Korean J Med.  2008 Sep;75(3):337-342.

Recurrent portal and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis in a patient with idiopathic portal hypertension

• Rim KN
• Sohn JH
• Kim HS
• Kim TY
• Eun CS
• Jeon YC
• Han DS

Abstract

Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is characterized by portal hypertension and splenomegaly without portal vein obstruction or significant liver disease. Although IPH may occasionally be accompanied by portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis (EHPVT), recurrent PVT and EHPVT are very rare in IPH. Herein, we report the case of a 30-year-old male who developed IPH with recurrent PVT and EHPVT. Eleven years earlier, the patient had undergone splenectomy and endoscopic sclerotherapy due to hypersplenism and esophageal variceal bleeding, respectively. Ten years earlier, the patient had suffered recurrent esophageal variceal bleeding, which was treated via band ligation, and was diagnosed with IPH via portography and liver biopsy. Then, 8 years prior to presentation, the patient complained of acute abdominal pain and was diagnosed with PVT and EHPVT. After a 6-month course of anticoagulation therapy, the PVT and EHPVT resolved completely. However, 8 years later, he complained again of abdominal pain and was diagnosed with recurrent PVT and EHPVT.

Keyword

Anticoagulation; Idiopathic portal hypertension; Portal vein thrombosis; Superior mesenteric vein thrombosis

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adult
Biopsy
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hypersplenism
Hypertension, Portal
Ligation
Liver
Liver Cirrhosis
Liver Diseases
Male
Mesenteric Veins
Pancytopenia
Portal Vein
Portography
Sclerotherapy
Splenectomy
Splenomegaly
Thrombosis
Hypertension, Portal
Liver Cirrhosis
Pancytopenia
Splenomegaly