Gastroscopic manifestations of portal hypertensive gastropathy in liver cirrhosis and related factors

Objective To investigate the gastroscopic manifestations of gastric mucosa in portal hypertensive gastropathy( PHG) and the association of PHG with gastroesophageal varices,ulcers,and liver cirrhosis complications. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 867 patients with liver cirrhosis who were treated in Daping Hospital of Army Medical University from August 2012 to June 2018,and the incidence rates of gastroesophageal varices,PHG,and ulcers were recorded. Meanwhile,the data of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis( SBP),hepatic encephalopathy( HE),and hepatocellular carcinoma( HCC) were collected. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups,and a Spearman correlation analysis was also performed. Results The incidence rate of PHG in the patients with liver cirrhosis reached 66. 2%( 574/867),and gastric mucosa abnormalities in mild PHG were mainly red-spot lesions( 68. 6%) and snakeskin( 56. 8%),while diffuse erythema( 76. 5%) was the main gastric mucosa abnormality in severe PHG.There was a significant difference in the incidence rate of PHG between the patients with different severities of esophageal varices( χ2=304. 712,P < 0. 05),and the severity of PHG increased with the aggravation of esophageal varices( r = 0. 515,P < 0. 05). There was a significant difference in the incidence rate of PHG between the patients with different severities of gastric varices( χ2= 81. 004,P < 0. 05),and the severity of PHG was positively correlated with that of gastric varices( r = 0. 292,P < 0. 05). There was a significant difference in the incidence rate of PHG between the patients with varices at different locations( χ2= 41. 361,P < 0. 05); the patients with gastric varices alone had the lowest incidence rate of PHG( 34. 8%) and only had mild PHG,and those with gastroesophageal varices had the highest incidence rate of PHG( 85. 6%). Among the patients without PHG,71( 24. 2%) were hospitalized due to hematemesis and/or tarry stool,and among the 574 patients with PHG,316( 55. 1%) were hospitalized,and there was a significant difference between the two groups( χ2=74. 562,P < 0. 05). Conclusion Patients with different severities of PHG have different features of gastric mucosa abnormalities. The development and severity of PHG are closely associated with the severity of gastroesophageal varices and are important causes of gastrointestinal bleeding in liver cirrhosis. PHG should be treated and prevented to reduce the risk and complications of gastrointestinal bleeding.