Francesco Vizzutti,
Umberto Arena,
Luigi Rega,
Roberto Giulio Romanelli,
Stefano Colagrande, Stefania Cuofano,
Stefania Moscarella,
Giacomo Belli,
Fabio Marra,
Giacomo Laffi,
Massimo Pinzani
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To evaluate the correlation between hepatic vein pressure gradient measurement and Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).
Sixty-six patients with fibrotic to cirrhotic hepatitis C virus-related CLD, were consecutively included upon referral to our haemodynamic laboratory. Superior mesenteric artery pulsatility index (SMA-PI), right interlobar renal and intraparenchymal splenic artery resistance indices, were determined, followed by hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement.
A correlation was found between HVPG and intraparenchymal splenic artery resistance index (SA-RI) (r=0.50, P<0.0001), SMA-PI (r=-0,48, P<0.0001), right interlobar renal artery resistance index (RRA-RI) (r=0.51, P<0.0001) in the whole patient population. However, dividing patients according to the presence/absence of severe portal hypertension (i.e. HVPG > or =12 mmHg), a correlation between HVPG and intraparenchymal SA-RI (r=0.70, P<0.0001), SMA-PI (r=-0.49, P=0.02), RRA-RI (r=0.66, P=0.0002) was observed only for HVPG values <12 mmHg. HVPG but not DUS correlated with the presence of esophageal varices (P<0.0001).
Superior mesenteric artery pulsatility index, intraparenchymal splenic and right interlobar renal artery resistance indices do not adequately predict severe portal hypertension.
Liver international: official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver 12/2007; 27(10):1379-88. · 3.82 Impact Factor
