scholarly journals Evaluation of portal pressure by doppler ultrasound in patients with cirrhosis before and after simvastatin administration – a randomized controlled trial

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Elwan ◽  
Raafat Salah ◽  
Manal Hamisa ◽  
Ebtsam Shady ◽  
Nehad Hawash ◽  
...  

Background: Portal hypertension is one of the most frequent complications of cirrhosis. β-adrenergic blockers, with or without organic nitrates, are currently used as hypotensive agents. Statins such as simvastatin seem to be safe for patients with chronic liver diseases and exert multiple pleiotropic actions. This study aimed to assess PTH using Doppler ultrasound in patients with cirrhosis before and after simvastatin administration. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients with cirrhosis who were randomized into 2 groups: group I included 20 patients with cirrhosis who were administered 20 mg of simvastatin daily for 2 weeks and then 40 mg daily for another 2 weeks, and group II included 20 patients with cirrhosis who did not receive simvastatin as a control group. All patients underwent full clinical examination, laboratory investigations, and abdominal Doppler ultrasound at baseline and after 30 days to evaluate portal vein diameter, blood flow volume, direction and velocity of portal vein blood flow, hepatic artery resistance and pulsatility indices, splenic artery resistance index, portal hypertension index (PHI), liver vascular index, and modified liver vascular index (MLVI). Results: There was a highly significant decrease in the hepatic artery resistance index  in group I, from 0.785 ± 0.088 to 0.717 ± 0.086 (P < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the PHI in group I , from 3.915 ± 0.973 m/sec to 3.605 ± 1.168 m/sec (P = 0.024). Additionally, there was a significant increase in the MLVI in group I from 11.540 ± 3.266 cm/sec to 13.305 ± 3.222 cm/sec, an increase of 15.3% from baseline (P = 0.009). No significant adverse effects were detected. Conclusions: Simvastatin is safe and effective in lowering portal hypertension. [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02994485]

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaxiang Meng ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Kai Liu ◽  
Shuofei Yang ◽  
Xinxin Fan ◽  
...  

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and endothelin- (ET-) 1 may aggravate portal hypertension by increasing intrahepatic resistance and splanchnic blood flow. In the portal vein, after TIPS shunting, LPS and ET-1 were significantly decreased. Our study suggests that TIPS can benefit cirrhotic patients not only in high hemodynamics related variceal bleeding but also in intestinal bacterial translocation associated complications such as endotoxemia.


Author(s):  
Mohamed Alaa ELdin Nouh ◽  
Mohamed Kamel Abd-Elmageed ◽  
Amany Abas Mohamed Amer ◽  
Moamena Said ELhamouly

Abstract Background Esophageal varices (EV) is the most common apprehensive complication of portal hypertension in patients with cirrhotic liver. Guidelines recommend Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopic screening for EV in patients with newly diagnosed chronic cirrhosis (Imperiale et al. in Hepatology 45(4):870–878, 2007). Yet, it is invasive, time consuming and costly. To avoid unnecessary endoscopy, some studies have suggested Doppler ultrasound examination as simple, and noninvasive tool in prediction and assessment of severity of EV (Agha et al. in Dig Dis Sci 54(3):654–660, 2009). Our study was to assess the role of different Doppler indices of portal vein, hepatic and splenic arteries as a noninvasive tool for prediction of esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients. Results This prospective case control study was conducted on 100 cirrhotic liver patients and 100 of healthy volunteers as control group. Patients were subjected to clinical examination, upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography with duplex Doppler evaluation of different portal Doppler hemodynamic indices were done for each patient. The results revealed that portal vein diameter, hepatic artery pulsatility index, portal hypertensive index, portal vein flow velocity, portal congestion index have high sensitivity for prediction of EV. However, Splenic artery resistance index, hepatic artery resistance index HARI, liver vascular index and platelet count/spleen diameter have less sensitivity for prediction of EV. Conclusion Measuring the portal hemodynamic indices can help physicians as noninvasive predictors of EV in cirrhotic patients to restrict the need for unnecessary endoscopic screening especially when endoscopic facilities are limited.


