Clinical manifestations of portal vein thrombosis and related risk factors in patients with liver cirrhosis

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations of portal vein thrombosis( PVT) and related risk factors in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods A total of 541 patients with liver cirrhosis who were admitted to the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from April 2008 to April 2015 were included in the study; 76 patients with PVT were enrolled in the study group,and another 76 patients without PVT matched for sex,age,and Child- Pugh class were enrolled in the control group. The clinical data and related indicators were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The t- test was applied for comparison of continuous data between groups,the chi- square test was applied for comparison of categorical data between groups,and the unconditional logistic regression model was used to determine the independent risk factors for PVT in liver cirrhosis. Results In the patients with liver cirrhosis and PVT,42. 1%( 32 /76) had an insidious onset and 57. 9%( 44 /76) had obvious clinical manifestations. Most patients had Child- Pugh class B and C cirrhosis. There were significant differences between the two groups in platelet count,blood glucose,percentage of neutrophils,severe esophageal and gastric varices,plasma D- dimer,portal vein width,and thickness of the spleen( all P < 0. 05). The unconditional logistic regression model analysis showed that percentage of neutrophils( OR = 1. 044,P = 0. 040),plasma D- dimer( OR = 0. 091,P = 0. 000),portal vein width( OR =0. 030,P = 0. 008),and thickness of the spleen( OR = 0. 427,P = 0. 003) were the influencing factors for PVT. Conclusion PVT may have an insidious onset in patients with liver cirrhosis,or have different clinical manifestations. Cirrhotic PVT usually occurs in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis,and plasma D- dimer,portal vein width,thickness of the spleen,and percentage of neutrophils are the independent influencing factors for PVT in patients with liver cirrhosis.