portal hypertension

hypertension /hy·per·ten·sion/ (-ten´shun) persistently high arterial blood pressure; it may have no known cause (essential, idiopathic, or primary h.) or may be associated with other diseases (secondary h.) .

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accelerated hypertension  progressive hypertension with the funduscopic vascular changes of malignant hypertension but without papilledema.

adrenal hypertension  that associated with an adrenal tumor which secretes mineralocorticoids.

borderline hypertension  a condition in which the arterial blood pressure is sometimes within the normotensive range and sometimes within the hypertensive range.

Goldblatt hypertension  that caused experimentally by a Goldblatt kidney.

labile hypertension  borderline h.

malignant hypertension  a severe hypertensive state with papilledema of the ocular fundus and vascular hemorrhagic lesions, thickening of the small arteries and arterioles, left ventricular hypertrophy, and poor prognosis.

ocular hypertension  persistently elevated intraocular pressure in the absence of any other signs of glaucoma; it may or may not progress to chronic simple glaucoma.

portal hypertension  abnormally increased pressure in the portal circulation.

pulmonary hypertension  abnormally increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation.

renal hypertension  that associated with or due to renal disease with a factor of parenchymatous ischemia.

renovascular hypertension  that due to occlusive disease of the renal arteries.

systemic venous hypertension  elevation of systemic venous pressure, usually detected by inspection of the jugular veins.

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portal hypertension

n.

Hypertension in the portal system as seen in cirrhosis of the liver and other conditions causing obstruction to the portal vein.

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Portal hypertension

Portal hypertension forces the blood flow backward, causing the portal veins to enlarge and the emergence of bleeding varices across the esophagus and stomach from the pressure in the portal vein. Portal hypertension is most commonly caused by cirrhosis, but can also be seen in portal vein obstruction from unknown causes.

Mentioned in: Angiography, Bleeding Varices, Mallory-Weiss Syndrome, Myelofibrosis

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portal hypertension,

an increased venous pressure in the portal circulation caused by compression or occlusion in the portal or hepatic vascular system. It results in splenomegaly, large collateral veins, ascites, and, in severe cases, systemic hypertension and esophageal varices. Portal hypertension is frequently associated with cirrhosis.

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hypertension

(hī´purten´shn) (high blood pressure),
n an abnormal elevation of systolic and/or diastolic arterial pressure. Systolic level is generally related to emotional stress, sclerosis of the aorta and large arteries, or aortic insufficiency. Diastolic level may result from obscure causes (essential), renal disease, or endocrine disorders. See also blood pressure.

hypertension, essential,

n a type with an unknown cause.

hypertension, malignant,

n an elevated blood pressure characterized by a progressive course uncontrollable by medication.

hypertension, orthostatic,

n plummeting blood pressure that occurs upon standing up which may be accompanied by dizziness or fainting.

hypertension, portal,

n a type originating in the portal system as occurring in cirrhosis of the liver and other conditions caused by an obstruction of the portal vein.

hypertension pulmonary,

n a type resulting from pulmonary or cardiac disease such as fibrosis of the lung or mitral stenosis.

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hypertension

persistently high blood pressure. Detected sporadically in animals partly due to the technical difficulties in diagnosis and the lack of recognizable signs. Greyhounds normally have a higher blood pressure than is found in crossbred dogs with features resembling essential hypertension in humans. Secondary hypertension due to advanced renal disease, hyperthyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism does occur in dogs and cats. Temporary episodes of hypertension occur in all animals suffering severe pain, and in horses with acute laminitis.

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endocrine hypertension

that occurring in association with diseases of the endocrine glands.

Goldblatt hypertension

see Goldblatt kidney.

inherited hypertension

see rat hypertension (below).

neurogenic hypertension

produced experimentally in laboratory animals by the imposition of surgical and psychological insults on the central nervous system.

ocular hypertension

persistently elevated intraocular pressure in the absence of any other signs of glaucoma; it may or may not progress to chronic simple glaucoma.

portal hypertension

abnormally increased pressure in the portal circulation caused by impedance of blood flow through a diseased liver or portal vein.

pulmonary hypertension

results from high-pressure blood flow from the right ventricle or impedance to blood flow through the lungs or through the left heart. Chronic hypertension causes endothelial degeneration and fibroplasia of vessel walls. The end result may be cor pulmonale or pulmonary edema. See also altitude sickness, cor pulmonale.

rat hypertension

several strains of spontaneously hypertensive rats have been bred.

renal hypertension

secondary hypertension.

systemic venous hypertension

elevation of systemic venous pressure, usually detected by inspection of the jugular veins.

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portal

1. an avenue of entrance; porta.

2. pertaining to an entrance, especially the porta hepatis.

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portal-azygos anastomosis

a form of portacaval shunt with the portal vein bypassing the liver and emptying directly into the azygos vein.

portal biliary bacterial circulation

a continuous normal circulation of bacteria brought to the liver in the portal vein from the gut and excreted back into the gut via the biliary system.

portal canal

tissue space situated between three or more hepatic lobules; carries the blood and lymphatic vessels and connective tissue.

portal-caval

see portacaval.

portal circulation

circulation of blood from the capillaries of one organ to those of another; applied especially to the passage of blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen through the portal vein to the liver. See also circulatory system.

portal of entry

the pathway by which bacteria or other pathogenic agents gain entry to the body.

portal fibrosis

see biliary fibrosis.

portal hypertension

see portal obstruction.

portal obstruction

obstruction of portal venous blood flow through external pressure on the portal vein, by abscess or tumor or by hepatic fibrosis constricting the hepatic vascular bed, causes interference with digestion and absorption and eventually venous return so that ascites and diarrhea develop.

portal system

an arrangement by which blood collected from one set of capillaries passes through a large vessel or vessels and another set of capillaries before returning to the systemic circulation, as in the pituitary gland and liver.

