Transjugular diagnostic procedures in hepatology: Indications, techniques and interpretation

Measurement of the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and transjugular liver biopsy have emerged as important tools in clinical hepatology. Measurement of HVPG is considered the gold standard for detecting clinically significant portal hypertension, with an HVPG of ≥10 mmHg being the key prognostic threshold in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD; compensated cirrhosis). A transjugular liver biopsy can be obtained within the same procedure and may be preferred over percutaneous liver biopsy in patients with coagulopathy, ascites and/or significant obesity. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided procedures are currently under investigation and require standardisation. This article summarises critical technical aspects of HVPG measurements and transjugular liver biopsy and provides a detailed overview of their current role in the context of emerging non-invasive tests and endoscopic approaches.