk of bleeding; endoscopic therapy can be used in non-responders. Repeated hemodynamic evaluation, however, is invasive and must be performed in specialized liver units; therefore, future clinical trials must demonstrate unequivocally the clinical usefulness of this approach prior to recommending repeated HVPG measurement on a routine basis.