Figure 2. sTNFR levels in portal and hepatic venous blood before and after TIPS in patients stratified by presence of ascites, bleeding and indication for TIPS.

Patients stratified according to their Child classes before TIPS in (A) and after TIPS in (B) showed high levels of soluble TNFα receptor II in the hepatic vein before TIPS, and soluble TNFα receptor I in the portal vein after TIPS. The levels of sTNFR before (C) and after (D) TIPS in patients with and without ascites. The levels of sTNFR before (E) and after (F) TIPS in patients with recurrent bleeding, refractory ascites or both indications. Mann-Whitney tests were used for comparison between the groups in the portal vein before TIPS, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparison between more than two groups. Data are shown as means +/− standard deviation.