Portal vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis

Abstract

Portal vein thrombosis is frequently encountered in patients with cirrhosis. Increased indication for non-invasive imaging in patients with cirrhosis has dramatically increased the recognition of PVT. This has led to a large amount of studies on pathogenesis as well as the prognostic impact of portal vein thrombosis on natural history of cirrhosis. However, in clinical practice, several aspects of the management of portal vein thrombosis remain unclear. This practical review discusses the most recent data toward the management of portal vein thrombosis in cirrhosis, especially regarding: a) the value of etiological workup; b) the impact of portal vein thrombosis on the natural history of cirrhosis, and c) the indications and modalities of anticoagulation therapy.