Alterations in the gut microbiome after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with hepatitis B virus-related portal hypertension

BACKGROUND Gut microbiota(GM)affects the progression and response to treatment in liver diseases.The GM composition is diverse and associated with different etiologies of liver diseases.Notably,alterations in GM alterations are observed in patients with portal hypertension(PH)secondary to cirrhosis,with hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection being a major cause of cirrhosis in China.Thus,understanding the role of GM alterations in patients with HBV infection-related PH is essential.AIM To evaluate GM alterations in patients with HBV-related PH after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)placement.METHODS This was a prospective,observational clinical study.There were 30 patients(with a 100%technical success rate)recruited in the present study.Patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding due to HBV infection-associated PH who underwent TIPS were enrolled.Stool samples were obtained before and one month after TIPS treatment,and GM was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing.RESULTS One month after TIPS placement,8 patients developed hepatic encephalopathy(HE)and were assigned to the HE group;the other 22 patients were assigned to the non-HE group.There was no substantial disparity in the abundance of GM at the phylum level between the two groups,regardless of TIPS treatment(all,P>0.05).However,following TIPS placement,the following results were observed:(1)The abundance of Haemophilus and Eggerthella increased,whereas that of Anaerostipes,Dialister,Butyricicoccus,and Oscillospira declined in the HE group;(2)The richness of Eggerthella,Streptococcus,and Bilophila increased,whereas that of Roseburia and Ruminococcus decreased in the non-HE group;and(3)Members from the pathogenic genus Morganella appeared in the HE group but not in the non-HE group.CONCLUSION Intestinal microbiota-related synergism may predict the risk of HE following TIPS placement in patients with HBVrelated PH.Prophylactic microbiome therapies may be useful for preventing and treating HE after TIPS placement.

Insights and future directions in studying intestinal microbiota posttransjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for hepatitis B virusrelated portal hypertension

The gut microbiota(GM)plays a major role in the progression and treatment response of liver diseases,with diverse compositions based on different etiologies.In China,hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection is the leading cause of cirrhosis and affects the GM composition in patients with cirrhosis-related portal hypertension(PH).However,a few studies have been conducted on GM alterations after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)in patients with HBV-related PH.A recent study investigated the changes in the GM in these patients after TIPS.This study found an increase in potentially pathogenic bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria post-TIPS,particularly in patients with hepatic encephalopathy(HE),indicating the potential role of the GM in HE prediction and management post-TIPS.Nevertheless,the study had several limitations,including a small sample size,limited follow-up,a single time point for sample collection,and inadequate analysis of the correlation between intestinal flora,HBV infection status,and clinical parameters.Future research should address these limitations by expanding the sample size,prolonging the follow-up duration,collecting samples at multiple time points,and conducting compre-hensive analyses to confirm the findings and evaluate the effectiveness of individualized microbiome-based therapies.

Road to recompensation:BavenoⅦcriteria and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis has long been considered a point of no return,with limited hope for recovery.However,recent advancements,particularly the Baveno VII criteria and the utilization of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS),have illuminated the concept of hepatic recompensation.In this editorial we comment on the article by Gao et al published in the recent issue.This editorial provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of understanding cirrhosis,the criteria for recompensation,and the efficacy of TIPS in achieving recompensation.We discuss key findings from recent studies,including the promising outcomes observed in patients who achieved recompensation post-TIPS insertion.While further research is needed to validate these findings and elucidate the mechanisms underlying recompensation,the insights presented here offer renewed hope for patients with decompensated cirrhosis and highlight the potential of TIPS as a therapeutic option in their management.

