[Gastropathy due to portal hypertension]

After oesophageal and fundus-varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is the second most frequent cause for bleeding in cirrhotic patients. In accounts for 1 to 8% of primary upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and 30 to 60% of secondary acute or chronic bleeding, mainly after sclerosing therapy of varices. Endoscopy is diagnostic either by showing a typical 'mosaic-pattern' in mild, and a single or confluent 'cherry red spots' in severe forms. Helicobacter pylori or NSAID-induced gastropathy are to be distinguished by biopsies. The therapeutical principles are the same as in therapy of oesophageal varices. Secondary prophylaxis with propranolol especially after sclerosing therapy is recommended, primary prophylaxis not.