Korean J Gastroenterol.  2011 Dec;58(6):332-337. 10.4166/kjg.2011.58.6.332.

Endoscopic Findings and Clinical Significance of Portal Hypertensive Colopathy

• Jeong IB
• Lee TH
• Lim SM
• Ryu KH
• Kim YS
• Kim SM
• Im EH
• Huh KC
• Choi YW
• Kang YW

• KMID: 1043332
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2011.58.6.332

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The endoscopic findings and clinical relevance of portal hypertensive colopathy are not well described in Korea. We aimed to do a retrospective study of mucosal changes in the colon of patients with liver cirrhosis and to find their association with clinical characteristics.
METHODS
We reviewed the clinical data and endoscopic findings of 48 patients with liver cirrhosis and 48 patients, matched for age and sex, with irritable bowel disease (IBS) who underwent colonoscopy over a 5 year span.
RESULTS
Patients with liver cirrhosis were more likely to have colitis-like lesions and vascular abnormalities than IBS patients. Low platelet count (p=0.005) and severe esophageal varices (p=0.011) were associated with portal hypertensive colopathy, whereas the etiologies and severity of cirrhosis were not associated with these findings.
CONCLUSIONS
Portal hypertensive colopathy can be defined with colitis-like lesions or vascular lesions. These lesions are more frequently present in patients with more severe esophageal varices and thrombocytopenia.

Keyword

Liver cirrhosis; Portal hypertension; Colopathy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Colonoscopy
Esophageal and Gastric Varices/etiology
Female
Humans
Hypertension, Portal/complications/*pathology
Intestinal Mucosa/pathology
Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications/*pathology
Liver Cirrhosis/complications/*pathology
Male
Middle Aged
Platelet Count
Retrospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
Thrombocytopenia/etiology

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Endoscopic images illustrating portal hypertensive colopathy. (A) Colitis-like diffuse erythema with edema. (B) Mixed form of angiodysplasia-like lesion with multiple small patchy erythema. (C) Angiodysplasia-like vascular lesion.

Reference

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