TIPS vs Endoscopic Therapy for Variceal Rebleeding in Cirrhotic Patients With Portal Vein Thrombosis

TIPS Versus Endoscopic Therapy for the Prevention of Variceal Rebleeding in Cirrhotic Patients With Portal Vein Thrombosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

portal vein thrombosis may be a negative prognostic marker of variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. Compared with conventional endoscopic and pharmacological therapy, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt may further improve the outcomes of portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis with variceal bleeding.

Portal vein thrombosis may be a negative prognostic marker of variceal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. Compared with conventional endoscopic and pharmacological therapy, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt may further improve the outcomes of portal vein thrombosis in liver cirrhosis with variceal bleeding. However, the safety of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt remains uncertain in patients with portal vein thrombosis.

Inclusion criteria

1. liver cirrhosis (histological or clinical);
2. Significant variceal bleeding >5 days and ≤ 42 days
3. Successful treatment of the index bleed by means of vasoactive drugs and/or endoscopic treatment
4. Portal vein thrombosis occlusion>=25% of the vessel lumen;
5. Presence of ascites
6. Child-Pugh score 8-12 at inclusion
7. Age 18 to 70 years

Exclusion criteria

1. Bleeding from isolated gastric or ectopic varices
2. Contraindications to non-selective beta blockers (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, aortic stenosis, atrioventricular block, intermittent claudication, and psychosis)
3. Contraindications to TIPS : extensive potral vein thrombosis, fibrotic cord replacing original main portal vein; bilirubin>3.5 mg/dL, plasma creatinine>2.1 mg/dL, Child-Pugh score >=13points
4. A history of significant heart failure (New York Heart Association class III and IV)
5. Overt hepatic encephalopathy,
6. Prehepatic portal hypertension
7. Malignancy (including hepatocellular carcinoma) or a concomitant disease with reduced life expectancy
8. Uncontrolled infection and sepsis
9. Previous treatment to prevent rebleeding with a portosystemic shunt,TIPS or with pharmacological therapy with non-selective beta blockers and endoscopic variceal ligation
10. Pregnancy or lactation