Friend or Foe? Spontaneous Portosystemic Shunts in Cirrhosis - Current Understanding and Future Prospects

12Citations
Citations of this article
14Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Portal hypertension (PHT) in cirrhosis results from increased resistance to splanchnic blood flow secondary to parenchymal and vascular changes within the liver. In an attempt to counteract the increased portal pressure, two mechanisms simultaneously occur: splanchnic vasodilatation and formation of spontaneous portosystemic shunts (SPSS). Long considered to be a compensatory mechanism to decompress the portal venous system, it is now well established that SPSS are not only inefficient in decreasing the portal pressure but also contribute to reduced hepatocyte perfusion and increased splanchnic blood flow and resistance, associated with worsening PHT. Recent studies have described a high prevalence of SPSS in cirrhosis patients, increasing with liver dysfunction, and observed an association between the presence of SPSS and worse clinical outcomes. In cirrhosis patients with preserved liver functions, the presence of SPSS independently increases the risk of hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, and ascites, and reduces transplant-free survival. Moreover, the presence of SPSS in patients undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting and liver transplant has been shown to variably affect the postprocedural outcome. This article provides an overview of the current understanding of the role of SPSS in the natural history of liver cirrhosis and their status as a therapeutic target and an imaging biomarker to identify patients at higher risk of developing complications of PHT.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Rajesh, S., Philips, C. A., Ahamed, R., Abduljaleel, J. K., Nair, D. C., & Augustine, P. (2021). Friend or Foe? Spontaneous Portosystemic Shunts in Cirrhosis - Current Understanding and Future Prospects. Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Hindawi Limited. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8795115

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free