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Causes of Non-Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension

Portal hypertension occurs when a patient's blood pressure rises above normal levels in the hepatic circulation of the iver. When doctors indicate that this condition is non-cirrhotic, the rise in blood pressure is not related to cirrhosis, a disease that involves scarring of the liver. If portal hypertension is left untreated, patients may develop ascites, a condition in which fluid accumulates in the abdomen, leading to significant swelling and pain. Although liver problems most commonly cause portal hypertension, a range of other problems can also lead to this condition, particularly in non-western countries.

  1. Thrombosis

    • Thrombosis occurs when blood cannot flow through a vein in the body, leading to clotting, swelling and pain. Portal-vein thrombosis may lead to portal hypertension, damaging the spleen and causing intestinal problems due to the inability of the portal vein to drain excess blood from the region. Portal-vein thrombosis may occur either suddenly or worsen gradually over an extended period of time, leading to chronic portal-vein hypertension.

    Schistosoma Infections

    • Schistosoma is more common in developing countries than in the West, as it is an infection caused by drinking water contaminated with parasitic worms. This ailment may cause portal hypertension due to the infestation of worms in the patient's intestines, and can cause kidney and spleen damage as well. In order to treat portal hypertension caused by schistosoma, doctors must first address the underlying sickness, using a drug called Praziquantel. According to the World Health Organization, 85 percent of the approximately 207 million people affected by schistosoma live in Africa.

    Blood Disorders

    • Blood disorders may cause non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, and myeloproliferative disorder is the most common underlying condition that obstructs the flow of blood in this abdominal vessel. This disorder occurs when the production of both red and white blood cells in a patient's bone marrow becomes abnormally rapid. The overproduction of platelets in particular leads to blood clots over time; these can block the portal vein, leading to an increase in the patient's portal blood pressure. Myeloproliferative disorder may only be cured with a bone-marrow transplant, but doctors often aim to control the symptoms and slow down abnormal growth by actually removing blood from the patient.

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