Classification of cirrhosis: the clinical use of HVPG measurements.

The modern paradigm considers cirrhosis as a dynamic and potentially reversible disease. It consists of two different entities, compensated and decompensated cirrhosis, each with a distinct prognosis and different predictors of survival. The development of portal hypertension is a hallmark in the history of cirrhosis, and its progression parallels that of the disease. In consequence, portal pressure measurement by means of HVPG allows stratifying cirrhosis in stages with defined outcomes, prognosis, and management strategies.