Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and endoscopic treatment for liver cirrhosis with esophageal gastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) and portal vein thrombosis (PVT).Methods:A total of 183 liver cirrhosis patients with EGVB and PVT in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School and the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were selected from January 2017 to December 2019, and 66 patients were assigned to the endoscopic group (received endoscopi treatment) and 117 the TIPS group (received TIPS treatment). Propensity score matching was performed according to the 1∶1 ratio, yielding 58 patients in each group for analysis, with a median follow-up time of 36 months in both groups. Postoperative survival, postoperative rebleeding rate, and postoperative hepatic encephalopathy incidence were assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves.Results:During the follow-up, the rebleeding rate in the endoscopic group was significantly higher [39.7% (23/58) VS 17.2% (10/58), P=0.005], and the TIPS group had a higher incidence of postoperative hepatic encephalopathy [29.3% (17/58) VS 13.8% (8/58), P=0.048], and no significant difference in survival rate was observed between the two groups [74.1% (43/58) VS 75.9% (44/58), P=0.769]. In the subgroup analysis of mild degree of PVT, there was no significant difference in survival [88.0% (22/25) VS 72.0% (18/25), P=0.164], rebleeding rate [28.0% (7/25) VS 12.0% (3/25), P=0.164], or incidence of hepatic encephalopathy [8.0% (2/25) VS 20.0% (5/25), P=0.202] between the endoscopic group and the TIPS group. In the subgroup analysis of severe degree of PVT, the rebleeding rate in the endoscopic group was significantly higher than that in the TIPS group [48.5% (16/33) VS 21.2% (7/33), P=0.010], while there was no significant difference in the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy [18.2% (6/33) VS 36.4% (12/33), P=0.133], or the survival rate [63.6% (21/33) VS 78.8% (26/33), P=0.154]. Conclusion:For liver cirrhosis patients with mild PVT and EGVB, combining endoscopic therapy with anticoagulation may be superior to TIPS. Conversely, in patients with severe PVT, TIPS may be a more suitable option due to a significantly reduced rebleeding risk without a notable increase in hepatic encephalopathy incidence.

Objective:To explore whether transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can improve the prognosis of esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) combined with sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was performed. A total of 464 cases with cirrhotic EGVB who received standard or TIPS treatment between January 2017 and December 2019 were selected. Regular follow-up was performed for the long-term after treatment. The primary outcome was transplantation-free survival. The secondary endpoints were rebleeding and overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE). The obtained data were statistically analyzed. The t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to compare continuous variables between groups. The χ2 test, or Fisher's exact probability test, was used to compare categorical variables between groups. Results:The age of the included patients was 55.27±13.86 years, and 286 cases were male. There were 203 cases of combined sarcopenia and 261 cases of non-combined sarcopenia. The median follow-up period was 43 months. The two groups had no statistically significant difference in follow-up time. There was no statistically significant difference in transplant-free survival between the TIPS group and the standard treatment group in the overall cohort ( HR=1.31, 95% CI: 0.97-1.78, P=0.08). The TIPS patient group with cirrhosis combined with sarcopenia had longer transplant-free survival (median survival: 47.76 vs. 52.45, χ2=4.09; HR=1.55, 95 CI: 1.01~2.38, P=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in transplant-free survival between the two kinds of treatments for patients without sarcopenia ( HR=1.22, 95% CI: 0.78~1.88, P=0.39). Rebleeding time was prolonged in TIPS patients with or without sarcopenia combination (patients without combined sarcopenia: median rebleeding time: 39.48 vs. 53.61, χ2=18.68; R=2.47, 95 CI: 1.67~3.65, P<0.01; patients with sarcopenia: median rebleeding time: 39.91 vs. 50.68, χ2=12.36; HR=2.20, 95 CI: 1.42~3.40, P<0.01). TIPS patients had an increased 1-year OHE incidence rate compared to the standard treatment group (sarcopenia patients: 6.93% vs. 16.67%, χ2=3.87, P=0.049; patients without sarcopenia combination: 2.19% vs. 9.68%, χ2=8.85, P=0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the long-term OHE incidence rate between the two kinds of treatment groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:TIPS can significantly prolong transplant-free survival compared to standard treatment as a secondary prevention of EGVB concomitant with sarcopenia in patients with cirrhosis. However, its advantage is not prominent for patients with cirrhosis in EGVB without sarcopenia.

