This is not a disease, but a medical condition as a consequence of a pathological state of abdominal circulation.

•  What causes it?
•  What is the liver´s role?
•  Which is the treatment?

The liver receives all circulation from the alimentary canal and dependent glands. The vein that carries blood is called Portal Vein . The liver, then acts as a depuration “filter” of accumulated toxins in blood. Different diseases affecting the liver progressively modify its structure. A clear example is the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol completely metabolizes in the liver and its excessive consumption causes changes in it. It starts by enlarging the liver beyond its normal size (hepatomegaly), accumulating excessive fat in its tissue (fatty degeneration) and finally causing fibrosis (cirrhosis) and the progressive reduction of the liver´s size. Fibrosis gradually obstructs intrahepatic circulation, increases liver´s resistance to circulating blood flow and consequently leads to an increase in pressure of the whole portal vein system: portal hypertension

There are diverse clinical manifestations of this medical condition: varices in the esophagus and stomach, expansion of abdominal veins, increase of toxic substances in blood, etc. all of these affecting intellectual functions and causing somnolence, mental slowness and disorientation (hepatic encephalopathy). The abdomen progressively expands, due to excessive fluids (ascitis), even complicating walking and breathing. Other disorders affecting different systems may occur, but they may be reverted with a proper treatment.

As evidenced, portal hypertension originates many complications and results in some sort of impairment. Patients suffering from portal hypertension are frequently candidates for hepatic transplant, therefor they should be evaluated and controlled by an experienced specialized medical team, to offer them different therapeutic alternatives: sanitary and nutritional measures, pharmacological and medical treatments and/or surgical procedures (portal systemic shunt, gastroesophageal devascularization) or hemodynamic ones (portal caval intrahepatic shunt) to prevent certain complications.