Risk factors for exacerbation of gastroesophageal varices and portosystemic encephalopathy during treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs for hepatitis B virus‐related cirrhosis

Abstract

The presence of portosystemic collateral vessels at the start of NA treatment increases the risk of GEVs worsening and development of portosystemic encephalopathy in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis, despite improvement of liver function and success in reducing viral loads with NA treatment.

Recompensation of Decompensated Hepatitis B Cirrhosis: Current Status and Challenges

“…The formation of a portal shunt increases the risk of hepatic encephalopathy. Research by Nagaoki et al [ 25 ] found that, even in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis who responded well to antiviral therapy, baseline portal-vein collateral circulation and the extrahepatic portal shunt still had a higher incidence of esophagogastric-varix exacerbation and a risk of portal-venous systemic shunt-associated hepatic encephalopathy. Patients with liver cirrhosis have decreased resistance and are more easily infected.…”