Abstract

COSTAGUTA, Alejandro  and  ALVAREZ, Fernando. Portalhypertension in pediatrics. I: Pathophysiology and clinical aspects. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2010, vol.108, n.3, pp.239-249. ISSN 0325-0075.

Portalhypertension causes serious and life-threatening complications. It is producedby increased resistance to blood flow through the portal axis, with a gradientto inferior vena cava higher than 5 mmHg. When this is 10 to 12 mmHg there isrisk of bleeding from esophageal varices. In pediatric patients two differentmodels exist: prehepatic (without liver disease), and intrahepatic (with liverdisease), with different etiologies and prognosis. Doppler ultrasound, andliver function tests allow the distinction between them. Pediatricians shouldlearn to recognize accurately the syndrome in order to approach the patients ina timely manner.

Keywords : Portal hypertension; Children; Pathophysiology; Clinical picture.

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