Dynamic changes in liver function after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with cirrhosis

Purpose:To evaluate the dynamic changes in liver function after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)creation in patients with cirrhosis and to explore its association with clinical outcomes.Methods:This retrospective study included patients who underwent TIPS between August 2016 and December2020.Liver function was primarily evaluated using the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score,which was analyzed at baseline,1 week,1 month,3 months,6 months,and 12 months using one-way repeated measures ANOVA.The Kaplan-Meier method,log-rank test,and multivariate analysis were used as appropriate.Results:In total,235 patients were included in this study.The MELD score was significantly higher at 1 week(11.8±3.1 vs 13.5±3.5,p<0.05)and 1 month(11.8±3.1 vs 13.2±4.6,p<0.05)than the baseline level and recovered at 3 months(11.8±3.1 vs 11.9±3.9,p>0.05).At 12 months,the MELD score was higher than the baseline level(11.8±3.1 vs 12.4±3.2,p<0.05).Patients with a recovery of the MELD score(n=151)at 3 months had a lower probability of overt and severe HE(log-rank p=0.015 and p=0.027,respectively)than those without recovery(n=84).Logistic regression analysis revealed that albumin(odds ratio[OR],0.926;95%confidence interval[CI],0.863–0.992;p=0.029)and platelet count(OR,0.993;95%CI,0.987–0.999;p=0.033)were independent predictive factors for non-recovery of the MELD score at 3 months.Conclusions:Liver function after TIPS creation showed a trend of deterioration at first,followed by recovery.Recovery of liver function at three months was associated with reduced overt and severe HE.