Low-dose alcohol exacerbates hyperdynamic circulation and shunting in non-alcoholic cirrhotic rats.

BACKGROUND: Portal hypertension affects hepatic, splanchnic and portosystemic collateral systems. Although alcohol is a well-known risk factor for liver cirrhosis, it also affects vascular contractility. However, the relevant effects on portal hypertension have not been evaluated in non-alcoholic cirrhosis. The present study aimed to investigate the impacts of low-dose alcohol on portal hypertension-related derangements in non-alcoholic cirrhotic rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats received bile duct ligation to induce cirrhosis or sham operation as controls. The chronic or acute effects of low-dose alcohol (2.4 g/kg/day, oral gavage, approximately 1.3 drinks/day in humans) were evaluated. RESULTS: The chronic administration of low-dose alcohol did not precipitate liver fibrosis in the sham or cirrhotic rats; however, it significantly increased splanchnic blood inflow (P=0.034) and portosystemic collaterals (P=0.001). Mesenteric angiogenesis and pro-angiogenic proteins were up-regulated in the alcohol-treated cirrhotic rats, and poorer collateral vasoresponsiveness to vasoconstrictors (P<0.001) was noted. Consistently, acute alcohol administration reduced splenorenal shunt resistance. Collateral vasoresponsiveness to vasoconstrictors also significantly decreased (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In non-alcoholic cirrhosis rats, a single dose of alcohol adversely affected portosystemic collateral vessels due to vasodilatation. Long-term alcohol use precipitated splanchnic hyperdynamic circulation, in which mesenteric angiogenesis played a role. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the benefits of avoiding low-dose alcohol consumption in patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis.

Progression of portal hypertension after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab for hepatocellular carcinoma-report a case and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy became the first-line therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Gastroesophageal varices should be monitored and managed before treatment. The progression of portal hypertension during bevacizumab-containing therapy is unclear. METHOD: A case of new development of esophageal varices, ascites, and hepatic hydrothorax during atezolizumab/bevacizumab therapy at National Taiwan University Hospital was reported, and relevant literature was reviewed. RESULTS: We presented an 83-year-old male with resolved hepatitis B without cirrhosis. He had BCLC stage C HCC and received tri-weekly atezolizumab/bevacizumab therapy for 34 cycles with sustained partial response. Progressive ascites, esophageal varices, and hepatic hydrothorax developed, though his portal vein was patent and the tumor was under control. Five similar cases of HCC (BCLC B/C: n = 3/2) had been reported previously. Among them, three had cirrhosis with pre-existing small esophageal varices before treatment. After the administration of 1-15 cycles of atezolizumab/bevacizumab therapy, one patient had a progression of varices, and the other four developed variceal bleeding. The association between atezolizumab/bevacizumab and portal hypertension was possible, which might relate to the VEGF pathway and immune-related adverse events with progressive hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSION: Atezolizumab/bevacizumab treatment might exacerbate portal hypertension. Careful monitoring and management should be considered during treatment.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) to aggravate liver fibrosis into cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT) via ROS/TGF-ß1/Snail-1 signalling pathway in adult rats.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the toxicological impact of Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on the process of liver fibrosis transitioning into cirrhosis and the subsequent development of portal hypertension (PHT) through the mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated by the ROS/TGF-ß/Snail-1 signaling pathway. METHOD: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (1 mg/kg) was introduced in adult rats by oral feeding in CCl4 and CCl4+DBP groups twice a week for 8 weeks, and twice for another 8 week in CCl4 group. DBP was introduced by oral feeding in the CCl4+DBP group twice over the following 8 weeks. We subsequently analyzed hemodynamics measurements and liver cirrhosis degree, hepatic inflammation and liver function in the different groups. EMT related genes expression in rats in the groups of Control, DBP, CCl4 and CCl4+DBP were measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), qRT-PCR, western blot were used to detect the EMT related proteins and mRNA gene expression levels in rats and primary hepatocytes (PHCs). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined with a ROS detection kit. RESULTS: The results showed that the CCl4+DBP group had higher portal pressure (PP) and lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) than the other groups. Elevated collagen deposition, profibrotic factor, inflammation, EMT levels were detected in DBP and CCl4+DBP groups. ROS, TGF-ß1 and Snail-1 were highly expressed after DBP exposure in vitro. TGF-ß1 had the potential to regulate Snail-1, and both of them were subject to regulation by ROS. CONCLUSION: DBP could influence the progression of EMT through its toxicological effect by ROS/TGF-ß1/Snail-1 signalling pathway, causing cirrhosis and PHT in final. The findings of this research might contribute to a novel comprehension of the underlying toxicological mechanisms and animal model involved in the progression of cirrhosis and PHT, and potentially offered a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of the disease.

