Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements for Assessment of Portal Hypertension Severity in Patients with Budd Chiari Syndrome

Aims. Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) is a rare vascular disease of the liver caused by the obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow located from the small hepatic venules up to the entrance of the inferior vena cava (IVC) into the right atrium. Current prognostic indexes are suboptimal for an individua...

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Main Authors: Elton Dajti, Federico Ravaioli, Antonio Colecchia, Giovanni Marasco, Amanda Vestito, Davide Festi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1673197
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author Elton Dajti
Federico Ravaioli
Antonio Colecchia
Giovanni Marasco
Amanda Vestito
Davide Festi
author_facet Elton Dajti
Federico Ravaioli
Antonio Colecchia
Giovanni Marasco
Amanda Vestito
Davide Festi
author_sort Elton Dajti
collection DOAJ
description Aims. Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) is a rare vascular disease of the liver caused by the obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow located from the small hepatic venules up to the entrance of the inferior vena cava (IVC) into the right atrium. Current prognostic indexes are suboptimal for an individual prognostic assessment and subsequent management of patients with BCS. Liver (LSM) and spleen (SSM) stiffness measurements are widely validated prognostic tools in hepatology, but the evidence in patients with BCS is limited. This paper describes LSM and SSM in patients with BCS and their correlation with clinical, biochemical, and ultrasound findings from the same patients. Methods. We investigated a case series of seven patients with BCS diagnosis and available LSM and SSM evaluated by transient elastography (TE). Biochemical, imaging, and endoscopic findings nearest to the TE evaluation were recorded. Clinical outcomes and BCS evolution were described for each patient. When available, repeated TE assessments were also recorded. Results. Patients with acute nonfulminant manifestation of BCS presented near-the-upper-limit values (75 kPa) of LSM and SSM, which often persist until the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). On the other hand, TE values were markedly lower in patients with compensated BCS. In some patients with repeated TE measurement years after TIPS placement, LSM had decreased to values of <10 kPa years. SSM changes in these patients were, however, less evident. Conclusions. Extremely elevated values of LSM and SSM are suggestive of BCS. The evaluation of both LSM and SSM by TE could help clinicians in the initial evaluation, risk stratification, and therapy response monitoring of patients with BCS.
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spelling doaj-art-653fcf9e4ae6479aa3de49b9730ae1cb2025-02-03T01:23:18ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology2291-27892291-27972019-01-01201910.1155/2019/16731971673197Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements for Assessment of Portal Hypertension Severity in Patients with Budd Chiari SyndromeElton Dajti0Federico Ravaioli1Antonio Colecchia2Giovanni Marasco3Amanda Vestito4Davide Festi5Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, ItalyGastroenterology Unit, Borgo Trento University Hospital, Verona, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, ItalyAims. Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) is a rare vascular disease of the liver caused by the obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow located from the small hepatic venules up to the entrance of the inferior vena cava (IVC) into the right atrium. Current prognostic indexes are suboptimal for an individual prognostic assessment and subsequent management of patients with BCS. Liver (LSM) and spleen (SSM) stiffness measurements are widely validated prognostic tools in hepatology, but the evidence in patients with BCS is limited. This paper describes LSM and SSM in patients with BCS and their correlation with clinical, biochemical, and ultrasound findings from the same patients. Methods. We investigated a case series of seven patients with BCS diagnosis and available LSM and SSM evaluated by transient elastography (TE). Biochemical, imaging, and endoscopic findings nearest to the TE evaluation were recorded. Clinical outcomes and BCS evolution were described for each patient. When available, repeated TE assessments were also recorded. Results. Patients with acute nonfulminant manifestation of BCS presented near-the-upper-limit values (75 kPa) of LSM and SSM, which often persist until the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). On the other hand, TE values were markedly lower in patients with compensated BCS. In some patients with repeated TE measurement years after TIPS placement, LSM had decreased to values of <10 kPa years. SSM changes in these patients were, however, less evident. Conclusions. Extremely elevated values of LSM and SSM are suggestive of BCS. The evaluation of both LSM and SSM by TE could help clinicians in the initial evaluation, risk stratification, and therapy response monitoring of patients with BCS.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1673197
spellingShingle Elton Dajti
Federico Ravaioli
Antonio Colecchia
Giovanni Marasco
Amanda Vestito
Davide Festi
Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements for Assessment of Portal Hypertension Severity in Patients with Budd Chiari Syndrome
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
title Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements for Assessment of Portal Hypertension Severity in Patients with Budd Chiari Syndrome
title_full Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements for Assessment of Portal Hypertension Severity in Patients with Budd Chiari Syndrome
title_fullStr Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements for Assessment of Portal Hypertension Severity in Patients with Budd Chiari Syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements for Assessment of Portal Hypertension Severity in Patients with Budd Chiari Syndrome
title_short Liver and Spleen Stiffness Measurements for Assessment of Portal Hypertension Severity in Patients with Budd Chiari Syndrome
title_sort liver and spleen stiffness measurements for assessment of portal hypertension severity in patients with budd chiari syndrome
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1673197
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