Objective:To evaluate the factors affecting the incidence of intrahepatic venovenous shunt (IVVS) in patients with cirrhosis and its impact on hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of patients with liver cirrhosis who received HVPG measurement in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from April 2013 to March 2022. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to investigate the incidence rate and risk factors of IVVS and its impact on HVPG. The t-test and rank-sum test were used for the measurement data, and the χ2 test was used for the count data. Results:A total of 242 cases with cirrhosis were included in the statistical analysis, including 54 (22.3%) with IVVS and 188 (77.7%) without IVVS. There was a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05) in prothrombin time (PT), HVPG, and splenectomy history between the two groups of patients' baseline data (all P<0.05). The multiple logistic regression analysis results showed that PT was an independent risk factor for the occurrence of IVVS ( P<0.05), and patients combined with IVVS had lower HVPG values [(17.58±5.57) mmHg vs. (11.92±5.38) mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa; t=6.623, P<0.001]. Conclusions:Patients with liver cirrhosis have a high incidence rate of IVVS, which is closely associated with a low prothrombin time. Additionally, patients combined with IVVS have low HVPG values, which affect its accuracy.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for unplanned readmission within 30 days after discharge in cirrhotic patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS),and to construct a nomogram predictive model.Methods A total of 241 cirrhotic patients who underwent TIPS due to esophagogastric variceal bleeding in Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from January 2020 to June 2023 were enrolled as subjects,and unplanned readmission within 30 days was analyzed.According to the presence or absence of unplanned readmission,they were divided into readmission group with 36 patients and non-readmission group with 198 patients,and related clinical data were collected from all patients.The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups,and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups;the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups.A logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for unplanned readmission.A nomogram prediction model was constructed,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted to assess its discriminatory ability for unplanned readmission;the calibration curve was plotted to evaluate the consistency of the nomogram model in predicting unplanned readmission;the ResourceSelection package of R language was used for the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test to evaluate the degree of fitting of the mode;the decision curve analysis was used to investigate the practicality of the model.Results Age(odds ratio[OR]=2.664,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.139-6.233,P<0.05),CTP score(OR=1.655,95%CI:1.098-2.495,P<0.05),and blood ammonia(OR=1.032,95%CI:1.016-1.048,P<0.05)were independent risk factors for unplanned readmission within 30 days after discharge in the patients undergoing TIPS.The multivariate analysis showed that for the nomogram predictive model constructed in this study,repeated sampling for 1 000 times using the Bootstrap method was performed for internal validation,and the area under the ROC curve was 0.773,which was significantly higher than that of age(0.582),CTP score(0.675),and blood ammonia(0.641).The calibration curve showed good consistency between the probability of unplanned readmission predicted by the nomogram model and the actual probability,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed good degree of fitting(c2=5.647 3,P=0.686 7).Conclusion Age,CTP score,and blood ammonia are independent risk factors for unplanned readmission within 30 days after TIPS,and the nomogram prediction model constructed based on these factors can help to predict the risk of unplanned readmission in TIPS patients and provide an accurate decision-making basis for early prevention.

