Study of portal vein thrombosis in patients with idiopathic portal hypertension in Japan. |
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Authors: | Shoichi Matsutani Hitoshi Maruyama Taro Akiike Satoshi Kobayashi Hiroaki Yoshizumi Hidehiro Okugawa Takeshi Fukuzawa Kunio Kimura Hiromitsu Saisho |
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Affiliation: | Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuou-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. matsutani@faculty.chiba-u.jp |
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Abstract: | BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence and clinical manifestations of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients with idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) in Japan during long-term follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with IPH were examined for PVT by sonography during a follow-up of 12+/-6 years. Clinical manifestations and patient outcome related to PVT were studied. Seventy patients with liver cirrhosis were examined by sonography as an incidence control of thrombosis. RESULTS: Nine IPH patients had portal thrombosis (9/22, 41%), a higher incidence than in liver cirrhosis patients (7/70, 10%). Those with thrombosis showed ascites, marked hypersplenism, and low serum albumin. Four patients with thrombosis died. Patients without thrombosis showed less clinical problems after long-term follow-up. Plasma antithrombin III and protein C activity decreased in almost half of the patients. However, there were no differences in these parameters between patients with and without thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: In Japan, IPH patients had a high incidence of portal thrombosis, a significant factor for poor prognosis. Whether the management of PVT contributes to an improvement of a clinical course of IPH or not should be clarified in further study. |
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Keywords: | idiopathic portal hypertension non‐cirrhotic portal hypertension portal vein thrombosis |
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