Ultrasound Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ultrasound, including details on screening, diagnosis, pregnancy, detection.

Science to practice: Noninvasive assessment of portal hypertension--can US aid in the prediction of portal pressure and monitoring of therapy?

Halpern EJ

Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Jefferson Prostate Diagnostic Center, 132 S 10th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5244, USA. ethan.halpern@jefferson.edu

A method that could be used to accurately assess portal venous pressure would be valuable when diagnosing portal hypertension, evaluating patient prognosis, and monitoring the progress of therapy. Baik et al have suggested that a qualitative noninvasive Doppler US parameter can be used to monitor therapy of portal hypertension. Further clinical investigation is needed to confirm these results and to determine whether hepatic venous Doppler waveform tracings can be used to monitor patient response to therapy. Ongoing research suggests that microbubble contrast agents may enable a more quantitative noninvasive estimate of intravascular pressures with US.

Published 25 July 2006 in Radiology, 240(2): 309-10.
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