Spleen volume is associated with overt hepatic encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients with portal hypertension

BACKGROUND Portal shunt and immune status related to the spleen are related to the occurrence of hepatic encephalopathy(HE).It is unknown whether spleen volume before transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is related to postoperative HE.AIM To investigate the relationship between spleen volume and the occurrence of HE.METHODS This study included 135 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent TIPS,and liver and spleen volumes were elevated upon computed tomography imaging.The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to compare the difference in the incidence rate of HE among patients with different spleen volumes.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify the factors affecting overt HE(OHE).Restricted cubic spline was used to examine the shapes of the dose-response association between spleen volumes and OHE risk.RESULTS The results showed that 37(27.2%)of 135 patients experienced OHE during a 1-year follow-up period.Compared with preoperative spleen volume(901.30±471.90 cm3),there was a significant decrease in spleen volume after TIPS(697.60±281.0 cm^(3))in OHE patients.As the severity of OHE increased,the spleen volume significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with patients with a spleen volume≥782.4 cm^(3),those with a spleen volume<782.4 cm^(3) had a higher incidence of HE(P<0.05).Cox regression analysis showed that spleen volume was an independent risk factor for post-TIPS OHE(hazard ratio=0.494,P<0.05).Restricted cubic spline model showed that with an increasing spleen volume,OHE risk showed an initial increase and then decrease(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Spleen volume is related to the occurrence of OHE after TIPS.Preoperative spleen volume is an independent risk factor for post-TIPS OHE.

Hepatic recompensation according to the Baveno VII criteria via a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: Is this true?

Hepatic recompensation is firstly described in the Baveno VII criteria,which requires the fulfillment of strict criteria.First,a primary cause of cirrhosis must be addressed,suppressed,or cured.Second,complications of liver cirrhosis,inclu-ding ascites,encephalopathy,and variceal hemorrhage,must disappear without any intervention.Finally,liver function indicators must be improved.Moreover,without addressing/suppressing/curing cirrhosis and improvement in liver syn-thetic function,complications,including ascites and variceal hemorrhage can be improved by a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS),which is not evidence of hepatic recompensation.Therefore,on the basis of the definition of hepatic recompensation,TIPS does not achieve hepatic recompensation.

Enhancing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedure efficiency with digital subtraction angiography image overlay technology in esophagogastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is a pivotal intervention for managing esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with chronic hepatic schistosomiasis.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of digital subtraction angiography image overlay tech-nology(DIT)in guiding the TIPS procedure.METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent TIPS at our hospital,comparing outcomes between an ultrasound-guided group and a DIT-guided group.Our analysis focused on the duration of the portosystemic shunt puncture,the number of punctures needed,the total surgical time,and various clinical indicators related to the surgery.RESULTS The study included 52 patients with esophagogastric varices due to chronic hepatic schistosomiasis.Results demonstrated that the DIT-guided group expe-rienced significantly shorter puncture times(P<0.001)and surgical durations(P=0.022)compared to the ultrasound-guided group.Additionally,postoperative assessments showed significant reductions in aspartate aminotransferase,B-type natriuretic peptide,and portal vein pressure in both groups.Notably,the DIT-guided group also showed significant reductions in total bilirubin(P=0.001)and alanine aminotransferase(P=0.023).CONCLUSION The use of DIT for guiding TIPS procedures highlights its potential to enhance procedural efficiency and reduce surgical times in the treatment of esophagogastric variceal bleeding in patients with chronic hepatic schistoso-miasis.

Contributory roles of sarcopenia and myosteatosis in development of overt hepatic encephalopathy and mortality after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

BACKGROUND Skeletal muscle abnormalities,such as muscle mass depletion(sarcopenia)and fatty infiltration of the muscle(myosteatosis),are frequent complications in cirrhotic patients scheduled for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS).AIM To investigate the association and predictive value of sarcopenia and myosteatosis for overt hepatic encephalopathy(HE)and mortality after TIPS.METHODS The records of cirrhotic patients who underwent the TIPS procedure at our hospital between January 2020 and June 2021 were retrospectively retrieved.The transversal psoas muscle thickness(TPMT)and psoas muscle attenuation(PMA)measured from the unenhanced abdominal computed tomography(CT)at the level of the third lumbar vertebrae were used to analyze the sarcopenia and myosteatosis,respectively.The area under curve(AUC)was used to evaluate the discriminative power of TPMT,PMA,and relevant clinical parameters.Furthermore,log-rank test was performed to compare the incidence of overt HE and survival between the different groups,and the association of risk factors with overt HE and mortality was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models.RESULTS A total of 108 patients were collected.Among these patients,45.4%of patients developed overt HE after TIPS treatment.Furthermore,32.4%and 28.7%of these patients were identified to have myosteatosis and sarcopenia,respectively.Myosteatosis(51.0%vs 16.9%,P<0.001)and sarcopenia(40.8 vs 18.6%,P=0.011)were found to be more frequent in patients with overt HE,when compared to patients without overt HE.The receiver operating characteristics analysis indicated that the predictive power of TPMT and PMA in overt HE(AUC=0.713 and 0.778,respectively)was higher when compared to the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio(AUC=0.636).The cumulative incidence of overt HE was the highest in patients with concomitant sarcopenia and myosteatosis,followed by patients with myosteatosis or sarcopenia,while this was the lowest in patients without sarcopenia and myosteatosis.In addition,sarcopenia and myosteatosis were independently associated with overt HE and mortality after adjusting for confounding factors in post-TIPS patients.CONCLUSION CT-based estimations for sarcopenia and myosteatosis can be used as reliable predictors for the risk of developing overt HE and mortality in cirrhotic patients after TIPS.

Prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy during the perioperative period of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is an established procedure for treating the complications of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis.While the pathogenesis of postoperative TIPS-related hepatic encephalopathy(HE)has yet to be fully understood,intraoperative portosystemic shunts may provide a pathological basis for the occurrence of postope-rative HE in patients with liver cirrhosis.Studies at home and abroad have expressed mixed opinions about TIPSrelated HE.This study presents a literature review on the risk factors for and prevention and treatment of perioperative TIPS-related HE in patients with liver cirrhosis,aiming to optimize the procedure and reduce the incidence of postoperative HE.

Pre-transjugular-intrahepatic-portosystemic-shunt measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient and its clinical application: A comparison study

BACKGROUND It is controversial whether transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)placement can improve long-term survival.AIM To assess whether TIPS placement improves survival in patients with hepaticvenous-pressure-gradient(HVPG)≥16 mmHg,based on HVPG-related risk stratification.METHODS Consecutive variceal bleeding patients treated with endoscopic therapy+nonselectiveβ-blockers(NSBBs)or covered TIPS placement were retrospectively enrolled between January 2013 and December 2019.HVPG measurements were performed before therapy.The primary outcome was transplant-free survival;secondary endpoints were rebleeding and overt hepatic ence-phalopathy(OHE).RESULTS A total of 184 patients were analyzed(mean age,55.27 years±13.86,107 males;102 in the EVL+NSBB group,82 in the covered TIPS group).Based on the HVPG guided risk stratification,70 patients had HVPG<16 mmHg,and 114 patients had HVPG≥16 mmHg.The median follow-up time of the cohort was 49.5 mo.There was no significant difference in transplant-free survival between the two treatment groups overall(hazard ratio[HR],0.61;95%confidence interval[CI]:0.35-1.05;P=0.07).In the high-HVPG tier,transplant-free survival was higher in the TIPS group(HR,0.44;95%CI:0.23-0.85;P=0.004).In the low-HVPG tier,transplantfree survival after the two treatments was similar(HR,0.86;95%CI:0.33-0.23;P=0.74).Covered TIPS placement decreased the rate of rebleeding independent of the HVPG tier(P<0.001).The difference in OHE between the two groups was not statistically significant(P=0.09;P=0.48).CONCLUSION TIPS placement can effectively improve transplant-free survival when the HVPG is greater than 16 mmHg.

Targeted puncture of left branch of intrahepatic portal vein in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt to reduce hepatic encephalopathy