Objective To investigate the accuracy of liver stiffness (LS) as a noninvasive index in predicting hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and the value of LS in the diagnosis of decompensated liver cirrhosis. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 88 patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis or decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis who received both HVPG measurement and LS measurement by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) in Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, from April 2013 to June 2021, and according to HVPG, the patients were divided into serious portal hypertension (SPH) (HVPG≥20 mmHg) group with 24 patients and non-SPH (HVPG < 20 mmHg) group with 64 patients. The two groups were compared in terms of LS, spleen stiffness, portal vein velocity, and related biochemical parameters. The t -test or the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation of different noninvasive indices with HVPG, and a Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association of different noninvasive indices with the risk of SPH. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for different noninvasive indices in predicting HVPG≥20 mmHg, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, maximum Youden index, and corresponding cut-off value were calculated to investigate the value of each index in predicting SPH. Results Among the 88 patients, 76 had decompensated cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis and 12 had decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis. There were no significant differences between the SPH group and the non-SPH group in age, sex, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, platelet count, prothrombin time, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, serum sodium, creatinine, Child-Pugh class, and spleen stiffness, while there was a significant difference in LS between the two groups ( t =-3.970, P < 0.01). The correlation analysis showed that HVPG was positively correlated with LS ( r =0.458, P < 0.001). The Logistic regression analysis showed that LS was a risk factor for SPH (odds ratio=3.941, 95% confidence interval: 1.245-12.476, P =0.020). The ROC curve analysis showed that LS had an AUC of 0.751 in predicting the onset of SPH, with a sensitivity of 54.17% and a specificity of 90.63% at the optimal cut-off value of 2.295 m/s. Conclusion In patients with decompensated cirrhosis, LS measured by ARFI is correlated with HVPG and has a certain value in the non-invasive diagnosis of decompensated cirrhosis with HVPG≥20 mmHg.

Objective:To explore the role of serum pyrrole-protein-adduct (PPA) in evaluating the severity and predicting the anticoagulant efficacy in patients with pyrrolidine alkaloid-related hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (PA-HSOS).Methods:From April 2018 to December 2019, the data of 48 patients with PA-HSOS admitted and treated at Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Medical College of Nangjing University were collected, which included PPA level, portal vein velocity (PVV), ascites grading, PA-HSOS severity grading (according to the new severity grading criteria for suspected hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in adults by the European Society of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation and adjusted) and the outcome of anticoagulation. Patients with acute onset (onset of symptoms within 1 month after consuming pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing plants) were taken as research subjects. The combination of PPA with PVV or with ascites classification of PA-HSOS severity assessment model was fitted by logistic regression, and the logit values of 2 combination models were calculated, the formula was logit 1=0.034×PPA(nmol/L)+ 0.055×PVV(cm/s)-3.287, logit 2=0.039×PPA(nmol/L)-2.712×ascites grade 2 (Yes=1, No=0)-0.388×ascites grade 3 (Yes=1, No=0)-0.899. The patients received initial anticoagulation therapy at Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Medical College of Nanjing University were selected as research subjects. The anticoagulant efficacy prediction model of combination of PPA with serum creatinine (SCR) and with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) was fitted by logistic regression, and the logit value was calculated, the formula was logit 3=0.013×PPA(nmol/L)+ 0.064×SCR (mol/L)+ 0.542×HVPG (mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)-16.005. The predictive value of PPA in evaluating the severity of PA-HSOS and anticoagulant efficacy was evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed for statistical analysis. Results:The serum PPA level of 48 patients was 10.81 nmol/L (3.91 nmol/L, 32.04 nmol/L). Among them, 33 cases (68.8%) were mild PA-HSOS, 3 cases (6.2%) were moderate PA-HSOS, no severe PA-HSOS case and 12 cases (25.0%) were very severe PA-HSOS. Among 23 patients received initial anticoagulant therapy at Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Medical College of Nanjing University and with complete data, 8 patients responded and survived, and 15 patients did not respond (5 patients died, 1 patient relieved after continue anticoagulant therapy, and 9 patients survived after switching to anticoagulant therapy and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) treatment). One patient without initial anticoagulant therapy, survived after TIPS treatment because of the progress of the disease. Area under the curve (AUC) of PPA to assess the severity of acute onset PA-HSOS was 0.75, 95% confidence interval ( CI) was 0.52 to 0.98 ( P=0.047). When PPA≥45.519 nmol/L, the specificity and sensitivity in evaluating severe and very severe PA-HSOS was 100.0% and 57.1%, respectively. AUC of combination of PPA and PVV to assess the severity of PA-HSOS was 0.77, 95% CI was 0.55 to 1.00 ( P=0.032). When the logit of combination model≥0.180, the specificity and