Clinical Features of Duodenopathy Associated with Liver Cirrhosis

Kim, Jin Bae; Han, Dong Soo; Lee, Hang Lak; Kim, Jong Pyo; Park, Joon Yong; Lee, Oh Young; Sohn, Joo Hyun; Choi, Ho Soon; Hahm, Joon Soo

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Congestive duodenopathy could be associated with liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension. The aims of this study were to assess the incidence of duodenopathy and to evaluate the relationship between duodenopathy and the presence of esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy in cirrhotic patients. MEHTODS: A total of 56 patients with liver cirrhosis and 481 controls were taken upper endoscopic examination.
RESULTS
Prevalence of duodenopathy was significantly higher in the liver cirrhosis group (26.8%) compared to the control group (6.9%), although positive rate of Helicobacter pylori was significantly lower in the liver cirrhosis group. Duodenal erosions in cirrhotic patients were predominately located in 2nd portion of duodenum compared to contol group and tended to be circular or linear along the Kerck's ring. Vascular congestion was evident in 5 of the 10 cases. Presence of duodenal lesions had no relationship with the size and extent of esophageal varices and congestive gastropathy.
CONCLUSIONS
Although histology of duodenopathy tends to show vascular congestion in patients with liver cirrhosis, few clinical markers of portal hypertension support them. Therefore, further studies including endoscopic ultrasonogram are needed to demonstrate the pathogenesis of the duodenal lesions in patients with liver cirrhosis.