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** The result is the force which is generated by the variceal wall opposing further dilation
** The result is the force which is generated by the variceal wall opposing further dilation
* When the wall tension over comes the elastic limit of the varices, rupture occurs<ref name="pmid23193482">{{cite journal |vauthors=Hilzenrat N, Sherker AH |title=Esophageal varices: pathophysiology, approach, and clinical dilemmas |journal=Int J Hepatol |volume=2012 |issue= |pages=795063 |year=2012 |pmid=23193482 |pmc=3501997 |doi=10.1155/2012/795063 |url=}}</ref>
* When the wall tension over comes the elastic limit of the varices, rupture occurs<ref name="pmid23193482">{{cite journal |vauthors=Hilzenrat N, Sherker AH |title=Esophageal varices: pathophysiology, approach, and clinical dilemmas |journal=Int J Hepatol |volume=2012 |issue= |pages=795063 |year=2012 |pmid=23193482 |pmc=3501997 |doi=10.1155/2012/795063 |url=}}</ref>
=== Gastric varices ===
Gastric varices may form secondary to chronic liver disease or splenic vein obstruction; splenic vein obstruction may be caused by pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocysts, pancreatic carcinoma, other retroperitoneal tumors, or intrinsic thrombosis of the splenic vein
'''Vascular architecture and venous drainage of stomach'''
* Gastric varices consist of dilated veins present in the submucosa of the stomach in areas of port-caval anastomosis (fundus and cardia)
*
* They are supplied by the left gastric vein (cardiac branch), which enters the stomach wall in the cardia at a point 2 to 3 cm from the esophagogastric junction, sending out many branches that are distributed in the cardia


==Associated Conditions==
==Associated Conditions==

Revision as of 16:42, 21 November 2017

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

Overview

Pathophysiology

Varices arise from hemodynamic disturbance between the systemic and portal venous system. The majority of venous drainage of the gastrointestinal system occurs via the portal venous system. Whenever there is an interruption of drainage through the portal system (for example due to cirrhosis), the vessels contributing to the porto-caval shunts become more prominent due to increased pressure gradient. The interruption in blood flow leads to the creation collateral vessels that involve veins of the esophagus, stomach, pelvis (hemorrhoids), retroperitoneum, liver, abdominal wall, and other areas.[1][2]

Esophageal varices

Esophageal varices are a major complication of portal hypertension (increased blood pressure in the portal venous system). In order to understand the mechanism leading to the development of esophageal varices, it is important to understand the normal vascular architecture and venous drainage of the esophagus.[3]

Vascular architecture and venous drainage of esophagus

  • Vascular resistance increases against portal blood flow in cirrhosis, noncirrhotic portal fibrosis, idiopathic portal hypertension, extrahepatic portal vein obstruction, Budd-Chiari syndrome, and other portal hypertensive disorders, inducing congestion of blood in the splenic and mesenteric veins that lie upstream of the portal trunk[4][5][6]
  • The major vessels draining blood from the esophagus include, the left gastric (coronary) and less frequently short gastric veins[7][8]

Porto-caval collaterals in esophagus

  • Portal hypertension develops due to the formation of porto-collateral circulation[9]
  • Dilatation and hypertrophy of preexisting vascular channels lead to the formation of these collateral channels[10]
  • Collaterals develop according to the increased portal pressure, and minimum threshold level of hepatic-venous portal geadient may be 10 mmHg for the development of portosystemic collaterals and esophageal varices[11]

Role of hepatic vasodilators

(a) Nitric Oxide (NO)

  • Nitric oxide (NO) acts as an intra-hepatic vasodilator[12][13]
  • The levels of NO are decreased in patients suffering from chronic liver disease[14]
  • This leads to an imbalance between the endogenous vasodilators and vasoconstrictors inside the hepatic vascular tree
  • Reduced levels of hepatic NO production may contribute to the increased intrahepatic vascular resistance in cirrhosis, thereby worsening portal hypertension[15]
  • NO-dependent apoptosis maintains the hepatic sinusoidal homeostasis
  • NO also leads to apoptosis of hepatic stellate cell through a signaling mechanism that involves mitochondria, and a decreased level of NO may lead to a disturbance of the intra-hepatic homeostasis[16]

(b) Glucagon

  • Glucagon is a hormonal vasodilator which is associated with increased blood flow in the splanchnic bed and portal hypertension[17]
  • Plasma glucagon levels are increased in cirrhotic patients due to decreased hepatic clearance of glucagon as well as an increased secretion of glucagon by pancreatic alpha cells[17][18] 
  • Hyperglucagonemia may play a part in splanchnic vasodilatation of chronic portal hypertension[19][20][21]

(c) Prostacyclin

  • Prostacyclin is an endogenous vasodilator[22][23]
  • Prostacyclin levels are inversely related to the size of varices[24][25]
  • Decreased prostacyclin levels are found in cirrhotic patients

Role of hepatic vasoconstrictors

(a) Endothelin

  • Endothelin is involved in changes in the vascular tone in cirrhotic patients[26]
  • Endothelin leads to increased vascular tone (vasocontriction)
  • Endothelin 1 and endothelin 3 are increased in cirrhosis[27][28]

(b) Angiotensin II

  • Angiotensin II leads to increased intraportal resistance via vasoconstriction[29]

(c) Norepinephrine

  • Norepinephrine is also a vasoconstrictor, which controls the intrahepatic vascular tone, including portal vessels[30][31]

Role of endothelial dysfunction

  • Vascular endothelium harbors a number of vasocontrictive substance such as, prostaglandin H2(PGH2), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and anion superoxide,which contribute to portal hypertension[32]
  • Cirrhosis leads to endothelial dysfunction[33]
  • Increased production of prostanoids, most likely thromboxane A2 (TXA2) has been known to be associated with endothelial dysfunction[34]

Mechanism leading to variceal rupture

  • The wall tension of the vessel determines if there will be rupture of the varices[35]
  • The wall tension depends upon the variceal pressure, luminal pressure and radius of the vessel[35]
  • The wall tension is calculated by using the “Lapace's law”:
    • Wall tension = (variceal pressure – luminal pressure) × radius/thickening of variceal wall.
    • The result is the force which is generated by the variceal wall opposing further dilation
  • When the wall tension over comes the elastic limit of the varices, rupture occurs[36]

Gastric varices

Gastric varices may form secondary to chronic liver disease or splenic vein obstruction; splenic vein obstruction may be caused by pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocysts, pancreatic carcinoma, other retroperitoneal tumors, or intrinsic thrombosis of the splenic vein

Vascular architecture and venous drainage of stomach

  • Gastric varices consist of dilated veins present in the submucosa of the stomach in areas of port-caval anastomosis (fundus and cardia)
  • They are supplied by the left gastric vein (cardiac branch), which enters the stomach wall in the cardia at a point 2 to 3 cm from the esophagogastric junction, sending out many branches that are distributed in the cardia

Associated Conditions

Genetics

Gross Pathology

Microscopic Pathology

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