[Hereditary protein C deficiency and portal vein thrombosis]

Inherited defects of the natural coagulation inhibitors predispose patients to thrombosis. These disorders have similar clinical presentations with a strong family of thrombosis, episodes of recurrent venous thromboembolism, beginning in early adulthood. We report a case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient with portal hypertension due to portal-vein thrombosis secondary to hereditary protein C deficiency, an association that has seldom been reported. We conclude that protein C deficiency should be investigated in thrombotic states, namely after more frequent causes have been excluded.