Prognostic value of hepatocyte proliferative activity after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

Previous data indicated that the proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labeling index (PCNA-LI) reflects the liver functional reserve in human liver cirrhosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the hepatocyte proliferative activity as a marker for the outcome of patients after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

Twenty-eight consecutive patients were electively treated with TIPS for recurrent variceal bleeding (n = 14), refractory ascites (n = 12), or hydrothorax (n = 2). PCNA immunostaining was analyzed on methanol-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver biopsies.

After TIPS, six patients died within the first 3 months, eight other patients died later, two were transplanted, and 12 were alive at the time of analysis. Early death occurred in patients with refractory ascites (5/12) and/or in Child C patients (3/6). Among the evaluated variables, there was a statistical trend for the PCNA-LI to be lower in patients who died early after TIPS than in those having long term survival (1.55% vs 2.65%, p = 0.07). After TIPS insertion, the probability of remaining alive during the first 6 months of follow-up was significantly higher in patients with a preprocedural PCNA-LI > 2.9%.

The PCNA-LI measured on liver biopsy before the TIPS procedure might be a pre-TIPS marker to discriminate those patients for whom TIPS is likely to be beneficial.