Patients with cirrhosis develop portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and gastric vascular ectasia (GVE). Both conditions are diagnosed endoscopically as collections of discrete red spots; therefore, . . .
Patients with cirrhosis develop portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and gastric vascular ectasia (GVE). Both conditions are diagnosed endoscopically as collections of discrete red spots; therefore, they may be difficult to differentiate. The red spots of PHG appear in conjunction with a background mucosal mosaic appearance, but the mucosa underlying GVE are normal. Both lesions are associated with chronic gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Although it has been suggested that both entities result from portal hypertension, only patients with PHG seem to respond to β-blockers.In this prospective study, investigators examined the pathophysiology and treatment of PHG and GVE.
Researchers placed transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) in…