Marieta Madalina Florescu1, Adrian Costache2, Speranta Maria Iacob3, Corina Pietrareanu4, Carmen Ester5, Razvan Cerban6, Radu Dumitru7, Mugur Grasu8, Ioana Lupescu9, Liana Gheorghe10. 1. Department of Gastroenterology, Saint Marie Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. greere.madalina@gmail.com. 2. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Dr. Ioan Cantacuzino Clinical Hospital, Bucharest; 4) Centre for Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. 3. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Centre for Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. msiacob@gmail.com. 4. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Centre for Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. corina.pietrareanu@yahoo.com. 5. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Centre for Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. carmen.ghidu@gmail.com. 6. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Centre for Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. cerbanrazvan@yahoo.com. 7. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Radiology and Imaging Department, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. radu.dumitru@gmail.com. 8. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Radiology and Imaging Department, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. mugur.grasu@gmail.com. 9. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Radiology and Imaging Department, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. ilupescu@gmail.com. 10. Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest; Centre for Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania. drlgheorghe@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The evidence regarding the use of anticoagulant (AC) agents in portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is increasing and, most patients undergo chronic treatment with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Nevertheless, there are no clear data about who should receive antithrombotic therapy, when to initiate it, how long and what dose should be used for this set of patients. The aim of the study was to assess the outcome of patients with cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis who received AC therapy, in terms of thrombus regression, bleeding events and survival rates. METHODS: This observational and retrospective study included 107 cirrhotic patients diagnosed with PVT in a single tertiary center between 2010-2019. 54 received low molecular weight heparin or vitamin K antagonist (AC treatment group) and 53 were untreated. All patients were periodically follow-up to assess the evolution of PVT (regression, progression, stable thrombus) and potential occurrence of bleeding events. RESULTS: The regression of portal vein thrombosis was significantly higher in the AC treatment group (OR=2.430; 95% CI=1.11-6.167; p=0.026), more than 50% of on-treatment patients experiencing regression of the thrombus. However, bleeding events were significantly more frequent in the AC treatment group (18.5% vs. 7.5%) and the risk of bleeding was associated with thrombocytes less than 50x103/mm3 (OR=8.266; 95%CI: 2.310-39.211; p=0.002). Survival was better in the AC treatment group (68.4% vs 48.7% at 5 years and 92.7% vs 77.8% at 1 year, p=0.038) and was lower in patients that experienced bleeding events (37.22% survival at 5 years, mean time survival 44 months, p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of cirrhotic patients with PVT more than 50% of patients receiving AC therapy presented regression of the thrombus; most of them obtained partial recanalization. The bleeding complication rate was higher than expected, reaching 18%. The overall mortality was lower in the treated group.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The evidence regarding the use of anticoagulant (AC) agents in portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is increasing and, most patients undergo chronic treatment with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Nevertheless, there are no clear data about who should receive antithrombotic therapy, when to initiate it, how long and what dose should be used for this set of patients. The aim of the study was to assess the outcome of patients with cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis who received AC therapy, in terms of thrombus regression, bleeding events and survival rates. METHODS: This observational and retrospective study included 107 cirrhotic patients diagnosed with PVT in a single tertiary center between 2010-2019. 54 received low molecular weight heparin or vitamin K antagonist (AC treatment group) and 53 were untreated. All patients were periodically follow-up to assess the evolution of PVT (regression, progression, stable thrombus) and potential occurrence of bleeding events. RESULTS: The regression of portal vein thrombosis was significantly higher in the AC treatment group (OR=2.430; 95% CI=1.11-6.167; p=0.026), more than 50% of on-treatment patients experiencing regression of the thrombus. However, bleeding events were significantly more frequent in the AC treatment group (18.5% vs. 7.5%) and the risk of bleeding was associated with thrombocytes less than 50x103/mm3 (OR=8.266; 95%CI: 2.310-39.211; p=0.002). Survival was better in the AC treatment group (68.4% vs 48.7% at 5 years and 92.7% vs 77.8% at 1 year, p=0.038) and was lower in patients that experienced bleeding events (37.22% survival at 5 years, mean time survival 44 months, p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of cirrhotic patients with PVT more than 50% of patients receiving AC therapy presented regression of the thrombus; most of them obtained partial recanalization. The bleeding complication rate was higher than expected, reaching 18%. The overall mortality was lower in the treated group.