Role of TIPS in portal hypertension: variceal bleeding and ascites

Advances in research on portal hypertensive enteropathy

Portal hypertensive enteropathy, whose fundamental pathologic change is a vasculopathy characterized histopathologically by mucosal and submucosal vessel dilatation, oedema and congestion, mainly results from a combination of increased intrahepatic vascular resistance and increased blood flow through the portal venous system. Though portal hypertensive enteropathy usually has non-specific clinical manifestations, it is a major cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Up to now, there has been no standard for the diagnosis and grading of portal hypertensive enteropathy. Unfortunately, the experience of treatment for portal hypertensive enteropathy only comes from some small-sample trials. For these reasons, an in-depth study of portal hypertensive enteropathy is still necessary. In this article, we will review the advances in research on portal hypertensive enteropathy.