BACKGROUND Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) is currently used for the treatment of complications of portal hypertension. The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy(HE) remains a problem in TIPS placement. It has been reported that the right branch mainly receives superior mesenteric venous blood while the left branch mainly receives blood from the splenic vein. We hypothesized that targeted puncture of the left portal vein would divert the non-nutritive blood from the splenic vein into the TIPS shunt; therefore, targeted puncture of the left branch of the intrahepatic portal vein during TIPS may reduce the risk of HE.AIM To evaluate the influence of targeted puncture of left branch of portal vein in TIPS on HE.METHODS A retrospective analysis of 1244 patients with portal-hypertension-related complications of refractory ascites or variceal bleeding who underwent TIPS from January 2000 to January 2013 was performed. Patients were divided into group A(targeting left branch of portal vein, n = 937) and group B(targeting right branch of portal vein, n = 307). TIPS-related HE and clinical outcomes were analyzed.RESULTS The symptoms of ascites and variceal bleeding disappeared within a short time.By the endpoint of follow-up, recurrent bleeding and ascites did not differ significantly between groups A and B(P = 0.278, P = 0.561, respectively).Incidence of HE differed significantly between groups A and B at 1 mo(14.94% vs36.80%, χ~2 = 4.839, P = 0.028), 3 mo(12.48% vs 34.20%, χ~2 = 5.054, P = 0.025), 6 mo(10.03% vs 32.24%, χ~2 = 6.560, P = 0.010), 9 mo(9.17% vs 31.27%, χ~2 = 5.357, P =0.021), and 12 mo(8.21% vs 28.01, χ~2 = 3.848, P = 0.051). There were no significant differences between groups A and B at 3 years(6.61% vs 7.16%, χ~2 = 1.204, P =0.272) and 5 years(5.01% vs 6.18%, χ~2 = 0.072, P = 0.562). The total survival rate did not differ between groups A and B(χ~2 = 0.226, P = 0.634, log-rank test).CONCLUSION Targeted puncture of the left branch of the intrahepatic portal vein during TIPS may reduce the risk of HE but has no direct influence on prognosis of portalhypertension-related complications.

Passive expansion of sub-maximally dilated transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts and assessment of clinical outcomes

AIM To assess for passive expansion of sub-maximally dilated transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts(TIPS) and compare outcomes with maximally dilated TIPS.METHODS Polytetrafluoroethylene covered TIPS(Viatorr) from July 2002 to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed at two hospitals in a single institution. Two hundred and thirty patients had TIPS maximally dilated to 10 mm(m TIPS), while 43 patients who were at increased risk for hepatic encephalopathy(HE), based on clinical evaluation or low pre-TIPS portosystemic gradient(PSG), had 10 mm TIPS sub-maximally dilated to 8 mm(sm TIPS). Group characteristics(age, gender, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score, post-TIPS PSG and clinical outcomes were compared between groups, including clinical success(ascites or varices), primary patency,primary assisted patency, and severe post-TIPS HE. A subset of fourteen patients with sm TIPS underwent follow-up computed tomography imaging after TIPS creation, and were grouped based on time of imaging(< 6 mo and > 6 mo). Change in diameter and crosssectional area were measured with 3D imaging software to evaluate for passive expansion.RESULTS Patient characteristics were similar between the sm TIPS and m TIPS groups, except for pre-TIPS portosystemic gradient, which was lower in the sm TIPS group(19.4 mm Hg ± 6.8 vs 22.4 mm Hg ± 7.1, P = 0.01). Primary patency and primary assisted patency between sm TIPS and m TIPS was not significantly different(P = 0.64 and 0.55, respectively). Four of the 55 patients(7%) with sm TIPS required TIPS reduction for severe refractory HE, while this occurred in 6 of the 218 patients(3%) with m TIPS(P = 0.12). For the 14 patients with follow-up computed tomography(CT) imaging, the median imaging follow-up was 373 d. There was an increase in median TIPS diameter, median percent diameter change, median area, and median percent area change in patients with CT follow-up greater than 6 mo after TIPS placement compared to follow-up within 6 mo(8.45 mm, 5.58%, 56.04 mm^2, and 11.48%, respectively, P = 0.01).CONCLUSION Passive expansion of sm TIPS does occur but clinical outcomes of sm TIPS and m TIPS were similar. Sub-maximal dilation can prevent complications related to overshunting in select patients.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt is effective in patients with chronic portal vein thrombosis and variceal bleeding

