Project description:Oxaliplatin has become a widely used agent in neoadjuvant chemotherapy for gastrointestinal tract tumors and is an integral part of the therapeutic approach for managing colorectal cancer recurrences and metastases, resulting in a more favorable prognosis for patients. Nevertheless, oxaliplatin can give rise to idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH). The emergence of INCPH can disrupt tumor chemotherapy and incite persistent adverse reactions in later stages, significantly complicating clinical management. Consequently, we have presented a case report of INCPH induced by oxaliplatin chemotherapy with the aim of advancing the diagnosis and treatment of this condition, with a particular focus on the clinical manifestations. This study has ascertained that the condition is primarily attributed to complications related to portal hypertension, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, splenomegaly, and hypersplenism. The pathological features primarily involve hepatic sinus dilation and congestion, portal obstruction, absence, stenosis, shunting, localized venous and perisinusoidal fibrosis, as well as hepatocellular atrophy. Treatment primarily concentrates on strategies typically employed for cirrhosis. Endoscopic ligation, sclerotherapy, and non-selective beta-blockers (NSBBs) can be selected to prevent and treat variceal hemorrhage. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and liver transplantation can also be chosen for severe cases. Notably, despite the timely discontinuation of oxaliplatin, most patients continue to experience disease progression, ultimately resulting in a poor prognosis due to either tumor advancement or the ongoing progression of portal hypertension. This emphasizes the importance for physicians to be aware of and consider the risk of INCPH when prescribing oxaliplatin.
Project description:BackgroundHistologic features of idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) may overlap with those without INCPH. Recently, these features have been recognized as part of the larger spectrum of porto-sinusoidal vascular disease (PSVD). We assessed interobserver agreement on histologic features that are commonly associated with INCPH and studied whether a provision of relevant clinical history improves interobserver agreement.MethodsThe examined histologic features include lobular (such as anisocytosis, nodular regeneration, sinusoidal dilatation, increased parenchymal draining veins, and incomplete fibrous septa) and portal tract changes (such as paraportal shunting vessel(s), portal tract remnant, increased number of portal vessels, and obliterative portal venopathy). Thirty-four archived liver samples from patients with (group A) and without (group B) INCPH were retrieved. A total of 90 representative images of lobules (L) and portal tracts (P) were distributed among 9 liver pathologists blinded to true clinical history. Each pathologist answered multiple choice questions based on the absence (Q1) or presence (Q2) of clinical history of portal hypertension. Fleiss' kappa coefficient analysis (unweighted) was performed to assess interobserver agreement on normal versus abnormal diagnosis, in L and P, based on Q1 and Q2.ResultsThe kappa values regarding normal versus abnormal diagnosis were 0.24, 0.24, 0.18 and 0.18 for L-Q1, L-Q2, P-Q1, and P-Q2, respectively. With true clinical history provided, the kappa values were L- 0.32, P-0.17 for group A and L-0.12, P-0.14 for group B. Four pathologists changed their assessments based on the provided history. Interobserver agreement on the interpretation of L and P as normal versus abnormal was slight to fair regardless of provision of clinical history.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the histologic features of INCPH/PSVD are not limited to patients with portal hypertension and are subject to significant interobserver variation.
Project description:IntroductionInvolvement of the gastrointestinal system is less common in Turner's syndrome. Hepatic derangements have been reported in individuals with Turner's syndrome due to nonalcoholic steatosis, steatohepatitis, and less commonly due to viral hepatitis and alcoholic hepatitis. Portal hypertension is typically associated with cirrhosis; however, in a minor fraction of individuals, it occurs in the absence of cirrhosis. Portal hypertension is rare in Turner's syndrome and is even more rarely observed in the absence of cirrhosis in individuals with Turner's syndrome.Case presentationHerein, we report a case of liver biopsy-proven non-cirrhotic portal hypertension due to portosinusoidal vascular disease.ConclusionHigh index of clinical suspicion can lead to early diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension in individuals with Turner's syndrome, reducing the burden of complications of portal hypertension.
Project description:Background and aimPortal hypertension has been reported in association with acquired and primary immune deficiencies without a comprehensive description of associated spleno-portal axis abnormalities. Pathological mechanisms are poorly defined.MethodsObservational, single centre study with the aim of assessing the prevalence of spleno-portal axis abnormalities in an unselected cohort of 123 patients with primary antibody deficiencies and without known causes of liver diseases regularly followed up for a mean time of 18 ± 14 years. A cumulative period of 1867 patients-year was analysed. Clinical and immunological data, abdominal ultrasounds, CT scans, and endoscopy features were included in the analysis.ResultsTwenty-five percent of patients with primary antibody deficiencies had signs of portal vein enlargement but only 4% of them had portal hypertension, with portal systemic collaterals. Liver biopsies showed liver sinusoids congestive dilatation, endothelization, and micronodularity fulfilling the criteria for noncirrhotic portal hypertension. Patients with portal vein enlargement had severe clinical and immunological phenotypes.ConclusionsIn primary antibody deficient patients, infections, inflammations, splenomegaly, increased blood venous flow, and lymphocyte abnormalities contribute to establishment of liver damage possibly leading to noncirrhotic portal hypertension. Patients with primary antibody deficiency should be considered a good model to give insight into the pathological mechanisms underlying noncirrhotic portal hypertension.
