Comparison of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with and without liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Objectives

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in patients has been well-characterized in liver cirrhosis but studies on lower GIB are limited. The clinical characteristics, management and outcomes in patients with and without liver cirrhosis was compared to determine the overall features of GIB in patients with liver cirrhosis compared with non-cirrhotics.

Methods

A retrospective study on cirrhotics hospitalized for GIB 2010–2021, matched with control group of non-cirrhotics (1:4) for upper vs. lower GIB. Patients with overt bleeding leading to hospitalization were included.

Results

Overall, 396 patients had cirrhosis, 267 (67%) men, median age 62, alcoholic etiology 177/396 (45%), median MELD 12 (range 6–32). Overall 102 cirrhotics had GIB, matched with 391 non-cirrhotics. Overall 87 (85%) cirrhotic patients had upper and 15% lower GIB. Compared to non-cirrhotics, the cause of GIB was more commonly acute variceal bleeding (AVB) (42% vs. 1%), hemorrhoids 40% vs. 6% (p = 0.002), less commonly gastric ulcer 13% vs. 31% (p < 0.001), duodenal ulcer 9% vs. 29% (p < 0.001), 5% of cirrhotics used NSAIDs vs. 26% of controls (p < 0.001). Rebleeding occurred in 14% of cirrhotics vs. 3% in controls (p < 0.001). Only one cirrhotic patient (1%) died from GIB vs. 0.8% of controls within 45 days. Overall mortality 45 days after hospitalization was 10% in cirrhotics vs. 5% in controls (p < 0.001)

Conclusions

Bleeding from gastric and duodenal ulcers were less common in cirrhotics than in controls. Bleeding from hemorrhoids was more common in cirrhotics. Mortality due to GIB was low in both groups but overall mortality was significantly higher in cirrhotics.

Keywords:

• liver cirrhosis
• gastrointestinal bleeding
• esophageal varices
• peptic ulcer bleeding
• lower gastrointestinal bleeding

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Lilja Thorkelsdottir med. secretary for expert secretarial assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

A grant from the research committee of the Landspítali University Hospital Reykjavik Iceland was received for this study.