Portal hypertensive gastropathy and the anemia in cirrhotic patients
March 30, 2010
| Abstract Title: | Portal hypertensive gastropathy and the anemia in cirrhotic patients |
| Authors: | Corina Zorila, Liana Mos, Varvari Lenuta |
| Affiliation: | “Vasile Goldis” Western University Arad, Romania Department of Internal Medicine, Clinic Municipal Hospital, Arad, Romania |
| Abstract text: | Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG), a term used to describe the endoscopic appearance of gastric mucosa with a characteristic mosaic-like pattern with or without red spots, is a common finding in patients with portal hypertension. Currently, the only treatment that could be recommended for prophylaxis of bleeding from PHG is nonselective beta -blockers. The clinical importance of portal hypertensive gastropathy as a source of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis is poorly defined. We evaluated a group of patients with diagnosis of liver cirrhosis hospitalized in our clinic between 1.Jan -31 Dec 2009. All patients were evaluated clinically, by lab tests ultrasonography and upper endoscopy. We are looking for feriprive anemia and endoscopic signs of recent bleeding and we correlated the signs of gastropathy with anemia and the pathogenetic mechanism of diseases. Results. The prevalence of gastropathy was 80% and was correlated with the duration of disease, presence and size of esophagogastric varices. The evolution of gastropathy was identical in patients with and without previous or current prophylactic therapy of portal hypertension with non-selective beta-blockers. Chronic bleeding occurred in 10% of patients. Conclusions. PHG is common in patients with cirrhosis, and its prevalence parallels the severity of portal hypertension. Acute bleeding from PHG, seen usually in the presence of severe PHG, is often mild and self-limiting. Chronic bleeding occurs and is an important mechanism of anemia in cirrhotic patients. |
| Keywords: | portal hypertensive gastropathy , anemia |
| Presentation type: | Oral |
| Correspondence: | no. 7-8 M. Viteazul Sq., Arad, Romania |
| Email: | corinazorila@yahoo.com |
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