title: Prediction of improved liver function after balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration: relation to hepatic vein pressure gradient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) is an effective treatment for gastric varices (GVx), as well as hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of this study was to examine the changes of the hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) after B-RTO and determine the relation between the changes of HVPG and liver function.
  
  
  METHODS
  B-RTO was performed in 30 patients with GVx and hepatic encephalopathy. HVPG was measured in 19 of 30 patients both before and after B-RTO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The B-RTO was successful in all patients. The GVx and hepatic encephalopathy were improved, and no recurrence or bleeding was observed within the follow- up period. The serum albumin and prothrombin activity were significantly improved 6 months after B-RTO in all patients. HVPG was elevated 44% above the baseline after B-RTO. Liver function significantly improved 6 months after B-RTO in patients whose HVPG increased ≥ 20% from baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated HVPG after B-RTO is one aspect of the effect of liver function, and an HVPG increase of ≥ 20% from baseline is a predictive factor for obtaining an improvement of liver function.
authors: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Hideo
authors: H
authors: Uehara
authors: Tomohiko
authors: T
authors: Akahoshi
authors: Morimasa
authors: M
authors: Tomikawa
authors: Nao
authors: N
authors: Kinjo
authors: Naotaka
authors: N
authors: Hashimoto
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Nagao
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Kamori
authors: Yoshihiko
authors: Y
authors: Maehara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D021721:Balloon Occlusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014690:Venous Pressure
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009829:Oleic Acids; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D012709:Serum Albumin; D011516:Prothrombin; C033343:ethanolamine oleate