Portal Hypertension

Question 1

What is portal hypertension?

Answer 1

Portal hypertension is an increase in the blood pressure within a system of veins called the portal venous system.

Question 2

What are the risk factors of portal hypertension?

Answer 2

> Cirrhosis (Alcohol use)
> Hepatitis (IVDU, Tattoos, old blood) 
> Thrombosis in portal system
> Schistosomiasis
> focal nodular hyperplasia (HIV- unprotected sex, multiple partners)

Question 3

What is the epidemiology of portal hypertension?

Answer 3

The incidence of portal hypertension is approximately 25,000 cases per 100,000 individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

The incidence of idiopathic portal hypertension is approximately 14,000-27,000 cases per 100,000 individuals with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension

Question 4

What are the signs and symptoms of portal hypertension?

Answer 4

> GI bleeding symptoms (melaena, haematemesis, haematochezia)
> Ascites
> Encephalopathy
> Reduced clotting ability 
> Leucopenia

Question 5

What are the investigations for portal hypertension?

Answer 5

Abdo US
CT Abdo
Endscope

Question 6

How do you manage portal hypertension?

Answer 6

> Lifestyle advice
beta blockers
Diuretics (ascites)
Sclerotherapy

Question 7

What are the complications of portal hypertension?

Answer 7

> Portal hypertensive gastropathy

> TIPSS problems

Question 8

What is the prognosis of patient with portal hypertension?

Answer 8

You can’t reverse damage caused by cirrhosis, but you can treat portal hypertension