Diabetes Mellitus is a Risk Factor for Hepatic Encephalopathy Following Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement effectively decreases portal pressure in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. However, many patients develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE) post-TIPS. We investigated the relation between the presence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and the occurrence of HE following TIPS placement in patients with cirrhosis.

In this retrospective cohort study all patients with cirrhosis who received a TIPS from 2007 through 2021 were included. Baseline characteristics and decompensating events including hospital admission for HE were recorded. In cases where hospital admission was required, HE was considered severe.

In total, 325 patients were included and 113 (34.8%) had DM at the time of TIPS placement. One hundred and fifty-one patients developed HE of whom 86 (57.0%) were hospitalised. The cumulative 6-month incidences of HE and severe HE were 45.2% (95% CI 39.5-51.8) and 25.1% (95% CI 20.2-31.3), respectively. Multivariable Cox regression with competing risk analyses demonstrated that DM was independently associated with the risk of both HE (aHR 1.56, 95% CI 1.08-2.26, p = 0.018) and severe HE (aHR 1.76, 95% CI 1.07-2.90, p = 0.026). These associations were independent of the relation between HE and age (aHR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05, p < 0.001) or MELD-Na score (aHR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.10, p < 0.001).

This study highlights the high incidence of HE following TIPS and shows that DM is a significant and independent risk factor for the development of HE. Given the increase in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated liver cirrhosis and DM, this study offers additional insights into the balance of risks and benefits associated with TIPS placement.