Jump to content
 







Main menu
   


Navigation  



Main page
Contents
Current events
Random article
About Wikipedia
Contact us
Donate
 




Contribute  



Help
Learn to edit
Community portal
Recent changes
Upload file
 








Search  

































Create account

Log in
 









Create account
 Log in
 




Pages for logged out editors learn more  



Contributions
Talk
 



















Contents

   



(Top)
 


1 Signs and symptoms  





2 Causes  





3 Mechanism  





4 Diagnosis  





5 Treatment  





6 See also  





7 References  





8 External links  














Portal vein thrombosis






العربية
Azərbaycanca
Deutsch
Español
فارسی
Français
Italiano
עברית
Polski
Português
 

Edit links
 









Article
Talk
 

















Read
Edit
View history
 








Tools
   


Actions  



Read
Edit
View history
 




General  



What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Cite this page
Get shortened URL
Download QR code
Wikidata item
 




Print/export  



Download as PDF
Printable version
 




In other projects  



Wikimedia Commons
 
















Appearance
   

 






From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 


Portal vein thrombosis
Portal vein thrombosis seen with computed tomography.
SpecialtyAngiology Edit this on Wikidata

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a vascular disease of the liver that occurs when a blood clot occurs in the hepatic portal vein, which can lead to increased pressure in the portal vein system and reduced blood supply to the liver. The mortality rate is approximately 1 in 10.[1]

An equivalent clot in the vasculature that exits the liver carrying deoxygenated blood to the right atrium via the inferior vena cava, is known as hepatic vein thrombosisorBudd-Chiari syndrome.[2]

Signs and symptoms[edit]

Portal vein thrombosis causes upper abdominal pain, possibly accompanied by nausea and an enlarged liver and/or spleen; the abdomen may be filled with fluid (ascites).[3] A persistent fever may result from the generalized inflammation.[1] While abdominal pain may come and go if the thrombus forms suddenly, long-standing clot build-up can also develop without causing symptoms, leading to portal hypertension before it is diagnosed.[4][2]

Other symptoms can develop based on the cause. For example, if portal vein thrombosis develops due to liver cirrhosis, bleeding or other signs of liver disease may be present. If portal vein thrombosis develops due to pylephlebitis, signs of infection such as fever, chills, or night sweats may be present.[citation needed]

Causes[edit]

Slowed blood flow due to underlying cirrhosisorcongestive heart failure is often implicated. The prevalence of PVT in patients with cirrhosis is unclear, with a wide variety of incidence claimed by various researchers (estimated to be 1 in 100 by some while others believe it affects nearly 1 in 4).[5]

Thrombophilia (including inherited conditions such as factor V Leiden deficiency, protein C or S deficiency, or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome) is another common cause.[3] Nearly one-third of patients have a myeloproliferative disorder (e.g. polycythemia vera[6] or primary thrombocytosis), most commonly due to a Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene mutation.[1] Oral contraceptive use or pregnancy are other non-inherited tendencies for thrombosis.[citation needed]

Alternatively, the portal vein may be injured as a result of pancreatitis, diverticulitis, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or abdominal surgery/trauma.[3] Red flags for cancerous growth as a cause are elevated alpha fetoprotein levels, portal vein diameter greater than 2.3 cm, pulsatility on Doppler ultrasound imaging, or hyperintense hepatic arterial phase (HAP) on CT scan with contrast.[1]

PVT is also a known complicationofsurgical removal of the spleen.[7] During the last several years, myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) have emerged as a leading systemic cause of splanchnic vein thromboses (which include PVT).[citation needed]

Mechanism[edit]

The main portal vein is formed by the union of the splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein (SMV). It is responsible for approximately three-fourths of the liver’s blood flow, transported from much of the gastrointestinal system as well as the pancreas, gallbladder, and spleen.[3] Cirrhosis alters bleeding pathways thus patients are simultaneously at risk of uncontrolled bleeding and forming clots.[3] A long-standing hindrance in flow as in chronic PVT, also known as portal cavernoma, can cause an increase in the hepatic venous pressure gradient (portal hypertension) and increased blood flow through subsidiary veins.[1] This may lead to ascites or bleeding from varices.[6]

An infected thrombus may become septic, known as pylephlebitis; if blood cultures are positive for growth at this time, the most common organism is Bacteroides.[1]

Diagnosis[edit]

Portal vein thrombosis on computed tomography (left) and cavernous transformation of the portal vein after 1 year (right)

