Long-term hematological and biochemical effects of partial splenic embolization in hepatic cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Partial splenic embolization was developed as a non-surgical treatment for hypersplenism, but recently splenic embolization has been reported to improve the hepatic function. We undertook long-term evaluation of partial splenic embolization in patients with hepatic cirrhosis in comparison with patients not undergoing embolization.

METHODOLOGY: We performed embolization in 26 patients with cirrhosis. The controls consisted of 26 with cirrhosis patients who were not undergone embolization.

RESULTS

Red blood cell counts of embolized patients had increased significantly at 6 months after the procedure, remaining increased for up to 7.5 years. Platelet counts increased maximally by 2 weeks after embolization, followed by a gradual decrease. Nonetheless, platelets remained significantly more numerous than before embolization for up to 8 years. Neither aspartate aminotransferase nor alanine aminotransferase activities in serum changed significantly during follow-up. Choline esterase activity increased significantly by 6 months after embolization and remained increased for more than 7 years. Serum albumin concentration increased significantly, beginning at 6 months after embolization; this increase was maintained for 6 years. Survival did not differ between embolized and non-embolized groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Partial splenic embolization is a beneficial non-surgical treatment that enhances hepatic protein synthetic capacity as well as alleviating hypersplenism in patients with cirrhosis.