Portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotics without varices: A case-control study

Objective: Information is lacking on portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) in cirrhotics without varices; our aim it is to evaluate whether clinical and sonographic parameters are associated with PHG and may provide information suitable for the management of these patients. Patients and methods: After endoscopic selection of 145 cirrhotics without varices, 75 with PHG and 70 without PHG, clinical and sonographic characteristics were assessed. Results: Forty portosystemic shunts were present in 27 patients. The mean Child-Pugh score was 6.3 ± 1.4 and 5.6 ± 0.5 in patients with severe and mild PHG, respectively (P = 0.004). The mean portal vein diameter was 10.4 ± 1.7 and 11.6 ± 2.0 mm in cirrhotics without and with PHG, respectively (P = 0.0002). Conclusion: A link between the presence of PHG and a more advanced phase of cirrhosis was found. Duplex Doppler sonography was confirmed to be a valuable diagnostic method in monitoring cirrhosis. Management of these patients cannot be performed on the basis of a single diagnostic method, and a multimodal diagnostic approach is required.