Background/Aim. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with liver cirrhosis
(LC) has a prevalence of 0.6- 26%. It is most commonly discovered
incidentally as part of the evaluation of LC or in the context of acute
decompensation of LC due to portal hypertension. The aim of the study was to
determine the prevalence of PVT in patients with LC in relation to the
severity of the disease and individual elements of portal hypertension.
Methods. A total of 326 patients treated for LC decompensation were included
in a retrospective study. Standard laboratory analyses, abdominal
ultrasonography and/or computed tomography, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy
were performed. Results. The diameter of the portal vein (PV) differed
between patients without esophageal varices (12.2 mm) and those with large
varices (13.6 mm), p = 0.026. PVT was identified in 6.1% of patients with
LC. The patients were classified according to the Child-Pugh scoring system,
which has the A, B, and C categories used to assess the severity of liver
disease. PVT was present in 3.0% of patients in class C and 12.0% in class
B, while none of the patients in class A had PVT (p = 0.005). PVT was
present in 4.4% of patients with small varices and 16.7% with large varices
(p < 0.001). There was no difference in the presence of PVT between the
groups of patients with and without variceal bleeding nor between groups
with different degrees of ascites. A fatal outcome occurred in 29.4% of
patients, but there was no difference between patients with and without PVT.
Conclusion. PVT is present in more advanced stages of LC and predominantly
in patients with large esophageal varices. There was no higher prevalence of
PVT observed with the occurrence of variceal bleeding or with the death
outcome in patients with LC.