What is portal hypertension?
The portal vein is the large blood vessel that brings blood from your intestines to your liver.
Hypertension is a medical term for high blood pressure.
So, portal hypertension is high blood pressure in your portal vein.
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Most people get portal hypertension from cirrhosis (a liver disease in which scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue)
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Portal hypertension is dangerous because it can lead to bleeding in your stomach and esophagus (the tube that connects your throat to your stomach)
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Medicine can lower blood pressure in your portal vein
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You will need emergency treatment if you have bleeding in your stomach and esophagus
What causes portal hypertension?
Portal hypertension is usually caused by:
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Cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis is severe liver scarring. The scarring blocks blood flow in the liver and raises the pressure in the blood vessels that go to the liver. You can get cirrhosis from chronic liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis C and alcoholic liver disease.
What are the complications of portal hypertension?
The main complication is:
The high blood pressure in the portal vein forces blood into other blood vessels. These other blood vessels include those around your stomach and esophagus (the hollow tube that carries food to your stomach). These blood vessels swell up with blood, which makes them bleed easily. Bleeding from these vessels can be severe and even fatal.
What are the symptoms of portal hypertension?
Portal hypertension itself doesn't cause symptoms, but its effects may cause symptoms:
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Swelling and a tight feeling in the belly from fluid building up there (ascites)
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Swollen veins on your belly
If portal hypertension causes bleeding from your stomach and esophagus, you may have:
You may also have symptoms of liver failure such as:
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Jaundice (yellow skin and the whites of the eyes)
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Bleeding and bruising more easily
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Dizziness and confusion (hepatic encephalopathy)
How can doctors tell I have portal hypertension?
Doctors suspect portal hypertension if you have:
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Liver disease, particularly if the liver disease caused cirrhosis
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Swollen veins on your belly
There aren't any specific tests for portal hypertension, but doctors may do tests on your liver, including:
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Blood tests
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Imaging tests such as ultrasound , MRI, or CT scan
If you're bleeding, doctors will look down your throat with a flexible scope (endoscope). The scope will let them see exactly where in your esophagus and stomach the bleeding is coming from. They can then treat the bleeding.
