# Comparison of inflammatory markers and microflora in cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis: a retrospective study

## TL;DR

This study found higher inflammation and specific bacteria in the portal blood of cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis.

## Contribution

The study identifies elevated inflammatory markers and specific bacterial enrichment in portal vein blood of cirrhotic patients with PVT.

## Key findings

- Cirrhotic patients with PVT had higher portal vein LPS, IL-6, TNFα, and sNox2-dp compared to non-PVT patients.
- Pseudomonas and Microbacteriaceae were enriched in PVT portal blood, while certain bacteria correlated with inflammation and D-dimer levels.
- No differences in peripheral blood markers suggest localized portal vein inflammation in PVT patients.

## Abstract

This study investigates inflammatory markers and blood microflora in cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT).

This study explores inflammatory markers and microflora in cirrhotic patients with PVT.

This retrospective study at Hebei General Hospital between September 2021 and December 2023 categorized patients into PVT and non-PVT groups. Portal and peripheral vein blood samples were collected during TIPS procedure, with inflammatory markers LPS, IL-6, IL-8, TNFα and sNox2-dp tested via ELISA and 16SrRNA sequencing of blood microflora.

The study included 28 cirrhotic patients: 12 in PVT group (5 males, mean age: 55.8 ± 11.2) and 16 in non-PVT group (13 males, mean age: 54.3 ± 13.6). Groups showed no differences in age, gender, or BMI(P > 0.05), but D-dimer levels were higher in PVT group (P < 0.05). Portal vein blood in PVT patients showed elevated LPS (34.42 vs. 13.59 pg/mL), IL-6 (38.46 vs. 18.76 pg/mL), TNFα (46.74 vs. 18.92 pg/mL), and sNox2-dp (13.03 vs. 5.13 pg/mL) vs. non-PVT patients (P < 0.05), with no peripheral blood differences.

Pseudomonas and Microbacteriaceae were enriched in PVT portal blood. Rolstonia, Clostridium, Phenylobacterium, and Streptococcus correlated with LPS and IL-6 (P < 0.05), while Phenylobacterium linked to D-dimer (P < 0.05). Cirrhotic patients with PVT show higher portal vein inflammatory markers due to bacterial translocation.