Includes the hepatic portal system consisting of portal vein and its tributaries from the stomach, intestine, pancreas and spleen, the vessels into which the portal vein divides in the liver and the hepatic veins that enter into the caudal vena cava.

portal systemic shunt

see portacaval shunt.

portal triad

anatomically close association of interlobular bile duct, branches of hepatic artery and portal vein.

portal vascular anomalies

see portacaval anastomosis.

portal vein

a short, thick trunk formed by the union of the caudal mesenteric and splenic veins; at the porta hepatis, it divides into successively smaller branches, following branches of the hepatic artery, until it forms a capillary system of sinusoids that permeates the entire substance of the liver.

portal vein obstruction

acute, complete obstruction causes a syndrome similar to that of intestinal obstruction without signs suggesting liver involvement; partial occlusion causes shrinkage and eventual atrophy of the relevant section of the liver.

portal vein rupture

rare complication of epiploic foraminal herniation; sudden death from internal hemorrhage results.

portal venule absence

a congenital defect resulting in the development of multiple shunts within the liver, hepatoportal fibrosis and ascites, general immaturity and hepatic encephalopathy.

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hypertension

High blood pressure Cardiovascular disease An abnormal ↑ systemic arterial pressure, corresponding to a systolic BP of > 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP of 95 mm Hg and graded according to intensity of ↑ diastolic BP; HTN affects ± 60 million in the US Workup Evaluation of HTN requires clinical Hx for Pt, family Hx, 2 BP determinations, funduscopy, ID of bruits in neck & abdominal aorta, evaluation of peripheral edema, peripheral pulses and residual neurologic defects in stroke victims, chest films to determine cardiac size and lab parameters to rule out causes of secondary HTN Risk factors Race–blacks more common, ♂, family history of HTN, obesity, defects of lipid metabolism, DM, sedentary lifestyle, cigarette smoking, electrolyte imbalance–eg, ↑ sodium, phosphorus, ↓ potassium, tin Treatment Diet–eg, sodium restriction, ↓ calories, alcohol and cigarettes–the weight gain accompanying smoking cessation tends to offset the minimal ↓ in BP, calcium supplements, lifestyle manipulation–eg, biofeedback, ↑ exercise; antihypertensives–eg, diuretics–benzothiadiazines, loop diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, sympatholytic agents–central and peripheral-acting α-adrenergics, β-adrenergics, mixed α- and β-blockers, direct vasodilators, ACE inhibitors–the preferred agent to use ab initio, dihydropiridine CCBs. See ACCT, ACE inhibitor, Borderline hypertension, Borderline isolated systolic hypertension, Calcium channel blocker, Drug-induced hypertension, Essential hypertension, Exercise hypertension, Familial dyslipemic hypertension, Gestational hypertension, Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Isolated systolic hypertension, Malignant hypertension, MRC, Obetension, Paradoxic hypertension, Pill hypertension, Pregnancy-induced hypertension, Pseudohypertension, Pulmonary hypertension, Refractory hypertension, Renovascular hypertension, SHEP, STOP-Hypertension, TAIM, TOHP-1, TOMHSTyramine hypertension, White coat hypertension.

Hypertension

Class I–mild Diastolic pressure 90-104 mm Hg

Class II–moderate Diastolic pressure 105-119 mm Hg

Class III–severe Diastolic pressure > than 120 mm Hg

Hypertension types

Essential hypertension Idiopathic HTN The major form comprising 90% of all HTN

Malignant hypertension A sustained BP > 200/140 mm Hg, resulting in arteriolar necrosis, most marked in the brain, eg. cerebral hemorrhage, infarcts, and hypertensive encephalopathy, eyes, eg papilledema and hypertensive retinopathy and kidneys, eg acute renal failure and hypertensive nephropathy; if malignant HTN is uncorrected or therapy refractory, Pts may suffer a hypertensive crisis in which prolonged high BP causes left ventricular hypertrophy and CHF

Paroxysmal hypertension Transient or episodic waves of ↑ BP of any etiology, punctuated by periods of normotension, typical of pheochromocytoma

Portal hypertension ↑ portal vein pressure caused by a backflow of blood through splenic arteries, resulting in splenomegaly and collateral circulation, resulting in esophageal varices and/or hemorrhoids; PH may be intra- or extrahepatic, and is often due to cirrhosis, or rarely portal vein disease, venous thrombosis, tumors or abscesses

Pulmonary hypertension A condition defined as a 'wedge' systolic/diastolic pressure > 30/20 mm Hg–Normal: 18-25/12-16 mm Hg, often secondary to blood stasis in peripheral circulation, divided into passive, hyperkinetic, vasoocclusive, vasoconstrictive and secondary forms. See Pulmonary HTN.

Renovascular hypertension see there

Secondary hypertension

• Aging

• Cardiovascular Open heart surgery, coarctation of aorta, ↑ cardiac output–anemia, thyrotoxicosis, aortic valve insufficiency

• Cerebral ↑ Intracranial pressure

• Endocrine Mineralocorticoid excess, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, glucocorticoid excess, eg Cushing syndrome, hyperparathyroidism, acromegaly

• Gynecologic Pregnancy, oral contraceptives

• Neoplasia Renin-secreting tumors, pheochromocytoma

• ↓ Peripheral vascular resistance AV shunts, Paget's disease of bone, beri-beri

• Renal disease Vascular, parenchymal