[E coli-induced idiopathic portal hypertension in rabbits. An experimental study]

An experimental model of portal hypertension was induced in healthy rabbits by intraportal injection of E coli or a mixture of E coli and rabbit anti-E coli sera. In all established models, there were significant elevation of portal vein pressure, increase of spleen weight, decrease of whole blood cells count, infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibrosis in intrahepatic portal area, decrease of the number and discontinuation of intrahepatic portal vein branch on portography with gross normal appearance of the liver. Hence this model was similar to that seen in human idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) in many aspects. We believe that bacterial toxin and the abnormal immune reaction due to repeated stimulation of bacterial antigen may play a role in the pathogenesis of human IPH.