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Clinical Manifestations of Portal Hypertension

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Portal Hypertension

Abstract

Portal hypertension, like systemic arterial hypertension, may be clinically latent and is usually diagnosed under three circumstances. First, in patients with chronic liver disease, clinical evaluation, ultrasound, and endoscopic studies are performed to evaluate the presence and consequences of portal hypertension. Second, portal hypertension may be discovered during esophageal endoscopy, disclosing esophageal varices, or during abdominal ultrasound, showing splenomegaly and portal-systemic collaterals. Third, portal hypertension is often discovered due to its complications, usually ascites or an episode of gastrointestinal bleeding, but rarely hepatic encephalopathy. Less frequent complications are hypoxia, pulmonary arterial hypertension, arterial aneurysms, and alterations in drug disposition (Table 19.1.)

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© 1991 Springer Japan

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Hadengue, A., Lebrec, D., Benhamou, JP. (1991). Clinical Manifestations of Portal Hypertension. In: Okuda, K., Benhamou, JP. (eds) Portal Hypertension. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68361-2_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68361-2_19

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