2016 ◽  
pp. 129-132
Author(s):  
Nataliia Virstyuk ◽  
Iryna Kobitovych ◽  
Olha Gerasymchuk

The objective: study the features of porto1hepatic blood flow in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) in conjunction with chronic bronchitis (CB) according to Doppler ultrasound. Patients and methods. The study involved 60 patients who were hospitalized, 20 ALC patients in stage B according to Child-Pugh without CB (Ist group), 20 ALC patients in stage B according to Child-Pugh combined with CB in the acute phase (IInd group), 20 patients exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, for which there was no evidence of digestive system diseases (IIIrd group). All patients underwent a complex ultrasonic research techniques scanning in B-mode, the VD-mode, color duplex scanning using «Hitachi EUB 7000» ultrasonic scanner connected to the Doppler flourimetr was visualized main arterial and venous vessels of hepatic and splenic pools. Results. Changes porto-hepatic blood flow were most pronounced in patients with ALC in combination with CB when compared with patients of groups I and III (p<0,05) according to the obtained Doppler indices: diameter of the hepatic artery was 5,55±0,19 mm, portal vein – 12,60±0,17 mm, where increased by 159,12% and 53,56%, respectively (p<0,05) higher than those in healthy individuals. The diameter of the splenic artery and splenic vein at the ALC for combination with CB significantly increased compared with control on 31,13% and 35,67%, respectively (p<0,05). Linear and volumetric blood flow rate in portal vein decreased in this group of patients, 60,24% and 22,68%, respectively (p<0,05) compared with healthy individuals, the linear velocity of blood flow in the splenic vein also significantly slowed down compared to the control on 41,06% (p<0,05), and the volumetric blood flow velocity v. lienalis grew by 155,80% (p<0,05). Among the characteristics of the arterial blood flow hepato-splenic system Gosling pulsatility index (PI) and Pursello resistance index (RI) of hepatic artery also Pursello resistance index (RI) of splenic artery significantly grew in ALC patients in combination with CB 147,20%, 65,49% and 32,31%, respectively (p<0,05) compared with the control group. Maximal systolic velocity of blood flow in the hepatic artery of patients – grew by 8,95% (p<0,05). End diastolic blood flow velocity in the hepatic artery tended to decrease on 13,36% (p<0,05) compared with healthy individuals. Conclusion. Violation of porto-hepatic blood flow in patients with ALC is characterized by its redistribution in the veins of the portal system in the direction of the spleen with a decrease in the average linear and the volumetric velocity in the portal and hepatic veins, increasing the resistance index in the interlobar arteries.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inés Aragoncillo ◽  
Soraya Abad ◽  
Silvia Caldés ◽  
Yésika Amézquita ◽  
Almudena Vega ◽  
...  

Purpose Stenosis is the main cause of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure. It is still unclear whether surveillance based on vascular access blood flow (QA) enhances AVF function and longevity. Methods We conducted a three-year follow-up randomized, controlled, multicenter, open-label trial to compare QA-based surveillance and pre-emptive repair of subclinical stenosis with standard monitoring/surveillance techniques in prevalent mature AVFs. AVFs were randomized to either the control group (surveillance based on classic alarm criteria; n = 104) or to the QA group (QA measured quarterly using Doppler ultrasound [ M-Turbo®] and ultrasound dilution [Transonic®] added to classic surveillance; n = 103). The criteria for intervention in the QA group were: 25% reduction in QA, QA<500 mL/min or significant stenosis with hemodynamic repercussion (peak systolic velocity [PSV] more than 400 cm/sc or PSV pre-stenosis/stenosis higher than 3). Results At the end of follow-up we observed a significant reduction in the thrombosis rate in the QA group (0.025 thrombosis/patient/year in the QA group vs. 0.086 thrombosis/patient/year in the control group [p = 0.007]). There was a significant improvement in the thrombosis-free patency rate (HR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.11-0.82; p = 0.011) and in the secondary patency rate in the QA group (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.26-0.93; p = 0.030), with no differences in the primary patency rate between the groups (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.57-1.61; p = 0.935). There was greater need for a central venous catheter and more hospitalizations associated with vascular access in the control group (p = 0.034/p = 0.029). Total vascular access-related costs were higher in the control group (€227.194 vs. €133.807; p = 0.029). Conclusions QA-based surveillance combining Doppler ultrasound and ultrasound dilution reduces the frequency of thrombosis, is cost effective, and improves thrombosis free and secondary patency in autologous AVF.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Anda Achim ◽  
P. Bordei ◽  
E. Dumitru

