Diagnosis and endoscopic classification of portal hypertensive gastroenteropathy

Abstract

Changes other than varices frequently occur in the gastrointestinal mucosa in patients with portal hypertension. They are portal hypertensive gastropathy, portal hypertensive colopathy, and portal hypertensive enteropathy. All of these are non-inflammatory, and the main change is in vascular congestion. These changes occasionally cause acute or chronic gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which are clinically important. Observation of the entire digestive tract has become relatively easy with the recent development of video capsule endoscopy and balloon enteroscopy, and the pathology of portal hypertensive gastroenteropathy is being elucidated.