Long-term hematological and biochemical effects of partial splenic embolization in hepatic cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Partial splenic embolization was developed as a non-surgical treatment for hypersplenism, but recently splenic embolization has been reported to improve the hepatic function. We undertook long-term evaluation of partial splenic embolization in patients with hepatic cirrhosis in comparison with patients not undergoing embolization. METHODOLOGY: We performed embolization in 26 patients with cirrhosis. The controls consisted of 26 with cirrhosis patients who were not undergone embolization. RESULTS: Red blood cell counts of embolized patients had increased significantly at 6 months after the procedure, remaining increased for up to 7.5 years. Platelet counts increased maximally by 2 weeks after embolization, followed by a gradual decrease. Nonetheless, platelets remained significantly more numerous than before embolization for up to 8 years. Neither aspartate aminotransferase nor alanine aminotransferase activities in serum changed significantly during follow-up. Choline esterase activity increased significantly by 6 months after embolization and remained increased for more than 7 years. Serum albumin concentration increased significantly, beginning at 6 months after embolization; this increase was maintained for 6 years. Survival did not differ between embolized and non-embolized groups. CONCLUSIONS: Partial splenic embolization is a beneficial non-surgical treatment that enhances hepatic protein synthetic capacity as well as alleviating hypersplenism in patients with cirrhosis.