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World J Hepatol. Oct 27, 2026; 18(10): 124666
Published online Oct 27, 2026. doi: 10.4254/wjh.124666
Published online Oct 27, 2026. doi: 10.4254/wjh.124666
Gut microbiome in patients with cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension: A pilot study
Giuseppe Colucci, Sonia Stella, Martina Lucà, Giulia Tosetti, Roberta D’Ambrosio, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, IRCCS Fondazione Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Poli
Andrea Castagnetti, Laura Di Rito, Wellmicro Laboratories, Bologna 40100, Italy
Pietro Lampertico, CRC “A. M. and A. Migliavacca”, Center for Liver Disease, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan 20122, Italy
Co-first authors: Giuseppe Colucci and Sonia Stella.
Author contributions: Colucci G designed and coordinated the research study, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript; Stella S collected and managed fecal samples; Colucci G and Stella S contributed equally to this article, they are the co-first authors of this manuscript; Castagnetti A and Di Rito L performed the research and provided experimental results; Lucà M and Tosetti G selected patients and collected clinical data; D’Ambrosio R and Lampertico P reviewed the data and the manuscript; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: No AI has ever been used in this study design, implementation and analysis.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Comitato Etico Milano Area 2, approval No. 1037_2022.
Clinical trial registration statement: Not applicable.
Informed consent statement: The subjects have signed the informed consent form.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CONSORT 2010 statement: The authors have read the CONSORT 2010 Statement, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CONSORT 2010 Statement.
Data sharing statement: All data can be shared as for the Journal SOP.
Corresponding author: Giuseppe Colucci, MD, Associate Research Scientist, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, IRCCS Fondazione Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Poli
Received: June 26, 2026
Revised: August 1, 2026
Accepted: September 20, 2026
Published online: October 27, 2026
Processing time: 117 Days and 17.9 Hours
Revised: August 1, 2026
Accepted: September 20, 2026
Published online: October 27, 2026
Processing time: 117 Days and 17.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: The gut-liver axis is affected in cirrhosis with clinically significant portal hypertension and may contribute to disease progression and liver decompensation. In a group of patients recruited in a pilot study, we detected significant differences in the intestinal microbiota and mycobiota compared to healthy controls, including the presence of specific pathobionts. Dietary modifications and the supplementation of specific pre and probiotics may help preventing disease progression in patients with cirrhosis and clinically significant portal hypertension.