sensitivity in evaluating severe and very severe PA-HSOS was 71.4% and 81.8%, respectively. AUC of combination of PPA and ascites grade (grade 1, 2 or 3) to assess the severity of PA-HSOS was 0.85, 95% CI was 0.63 to 1.00 ( P=0.005). When the logit of combination model≥0.347, the specificity and sensitivity in evaluating severe and very severe PA-HSOS was 85.7% and 92.0%, respectively. AUC of combination of PPA, SCR and HVPG to predict anticoagulation efficacy was 0.85, 95% CI was 0.69 to 1.00 ( P=0.009). When the logit≥0.393, the specificity and sensitivity in predicting anticoagulation efficacy was 62.5% and 91.7%, respectively. Conclusions:PPA can be used to assess the severity of acute onset PA-HSOS patients, and combined with ascites grading can significantly improve its efficiency. PPA combined with SCR and HVPG can better predict anticoagulant efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and parameters of Doppler ultrasound in patients with pyrroidine alkaloid-related hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (PA-HSOS).Methods:From February 17, 2017 to April 22, 2020, the clinical data of 68 patients with PA-HSOS who underwent HVPG manometry and Doppler ultrasound examination at Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Medical College of Nanjing University were retrospectively analyzed, which included HVPG, Drum Tower severity scoring (DTSS), time from PA-HSOS related symptoms appeared to diagnosis after taking pyrroidine alkaloid (hereinafter referred to as diagnosis time), and parameters of Doppler ultrasound induding portal vein trunk diameter (PD), peak portal vein velocity (PPV), splenic vein trunk diameter (SD) and peak splenic vein velocity (PSV). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of HVPG for predicting non-response to anticoagulation therapy. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors for non-response to anticoagulation therapy, and Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the prognostic survival rate of patients with different HVPG levels. Unitary linear regression was applied to analyze the correlation of HVPG with PD, PPV, SD and PSV in patients with different HVPG levels, patients with mild, moderate and severe DTSS, and patients with diagnosis time >1 month or ≤ 1 month. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:The results of ROC analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of HVPG for predicting non-response to anticoagulant therapy was 20.165 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The result of multivariate analysis indicated that high HVPG (HVPG>20.165 mmHg) was an independent risk factor for predicting non-response to anticoagulant therapy ( OR (95% confidence interval)=6.039(1.466 to 24.869), P=0.013). Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated that prognostic survival rate of patients with high HVPG was lower than that of patients with low HVPG (HVPG≤20.165 mmHg) (78.4% vs.96.8%), and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=4.74, P=0.030). The results of unitary linear regression analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between HVPG and PPV in 68 patients with PA-HSOS( r=-0.330, P=0.006); HVPG was positively correlated with PD and SD in patients with high HVPG ( r=0.540 and 0.341, P=0.001 and 0.039); there was a negative correlation between HVPG and PSV in patients with mild DTSS ( r=-0.519, P=0.019), HVPG was negatively correlated with PPV in patients with moderate DTSS ( r=-0.400, P=0.014). In patients with diagnosis time ≤1 month, there was a negative correlation between HVPG and PPV ( r=-0.391, P=0.010). Conclusions:HVPG can assist in judging the response to anticoagulation therapy and the prognosis of patients with PA-HSOS. Parameters of Doppler ultrasound can help to assess the degree of HVPG elevation in patients with PA-HSOS under certain conditions.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in the treatment of esophago-gastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) complicated with cavernous transformation of portal vein (CTPV).Methods:From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018, the clinical data of liver cirrhosis patients with EGVB and complicated with (CTPV group) or without (non-CTPV group) CTPV receiving TIPS at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School were retrospectively analyzed. The success rate of operation, stent patency rate, recurrent bleeding rate, incidence and survival rate of hepatic encephalopathy of CTPV group and non-CTPV group were analyzed. Independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Results:A total of 37 liver cirrhosis patients with EGVB and CTPV receiving TIPS treatment were screened out, among which 10 patients (27.0%) failed the portal vein puncture during the TIPS and switched to endoscopic treatment, the success rate was 73.0%. A total of 460 liver cirrhosis patients with EGVB and non-CTPV received TIPS treatment, among which TIPS in 18 patients (3.9%) was failed, and the success rate was 96.1%. With 1∶2 ratio propensity matching, 54 patients were enrolled in non-CTPV group. In the CTPV group, after TIPS treatment, the average portal vein pressure decreased from (28.9±5.1) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) to (18.8±4.5) mmHg, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=7.122, P<0.01). The median follow-up time was 33 months(1 to 66 months). There were no significant differences between the CTPV group and the non-CTPV group in one-year of cumulative stent patency rate (75.0% vs. 86.8%), recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding rate of hepatic encephalopathy (21.0% vs. 10.0%), the incidence of hepatic encephalopathy (34.8% vs. 22.2%) and the survival rate (80.7% vs. 88.9%)(all P >0.05). Conclusion:TIPS is safe and effective in the treatment of liver cirrhosis patients with EGVB and CTPV, and does not increase the incidence of postoperative complications and long-term mortality.