Background:Studies about treatment of patients with chronic portal vein thrombosis(CPVT)are still limited,especially in different types of CPVT.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)in all types of CPVT with variceal bleeding.Methods:Patients with CPVT who received TIPS treatment between January 2011 and June 2019 were divided into four types according to the extent of thrombosis.All patients had a history of variceal bleeding.The characteristics and clinical parameters were collected and recorded.Data on procedure success rate,variation in portal vein pressure,rebleeding,hepatic encephalopathy(HE),stent stenosis,and overall mortality were analyzed.Results:A total of 189 patients were included in this study(39 in type 1,84 in type 2,48 in type 3,18 in type 4).The TIPS procedure success rate was 86.2%.The success rate was significantly different among the four types(89.7%vs.88.1%vs.83.3%vs.77.8%,P=0.001).In the TIPS success group,portal vein pressure was significantly reduced from 27.15±6.59 to 19.74±6.73 mm Hg after the procedure(P<0.001)and the rebleeding rate was significantly lower than that of the fail group(14.7%vs.30.8%,P=0.017).In addition,there were no significant differences in HE rate(30.7%vs.26.9%,P=0.912)or overall mortality(12.9%vs.19.2%,P=0.403)between the TIPS success group and the fail group.In the TIPS success group,we found that the occurrence of HE was significantly different(P=0.020)among the four types,while there were no significant differences in rebleeding rate(P=0.669),stent stenosis rate(P=0.056),or overall mortality(P=0.690).Conclusions:TIPS was safe and effective in decreasing portal vein pressure and rebleeding rate in patients with CPVT.

Clinical efficacy of antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis Brelated cirrhosis after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

BACKGROUND As a country with a high burden of hepatitis B,China has about 86 million cases of hepatitis B virus infection,ranking the first in the world.Currently,there are about 390000 deaths due to hepatitis B-related complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer every year.Consequently,how to control portal hypertension,improve liver functional reserve,and reduce the incidence of hepatic failure and liver cancer in such patients is the focus of current clinical attention.Previous clinical study in our center suggested that at 24 mo after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS),the liver functional reserve of patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis was better than that of patients with alcoholinduced and immune cirrhosis,which may be related to the effective etiological treatment.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy of three first-line antiviral drugs recommended by the guidelines of prevention and treatment for chronic hepatitis B in China(2019)in the treatment of patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis who had received a TIPS.METHODS The clinical data of 137 patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis with portal hypertension after receiving TIPS at our centre between March 2016 and December 2020 were analysed retrospectively.According to different anti-viral drugs,the patients were divided into entecavir(ETV)(n=70),tenofovir alafenamide fumarate(TAF)(n=32),and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate(TDF)(n=35)groups.The cumulative incidence of hepatic encephalopathy and hepatocellular carcinoma,survival,and changes in hepatic reserve function and glomerular filtration rate in patients treated with different antiviral drugs within 24 mo after surgery were investigated.RESULTS At 24 mo after surgery,the Child-Pugh score in the TAF group(6.97±0.86)was lower than that in the TDF(7.49±0.82;t=-2.52,P=0.014)and ETV groups(7.64±1.17;t=-2.92,P=0.004).The model for end-stage liver disease score in the TAF group at 24 mo after surgery was 9.72±1.5,which was lower than that in the TDF(10.74±2.33;t=-2.09,P=0.040)and ETV groups(10.97±2.17;t=-2.93,P=0.004).At 24 mo after surgery,the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)in the TAF group(104.41±12.54)was higher than that in the TDF(93.54±8.97)and ETV groups(89.96±9.86)(F=21.57,P<0.001).CONCLUSION At 24 mo after surgery,compared with TDF and ETV,TAF has significant advantages in the improvement of liver functional reserve and eGFR.

A new choice of stent for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation: Viabahn ePTFE covered stent/bare metal stent combination

Objectives:To compare the clinical outcomes in terms of structure and function between the insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS) created with the Viabahn ePTFE covered stent/bare metal stent(BMS) combination and the Fluency ePTFE covered stent/BMS combination.Methods:A total of 101 consecutive patients who received a TIPS from February 2016 to August 2018 in our center were retrospectively analyzed.Sixty-four subjects were enrolled in the Viabahn group and 37 were enrolled in the Fluency group.The geometry characteristics of the TIPS were calculated,and the associated occurrence of shunt dysfunction,survival,overt hepatic encephalopathy,and variceal rebleeding were evaluated.Results:The technical success rate was 100%.After the insertion of the TIPS,the rate of shunt dysfunction during the first 3 months was significantly different between the Viabahn and Fluency groups(1.6% and 13.5%,respectively;p=0.024).Multivariate analysis indicated that the angle of portal venous inflow(α) was the only independent risk factor for shunt dysfunction(hazard ratio=1.060,95% confidence interval=1.009-1.112,p=0.020).In addition,3 months after the TIPS insertion,the a angle distinctly increased from 20.9°±14.3°-26.9°±20.1°(p=0.005) in the Fluency group but did not change significantly in the Viabahn group(from 21.9°±15.1°-22.9°± 17.6°,p=0.798).Conclusions:Shunt dysfunction was related to the a angle owing to the slight effect on the a angle after the implantation of the TIPS.The Viabahn ePTFE covered stent/BMS combination was more stable in structure and promised higher short-term stent patency compared with the Fluency ePTFE covered stent/BMS combination.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt for medically refractory hepatic hydrothorax:A systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis

