Portal Hypertension

[granof8]

I have just had an endoscopy and has come back saying I have portal hypertension among other things. Does anyone know if you have to have any treatment for this please.

Thanks

[Dexter786]

They usually prescribe Carvedilol medication in tablet form, which reduces the pressure in the portal vein and risk of Varicies developing. If you have Varicies, which they should have confirmed during your endoscopy then these can be handed to avoid a bleed.

[AnxiousPete in reply to Dexter786]

That's not what all hepatologist recommend. I have grade 1 varices but my consultant does not prescribe any medication but says it is an option if they progress.

[Sharonmcfarlane]

yeah it’s important you get put on medication see about it asap … carvediol my mum is on and spirolactone… take care x

[Chick_atee]

Hi. I have portal hypertension and take 2 carvedilol a day. Also take diuretics to keep ascities away ( this is fluid in the abdomen ). You may not and I hope you don’t have ascities or varicies.

The medication will hopefully control the hypertension for you. I had an ultrasound with doppler to check the flow.

[ScoobyPoodle1]

Hello granof8. I have portal vein hypertension, and I take Carvadilol to try to reduce the pressure. However, my PH wasn't a confirmed diagnosis by an endoscopy. Suspicion was first aroused when I had a scan which showed the presence of osophangeal varices. Their presence is apparently a good indicator of the condition. The endoscopy confirmed their presence and severity, at which point I was put on the Carvadilol. To confirm the diagnosis I had another procedure done, (can't remember the name), that involved having a pressure test done. You will need to have this so they can assess exactly how high the pressure is. Hope this helps, and good luck.

[AnxiousPete in reply to ScoobyPoodle1]

What grade of varices did they diagnose. My consultant does not recommend beta blockers for my grade 1 varices.

[ScoobyPoodle1 in reply to AnxiousPete]

Well, unfortunately for me they were so serious that they had been bleeding for a while, and one actually burst during the first endoscopy, which resulted in an emergency situation. A few weeks after I had a spontaneous bleed that almost cost me my life. I had numerous of them banded over a period of months, and at the moment they are stable, but I have been told I have a new crop in my upper stomach. My case is rare and complicated, and the PH is a result of this which caused an unhealthy portal vein.

[AnxiousPete in reply to ScoobyPoodle1]

So sorry to hear that and hope that doesn't happen again.