title: Portal vein thrombosis, mortality and hepatic decompensation in patients with cirrhosis: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical impact of portal vein thrombosis in terms of both mortality and hepatic decompensations (variceal hemorrhage, ascites, portosystemic encephalopathy) in adult patients with cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified original articles reported through February 2015 in MEDLINE, Scopus, Science Citation Index, AMED, the Cochrane Library, and relevant examples available in the grey literature. Two independent reviewers screened all citations for inclusion criteria and extracted summary data. Random effects odds ratios were calculated to obtain aggregate estimates of effect size across included studies, with 95%CI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 226 citations were identified and reviewed, and 3 studies with 2436 participants were included in the meta-analysis of summary effect. Patients with portal vein thrombosis had an increased risk of mortality (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.11-2.36, P = 0.01). Portal vein thrombosis was associated with an increased risk of ascites (OR = 2.52, 95%CI: 1.63-3.89, P < 0.001). There was insufficient data available to determine the pooled effect on other markers of decompensation including gastroesophageal variceal bleeding or hepatic encephalopathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Portal vein thrombosis appears to increase mortality and ascites, however, the relatively small number of included studies limits more generalizable conclusions. More trials with a direct comparison group are needed.
authors.affiliation: Jonathan G Stine, Sean R Rudnick, Patrick G Northup, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Jonathan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Stine
authors.affiliation: Jonathan G Stine, Sean R Rudnick, Patrick G Northup, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Puja M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Jonathan G Stine, Sean R Rudnick, Patrick G Northup, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cornella
authors.affiliation: Jonathan G Stine, Sean R Rudnick, Patrick G Northup, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Sean R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rudnick
authors.affiliation: Jonathan G Stine, Sean R Rudnick, Patrick G Northup, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Marwan S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ghabril
authors.affiliation: Jonathan G Stine, Sean R Rudnick, Patrick G Northup, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Stukenborg
authors.affiliation: Jonathan G Stine, Sean R Rudnick, Patrick G Northup, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, United States.
authors.forename: Patrick G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Northup
keywords: Ascites; Coagulopathy; Hepatic encephalopathy; Hepatology; Liver; Portal hypertension