Objectives: To investigate intestinal permeability in patients with portal hypertension and to search for a relationship with portal pressure.
Methods: Twenty patients with portal hypertension were divided two groups (A, B), 10 patients per group. In group A patients were treated with combined TIPS and modified Sugiura. In group B, patients were treated with modified Sugiura only. Intestinal permeability was assessed before operation, two weeks after TIPS, and two weeks after modified Sugiura, and 20 healthy control subjects were also assessed.
Results: Intestinal permeability was significantly higher in patients with portal hypertension than in healthy controls (0.132 +/- 0.110 vs. 0.032 +/- 0.018, P < 0.01). In group A, portal pressure and intestinal permeability decreased two weeks after TIPS (P < 0.05) and no obvious change was noted two weeks after modified Sugiura; but they were significantly lower than those before TIPS (P < 0.05). In group B intestinal permeability was not different before and after operation. Intestinal permeability in group A was not different from that in group B before treatment, but significantly lower after modified Sugiura (P < 0.05). Portal pressure was significantly correlated with intestinal permeability (r = 0.627, P < 0.01).
Conclusions: This study shows that combined TIPS and modified Sugiura can lower portal pressure and intestinal permeability, and enhance the therapeutic efficacy on portal hypertension.