Somatotype and portal hypertension: the role of the constitution in clinical practice

Background: Portal hypertension in patients with chronic liver diseases causes a number of complications that lead to significant mortality of patients. In this regard, the most urgent issue is the study of prognostic factors of the development of PG, one of which is the constitutional features of the organism (somatotypes). Aim: To assess the importance of constitutional features of the body in the development of portal hypertension. Material and methods: 46 patients with the established diagnosis of "Cirrhosis of the liver" who were treated at the University Clinical Hospital No.2 Sechenov University. Calculation of endo- (ENDO) and mesomorphy (MESO) scores, as well as assessment of the somatotype by Hit-Carter and visualization of data on the somatogram were carried out using the ABC-01 "Medass" software (STC Medass, Russia). Diagnosis of PG was carried out using ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the abdominal cavity and retroperitoneal space. Results: The diameter (D) of the splenic vein 7 mm was in 17/18 men and 23/28 women. Portal vein D 13 mm was in 8/18 men and 12/28 women. Mesoendomorphic somatotype was the most common among the examined women, and endomesomorphic among men. More than half (n=9, 52.9%) of men with splenic vein D were more than normal related to the endomesomorphic somatotype, while the predominant part of women (n=18, 78.3%) were mesoendomorphic. Similar results were obtained in the study of patients with portal vein D more than normal: endomesomorphic somatotype prevailed among men (n=5, 62.5%), mesoendomorphic among women (n=10, 83.3%). An average positive statistically significant correlation was found between portal vein D (mm) and endomorphy score (r = 0.30593, p-value = 0.03867). Conclusion: Portal hypertension is caused by the constitutional features of the body. People with a pronounced endomorphic component may have a tendency to develop cirrhosis of the liver and portal hypertension. Prevention of this disease can be achieved by reducing the level of adipose tissue, increasing muscle mass and adherence to a healthy lifestyle.