AIM:To assess the effectiveness of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt(TIPSS) in refractory hepatic hydrothorax(RHH) in a systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis.METHODS:A comprehensive literature search was conducted on MEDLINE,EMBASE,and Pub Med covering the period from January 1970 to August 2014.Two authors independently selected and abstracted data from eligible studies.Data were summarized using a random-effects model.Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test.RESULTS:Six studies involving a total of 198 patients were included in the analysis.The mean(SD) age of patients was 56(1.8) years.Most patients(56.9%) had Child-Turcott-Pugh class C disease.The mean duration of follow-up was 10 mo(range,5.7-16 mo).Response to TIPSS was complete in 55.8%(95%CI:44.7%-66.9%),partial in 17.6%(95%CI:10.9%-24.2%),and absent in 21.2%(95%CI:14.2%-28.3%).The mean change in hepatic venous pressure gradient post-TIPSS was 12.7 mm Hg.The incidence of TIPSS-related encephalopathy was 11.7%(95%CI:6.3%-17.2%),and the 45-d mortality was 17.7%(95%CI:11.34%-24.13%).CONCLUSION:TIPSS is associated with a clinically relevant response in RHH.TIPSS should be considered early in these patients,given its poor prognosis.

Comparative study of indocyanine green-R15,Child-Pugh score,and model for end-stage liver disease score for prediction of hepatic encephalopathy after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

BACKGROUND Hepatic encephalopathy(HE)remains an enormous challenge in patients who undergo transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)implantation.The preoperative indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min(ICG-R15),as one of the liver function assessment tools,has been developed as a prognostic indicator in patients undergoing surgery,but there are limited data on its role in TIPS.AIM To determine whether the ICG-R15 can be used for prediction of post-TIPS HE in decompensated cirrhosis patients with portal hypertension(PHT)and compare the clinical value of ICG-R15,Child-Pugh score(CPS),and model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score in predicting post-TIPS HE with PHT.METHODS This retrospective study included 195 patients with PHT who underwent elective TIPS at Beijing Shijitan Hospital from January 2018 to June 2019.All patients underwent the ICG-R15 test,CPS evaluation,and MELD scoring 1 wk before TIPS.According to whether they developed HE or not,the patients were divided into two groups:HE group and non-HE group.The prediction of one-year post-TIPS HE by ICG-R15,CPS and MELD score was evaluated by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves(AUCs).RESULTS A total of 195 patients with portal hypertension were included and 23%(45/195)of the patients developed post-TIPS HE.The ICG-R15 was identified as an independent predictor of post-TIPS HE.The AUCs for the ICG-R15,CPS,and MELD score for predicting post-TIPS HE were 0.664(95%confidence interval[CI]:0.557-0.743,P=0.0046),0.596(95%CI:0.508-0.679,P=0.087),and 0.641(95%CI:0.554-0.721,P=0.021),respectively.The non-parametric approach(Delong-Delong&Clarke-Pearson)showed that there was statistical significance in pairwise comparison between AUCs of ICG-R15 and MELD score(P=0.0229).CONCLUSION The ICG-R15 has appreciated clinical value for predicting the occurrence of post-TIPS HE and is a choice for evaluating the prognosis of patients undergoing TIPS.

