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Portal hypertension and hepatic sinusoidal Ulex lectin binding
M S Tsui1, A Burroughs, P A McCormick
1Department of Histopathology, Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Journal of Hepatology
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Ulex europaeus 1 lectin (UEA1) binding indicates liver sinusoidal changes in portal hypertension. While not directly correlating with pressure gradients, UEA1 aids in diagnosing cirrhosis and identifying patients at lower risk for variceal bleeding.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Pathology
Background:
- Ulex europaeus 1 lectin (UEA1) binds to hepatic sinusoidal endothelium in cirrhotic livers.
- Portal hypertension is a critical complication of chronic liver disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between UEA1 sinusoidal binding and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in patients with portal hypertension.
- To assess UEA1 binding as a diagnostic marker in cirrhosis.
Main Methods:
- Examined 21 liver specimens (18 from alcoholic cirrhosis patients) for UEA1 binding.
- Compared UEA1 staining patterns with HVPG measurements obtained within one month of biopsy.
Main Results:
- 81% (17/21) of specimens showed positive UEA1 binding.
- Staining intensity/extent did not strongly correlate with HVPG.
- Three of four negative cases had low HVPG, a range rarely associated with variceal bleeding.
Conclusions:
- UEA1 is a valuable marker for sinusoidal alterations in portal hypertension.
- UEA1 serves as a helpful adjunct in the histological diagnosis of cirrhosis.
- UEA1 negativity may suggest a lower risk of variceal bleeding.