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

Background: This study investigates inflammatory markers and blood microflora in cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT). Aims: This study explores inflammatory markers and microflora in cirrhotic patients with PVT. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.