Ponziani FR, Zocco MA, Campanale C, Rinninella E, Tortora A, Maurizio LD, Bombardieri G, Cristofaro RD, Gaetano AMD, Landolfi R, Gasbarrini A. Portal vein thrombosis: Insight into physiopathology, diagnosis, and treatment. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(2): 143-155 [PMID: 20066733 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i2.143]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Francesca R Ponziani, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy. francesca.ponziani@yahoo.it
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Review
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Iatrogenic (fine needle aspiration of abdominal masses etc.)
Cirrhosis
Preserved liver function with precipitating factors (splenectomy, surgical portosystemic shunting, TIPS dysfunction, thrombophilia)
Advanced disease in the absence of obvious precipitating factors
Table 2 Most frequent systemic risk factors for PVT[3,8,9,17,18,64,79]
Systemic risk factors for PVT (30%)
Inherited
Factor V Leiden mutation
Factor II (prothrombin) mutation
Protein C deficiency
Protein S deficiency
Antithrombin deficiency
Acquired
Myeloproliferative disorder
Antiphospholipid syndrome
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Oral contraceptives
Pregnancy or puerperium
Hyperhomocysteinemia
Malignancy
Table 3 Prevalence of thrombotic risk factors in series of routinely investigated, consecutive adult patients with non tumorous and non cirrhotic, acute or chronic, PVT[126]
Table 4 AASLD recommendations for diagnosis of acute and chronic PVT[126]
AASLD recommendations for diagnosis of acute PVT
AASLD recommendations for diagnosis of chronic PVT
Consider a diagnosis of acute PVT in any patient with abdominal pain of more than 24 h duration, whether or not there is also fever or ileus
Consider a diagnosis of chronic PVT in any patient with newly diagnosed portal hypertension
If acute PVT is suspected, computed tomography (CT) scan, before and after injection of vascular contrast agent, should be obtained for early confirmation of diagnosis. If CT scan is not rapidly available, obtain Doppler-sonography
Obtain Doppler-sonography, then either CT scan or MRI, before and after a vascular contrast agent, to make a diagnosis of chronic PVT
In patients with acute PVT and high fever, septic pylephlebitis should be considered, whether or not an abdominal source of infection has been identified, and blood cultures should be routinely obtained
Base the diagnosis on the absence of a visible normal portal vein and its replacement with serpiginous veins
In acute PVT, the possibility of intestinal infarction should be considered from presentation until resolution of pain. The presence of ascites, thinning of the intestinal wall, lack of mucosal enhancement of the thickened intestinal wall, or the development of multiorgan failure indicate that intestinal infarction is likely and surgical exploration should be considered
Table 5 Intraoperatory grading of PVT extension[17]
Yerdel’s grading
< 50% occlusion of the portal vein
> 50% occlusion of the portal vein (including total occlusion)
Complete thrombosis of both portal and proximal superior mesenteric vein
Complete thrombosis of portal vein and proximal and distal superior mesenteric vein
Citation: Ponziani FR, Zocco MA, Campanale C, Rinninella E, Tortora A, Maurizio LD, Bombardieri G, Cristofaro RD, Gaetano AMD, Landolfi R, Gasbarrini A. Portal vein thrombosis: Insight into physiopathology, diagnosis, and treatment. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(2): 143-155