The transhepatic endotoxin gradient is present despite liver cirrhosis and is attenuated after transjugular portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

Table 1 Patient characteristics

Patient no	Gender/age	Cause of liver cirrhosis	Indication for TIPS	CPS	AST/ALT (U/l)	MELD Score	CRP (mg/dl)	Lactulose treatment	Systemic antibiotics	Central venous LPS before TIPS (μmol/l)
1	f/60	Alcohol	Ascites, hepatorenal syndrome	C	49/32	11	< 5	y	y	461
2	m/47	Alcohol	Ascites	C	83/60	24	< 5	n	n	915
3	m/66	Alcohol	Ascites, variceal bleeding	B	43/35	13	26	y	n	473
4	m/72	Alcohol	Ascites, partial portal vein thrombosis	A	24/14	7	10	n	n	781
5	m/32	PSC	Varices, partial portal vein thrombosis	A	44/56	10	10	n	n	622
6	f/48	Alcohol	Ascites	B	47/14	17	10	y	n	847
7	f/40	Alcohol	Ascites	B	50/15	7	6	n	n	1190
8	m/59	Alcohol	Recurrent variceal bleeding, hydrothorax	C	36/16	13	12	y	y	2158

Abbreviations: no, number; f, female; m, male; PSC, Primary sclerosing cholangitis; CPS, Child-Pugh Score Class; CRP, c-reactive protein; y, yes; n, no

ISSN: 1471-230X