Hipertensión portal no cirrótica por didanosina: Un caso infrecuente / Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension due to didanosina: A rare case

El compromiso hepático es usualmente visto en pacientes con infección por el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), sobretodo en pacientes coinfectados con el virus de la hepatitis B o C, con el abuso de alcohol, etc. Sin embargo, existe un grupo de pacientes que desarrolla compromiso hepático e hipertensión portal de causa no específica. La hipertensión portal no cirrótica (HPNC) es un desorden hepático descrito recientemente, potencialmente grave, que ha sido reportado en pacientes infectados por el VIH con terapia antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA), específicamente didanosina (DDI). La fisiopatología involucra al agente infeccioso (VIH) y a su tratamiento (TARGA), pues ambas generan una venulopatía prehepática portal. Además, la infección por el VIH genera un estado protrombótico por deficiencia de proteína S conllevando a la obliteración de pequeñas vénulas hepáticas. Se ha postulado a la didanosina como un cofactor en la patogénesis del HPNC. Todo ello conlleva a que en muchas de las biopsias hepáticas se evidencie una hiperplasia nodular regenerativa. Se reporta el caso de una paciente con infección del VIH y en tratamiento con DDI de larga data que debuta con hemorragia digestiva alta (HDA) y ascitis como consecuencia de la HPNC, cuyo diagnóstico fue corroborado por biopsia. No existe reporte de casos del tema en nuestro país

Liver involvement is usually seen in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially in patients coinfected with hepatitis B or C, in alcohol abuse, etc. However, there is a group of patients who develop liver involvement and portal hypertension of unspecified cause. Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) is a liver disorder recently described, but potentially serious. It has been reported in HIV-infected patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), specifically didanosine (DDI). The pathophysiology involves the infectious agent (HIV) and its treatment (HAART), since both generate a pre-hepatic portal venulopathy. Similarly, HIV infection produces a prothrombotic state by protein S deficiency leading to the obliteration of small hepatic venules. It has been postulated that DDI as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of NCPH. All this leads that many of the liver biopsies show nodular regenerative hyperplasia. We present the case of a HIV-infected patient who was treated with a longstanding DDI. She developed upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) and ascites due to NCPH, whose diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. However, there is no similar study in our country

Effects on growth after hypertension portal induced in young rats

RACIONAL: Atraso no crescimento foi observado em crianças com hipertensão portal independentemente da presença de esquistossomose. Sugeriu-se que o desvio de sangue pelas colaterais portossistêmicas justificaria os achados clínicos encontrados. OBJETIVO: Estudar os efeitos da hipertensão portal no crescimento de ratos jovens. MÉTODOS: O crescimento de 20 ratos divididos nos grupos hipertensão portal n = 10, 103 ± 3,7 g e grupo-controle, n = 10, 102,6 ± 3,4 g) foi avaliado durante 5 semanas. Foram considerados a qualidade da dieta oferecida, a ingestão da dieta, o ritmo de crescimento ganho de peso, a excreção de creatinina urinária, o hematócrito e as provas de função hepática. Ao final do experimento, a pressão portal foi medida por via transesplênica. RESULTADOS/CONCLUSAO: Ratos do grupo hipertensão portal apresentaram atraso de crescimento na 1ª semana após a cirurgia, recuperando o seu ritmo de crescimento nas semanas seguintes. Ao final das 5 semanas, não houve diferenças entre os animais. Não houve diferenças com relação às provas bioquímicas e hematológicas, nem com relação ao ganho de massa magra. Esses resultados são evidência contra a hipótese de que hipertensão portal induzida nas fases iniciais da vida desses animais possa provocar atraso de seu crescimento.

Hipertensäo portal em cäes por injeçäo de sílica na veia porta: estudos manométricos e histológicos / Portal Hypertension in dogs after injection of silica in the portal vein: manometric and histologic studies

Injeçöes de sílica sob diferentes formas e por vias diversas tem sido utilizadas para a produçäo experimental de hipertensäo portal. Neste trabalho foi utilizada a sílica na forma de talco comercial e procurou-se padronizar uma dose capaz de produzir hipertensäo portal em cäes com níveis compatíveis com a sobrevida dos animais. Procurou-se ainda produzir hipertensäo portal crônica por injeçöes repetidas de sílica na veia porta. A dose de sílica, 50 mg/Kg de peso corpóreo resultou em aumento de cerca de duas vezes a pressäo normal e morte espontânea de 20% dos animais: a dose de 100 mg/Kg levou todos os animais a óbito em menos de 24 horas. Injeçöes repetidas de sílica com acompanhamento por 4 meses levaram a hipertensäo portal sem repercusäo para a circulaçöa colateral e o modelo näo foi considerado válido, para os fins desejados. Além desse resultado hemodinâmico näo satisfatório houve também problema técnico porque depois de várias laparotomias houve intensa fibrose periportal dificultando o isolamento da veia