Obliterative Portal Venopathy

AbstractPurposeof ReviewTo review the clinical and histopathological features of obliterative portal venopathy (OPV).Recent FindingsOPV is one cause of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension and is part of the general group of vascular liver diseases termed porto-sinusoidal vascular disease (PSVD), along with nodular regenerative hyperplasia and incomplete septal fibrosis/cirrhosis. It is increasingly being found on liver biopsies in patients having abnormal liver tests and is reliably diagnosable only by liver biopsy. Radiologically, patients may appear to have a cirrhotic liver but typically their liver tests are normal or mildly abnormal, and the liver function is normal.SummaryMost cases of OPV are idiopathic but it can be seen in collagen vascular diseases, in the setting of portal vein thrombosis, in hematologic disorders, and immunodeficiency syndromes, and as a result of certain medications. Liver biopsy may show subtle histological findings so there must be a keener awareness amongst both clinicians and pathologists of this entity, as well as a discourse alerting the pathologist to the presence of portal hypertension.
Source: Current Hepatitis Reports - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research