Liver Cirrhosis Complicated by Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension

Liver Cirrhosis Complicated by Clinically Significant Portal Hypertension: the Role of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound and Splenic Elastography for Non-invasive Assessment

Portal hypertension is a major complication of cirrhosis. HVPG is the diagnostic gold standard but is invasive. Non-invasive tools such as spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) and CEUS show promise for assessing CSPH, though they have not yet been compared directly. A multimodal ultrasound approach may provide a reliable alternative to HVPG.

Inclusion Criteria:

Individuals of both sexes aged 18 years or over; Subjects diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Subjects who have undergone hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement to assess portal hypertension, and/or show indirect clinical signs of significant portal hypertension, such as oesophageal varices or porto-systemic collateral circulation.

Cirrhotic subjects who must undergo contrast-enhanced ultrasound as part of regular hepatological follow-up.

Subjects who have given their informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects aged under 18 years; Subjects with cholestatic disease Subjects diagnosed with clinically significant portal hypertension of non-cirrhotic aetiology.

Subjects diagnosed with ascites Subjects diagnosed with splanchnic thrombosis Subjects presenting with spleno-portal flow reversal Subjects who are allergic to ultrasound contrast media Subjects who have not given their informed consent.