AbstractIntroduction: Portal hypertension results from increased resistance to the portal blood flow. The ultrasound represents a noninvasive tool for assessing the structural and hemodynamic abnormalities in this condition.Objectives: The assessment of the hemodynamic blood flow of the liver and spleen by using Doppler ultrasound in patients with portal hypertension compared with healthy subjects and to identify correlations with the severity of liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices.Materials and Method: This study included 50 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy subjects as controls. Different correlations were carried out between hemodynamic variables obtained from the Doppler examination and the severity of cirrhosis as assessed by the Child score and the degree of esophageal varices at endoscopy.Results: The portal vein diameter was larger in cirrhotic patients compared with the control group. The mean portal vein velocity and the blood flow were significantly lower in advanced forms of liver cirrhosis. The portal vein congestion index, the pulsatility and resistivity indexes of the hepatic artery were significantly increased in patients with CHILD B and C cirrhosis compared with the control group and patients in CHILD class A. There were no statistically significant differences between the pulsatility and resistivity indexes of the splenic artery in patients with cirrhosis. The liver vascular index was significantly lower in patients with advanced cirrhosis.Conclusions: The ultrasound is a valuable noninvasive tool for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. However, it is not sufficiently accurate in differentiating between different classes of cirrhosis or degrees of esophageal varices.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 2106-2111
Author(s):  
Guangjun Yan ◽  
Zhijiang Li ◽  
Weiwei Gu ◽  
Jie Lin ◽  
Xingyu Hong ◽  
...  

Objective: This paper uses color Doppler ultrasound technology to study the hemodynamic characteristics of portal hypertension and splenectomy plus pericardial vascular disruption, to understand the pathogenesis of portal hypertension, and to understand the spleen. The effects of resection and pericardial vascular dissection on portal vein and hepatic artery hemodynamics were analyzed. Methods: Nine male in our hospital’s hepatobiliary surgery from January 2017 to December 2018 were selected. The preoperative upper gastrointestinal barium meal or gastroscopy confirmed that all patients had moderate to severe esophageal and gastric fundus. The surgical method was splenectomy and pericardial vascular disconnection. Color Doppler ultrasound was performed on portal vein and hepatic arterial hemodynamics to observe the presence or absence of portal vein thrombosis. Result: Preoperative hemodynamic status of the case group: the diameter of the hepatic artery was (0.34±0.01) cm, the value is 0.34 cm; the maximum flow velocity of the hepatic artery was (64.6±5.0) cm/s, the value of 64.7 cm/s; The postoperative hemodynamic status of the case group: the diameter of the hepatic artery was (0.41±0.02) cm, the value of 0.41 cm; the maximum flow velocity of the hepatic artery was (88.5±6.1) cm/s, the value of 89.6 cm/s. Conclusion: Color Doppler ultrasound has obvious application value in the treatment of pericardial vascular diseases. 1 splenectomy and pericardial vascular disconnection can increase the flow of hepatic artery, and reduce the total blood flow into the liver after surgery. The proportion of hepatic arterial blood flow increased, and the oxygen supply to increase.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 981-987
Author(s):  
Hongjuan Yao ◽  
Yongliang Wang

