Portal Hypertension

[pishi1]

Can someone explain to me what child Pugh A portal hypertension is?

I have some scarring of the liver, hence some cirrhosis.

I have had a biopsy but they cannot find a cause, maybe autoimmune related.

[AyrshireK]

The Child-Pugh Score is used to determine the prognosis of chronic liver disease, in particular cirrhosis.

Originally, the Child-Pugh Score was used to predict mortality during surgery however it is now used to assess prognosis and the aggressiveness of treatment,

The Child-Pugh Score is classified into Classes A to C, the latter predicting the worst prognosis. Child Pugh A is the least severe.

Portal hypertension is an increase in the blood pressure within a system of veins called the portal venous system. Veins coming from the stomach, intestine, spleen, and pancreas merge into the portal vein, which then branches into smaller vessels and travels through the liver. If the vessels in the liver are blocked due to liver damage, blood cannot flow properly through the liver. As a result, high pressure in the portal system develops. This increased pressure in the portal vein may lead to the development of large, swollen veins (varices) within the esophagus, stomach, rectum, or umbilical area (belly button). Varices can rupture and bleed, resulting in potentially life-threatening complications.

Sounds like you have been told you have Child Pugh A cirrhosis but showing some signs of portal hypertension due to the scarring of the liver which is blocking some passage of blood through the liver and causing blood pressure to rise in this portal venous system.

Hope that helps answer your question.

Katie x

[pishi1 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you. That is very helpful. I am seeing the liver specialist this month so will see what he suggests.

[jamamakitty in reply to AyrshireK]

what an excellent thorough answer! it explains more than i have been able to understand. i'm always told during my ultrasounds that the blood is flowing the right way thru the portal vein... but i have had 4 banded varicies. the DR thinks she will have that under control with maybe one more banding. i am eliminating as much salt as i can to help... thanks for the info. i get a lot of info reading thru these posts even if i'm just lurking!! <3

[cantfind1username in reply to AyrshireK]

does the veins from stomach, that show on the outside go once the blood pressure drops. Mine are showing and looking like stretch marks and they have appeared due to my bad diet. I have CP-A in which i cant tolerate the betta blockers to reduce the pressure. However i am now eating better and drinking a lot less with lots of training again?

Rich x

[AyrshireK in reply to cantfind1username]

I couldn't say for certain Rich but I know that my hubby had a massive vein show up on the outside of his chest/ribs basically just at the point where the ribcage joins the abdomen. We were told it was absolutely normal with his degree of cirrhosis and portal hypertension - now that he has normal portal veinous flow and currently no portal hypertension that vein has remained quite large and dilated.

Can't speak for everyone's experiences though.

Katie

[Bolly]

Childs Pugh is a scoring system for liver damage en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi...

Portal hypertension is a side effect of cirrhosis britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

[pishi1 in reply to Bolly]

Thank you, this is useful information.

[Bolly]

Just realised Katie gave you a much better response- she and I tend to shadow each other without realising it!

[pishi1]

No problem

[jules45]

Hi, thanks for posting your question as I too am Child Pugh A with portal hypertension. I can read your replies and learn something as I am a bit in the dark about this diagnosis also.

Best wishes

julie

[pishi1 in reply to jules45]

Hi, that is good. Glad it helped.

[Grankids3]

I have cirrhosis caused by Diabeties, I have portal hypertension and had a stent (tipps) put in my liver to help with flow of blood,they did this 3yrs ago so I could have Bowel Cancer surgery, as I could not get chemo, I've been told I'm at stage child  Pugh A , it has been stable for over a year, I've also had a splenetic artery aneurism done in January, I've not got varices, yet but my last MRI showed inflammation in oesophagus and inflamed polyp in stomach, I was so afraid it was cancer, but got told yesterday it wasn't . I have other health problems but get well looked after by my surgeon,I wish you all the best for the future, x