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Non-selective β-blockers improve the correlation of liver stiffness and portal pressure in advanced cirrhosis

  • Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Liver stiffness (LS) correlates with portal pressure (hepatic venous pressure gradient, HVPG). However, the dynamic components of portal hypertension (PHT) in advanced cirrhosis may not be adequately assessed by TE. The influence of treatment with non-selective β-blockers (NSBB) on the correlation of HVPG and LS has not been investigated.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-two patients with esophageal varices were included. LS, hemodynamic parameters, and HVPG were recorded at baseline (BL) and after 6 weeks of treatment with NSBB (FU). The correlation of LS and HVPG was compared to control patients with HVPG ≤ 12 mmHg.

Results

Patients with higher Child-Pugh stages (A:88/B:25/C:9) had higher levels of liver stiffness (47.4 ± 16.5 vs. 70.3 ± 7.9 vs. 73.7 ± 2.1 kPa) and HVPG (21 ± 5 vs. 26 ± 5 vs. 26 ± 4 mmHg). The correlation of LS and HVPG was stronger in controls with HVPG ≤ 12 mmHg (R = 0.951; P < 0.0001) than in patients with HVPG > 12 mmHg (R = 0.538; P = 0.0004). The association of HVPG with LS became stronger under treatment with NSBB, which finally restored the linear correlation of HVPG and LS (R = 0.930; P < 0.0001). Forty-three percent (53/122) of patients were hemodynamic responders to NSBB. The improvement in the correlation of LS and HVPG under NSBB was mainly noted in hemodynamic responders (R = 0.864), but not in nonresponders (R = 0.535), whereas changes in LS, heart rate, and MAP were similar in responders and nonresponders.

Conclusions

Targeting the hyperdynamic circulation and the increased splanchnic blood inflow by treatment with NSBB unmasks the linear (mechanical) correlation of HVPG and LS in patients with HVPG > 12 mmHg. Measurement of LS by TE is not a feasible method to assess the dynamic components of PHT.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded in part by an unrestricted grant of MSD Austria (former Aesca Pharma, Vienna, Austria) to Prof. Dr. Markus Peck-Radosavljevic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, Austria

    T. Reiberger, A. Ferlitsch, B. A. Payer, M. Pinter, M. Homoncik & M. Peck-Radosavljevic

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  1. T. Reiberger
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  2. A. Ferlitsch
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  3. B. A. Payer
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  4. M. Pinter
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Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Peck-Radosavljevic.

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Reiberger, T., Ferlitsch, A., Payer, B.A. et al. Non-selective β-blockers improve the correlation of liver stiffness and portal pressure in advanced cirrhosis. J Gastroenterol 47, 561–568 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-011-0517-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-011-0517-4

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