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Portal hypertension (hepatic venous pressure gradient [HVPG] ≥10 mm Hg) in patients with cirrhosis is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Measurement of HVPG is expensive, invasive, and typically available only in specialized centers. Now, researchers have explored whether von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) is a useful alternative indicator of portal hypertension.
Investigators enrolled 286 patients (72% men) with cirrhosis who were undergoing HVPG measurements at a single center in Austria and prospectively recorded hepatic decompensation outcomes and mortality every 6 months from patient exams and death registry data for approximately 2 years. vWF-Ag was assessed as a potential diagnostic indictor for portal hypertension…