[Portal vein thrombosis. Etiology, complications and therapy]

In a retrospective study of 25 patients with portal vein thrombosis the etiology has been disclosed in 44%. The most common causes were infection, cirrhosis and a myeloproliferative syndrome. The most common mode of presentation was gastrointestinal bleeding (44%). 12 patients (48%) died, the majority after life-threatening variceal bleeding. Today we restrict ourselves to treating the complications of portal hypertension. The aim for the future must be to diagnose and dissolve the thrombi shortly after formation.