Objective:To explore pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (PA-HSOS) severity grading to predict the prognostic value for PA-HSOS patients treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Methods:Clinical data of patients with PA-HSOS who were critically ill or had ineffective drug treatment and underwent TIPS treatment from December 2013 to September 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. PA-HSOS severity grading criteria in adult was quoted, revised and defined from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). The survival time, the rate of shunt dysfunction and the incidence of postoperative hepatic encephalopathy in different severity groups after TIPS were compared. Univariate Cox or Binomial Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of each variable. Variables with P < 0.1 were regarded as statistically significant variables for the prognosis, and were introduced into Cox or Binomial Logistic regression hierarchical regression analysis as controlled covariates. PA-HSOS severity grading was analyzed as dummy variables.Results:A total of 102 patient data were collected, and the median follow-up time was 14.52 months. The difference in survival time of patients with different severity levels was statistically significant ( P = 0.023). The mortality risk in moderate patients was 1.575 times higher than that of mild patients (95% CI: 0.216-11.457, P = 0.654). The mortality risk of severe and very severe patients was 7.424 times higher than that of mild patients (95% CI: 1.612-34.197, P = 0.010). There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative hepatic encephalopathy recurrence rate and shunt dysfunction rate ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:PA-HSOS severity grading has prognostic value for PA-HSOS patients receiving TIPS treatment, and can be used as an important reference for guiding the timing of TIPS intervention.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and causes of death after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with hepatic sinus obstruction syndrome (HSOS), as well as the prevention and treatment measures to further improve the survival rate of such patients. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for 293 patients with HSOS who were admitted to Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2013 to December 2019, among whom 20 patients died after TIPS. General information, laboratory examination, and clinical treatment regimen were analyzed, and clinical indices and complications were compared at different stages of the disease. The paired t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. ResultsThe mean survival time was 15.15±4.21 weeks for the 20 patients who died, among whom there were 15 male patients and 5 female patients, with a mean age of 67.60±7.01 years; there were 17 patients (85%) aged ≥60 years, and more than 90% of the patients had abdominal distention and oliguria. Among the 20 patients who died, 9 (45%) had chronic underlying diseases, and 5 (25%) had more than two underlying diseases. Portal venous pressure decreased from 21.67±5.15 mm Hg before surgery to 8.17±4.98 mm Hg after surgery (t=10.318,P＜0.05). The levels of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and D-dimer were significantly higher than the normal values before surgery, and there were significant increases in these levels on day 5 after surgery (Z=3.823,3.823,2.756, all P＜0.05); the hemoglobin level, platelet count, and creatinine level tended to decrease on day 5 after surgery (t=4.979,t=2.147,Z=-3.125, all P＜005). Three patients had hepatic encephalopathy before surgery, while 10 patients (50%) had hepatic encephalopathy after surgery. Causes of death included acute liver failure, infectious shock, and multiple organ failure syndrome (MODS). ConclusionThe possible risk factors for death after TIPS in HSOS patients include underlying diseases, high bilirubin, and complications such as hepatic encephalopathy and renal dysfunction. Causes of death mainly include acute liver failure and MODS. Ultrasound and laboratory markers should be reexamined during anticoagulation therapy to identify the patients with progression to severe diseases as early as possible, and in case of progressive deterioration of indices, TIPS should be selected as early as possible to improve the survival rate and prognosis of such patients. In addition, hemobilia should be observed during and after surgery, and intervention measures should be adopted in time to further reduce mortality rate.