title: Natural history and management of esophagogastric varices in chronic noncirrhotic, nontumoral portal vein thrombosis.
abstract: In patients with chronic noncirrhotic, nontumoral portal vein thrombosis (PVT), the usually recommended strategy for endoscopic screening and management of varices is the same as in cirrhosis. However, the efficacy of this policy in patients with PVT is unknown. We assessed the course of gastroesophageal varices in a large cohort of patients with chronic PVT. Patients prospectively registered in two referral centers for vascular liver disorders were eligible for the study. Endpoints were development and growth of varices and the incidence and outcome of portal hypertension-related bleeding. Included were 178 patients with chronic PVT. Median follow-up was 49 (1-598) months. Variceal bleeding was the initial manifestation in 27 (15%) patients. Initial endoscopy in the remaining 151 patients showed no varices in 52 (34%), small esophageal varices in 28 (19%), large esophageal varices (LEVs) in 60 (40%), and gastric varices without LEVs in 11 (7%). Ascites and splenomegaly were independent predictors for the presence of varices. In patients without varices, the probability of developing them was 2%, 22%, and 22% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. In those with small esophageal varices, growth to LEVs was observed in 13%, 40%, and 54% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. In patients with LEVs on primary prophylaxis, probability of bleeding was 9%, 20%, and 32% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Nine (5%) patients died after a median 51 (8-280) months, only one due to variceal bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The course of varices in chronic noncirrhotic, nontumoral PVT appears to be similar to that in cirrhosis; using the same therapeutic approach as for cirrhosis is associated with a low risk of bleeding and death.
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, Hospital Clínic-Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noronha Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, Hospital Clínic-Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seijo
authors.affiliation: DHU UNITY, Centre de référence des maladies vasculaires du foie, Service d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy-la-Garenne, France.
authors.forename: Aurelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plessier
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, Hospital Clínic-Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silva-Junior
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, Hospital Clínic-Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turon
authors.affiliation: DHU UNITY, Centre de référence des maladies vasculaires du foie, Service d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy-la-Garenne, France.|Paris Cardiovascular Research Center (PARCC), Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Emmanuel
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Rautou
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, Hospital Clínic-Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baiges
authors.affiliation: Service d'hépato-gastro-entérologie, CHU Toulouse Hôpital Purpan et Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bureau
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, Hospital Clínic-Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain.|Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, Hospital Clínic-Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain.|Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hernández-Gea
authors.affiliation: DHU UNITY, Centre de référence des maladies vasculaires du foie, Service d'Hépatologie, Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy-la-Garenne, France.|CRI-UMR 1149, Université Paris Diderot and Inserm, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valla
authors.affiliation: Barcelona Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory, Liver Unit, Institut de Malalties Digestives i Metaboliques, Hospital Clínic-Institut de Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain.|Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain.
authors.forename: Juan-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: García-Pagan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications*