THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PORTAL HYPERTENSIVE GASTROPATHY AND GASTROESOPHAGEAL VARICES

Aims So far, the connection linking portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and other endoscopic portal hypertension signs is still unclear. Our study aimed to determine the correlation between PHG and oesophageal varices (OV) as well as gastric varices (GV).

Methods In this single-centre retrospective study, we included all cirrhotic patients from 2008 to 2021. We used the endoscopic grading of New Italian Endoscopic Club (NIEC) for PHG and OV. Sarin’s classification was used for GV.

Results We collected data of 200 patients whose mean age was 56.9 years±15 years and with a sex-ratio(M/F) of 0.79. PHG was found in 143 patients: mild (28.7%), moderate (49.6%) and severe (21.7%). Only 9% of patients had no OV. Grade1, grade2 and grade3 OV were observed in 22%, 51% and 18% respectively. There were no IGV1 or IGV2, whereas GOV1 and GOV2 were found in 4.5% and 3% of patients consecutively. PHG was significantly associated with large OV (large-OV: 76.8%, small-OV: 59.7%, p=0.01) and GV (93.3% vs 69.7%, p=0.04) but not with OV NIEC-grade (p=0.11) or GV-type (GOV1: p=0.22, GOV2, p=0.13). Besides, both mild and moderate PHG were associated with large OV (large-OV: 16.7%, small-OV: 29%, p=0.04 in mild PHG; large-OV: 42%, small-OV: 21%, p<0.01 in moderate PHG) and correlated to its NIEC-grade (Mild PHG: r=-0.14, p=0.04; Moderate PHG: r=0.15, p=0.04). Severe PHG was associated with neither large OV (p=0.13) nor OV NIEC-grade (p=0.13).

Conclusions Apart from severe form, PHG was associated with large OV along with its grade. It was also associated with GV presence.

Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2022