Project description:Background. Idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) is a frequently misdiagnosed cause of portal hypertension. It also lacks a specific test for its diagnosis. This study evaluates whether using new immunohistochemistry makers derived from whole genome analysis improves the diagnosis of INCPH. Methods. We analyzed formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) liver tissue from 18 INCPH and 22 patients with cirrhosis (LC) as well as from 14 histologically normal livers (HNL) as controls. Microarray experiments were performed using Illumina Whole-Genome DASL HT BeadChip arrays. Selected genes showing differential expression at Illumina were confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) gene expression performed with Fluidigm Biomark HD system in a subgroup of samples. Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the qRT-PCR results. Results. At Illumina, a total of 292 genes were differentially expressed (FC>+2/-2 and p-value <0.05) in INCPH compared to the control group (LC and HNL) (202 up-regulated and 90 down-regulated).
Project description:Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by progressive skin fibrosis. It has 2 main clinical subtypes-diffuse cutaneous scleroderma and limited cutaneous scleroderma. Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) is defined as presence of elevated portal vein pressures without cirrhosis. It is often a manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. On histopathology, NCPH may be found to be secondary to multiple abnormalities such as nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) and obliterative portal venopathy. There have been reports of NCPH in patients with both subtypes of SSc secondary to NRH. However, simultaneous presence of obliterative portal venopathy has not been reported. We present a case of NCPH due to NRH and obliterative portal venopathy as a presenting sign of limited cutaneous scleroderma. The patient was initially found to have pancytopenia and splenomegaly and was erroneously labeled as cirrhosis. She underwent workup to rule out leukemia, which was negative. She was referred to our clinic and diagnosed with NCPH. Due to pancytopenia, she could not be started on immunosuppressive therapy for her SSc. Our case describes the presence of these unique pathological findings in the liver and highlights the importance of an aggressive search for an underlying condition in all patients diagnosed with NCPH.
Project description:Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is characterized by portal hypertension due to obstruction or stenosis of the intrahepatic peripheral portal branches. Researchers have suggested that IPH may be attributed to intrahepatic peripheral portal vein thrombosis, splenic factors, abnormal autoimmunity, and related factors, however, the etiology of IPH remains unclear. We used microarrays to identify the functions of genes expressed in blood samples from patients with IPH. In order to examine the specific expression of genes in patients with IPH, we analyzed blood samples from three patients with IPH and three healthy volunteers as control using DNA microarrays.
Project description:Liver cirrhosis but also portal vein obstruction cause portal hypertension (PHT) and angiogenesis. This study investigated the differences of angiogenesis in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic PHT with special emphasis on the canonical (Shh/Gli) and non-canonical (Shh/RhoA) hedgehog pathway. Cirrhotic (bile duct ligation/BDL; CCl4 intoxication) and non-cirrhotic (partial portal vein ligation/PPVL) rats received either atorvastatin (15 mg/kg; 7d) or control chow before sacrifice. Invasive hemodynamic measurement and Matrigel implantation assessed angiogenesis in vivo. Angiogenesis in vitro was analysed using migration and tube formation assay. In liver and vessel samples from animals and humans, transcript expression was analyzed using RT-PCR and protein expression using Western blot. Atorvastatin decreased portal pressure, shunt flow and angiogenesis in cirrhosis, whereas atorvastatin increased these parameters in PPVL rats. Non-canonical Hh was upregulated in experimental and human liver cirrhosis and was blunted by atorvastatin. Moreover, atorvastatin blocked the non-canonical Hh-pathway RhoA dependently in activated hepatic steallate cells (HSCs). Interestingly, hepatic and extrahepatic Hh-pathway was enhanced in PPVL rats, which resulted in increased angiogenesis. In summary, statins caused contrary effects in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Atorvastatin inhibited the non-canonical Hh-pathway and angiogenesis in cirrhosis. In portal vein obstruction, statins enhanced the canonical Hh-pathway and aggravated PHT and angiogenesis.
Project description:Here, we report the case of patient cirrhosis with esophageal and gastric fundal varices who developed rare ectopic varices in the bilateral pulmonary hilar after repeated endoscopic treatments (tissue adhesive for gastric fundal varices + esophageal variceal ligation + esophageal variceal sclerotherapy) accompanied by serious shortness of breath. After transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt + gastric coronary vein embolization, the shortness of breath was relieved, and the portography review indicated that the ectopic varices in the pulmonary hilar were significantly improved.
Project description:Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is characterized by portal hypertension due to obstruction or stenosis of the intrahepatic peripheral portal branches. Researchers have suggested that IPH may be attributed to intrahepatic peripheral portal vein thrombosis, splenic factors, abnormal autoimmunity, and related factors, however, the etiology of IPH remains unclear. We used microarrays to identify the functions of genes expressed in blood samples from patients with IPH.