Hidehiro Okugawa

De novo portal vein thrombosis in virus-related cirrhosis: predictive factors and long-term outcomes.

OBJECTIVES:The objective of this study is to investigate predictive factors and long-term outcomes of de novo portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in cirrhosis.METHODS:The incidence and factors predictive of PVT (diagnosed by Doppler ultrasound) and prognosis were examined in 150 patients with virus-related cirrhosis but without PVT at baseline.RESULTS:PVT developed in 28% of patients (42/150), with cumulative incidence of 12.8%, 20%, and 38.7% at 1, 5, and 8–10 years, respectively. The baseline flow volume in the largest collateral vessel was an independent risk factor for thrombosis (hazard ratio, 3.922; 95% confidence intervals, 3.697–4.415; P<0.0001). The cumulative incidence of PVT at 1, 5, and 10 years was significantly higher in patients with the largest collateral vessel velocity >10 cm/s (19.1%, 27%, and 78.4%, respectively) compared with those with velocity ≤10 cm/s (8.6%, 16.3%, and 24.7%, respectively, P=0.0303), and higher in patients with volume >400 ml/min (27.4%, 36.5%, and 74.6%, respectively) compared with those with volume ≤400 ml/min (10.6%, 16.2%, and 28.8%, respectively, P=0.0075). The natural course of thrombosis was improvement in 47.6%, unchanged in 45.2%, and worsened in 7.2%. The diameter and flow volume in the largest collateral vessel at the time of thrombus detection were significantly smaller in the improved patients than the others. The cumulative survival rate was similar between the thrombosis group and non-thrombosis group.CONCLUSIONS:Development of collateral vessels was a significant predictive factor for the occurrence of PVT in virus-induced cirrhosis. Spontaneous resolution or unchanged appearance was the most common outcome of thrombosis, which had little influence on prognosis.

Ultrasound-guided treatments under low acoustic power contrast harmonic imaging for hepatocellular carcinomas undetected by B-mode ultrasonography.

Background/Aims: The aim was to examine the efficacy of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (US) with Sonazoid™ to demonstrate ultrasonically unrecognizable hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and apply percutaneous US‐guided treatments.

Study of portal vein thrombosis in patients with idiopathic portal hypertension in Japan.

Abstract: Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence and clinical manifestations of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) in Japan during long‐term follow‐up.

How to characterize non‐hypervascular hepatic nodules on contrast‐enhanced computed tomography in chronic liver disease: Feasibility of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound with a microbubble contrast agent

Background and Aim:  Although hypervascular appearance is characteristic in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic nodules without hypervascular appearance are sometimes found in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). The aim of the present study was to clarify the efficacy of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with Levovist to characterize small, non‐hypervascular hepatic nodules on contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in patients with CLD.

Hemodynamic features of gastrorenal shunt: a Doppler study in cirrhotic patients with gastric fundal varices.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Little is known about the hemodynamics of gastrorenal shunt (GRS), a major drainage route of gastric fundal varices (FV), in patients with FV. The aim of this study was to clarify the hemodynamic features of GRS on Doppler sonography in relation to the grading and bleeding of FV. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study subjects consisted of 69 cirrhotic patients with FV. Diameter, flow velocity (FVe), and flow volume (FVo) of GRS were measured by Doppler ultrasound (US). The detection rate was compared to contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), and percutaneous transhepatic portography (PTP) was used in six patients without GRS on CECT. RESULTS The use of CECT detected GRS in 60 of 69 patients, and US, 58 of 69 patients. A false-negative result for detecting GRS on both CECT and US was found in one patient after PTP. The diameter, FVe, and FVo of GRS increased according to the endoscopic grade of FV: F1 (7.2+/-1.3 mm, 9.8+/-1.1 cm/s, 358.3+/-123.4 ml/min), F2 (9.9+/-3.3 mm, 12.8+/-5.1 cm/s, 701.7+/-411.3 ml/min), and F3 (11.8+/-2.4 mm, 17.9+/-8.3 cm/s, 1706.6+/-989.5 ml/min). A significant difference was seen between F1 and F3 (diameter, P=.0022; FVe, P=.0133; FVo, P=.0007) and between F2 and F3 (FVe, P=.0112; FVo, P<.0001). FVe of GRS was significantly higher in bleeders (16.7+/-8.1 cm/s) than in nonbleeders (12.2+/-5.4 cm/s, P=.017), whereas the diameter and FVo were not significant. CONCLUSION Hemodynamics of GRS on Doppler sonograms reflected the grading and bleeding of FV. Doppler US may be valuable as a noninvasive method to evaluate the severity of FV.

Pre-treatment hemodynamic features involved with long-term survival of cirrhotic patients after embolization of gastric fundal varices.