The diagnosis of portal vein thrombosis is usually made with imaging confirming a clot in the portal vein; ultrasound is the least invasive method and the addition of Doppler technique shows a filling defect in blood flow. PVT may be classified as either occlusive or nonocclusive based on evidence of blood flow around the clot.[5] An alternative characterization based on site can be made: Type 1 is limited to the main portal vein, Type 2 involves only a portal vein branch (2a, or 2b if both branches are affected), and Type 3 if clot is found throughout both areas.[8] Determination of condition severity may be derived via computed tomography (CT) with contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or MR angiography (MRA). Those with chronic PVT may undergo upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy, EGD) to evaluate the presence of concurrent dilated veins (varices) in the stomach or esophagus.[3] Other than perhaps slightly elevated transaminases, laboratory tests to evaluate liver function are typically normal.[1] D-dimer levels in the blood may be elevated as a result of fibrin breakdown.[citation needed]

On duplex ultrasound, demonstration of echogenic material within the portal vein, complete or partial absence of colour flow in the portal vein, presence of collateral vessels around the portal vein or gall bladder that bypass the portal vein. [9]

Portal vein thrombosis grading after Yerdel et al

Treatment[edit]

Treatment is aimed at opening the blocked veins to minimize complications; the duration of clot (acute versus chronic) affects treatment. Unless there are underlying reasons why it would be harmful, anticoagulation (low molecular weight heparin, followed by warfarin) is often initiated and maintained in patients who do not have cirrhosis. Anticoagulation for patients with cirrhosis who experience portal vein thrombosis is usually not advised unless they have chronic PVT 1) with thrombophilia, 2) with clot burden in the mesenteric veins, or 3) inadequate blood supply to the bowels.[3] In more severe instances, shunts or a liver transplant may be considered. If blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract has been compromised chronically, surgery may be required to remove dead intestine.[1]

Different considerations are made in the management of PVT in pediatric patients or those who have already received a liver transplant.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i DeLeve LD, Valla DC, Garcia-Tsao G (May 2009). "Vascular disorders of the liver". Hepatology. 49 (5): 1729–1764. doi:10.1002/hep.22772. PMC 6697263. PMID 19399912.
  • ^ a b O'Mara SR, Wiesner L. "Hepatic Disorders". In Tintinalli JE, Ma O, Yealy DM, Meckler GD, Stapczynski J, Cline DM, Thomas SH (eds.). Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide (9 ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
  • ^ a b c d e f g Simonetto DA, Singal AK, Garcia-Tsao G, Caldwell SH, Ahn J, Kamath PS (January 2020). "ACG Clinical Guideline: Disorders of the Hepatic and Mesenteric Circulation". The American Journal of Gastroenterology. 115 (1): 18–40. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000486. PMID 31895720.
  • ^ Hall TC, Garcea G, Metcalfe M, Bilku D, Dennison AR (November 2011). "Management of acute non-cirrhotic and non-malignant portal vein thrombosis: a systematic review". World Journal of Surgery. 35 (11): 2510–2520. doi:10.1007/s00268-011-1198-0. PMID 21882035. S2CID 7518468.
  • ^ a b Nery F, Chevret S, Condat B, de Raucourt E, Boudaoud L, Rautou PE, et al. (February 2015). "Causes and consequences of portal vein thrombosis in 1,243 patients with cirrhosis: results of a longitudinal study". Hepatology. 61 (2): 660–667. doi:10.1002/hep.27546. PMID 25284616.
  • ^ a b Bacon BR. "Cirrhosis and Its Complications". In Jameson J, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Loscalzo J (eds.). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (20 ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
  • ^ Cadili A, de Gara C (May 2008). "Complications of splenectomy". The American Journal of Medicine. 121 (5): 371–5. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.02.014. PMID 18456028.
  • ^ Friedman LS (2020). "Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension". In Papadakis MA, McPhee SJ, Rabow MW (eds.). Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020. McGraw-Hill.
  • ^ Sacerdoti D, Serianni G, Gaiani S, Bolognesi M, Bombonato G, Gatta A (March 2007). "Thrombosis of the portal venous system". Journal of Ultrasound. 10 (1): 12–21. doi:10.1016/j.jus.2007.02.007. PMC 3478708. PMID 23396402.
  • External links[edit]


    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portal_vein_thrombosis&oldid=1112527660"

    Categories: 
    Hepatology
    Vascular diseases
    Diseases of veins, lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes
    Hidden categories: 
    Articles with short description
    Short description is different from Wikidata
    All articles with unsourced statements
    Articles with unsourced statements from February 2021
    Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021
    Commons category link is on Wikidata
     



    This page was last edited on 26 September 2022, at 19:41 (UTC).

    Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.



    Privacy policy

    About Wikipedia

    Disclaimers

    Contact Wikipedia

    Code of Conduct

    Developers

    Statistics

    Cookie statement

    Mobile view



    Wikimedia Foundation
    Powered by MediaWiki