Portal hypertensive gastropathy what is it

[Blueberriesandcream]

Hi I have been diagnosed with cirrhosis and have vascular lesions: portal hypertensive gastropathy- I don't really know what this means for me and wonder if anyone can help thanks very much

[Fibro2021]

Hi. Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) develops due to increased pressure in the portal vein, often as a result of cirrhosis. However, it can also occur in vascular liver diseases without cirrhosis, such as nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) and noncirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). PHG leads to changes in the stomach lining, making it more prone to bleeding. While it doesn’t always cause symptoms, in some cases, it can contribute to chronic blood loss, anemia, or, less commonly, more significant bleeding.

The severity of PHG varies—some people have only mild changes, while others may require treatment if there’s ongoing blood loss. Management usually focuses on reducing portal pressure, often with non-selective beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol, carvedilol). In more severe cases, additional interventions may be needed.

Do you know if your endoscopy report mentioned 'red spots' or a 'mosaic-like pattern' in the stomach? That could help assess how significant the PHG is in your case. Depending on the specific picture in the stomach and other possible clinical manifestations (e.g., anemia), your doctor will make recommendations regarding treatment or follow-up.

[Blueberriesandcream in reply to Fibro2021]

Thanks very much for your reply it's been very helpful - the gastroscopy report just said 'erosion gastritis and portal hypertensive gastropathy' but I had an ultrasound scan last Saturday and so perhaps they'll let me know more when the results of that are in fingers crossed- Thanks again

[Blueberriesandcream in reply to Fibro2021]

Thanks for your reply 👍 I am being prescribed carvedilol - as you thought - so fingers crossed that will help. Again thank you.