Risk Factors Regarding Portal Vein Thrombosis in Chronic Liver Disease

Abstract

The portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is one of the most frequent vascular diseases of the liver, with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The most common causes of the PVT are hepatic cirrhosis, hepatobiliary neoplasms, inflammatory and infectious abdominal diseases, and myeloproliferative syndromes.(1,2) The natural progress of the PVT has as a result portal hypertension which leads to splenomegaly and the formation of portosystemic collateral vessels, as well as gastroesophageal, duodenal and jejunal varices. Ultrasonography, especially Doppler ultrasound, is the most widely used imaging method to asses, supervise and diagnose PVT in patients with hepatopathies. The purpose of acute PVT treatment is to re-permeabilize the obstructed vessels; the endoscopic ligature of the varices in the eventuality of their rupture is safe and extremely efficient in chronic PVT. To conclude, PVT is the most common hepatic vascular disorder, and its prevalence has increased particularly among the patients with chronic hepatopathies.(3)