Hepatic venous pressure gradient determination in patients with hepatitis C virus-related and alcoholic cirrhosis

OBJECTIVES: Few data exist regarding the degree of portal hypertension in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis, as the majority of studies have included mainly patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. This study was aimed at comparing the severity of portal hypertension in patients with HCV-related or alcoholic cirrhosis. METHODS: In total, 59 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension (HCV-related in 34 cases and alcoholic in 25) underwent main right hepatic vein catheterization, with determination of the wedged and free hepatic venous pressures, and of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). RESULTS: HVPG values did not differ between the two groups of patients (19.4 +/- 6.0 mmHg vs 18.5 +/- 3.5 mmHg; P = 0.51). The prevalence and degree of oesophageal and gastric varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy did not correlate with the aetiology. Patients with viral cirrhosis had a lower prevalence of previous bleeding than those with alcoholic cirrhosis, despite a similar proportion of large varices in the two groups and similar HVPG levels. In both groups of patients, HVPG did not differ between patients with previous bleeds and those without. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients does not correlate with the cause of the disease. Thus, current statements on the management of portal hypertension, although based upon studies including mainly patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, can be applied also to patients with viral-related cirrhosis.