AbstractCirrhosis caused by viral and alcoholic hepatitis is an essential cause of portal hypertension (PHT). The incidence of PHT complication is directly proportional to portal venous pressure (PVP), and the clinical research of PVP and its hemodynamic indexes is of great significance for deciding the treatment strategy of PHT. Various techniques are currently being developed to decrease portal pressure but hemodynamic side effects may occur. In this article, the hemodynamic indexes of cirrhotic PHT patients were studied to explore the correlation between the index and PVP and to evaluate the clinical value of Doppler ultrasound in measuring PVP in patients with PHT. This was achieved by selecting 90 cirrhotic PHT patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in our hospital from June 2015 to September 2019. Fifty healthy people who had a physical examination in the hospital in the same period were selected as the control group. The liver hemodynamic parameters of two groups were measured by Doppler ultrasound, and the cirrhotic PHT patients were graded by the Child–Pugh grading method to evaluate the liver function and measure the PVP value. The results showed that both the central portal vein velocity (PVV) and splenic vein velocity (SVV) of the PHT group were lower than those of the control group. Also, the portal vein diameter (PVD), portal venous flow and splenic vein diameter (SVD) were higher than those of the control group (all Ps < 0.05). Among liver function graded PHT patients, the PVD, PVV, SVD and SVV were significantly different (all Ps < 0.05). Furthermore, the PVP of patients with liver function grades A, B and C was 38.9 ± 1.4, 40.6 ± 5.1 and 42.5 ± 4.8 cmH2O, respectively, with a significant difference. It can be concluded from this study that Doppler ultrasound can be used as a tool for clinical assessment of PHT in cirrhosis patients. Doppler ultrasound showed a good prospect in noninvasive detection of PHT in cirrhosis; however, this technique needs application on large sample population study to validate the results.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 713
Author(s):  
Cristiano Sconza ◽  
Francesco Negrini ◽  
Berardo Di Matteo ◽  
Alberto Borboni ◽  
Gennaro Boccia ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Gait disorders represent one of the most disabling aspects in multiple sclerosis (MS) that strongly influence patient quality of life. The improvement of walking ability is a primary goal for rehabilitation treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in association with physiotherapy treatment in patients affected by MS in comparison with ground conventional gait training. Study design: Randomized controlled crossover trial. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven participants affected by MS with EDSS scores between 3.5 and 7 were enrolled, of whom seventeen completed the study. They received five training sessions per week over five weeks of conventional gait training with (experimental group) or without (control group) the inclusion of RAGT. The patients were prospectively evaluated before and after the first treatment session and, after the crossover phase, before and after the second treatment session. The evaluation was based on the 25-foot walk test (25FW, main outcome), 6 min walk test (6MWT), Tinetti Test, Modified Ashworth Scale, and modified Motricity Index for lower limbs. We also measured disability parameters using Functional Independence Measure and Quality of Life Index, and instrumental kinematic and gait parameters: knee extensor strength, double-time support, step length ratio; 17 patients reached the final evaluation. Results: Both groups significantly improved on gait parameters, motor abilities, and autonomy recovery in daily living activities with generally better results of RAGT over control treatment. In particular, the RAGT group improved more than control group in the 25FW (p = 0.004) and the 6MWT (p = 0.022). Conclusions: RAGT is a valid treatment option that in association with physiotherapy could induce positive effects in MS-correlated gait disorders. Our results showed greater effectiveness in recovering gait speed and resistance than conventional gait training.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryusei Yamamoto ◽  
Teiichi Sugiura ◽  
Yukiyasu Okamura ◽  
Takaaki Ito ◽  
Yusuke Yamamoto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background When a postoperative hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm develops after massive hepatectomy, both an intervention for the pseudoaneurysm and patency of hepatic artery should be considered because occlusion of the residual hepatic artery results in critical liver failure. However, the treatment strategy for a pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery after hepatobiliary resection is not well established. Case presentation A 65-year-old woman underwent right hepatectomy, extrahepatic duct resection, and portal vein resection, for gallbladder cancer. Although the patient had an uneventful postoperative course, computed tomography on postoperative day 6 showed a 6-mm pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery. Angiography revealed the pseudoaneurysm located on the bifurcation of the left hepatic artery to the segment 2 artery plus the segment 3 artery and 4 artery. Stent placement in the left hepatic artery was not feasible because the artery was too narrow, and coiling of the pseudoaneurysm was associated with a risk of occluding the left hepatic artery and inducing critical liver failure. Therefore, portal vein arterialization constructed by anastomosing the ileocecal artery and vein was performed prior to embolization of the pseudoaneurysm to maintain the oxygen level of the remnant liver, even if the left hepatic artery was accidentally occluded. The pseudoaneurysm was selectively embolized without occlusion of the left hepatic artery, and the postoperative laboratory data were within normal limits. Although uncontrollable ascites due to portal hypertension occurred, embolization of the ileocolic shunt rapidly resolved it. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 45. Conclusion Portal vein arterialization prior to embolization of the aneurysm may be a feasible therapeutic strategy for a pseudoaneurysm that develops after hepatectomy for hepatobiliary malignancy to guarantee arterial inflow to the remnant liver. Early embolization of arterioportal shunting after confirmation of arterial inflow to the liver should be performed to prevent morbidity induced by portal hypertension.


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