Risk factors associated with portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis: A case-control study

Ter Arkh. 2019 Mar 18;91(2):73-81. doi: 10.26442/00403660.2019.02.000153.

Abstract

Aim: To build a predictive model for PVT in cirrhotic patients.

Materials and methods: A single centre case-control study was carried out. From the database of 1512 cirrhotic patients 94 with newly diagnosed PVT based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography were referred to the Case group. Malignant PVT was an exclusion criterion. Patients without PVT were stratified and matched according to sex, age and etiology of cirrhosis; case-control ratio was 1 : 3-4. The prevalence of PVT in the database, clinical, laboratory, instrumental parameters of the groups were evaluated. Logistic regression model was used to estimate association between variables and PVT.

Results: The overall prevalence of PVT was 6.2% with the highest rates among the patients with HBV infection - 16.7%, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis - 15.6%, alcohol abuse in combination with HCV infection - 11.7%. The best predictive model included variables: Child-Pugh classes B-C (coefficient of regression β=1.853, р=0.001), ascites (β=0.460, р=0.003), hepatocellular carcinoma without vascular invasion (β=2.126, р=0.0001), endoscopic band ligation (β=0.774, р=0.003), azygoportal disconnection (β=2.734, р=0.001), portal hypertensive gastropathy (β=0.793, р=0.017), portal vein diameter (β=0.203, р=0.004), and local factors - ulcerative colitis flare, Clostridium difficile enterocolitis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, colorectal cancer, splenectomy, cholecystectomy (β=2.075, р=0.017). The model had accuracy 85.8% (95% CI 81.7-89.4%), sensitivity - 55.1% (95% CI 43.4-66.4%), specificity - 95% (95% CI 91.6-97.3%), and AUC - 0.871 (95% CI 0.826-0.916).

Conclusion: Child-Pugh classes B-C, severe portal hypertension, hepatocellular carcinoma without vascular invasion, and local factors were estimated as risk factors of PVT in cirrhotic patients.

Keywords: Child-Pugh class; case-control study; hepatocellular carcinoma; liver cirrhosis; local factors; logistic regression model; portal hypertension; portal vein thrombosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Portal / epidemiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / epidemiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / physiopathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Portal Vein / diagnostic imaging*
  • Portal Vein / pathology*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Venous Thrombosis / complications
  • Venous Thrombosis / epidemiology
  • Venous Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Venous Thrombosis / physiopathology*