Risk factors for portal vein thrombosis or venous thromboembolism in a large cohort of hospitalized cirrhotic patients

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are fearsome complications of liver cirrhosis. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and the main risk factors for venous thrombotic complications in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. Patients/methods: We retrospectively reviewed electronic administrative discharge data of 19461 cirrhotic patients hospitalized over a 35-year period; univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to asses risk factors for PVT or VTE and their impact on hospital stay and mortality. Results: 382 out of 7445 patients (5.1%) were diagnosed with PVT and 95 (1.3%) with VTE. Liver cirrhosis complications were observed in 45% of patients. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) (OR 13.88 [10.76–17.98] p < 0.0001), endoscopic signs of portal hypertension (OR 1.33 [1.02–1.75] p = 0.02), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (OR 4.59 [3.6–5.84] p < 0.0001), diabetes (OR 1.68 [1.27–2.22] p = 0.0001), abdominal surgery/invasive procedures (OR 2.03 [1.56–2.64] p < 0.0001) emerged as independent predictors of PVT. Higher risk of VTE was observed in patients with HE (OR 3.21 [1.78–5.79] p < 0.0001), HCC (OR 1.98 [1.23–3.19] p = 0.002) or other tumors (OR 2.48 [1.42–4.32] p = 0.001), acute illnesses (infections OR 3.01 [1.84–5.05] p = 0.0001; cardiac/respiratory insufficiency OR 2.4 [1.27–4.53] p = 0.003; acute myocardial infarction/stroke OR 7.86 [1.76–35.12] p = 0.003). VTE was the only independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 4.45 [1.05–18.81] p = 0.042). Conclusions: Liver disease complications related to portal hypertension, HCC or other tumors, diabetes, acute illnesses (i.e. infections, cardiac/pulmonary insufficiency, acute myocardial infarction/stroke) and abdominal interventions are associated with increased risk of PVT or VTE in hospitalized cirrhotic patients, and should be considered to define personalized preemptive approaches.