Portal vein thrombosis associated with biliary tract infection

• Published in: Gastroenterología y hepatología Vol. 35; no. 9; p. 644
• Main Authors: García-Gutiérrez, Manuel, Luque-Márquez, Rafael, Rodríguez-Suárez, Santiago
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Abdominal Pain - etiology; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Bacteremia - complications; Bacteremia - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - complications; Cholangitis - blood; Cholangitis - complications; Cholangitis - diagnosis; Cholangitis - drug therapy; Cholangitis - surgery; Combined Modality Therapy; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; Drainage; Female; gamma-Glutamyltransferase - blood; Hepatectomy - methods; Humans; Leukocytosis - etiology; Liver Neoplasms - complications; Male; Middle Aged; Phlebitis - blood; Phlebitis - complications; Phlebitis - drug therapy; Portal Vein - pathology; Retrospective Studies; Venous Thrombosis - blood; Venous Thrombosis - drug therapy; Venous Thrombosis - etiology; Venous Thrombosis - surgery
• ISSN: 0210-5705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2012.03.011

To describe the etiology, symptoms and management of portal vein thrombosis associated with biliary tract infection and to compare our findings with classical causes of pylephlebitis. We performed a retrospective descriptive study of 10 patients in a tertiary hospital. Portal vein thrombosis was associated with biliary tract infection in seven patients and with classical causes of pylephlebitis in three. In both groups, symptoms consisted of fever and abdominal pain accompanied by leukocytosis and increased liver enzymes. Blood cultures were positive in most patients and the main complication was liver abscess. The therapeutic management and outcomes were similar in both groups. Portal vein thrombosis can be associated with biliary tract infection. Clinical presentation and outcomes are highly similar to those in classical causes of pylephlebitis.