Analysis of Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors in Patients with Hepatic Hydrothorax: a Single-center Study from China

Overview

Journal BMC Gastroenterol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2022 Jul 7

PMID 35799114

Authors

Bo Ma

Tianling Shang

Jianjie Huang

Zhixin Tu

Yan Wang

Yujin Han

Xiaoyu Wen

Qinglong Jin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The clinical features and factors affecting the prognostic survival of hepatic hydrothorax (HH) are currently unknown.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 131 patients with HH using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to assess factors influencing the prognosis of HH.

Results: A total of 131 patients were enrolled: the male to female ratio was 80:51 (1.59:1), and the mean age was 52.76 ± 11.88 years. Hepatitis B cirrhosis was the main cause of HH, and abdominal distention and dyspnea were the most common clinical signs. Ascites was present in varying amounts in all patients and was the most common decompensated complication, with pleural effusions mostly seen on the right side (107/131; 82%), followed by the left side (16/131; 12%) and bilateral effusions (8/131; 6%). For overall survival without transplantation, the estimated median survival time was 21 (95% confidence interval [CI]:18-25) months, and survival rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years were 77.2%, 62.4%, and 29.7%, respectively. After controlling for covariates that were associated with liver-related mortality in the univariate analysis, males (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.721, 95% CI: 1.114-2.658, P = 0.005) and combined hepatic encephalopathy (HR: 2.016, 95% CI: 1.101-3.693, P = 0.001) were found to be associated with an increase in liver-related mortality.

Conclusions: In this cohort of HH patients without liver transplantation, male sex and hepatic encephalopathy were associated with a higher risk of liver-related death.

Citing Articles

The Impact of Hepatic Hydrothorax on the Outcome of Liver Cirrhosis: A Comparative Study.

Bucurica S, Parola I, Vasile A, Maniu I, Mititelu M J Clin Med. 2025; 14(1.

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Bajaj J, Lai J, Tandon P, OLeary J, Wong F, Garcia-Tsao G Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022; 21(7):1864-1872.e2.

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