Decompensation in advanced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease may occur at lower hepatic venous pressure gradient levels that in patients with viral disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Portal hypertension (PH) is the strongest predictor of hepatic decompensation and death in patients with cirrhosis. However, its discriminatory accuracy in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been challenged as hepatic vein catheterization may not reflect the real portal vein pressure as accurately as in patients with other etiologies. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and presence of portal hypertension related decompensation in patients with advanced NAFLD (aNAFLD).

METHODS

Multicenter cross-sectional study including 548 patients with aNAFLD and 444 with advanced RNA-positive hepatitis C (aHCV) who had detailed portal hypertension evaluation (HVPG measurement, gastroscopy, and abdominal imaging). We examined the relationship between etiology, HVPG, and decompensation by logistic regression models. We also compared the proportions of compensated/decompensated patients at different HVPG levels.

RESULTS

Both cohorts, aNAFLD and aHVC, had similar baseline age, gender, Child-Pugh score, and MELD. Median HVPG was lower in the aNAFLD cohort (13 vs 15 mmHg) despite similar liver function and higher rates of decompensation in aNAFLD group (32% vs 25% p=0.019) than in the aHCV group. For any of the HVPG cutoff analyzed (<10, 10-12 or 12 mmHg) the prevalence of decompensation was higher in the aNAFLD than in the aHCV group.

CONCLUSION

Patients with aNAFLD have higher prevalence of portal hypertension related decompensation at any value of HVPG as compared to aHCV patients. Longitudinal studies aiming to identify HVPG thresholds able to predict decompensation and long-term outcomes in aNAFLD population are strongly needed.