Patent ID: 9494599
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method for determining whether a patient with cirrhosis is at risk of having significant portal hypertension and preventing at least one complication therefrom including ascites, the method comprising: a) quantifying the levels of leuko-endothelial (CD31+/41−) microparticles, pan-leukocyte (CD11a+) microparticles, lymphocyte (CD4+) microparticles, erythrocyte (CD235a+) microparticles and hepatocyte-derived (cytokeratin-18+) microparticles in a blood sample obtained from the patient; b) comparing said levels at step a) with predetermined reference values obtained from subjects with no significant portal hypertension; c) determining an increase in the levels of each of the microparticles quantified at step a) as compared to the predetermined reference values at step b); wherein an increase in the levels of each of the microparticles quantified at step a) as compared to the predetermined reference values at step b) indicates that the patient is at risk of having significant portal hypertension and in need of preventive treatment; and, d) administering the patient with a preventive treatment for the at least one complication including ascites associated with significant portal hypertension or liver transplantation when the patient is determined as being at risk of having significant portal hypertension.