title: Non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
abstract: Cirrhosis is the final stage of most of chronic liver diseases, and is almost invariably complicated by portal hypertension, which is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. This review will focus on the non-invasive methods currently used in clinical practice for diagnosing liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The first-line techniques include physical examination, laboratory parameters, transient elastography and Doppler-US. More sophisticated imaging methods which are less commonly employed are CT scan and MRI, and new technologies which are currently under evaluation are MR elastography and acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI). Even if none of them can replace the invasive measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient and the endoscopic screening of gastroesophageal varices, they notably facilitate the clinical management of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, and provide valuable prognostic information.
authors: Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain. aberzigo@clinic.ub.es
authors: Annalisa
authors: A
authors: Berzigotti
authors: Eyal
authors: E
authors: Ashkenazi
authors: Enric
authors: E
authors: Reverter
authors: Juan G
authors: JG
authors: Abraldes
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Bosch
mesh_terms: D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D017082:Portal Pressure; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*