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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Measurement of the Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Transjugular Liver Biopsy
Published on: June 18, 2020
Clinical relevance of transjugular liver biopsy in comparison with percutaneous and laparoscopic liver biopsy
Max G Beckmann1, Matthias J Bahr, Johannes Hadem
1Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medical School Hannover, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
Background:
Transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) is frequently used to obtain liver specimens in high-risk patients. However, TJLB sample size possibly limits their clinical relevance.
Methods:
102 patients that underwent TJLB were included. Clinical parameters and outcome of TJLB were analyzed. Control samples consisted of 112 minilaparoscopic liver biopsies (mLLBs) and 100 percutaneous liver biopsies (PLBs).
Results:
Fewer portal tracts were detected in TJLB (4.3 +/- 0.3) in comparison with PLB (11.7 +/- 0.5) and mLLB (11.0 +/- 0.6). No difference regarding the specification of indeterminate liver disease and staging/grading of chronic hepatitis was observed. In acute liver failure (n = 32), a proportion of hepatocellular necrosis beyond 25% was associated with a higher rate of death or liver transplantation.
Conclusions:
Despite smaller biopsy samples the impact on the clinical decision process was found to be comparable to PLB and mLLB. TJLB represents a helpful tool to determine hepatocellular necrosis rates in patients with acute liver failure.
