Portal hypertension: Etiology, evaluation, and management

Structural changes in the portal venous system have been associated with gastrointestinal bleeding as far back as the 17th century.1 The term “portal hypertension” was first used in late 1920s by McIndoe, who found that portal pressures are increased in patients with cirrhosis. An abnormal increase in pressure within the portal venous system, portal hypertention (PHTN) is defined as a hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) greater th an 5mmHg,2 and is clinically significant at 10mmHg.3,4 It is associated with the most severe complications of chronic liver disease such as ascites, bleeding from esophageal varices, and hepatic encephalopathy.

Source: Disease a Month - October 23, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Eula Plana Tetangco, Rogelio Silva, Edgar Lerma Source Type: research