Clinical efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt created through left or right branches of the portal vein:A meta-analysis

Background and aim:Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is a technique successfully used to treat portal hypertension and its complications.However,the choice of the branch,left(L)or right(R),of the portal vein resulting in a better outcome is still under debate.Therefore,this meta-analysis aims to evaluate which branch has a better curative effect on patients treated with TIPS.Methods:PubMed,EMBASE,Web of science,Cochrane Library databases,Wanfang database and CBM were used for our search in October 2019 and updated in June 2021.The following parameters were used in evaluation:overall mortality,hepatic encephalopathy,shunt dysfunction,variceal rebleeding and rate of postoperative ascites.Results:There were seven studies included.The sample size was 1940.A lower risk of mortality was observed in TIPS-L-treated patients compared with TIPS-R-treated ones(OR=0.65,95%CI=0.50-0.85,p=0.002).A lower risk of shunt dysfunction was observed in TIPS-L-treated patients compared with TIPS-R-treated ones(OR=0.53,95%CI=0.33-0.87,p=0.01).And the TIPS-L group had a significantly higher hepatic encephalopathy-free rate than the TIPS-R group(OR=0.59,95%CI=0.44-0.78,p=0.0002).However,the rate of rebleeding(OR=0.75,95%CI=0.55-1.03,p=0.07)and incidence of postoperative ascites(OR=1.14,95%CI=0.86-1.51,p=0.38)was not statistically significant between the two groups.Conclusions:Based on the currently available evidence,the technique of TIPS through the left branch of the portal vein can significantly reduce the occurrence of overall postoperative mortality,hepatic encephalopathy and shunt dysfunction.

Duodenal variceal bleeding secondary to idiopathic portal hypertension treated with transjugular intra-hepatic portosystemic shunt plus embolization: A case report

BACKGROUND Duodenal varices are a lesser-known complication with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. We report a circuitous route from missed diagnosis of duodenal varices to correction. An extremely rare case of duodenal variceal bleeding secondary to idiopathic portal hypertension(IPH) is expounded in this study, which was controlled by transjugular intra-hepatic porto-systemic shunt(TIPS) plus embolization. CASE SUMMARY A 46-year-old woman with anemia for two years was frequently admitted to the local hospital. Upon examination, anemia was attributed to gastrointestinal tract bleeding, which resulted from duodenal variceal bleeding detected by repeated esophagogastroduodenoscopy. At the end of a complete workup, IPH leadingto duodenal varices was diagnosed. Portal venography revealed that the remarked duodenal varices originated from the proximal superior mesenteric vein. TIPS plus embolization with coils and Histoacryl was performed to obliterate the rupture of duodenal varices. The anemia resolved, and the duodenal varices completely vanished by 2 mo after the initial operation. CONCLUSION TIPS plus embolization may be more appropriate to treat the bleeding of large duodenal varices.

Molecular targeted therapy causes hepatic encephalopathy in patients after Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS):A case report and literature review

We report two cases of hepatic encephalopathy caused by molecular targeted drugs after the Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)procedure in our center.The liver toxicities and anti-angiogenic effects induced by targeted drugs may generate an imbalance in ammonia metabolism,elevating blood ammonia levels.TIPS diverts partial blood supply from the liver,aggravates liver impairment,and shunts ammonia-rich blood from the intestine into the systemic circulation.These may be the mechanisms leading to hepatic encephalopathy caused by molecular targeted drugs following TIPS.When clinicians choose molecular targeted therapy as the second or third targeted therapy for patients who have undergone TIPS,the consequence of drug-induced hepatic encephalopathy should also be considered.

Portocaval shunts'role in gut microbiota and hepatic encephalopathy:The gut-to-brain pathway

I read the study by Zhao et al with great interest.Although the study design was quite complicated,it was successful in raising awareness of science and relevant researchers.Thirty patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension secondary to chronic hepatitis B were included in the study.They were treated for variceal bleeding and underwent trans-jugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt to prevent the recurrence of variceal bleeding and to reduce portal pressure.The authors evaluated the effects of changes in gut microbiota(GM)on hepatic encephalopathy secondary to portocaval bypass.The GM is greatly affected by local and general factors,including herbal and medical drugs,a person's dietary characteristics(carnivorous,vegan,vegetarian),supplementary foods,drinking water sources,and living in a city center or town.Therefore,I congratulate Zhao et al for their concise and comprehensive study on a multifactorial subject.