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Portal hypertension is a condition in which the blood pressure of the portal venous system is too high. It is often the result of cirrhosis of the liver. Liver cirrhosis can lead to increased intrahepatic vascular resistance and vasodilation of portal system arteries, both of which increase pressure in the portal vein. [4]
The causes for portal hypertension are classified as originating in the portal venous system before it reaches the liver (prehepatic causes), within the liver (intrahepatic) or between the liver and the heart (post-hepatic). The most common cause is cirrhosis (chronic liver failure). Other causes include: [1] [10] [11] Prehepatic causes
Portal venous pressure is the blood pressure in the hepatic portal vein, and is normally between 5-10 mmHg. [1] Raised portal venous pressure is termed portal hypertension , [ 2 ] and has numerous sequelae such as ascites and hepatic encephalopathy .
The human hepatic portal system delivers about three-fourths of the blood going to the liver.The final common pathway for transport of venous blood from spleen, pancreas, gallbladder and the abdominal portion of the gastrointestinal tract [2] (with the exception of the inferior part of the anal canal and sigmoid colon) is through the hepatic portal vein.
Liver function tests (LFTs or LFs), also referred to as a hepatic panel or liver panel, are groups of blood tests that provide information about the state of a patient's liver. [1] These tests include prothrombin time (PT/INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), albumin , bilirubin (direct and indirect), and others.
In the developed world, the most common cause is liver cirrhosis. [4] Other causes include cancer, heart failure, tuberculosis, pancreatitis, and blockage of the hepatic vein. [4] In cirrhosis, the underlying mechanism involves high blood pressure in the portal system and dysfunction of blood vessels. [4]
However, very high elevations of the transaminases suggests severe liver damage, such as viral hepatitis, liver injury from lack of blood flow, or injury from drugs or toxins. Most disease processes cause ALT to rise higher than AST; AST levels double or triple that of ALT are consistent with alcoholic liver disease. [citation needed]
Hypertriglyceridemia is the presence of high amounts of triglycerides in the blood.Triglycerides are the most abundant fatty molecule in most organisms. Hypertriglyceridemia occurs in various physiologic conditions and in various diseases, and high triglyceride levels are associated with atherosclerosis, even in the absence of hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol levels) and predispose to ...