Stratified analysis of the correlation between wedged hepatic venous pressure and portal venous pressure in patients with portal hypertension

Abstract

Abstract To evaluate the differences in the agreement between wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP) and portal venous pressure (PVP) at different hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) levels to identify specific HVPG thresholds where WHVP can reliably estimate PVP, thus enhancing the accuracy of risk stratification and treatment decision-making for portal hypertension (PHT) patients. A multicenter study of 616 patients with PHT from three centers was stratified into five groups by their HVPG: HVPG < 12 (group A), 12 ≤ HVPG < 16 mmHg (group B), 16 ≤ HVPG < 20 mmHg (group C), 20 ≤ HVPG < 24 mmHg (group D), HVPG ≥ 24 mmHg (group E). Concordance was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R), the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland‒Altman analysis in each HVPG stratum. Correlation and agreement between WHVP and PVP varied by HVPG group. Highest agreement was observed in the range of 20 ≤ HVPG < 24 mmHg. (R = 0.55, ICC = 0.68). The proportion of patients with a discrepancy between WHVP and PVP that was greater than 10% of the PVP value was highest in group A (95.7%) and lowest in group D (48.4%). Overestimation of PVP was more common in group E (44.5%), and underestimation of PVP was more common in group A (94.6%). This study does not confirm the usefulness of hepatic vein pressure measurements to predict the PVP and PPG. The means of WHVP and PVP were significantly different in ranges A, B, C, and E.

Keywords

• Wedged hepatic venous pressure
• Portal venous pressure
• Hepatic venous pressure gradient
• Stratified analysis
• Portal hypertension