Gastric antral vascular ectasia in cirrhotic patients: absence of relation with portal hypertension

Abstract

Background-Portal hypertensive gastropathy and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) are increasingly recognised as separate entities. The pathogenic role of portal hypertension for the development of GAVE is still controversial. Aims-To evaluate the eVects of portal decompression on chronic bleeding related to GAVE in cirrhotic patients. Methods-Eight patients with cirrhosis and chronic blood loss related to GAVE were included. GAVE was defined endoscopically and histologically. Results-All patients had severe portal hypertension (mean portocaval gradient (PCG) 26 mm Hg) and chronic low grade bleeding. Seven patients underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and one had an end to side portacaval shunt. Rebleeding occurred in seven patients. In these, TIPS was found to be occluded after 15 days in one patient; in the other six, the shunt was patent and the PCG was below 12 mm Hg in five. In the responder, PCG was 16 mm Hg. Antrectomy was performed in four nonresponders; surgery was uneventful, and they did not rebleed after surgery, but two died 11 and 30 days postoperatively from multiorgan failure. In one patient, TIPS did not control GAVE related bleeding despite a notable decrease in PCG. This patient underwent liver transplantation 14 months after TIPS; two months after transplantation, bleeding had stopped and the endoscopic appearance of the antrum had normalised. Conclusions-Results suggest that GAVE is not directly related to portal hypertension, but is influenced by the presence of liver dysfunction. Antrectomy is a therapeutic option when chronic bleeding becomes a significant problem but carries a risk of postoperative mortality. (Gut 1999;44:739-742)

Cure of gastric antral vascular ectasia by liver transplantation despite persistent portal hypertension: A clue for pathogenesis

“…6 However, the respective roles of portal hypertension and liver failure could not be evaluated as transplantation normalized both liver function and portal pressure.…”

“…However, it is now generally accepted that portal hypertension is not a key factor because surgical portacaval shunts or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) do not improve GAVE. 5,6 The influence of liver insufficiency also is uncertain. GAVE has been reported to occur in noncirrhotic patients.…”

Consensus conference on TIPS management: Techniques, indications, contraindications

“…GAVE is a rare finding in patients with PH (2%-3% incidence), which is not the leading pathogenic mechanism. Accordingly, GAVE is unresponsive to derivative treatment [135][136][137].…”

Watermelon stomach, hemorrhagic pericarditis, small cell carcinoma of the lung and synchronous squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue base

“…It is important to differentiate GAVE from portal gastropathy because the former responds to endoscopic therapy but not to portal hypertension reduction, whereas the latter does not respond to endoscopic therapy but responds to portal pressure reduction 13 .…”

“…The association of GAVE with cirrhosis and portal hypertension is considered unreliable with regards to a cause and effect relationship 13 . It is important to differentiate GAVE from portal gastropathy because the former responds to endoscopic therapy but not to portal hypertension reduction, whereas the latter does not respond to endoscopic therapy but responds to portal pressure reduction 13 .…”