Von Willebrand Factor As Non-Invasive Predictor Of Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension And Mortality In Patients With Liver Cirrhosis
Von Willebrand Factor As Non-Invasive Predictor Of Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension And Mortality In Patients With Liver Cirrhosis
In patients with liver cirrhosis elevated levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) are found frequently but the clinical significance is unclear. vWF-Ag plays an important role in primary haemostasis and development of thrombotic vascular obliteration is discussed as a possible mechanism leading to portal hypertension. Invasive measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the current gold standard for the diagnosis of portal hypertension. The investigators hypothesize that vWF-Ag levels in plasma may correlate with portal pressure and predict clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH, HVPG >=10mmHg) and its complications.
Patients with alcoholic, viral (chronic hepatitis C), and cryptogenic liver cirrhosis are included. Portal hemodynamics are assessed by HVPG measurement, vWF-Ag levels were measured by ELISA. Results will be compared. 3 and 6 months mortality will be recorded.
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arnulf.ferlitsch@meduniwien.ac.at+43140400