Hepatic vein pressure gradient reduction and prevention of variceal bleeding in cirrhosis: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
A reduction of the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) to </=12 mm Hg or by >/=20% of baseline prevents variceal bleeding in cirrhosis. Because some inconsistent data have argued against the clinical application of these hemodynamic targets, we performed a systematic review of available studies from the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE.


METHODS
Hemodynamic targets were HVPG reduction (1) to </=12 mm Hg; (2) by >/=20% with final value >12 mm Hg; (3) by >/=20% or to </=12 mm Hg. Meta-regression analysis was used to explore heterogeneity.


RESULTS
Twelve studies were identified including 943 patients. Pooled odds ratios for bleeding for the 3 hemodynamic targets were, respectively, 0.21 (95% CI: 0.10-0.45; P = .0001), 0.25 (95% CI: 0.11-0.56; P = .001), and 0.17 (95% CI: 0.09-0.33; P = .001). A significant heterogeneity was found for the 2 last estimates, and meta-regression analysis showed that this was caused by an exceedingly long interval between HVPG measurements in 1 study. After exclusion of that study, heterogeneity disappeared, and the pooled odds ratios were, respectively, 0.19 (95% CI: 0.11-0.34; P = .0001) and 0.14 (95% CI: 0.09-0.21; P = .0001). The beneficial effect of HVPG reduction for first bleeding was similar to that for recurrent bleeding. Mortality was significantly reduced for HVPG reduction by >/=20% or to </=12 mm Hg (pooled odds ratio, 0.39; 95% CI: 0.19-0.81, P = .012).


CONCLUSIONS
HVPG reduction to </=12 mm Hg or by >/=20% significantly reduces the risk of bleeding, and a reduction of >/=20% significantly reduces mortality. These hemodynamic targets should be considered for clinical practice and for randomized controlled trials.
D'Amico
Gennaro
G
Unit of Gastroenterology, Ospedale V.Cervello, Palermo, Italy.
Garcia-Pagan
Juan Carlos
JC
Luca
Angelo
A
Bosch
Jaime
J
D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D014690:Venous Pressure