Portal
Hypertension:
How common is it?
The
portal hypertension is not a very
common disorder but it
can affect anyone, especially
the older people. People who have diseases of the liver are the ones
who usually suffer from a portal high blood pressure. If left
untreated, it can impose a threat to one's health.
Portal
hypertension, from the word itself, is a hypertensive state of
the portal vein. Meaning to say, there is an increase of pressure in
that area. The portal vein is the vein that is responsible for carrying
blood from the organs of digestion, such as the stomach, pancreas,
intestine, and spleen, to the liver. The normal portal
pressure is between 5 to 10 mm Hg. It is said to be portal
high blood pressure when the pressure already exceeds 25 mm Hg.
The most common cause
is a damage of the liver,
such as the liver cirrhosis and hepatitis. The damaged liver tends to
heal itself. As a result of the healing process, scar tissues develop
in the liver, which can obstruct the blood flow in the portal vein.
Once the blood flow has been obstructed, the blood pressure in that
specific area rises. People who frequently abuse alcohol are more prone
to this type of disorder. Other cause is the presence of thrombosis or
a blood clot in the portal vein.
The most common presenting symptoms is ascites, which can
cause rapid
weight gain and an increase in the abdominal girth. The affected person
often feels uncomfortable due to the enlarged abdomen and may be short
of breath. Distended veins may be visible over the person's abdominal
wall. Also, electrolyte and fluid imbalances are common.
When the condition has already complicated, the affected person will
suffer from
gastrointestinal bleeding, which
can be manifested by the presence of blood in the stool, black tarry
stool or even vomiting of blood. This happens when the veins rupture
due to high pressure. Also, because of the diversion of blood flow away
from the liver and poor liver function, the person may experience
forgetfulness, confusion, and encephalopathy. Since the person is
having an infection, blood counts may reveal a decrease in the level of
white blood cells and platelets.
The physician will access the presence of ascites through the
percussion of the abdomen. They will also check for the presence of
dilated veins in the abdomen or behind. Laboratory tests that can
assist
in the diagnosis of the condition are endoscopy, x-ray of the abdominal
area and complete blood count.
Most commonly used treatments for portal hypertension are:
-
endoscopic
therapy
-
medications
-
dietary
changes
-
radiology
- surgery
The
first line of treatment is usually the endoscopic therapy, which is
used for the variceal bleeding. Medications are beta-blockers and
diuretics to help lower down the pressure in the veins. It is necessary
to modify the person's nutritional habit, such as the avoidance of
alcohol and sodium-rich foods.
Since the major factor that can damage to the liver is the intake
of alcohol, then it becomes necessary to limit alcohol consumption in
order to prevent the development of portal high blood pressure.
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