Portal hypertension (PH) is defined as an increased hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and represents a common complication of liver cirrhosis.
The pathophysiology behind developing
portal hypertension (PH) is believed to be related to scarring in the liver parenchymal disease, the increased production of vasoconstrictor (endothelins, angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and thromboxane A2), and a decrease in secretion of endothelial vasodilators.
Ongoing hepatic inflammation may lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately
portal hypertension, which may be complicated by ascites, variceal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy.
A major cause of morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis is the development of variceal bleeding, a direct consequence of
portal hypertension.
Portal hypertension occurs when hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is above 5 mmHg, but the main complications are clinically expressed when it exceeds 10 mmHg.
When PAH occurs in the setting of
portal hypertension, the condition is termed "portopulmonary hypertension" (PoPH).
Idiopathic noncirrhotic
portal hypertension (INCPH) has many etiologies, but a common denominator is vascular resistance at various locations that include the intrahepatic sinusoidal and presinusoidal as well as extrahepatic portal and hepatic veins [1].
reported that surgery for
portal hypertension resulted in remission of the nephrotic syndrome in a patient with hepatic glomerulosclerosis [14].
Similar to esophageal and gastric varices, they are commonly related to
portal hypertension and can cause clinically significant hemorrhage.
Nonpregnancy-related causes of genital varicosities include
portal hypertension and Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome [7-10].
Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is observed in about 2.1–16.2% patients with liver cirrhosis,[sup][2] which may aggravate
portal hypertension. If RHH and PVT are combined in a cirrhotic patient, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) may be a reasonable intervention.[sup][3] However, no such successful case has been reported.
All the causes of UGIB were associated with alcohol consumption, and smoking was most commonly related to
portal hypertension (n=11) followed by gastritis (n=2) and peptic ulcer (n=2).
The inflammation can result in fibrosis (scarring) of the liver and eventually lead to complications such as cirrhosis,
portal hypertension, liver cancer and liver failure.