Effects on gastric circulation of treatment for portal hypertension in cirrhosis

We evaluated the gastric circulatory effects of the type of treatment administered for portal hypertension. Of 14 patients with cirrhosis, seven received a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS; group T) and seven received percutaneous transhepatic portographic embolization (PTPE; group P). Patients were evaluated over the course of one year. After treatment, portal venous pressure was significantly reduced from 39 +/- 6 cm H2O to 32 +/- 5 (P < 0.001) in group T and was significantly elevated from 29 +/- 10 to 33 +/- 8 (P < 0.05) in group P. The portal flow velocity (Vmean) was significantly higher in group T vs group P (P < 0.0001). The congestion index was significantly lower in group T than in group P (P < 0.0001). The gastric mucosal blood flow was increased in group T but was unchanged in group P. Esophageal varices showed some improvement in both groups, but the portal hypertensive gastropathy was improved only in group T. These findings help to explain the differing effects on the gastric circulation related to the type of treatment used for portal hypertension.