PURPOSE To clarify the pre-treatment hemodynamic features involved in the long-term survival of cirrhotic patients with gastric fundal varices (FV) after balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO). MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-one cirrhotic patients with medium- or large-grade FV treated by B-RTO were enrolled in this retrospective study. Pre-treatment flow volume ratio between gastric vein and portal trunk (GP-R) was obtained by Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS The cumulative survival rate was 90% at 1 year, 74.8% at 3 years, 57.2% at 5 years, and 45.8% at 7 years without recurrence in a median period of 1148.5 days The survival was poorer in patients with HCC (47% at 3 years, 9.4% at 5 years, p<0.0001) than without (89.2% at 3 years, 81.9% at 5 years, 67.5% at 7 years), in patients with Child B/C (57.7% at 3 years, 42.1% at 5 years, 28.1% at 7 years, p=0.0016) than with Child A (91.8% at 3 years, 71.5% at 5 years, 62.1% at 7 years), and in patients with GP-R > or = 1.0 (58.9% at 3 years, p=0.0485) than with GP-R<1.0 (76.3% at 3 years, 62% at 5 years, 49.6% at 7 years). Multivariate analysis identified the presence of HCC (hazard ratio, 12.486; 95% CI, 4.08-38.216; p<0.0001), Child B/C (hazard ratio, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.594-7.15; p=0.0051) and GP-R > or = 1.0 (hazard ratio, 2.701; 95% CI, 1.07-6.15; p=0.0221) as independent factors for poor prognosis. CONCLUSION GP-R > r= 1.0 on Doppler ultrasound before B-RTO may be a predictive indicator for poor prognosis in cirrhotic patients with FV after B-RTO, in addition to the presence of HCC and severe liver damage.

Ring-shaped appearance in liver-specific image with Levovist: a characteristic enhancement pattern for hypervascular benign nodule in the liver of heavy drinkers

Abstract: Background/Aims: The aim was to clarify the features of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with Levovist for diagnosis of hypervascular benign nodules in the liver of heavy drinkers.

Influence of paraumbilical vein patency on the portal hemodynamics of patients with cirrhosis.

Goals/Background: The aim was to determine the influence of the paraumbilical vein (PUV) patency and its effect on the portal hemodynamics and clinical presentations in cirrhotic patients. Study: In this prospective study of 181 cirrhotic patients (101 males, 80 females; aged 62.6±11.8 y), the portal hemodynamics were assessed using Doppler ultrasonography. Results: The incidence of patent PUV was 26.0% (47/181). The mean flow volume in the portal trunk, the incidence of a left gastric vein with hepatofugal flow, and the grade of the esophageal varices were significantly higher in the patients with a patent PUV (908.2 mL/min, 70.2%, 9 with none to small, and 27 with medium to large, respectively) than in those without (771.7 mL/min, 48.5%, 57 with none to small, and 48 with medium to large, respectively). The hepatic venous pressure gradient and the wedged hepatic venous pressure (mm H2O) were significantly higher in the former group (268.0±89.7 and 389.5±99.9, respectively) than in the latter (203.5±63.2 and 317.7±67.7, respectively). The deterioration of ascites during the 2-year follow-up period was significantly more often in the patients with a patent PUV (4/12, 33.3%) than in those without. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were similar between the 2 groups: 92.5%, 92.5%, and 82.4%, respectively, in the former and 90.7%, 83.8%, and 76.3%, respectively, in the latter. Conclusions: A patent PUV seems to signify pressure-loaded portal hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients. However, it seems to have little effect on their prognoses.

Impact of portal hemodynamics on Doppler ultrasonography for predicting decompensation and long-term outcomes in patients with cirrhosis

Abstract Objective: Significance of portal hemodynamics for non-invasive marker of cirrhosis remains unclear. The aim was to determine the value of portal hemodynamics on Doppler ultrasound for predicting decompensation and prognosis in cirrhosis. Methods: This retrospective study comprised 236 cirrhotic patients (132 males, 104 females; age 63.7 ± 11.3 years; 110 compensated, 126 decompensated). Clinical data, including Doppler findings, were analyzed with respect to decompensation and prognosis. The median follow-up period was 33.2 months (0.1–95.4). Results: Fifty-three patients developed clinical decompensation, 13 patients received liver transplantation, and 71 died. Higher model for end-stage liver disease score (p < 0.001) at baseline was the significant factor for the presence of decompensation. Higher alanine transaminase (p = 0.020), lower albumin (p = 0.002) and lower mean velocity in the portal trunk (p = 0.038) were significant factors for developing decompensation (best cut-off value: Alanine transaminase > 31 IU/L, albumin < 3.6 g/dL, and portal trunk < 12.8 cm/s). The cumulative incidence of decompensation was higher in patients with portal trunk < 12.8 cm/s (22.5% at 1 year, 71.2% at 5 years) than those without (6.9% at 1 year, 35.4% at 5 years; p < 0.001). The significant prognostic factors were hepatocellular carcinoma (p = 0.036) and lower albumin (p = 0.008) for compensated patients, and reversed portal flow (p = 0.028), overt ascites (p < 0.001), and higher bilirubin (p < 0.001) for decompensated patients. Conclusion: Portal hemodynamics offer a non-invasive marker for decompensation and prognosis of cirrhosis, suggesting a future direction for practical management.

Eradication of esophageal varices by sclerotherapy combined with argon plasma coagulation: Effect of portal hemodynamics and longitudinal clinical course.

To demonstrate the effect of endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) with argon plasma coagulation (APC) as a primary/secondary prophylaxis for esophageal varies (EV) on portal hemodynamics and long‐term outcomes in cirrhosis.