Total area of spontaneous portosystemic shunts independently predicts hepatic encephalopathy and mortality in liver cirrhosis.

Abstract:

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) frequently develop in liver cirrhosis. Recent data suggested that the presence of a single large SPSS is associated with complications, especially overt hepatic encephalopathy (oHE). However, the presence of >1 SPSS is common. This study evaluates the impact of total cross-sectional SPSS area (TSA) on outcomes in patients with liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

In this retrospective international multicentric study, CT scans of 908 cirrhotic patients with SPSS were evaluated for TSA. Clinical and laboratory data were recorded. Each detected SPSS radius was measured and TSA calculated. One-year survival was the primary endpoint and acute decompensation (oHE, variceal bleeding, ascites) was the secondary endpoint.

RESULTS

A total of 301 patients (169 male) were included in the training cohort. Thirty percent of all patients presented with >1 SPSS. A TSA cut-off of 83 mm was used to classify patients with small or large TSA (S-/L-TSA). Patients with L-TSA presented with higher model for end-stage liver disease score (11 vs. 14) and more commonly had a history of oHE (12% vs. 21%, p <0.05). During follow-up, patients with L-TSA experienced more oHE episodes (33% vs. 47%, p <0.05) and had lower 1-year survival than those with S-TSA (84% vs. 69%, p <0.001). Multivariate analysis identified L-TSA (hazard ratio 1.66; 95% CI 1.02-2.70, p <0.05) as an independent predictor of mortality. An independent multicentric validation cohort of 607 patients confirmed that patients with L-TSA had lower 1-year survival (77% vs. 64%, p <0.001) and more oHE development (35% vs. 49%, p <0.001) than those with S-TSA.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that TSA >83 mm increases the risk for oHE and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Our results support the clinical use of TSA/SPSS for risk stratification and decision-making in the management of patients with cirrhosis.

LAY SUMMARY

The prevalence of spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS) is higher in patients with more advanced chronic liver disease. The presence of more than 1 SPSS is common in advanced chronic liver disease and is associated with the development of hepatic encephalopathy. This study shows that total cross-sectional SPSS area (rather than diameter of the single largest SPSS) predicts survival in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. Our results support the clinical use of total cross-sectional SPSS area for risk stratification and decision-making in the management of SPSS.

Copyright © 2020 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: ACLF, Acute decompensation, Acute-on-chronic liver failure, Ascites, Cirrhosis, Computed tomography, Hepatic encephalopathy, Liver, Portal hypertension, SPSS, Spontaneous portosystemic shunt, TIPS

References:

Authors

• Juan G Abraldes |
• Agustín Albillos |
• Anna Baiges |
• Annalisa Berzigotti |
• José Luis Calleja |
• Johannes Chang |
• Claus Dam |
• Anna Darnell |
• Annette Dam Fialla |
• Joan Genescà |
• Virginia Hernández-Gea |
• Christian Jansen |
• Aleksander Krag |
• Guido Kukuk |
• Vincenzo La Mura |
• Wim Laleman |
• Katharina Lampichler |
• Elba Llop |
• Marta López |
• Gavin Low |
• Avik Majumdar |
• Geert Maleux |
• Javier Martínez |
• Martin H Maurer |
• Carsten Meyer |
• Carmen Picón |
• Michael Praktiknjo |
• Thomas Reiberger |
• Cristina Ripoll |
• Davide Roccarina |
• Julia Römer |
• Robert Schierwagen |
• Macarena Simón-Talero |
• Christian P Strassburg |
• Puneeta Tandon |
• Daniel Thomas |
• Daniel Toth |
• Jonel Trebicka |
• Michela Triolo |
• Emmanuel A Tsochatzis |
• Frank Uschner |
• Judit Vidal-González |
• Karsten Wolter |
• Alexander Zipprich |