Insights and future directions in studying intestinal microbiota post-transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for hepatitis B virus-related portal hypertension

Core Tip

Core Tip: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection promotes cirrhosis in China, causing changes in the gut microbiota (GM) in patients with portal hypertension (PH) GM linked to hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Although a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is used to treat PH complications, postoperative HE persists. A recent study explored GM dynamics in patients with HBV-PH post-TIPS and found higher GM synergism in patients without HE than that in those with HE, suggesting it may predict post-TIPS HE risk. However, limitations, such as small sample size, short follow-up, single fecal sampling, and lack of comprehensive analysis of the flora-HBV clinical interplay exist. Future research should prioritize addressing these issues to validate our findings and assess personalized microbiome therapies for post-TIPS HE.