Portal Hypertension
Current as of: November 7, 2018
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Adam Husney, MD – Family Medicine & W. Thomas London, MD – Internal Medicine, Hepatology
Portal hypertension is high blood pressure in the veins that filter blood from the intestines through the liver (portal system of the liver). It may cause complications such as fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity (ascites) or enlarged veins (varices) in the esophagus or stomach. Cirrhosis is a process that destroys…