[Extrahepatic portal hypertension and pregnancy (author's transl)]

Taking into account 6 own cases and 51 cases reported in the literature the question is asked, whether pregnancy influences portal hypertension due to extrahepatic block and vice-versa. Complications arise in about 50% of the patients, hemorrhage from esophageal varices making up to 40%, as the most common complication. Most esophageal bleedings occur in the second of third trimenon. The physiological changes of the circulatory system during pregnancy are held to be responsible for these complications; especially temporary increase of portal pressure tend to aggravate the preexisting extrahepatic portal hypertension. The prognosis for mother and child in these cases is less severe than in patients with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis. Therapeutic procedures which have to be adapted to the individual case are discussed.