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Up to 50% of portal vein thrombosis remains undiagnosed until liver transplantation
Author(s) -
Bert Josephine,
Geerts Anja,
Vanlander Aude,
Abreu de Carvalho Luis,
Degroote Helena,
Berrevoet Frederik,
Rogiers Xavier,
van Vlierberghe Hans,
Verhelst Xavier
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.14107
Subject(s) - medicine , portal vein thrombosis , liver transplantation , thrombosis , surgery , retrospective cohort study , transplantation , single center , cohort , portal vein , logistic regression
Background Impact of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) on the clinical course in liver transplant candidates remains unclear. This study aims to identify prevalence and risk factors for PVT, assess outcome after liver transplantation (LT) in patients with PVT and study the effect of anticoagulation. Methods This single‐center retrospective cohort study was performed from January 2006 until June 2016. Patients were stratified according to presence of PVT. Risk factors and outcome were assessed using logistic regression and survival analysis. Results Among 390 adults who underwent orthotopic LT, PVT occurred in 40 (10.3%). In, respectively, 10 (25%), 7 (17.5%), and 23 (57.5%) patients, PVT was identified at time of evaluation for transplantation, on the waiting list and during transplantation. A beneficial trend was present favoring the use of anticoagulation for PVT resolution ( n = 3/7 vs 0/9; p = .062). Patient and graft survival were similar between the groups after a median follow‐up of 5 years. However, 1‐year patient survival was significantly lower ( p = .031) in patients with PVT. Conclusion Portal vein thrombosis occurred in 10% of patients awaiting LT was undiagnosed in 50% until moment of LT and had a deleterious effect on 1‐year survival. Anticoagulation showed a beneficial trend on recanalization of PVT and survival rate.