Features of Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome and Gut Flora Imbalance in Patients with Portal Hypertension

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the clinical features of patients with portal hypertension (PH) and the bacterial overgrowth syndrome (BOS). Methods. We observed 67 patients with PH syndrome aged from 43 to 81 years old, who have formed 2 groups: I group — 60 patients with hepatic PH; II group — 7 patients with extrahepatic PH. BOS was assessed using a gas analyzer Gastro + Gastolyzer, and the relationship between the results and clinical signs was determined. Results. It was found that for patients with hepatic PH BOS is more common (80.0 %) compared to the patients with extrahepatic form of PH (57.0 %) (p < 0.05). The patients with viral PH and HP of alcohol origin have the same prevalence of BOS. 70.1 % (p < 0.05) patients with SBO had increased transaminase level. There were no dependence of the compensation stage of liver disease (by Child — Pugh) on the prevalence of BOS. There was an inverse relationship between the degree of hepatic encephalopathy and the prevalence of BOS. Conclusions. Determination of BOS by hydrogen breath test can be recommended as a modern, non-invasive, easy to use method to improve prediction and assessment of the BOS treatment control in patients with PH. Before prescribing the treatment of various forms of PH, diagnose of BOS should be ensured, in order to prevent the progression and development of complications.

Keywords

• extrahepatic portal hypertension
• hepatic portal hypertension
• gut bacterial overgrowth
• hydrogen breath test