Blood clot in portal vein

[ballie52]

Hi everyone not been on the site for a while as my health is good right now!Just a quick question i have cirrhosis that is well compensated apart from slightly lower platelet count and was at my routine 6mth ultrasound when my consultant called saying I have a small blood clot on the left portal vein!

Has anyone with cirrhosis on the site had a similar experience and if so was it treated

I am awaiting results of a CT scan to find out if it has resolved on it's own or needs any treatment.

[Ewife]

Hey there, my husband had quite a significant clot on his portal vein. He was prescribed Warferin, and it has decreased although not gone. He also has a really low platelet count, and I dreaded him starting the warferin for this reason. However, apart from being careful not to do anything too risky or likely to get knocked, he has had very few bleeds considering. If they've caught yours early, it may fully disperse with treatment. Unfortunately - the clot is a sign that the flow isn't getting through the liver properly. In my husbands case, he is decompensated with a lot of other symptoms and we were under the impression he would have the clot until transplanted.Take care, I'm sure they will know what treatment is best for you.

Ewife

[ballie52 in reply to Ewife]

Thanks Ewife for your response I wasn't too sure about potentially what the outcome of this might be as I haven't had the results of the CT scan yet!

I'm hoping it has resolved on it's own and no treatment is required!

Hope your husband is going to be OK and his Transplant goes well when the time comes!

❤

[smiffycat]

Hi ballie52

My mother had a major clot on her portal vein that was life threatening, shes on Warfarin now and coping, but probably best to look at treatment so it doesn't get to that stage, the cirrhosis is restricting the blood flow through the liver. In my mothers case she has been on a number of treatments for AIH for 20 years or so. The steroids have made her skin susceptible to tears in some places, and the warfarin makes bleeding a problem. So if on both steroids (for liver) and warfarin for life, just need to manage the balance. The skin problems from sterioids vary from one person/treatment type to another, so it might not be an issue in your case.

[Yellowsydney]

Hi, I had a clot in my portal vein, a month before transplant my portal vein was completely blocked and transplant became urgent. I had to inject blood thinners for a year before transplant to keep the blood flowing to my liver, 95% of the clot was removed during transplant surgery. It hasn't been mentioned since, I have to take an asprin every day as a blood thinner.Good luck

Hilary

[ballie52]

Thanks everyone!❤Most likely I don't need any treatment if it goes on it's own..it's not completely blocked just non occlusive I think is what they say!

Hopefully it's just a one off and doesn't need any treatment!

[Kristian]

I had a few blood clots prior to transplant, quite a large one in my portal vein and a couple of others elsewhere. They did consider blood thinners for me but decided against it because of the varices I had at the time. I was pretty close to transplant anyway as these were all picked up as part of the assessment process, so the risk if using blood thinners was higher than the risk the clots posed. If I was still in the compensated stage then I suspect blood thinners probably would've been prescribed.

[ballie52 in reply to Kristian]

Thanks Kristin hope you are doing well post transplant!I'm very well compensated although I do have cirrhosis..I did have a few small varices but they have almost gone and blood test almost normal apart from platelet count of which actually isn't too bad right now at 95 so no complaints from me other than this wee clot that turned up!

Don't know the reason but hoping it's gone on its own and no treatment will be required!

Was wondering why there was a clot considering how well I am 🏧!

[mrob0823 in reply to ballie52]

Hello - I'm wondering how your small varices have almost gone away. Is this from medications or do they think the clot is resolving and allowing blood to finally go through and not get backed up?

[ballie52 in reply to mrob0823]

Hi mrob0823My varices very slowly got smaller as my cirrhosis improved!

As for my small blood clot they saw it on ultrasound then done a CT scan that came back saying they are not sure what they are seeing so now need 2 further MRI scans to see if possibly might be a cyst around the bile duct!

No treatment as yet until they can identify what it is!

The radiologist that initially done the ultrasound is sure it's a small non occlusive blood clot

But after a CT scan a month later they still are not certain of a clot although there is something there..guess it's hard to identify small clots..hopefully it will be gone before my MRI scans next month.

[mrob0823 in reply to ballie52]

that's great news. How long did it take for the varices to improve?

[Kristian]

Yeah, all is good with me. Just currently in preparation for next year's World Transplant Games 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️. Hopefully your little clot is just a blip and will clear up on its own. Good luck.

[ballie52 in reply to Kristian]

That's great to hear your doing so well Kristin!Good luck with the world Transplant games!!!

What are you competing in?

[Kristian in reply to ballie52]

Athletics & volleyball. Will be a tough task, but will give it my best and see what happens. Think I need PBs to medal, lol, but I'm there or there abouts, so have a chance.

[ballie52 in reply to Kristian]

Awww good luck for when the time comes Kristian

[pushthrough]

I had what was originally thought to be portal vein thrombosis (blood clot) from an mri. I was sent straight to the er. I was given a CT and told it was portal vein hypertension. I wish you the best and it’s so great to hear you are doing well!

[ballie52 in reply to pushthrough]

Thanks for your reply pushthroughI had portal hypertension a while back but it resolved over the past few yrs!

Maybe just a wee one off thing going on..I'm still waiting for CT results of which I think no news is good news!

Hopefully it has gone by now!

I'm very well compensated right now with only slightly low platelets at 95 and varacies that have almost disappeared so things are looking good !

I don't know the cause as yet but maybe just one of the potential things that can go with cirrhosis occasionally.

Hope you are keeping well yourself right now.

[pushthrough in reply to ballie52]

that’s fantastic news. The last mri I had my portal hypertension went from present to suggestive of or something like that. Prior to that my varices miraculously disappeared! My Gi doctor was blown away after the endoscopy. My hepatologist has also warmed up. They all thought I would drink again but it is now clear to them I’m not! early next year it will be 2 years since I quit. I don’t miss it one bit. This forum and every person on here has been a Godsend! Keep us posted and I will keep you posted.

G.