Segmental portal hypertension and polycythemia vera.
A patient known to have polycythemia vera developed recurrent melena and was found to have bleeding gastroesophageal varices. Selective superior mesenteric angiography suggested splenic vein thrombosis. Splenectomy led to the disappearance of the varices with no subsequent recurrence of bleeding. We believe this to be the first fully described case of polycythemia vera associated with segmental portal hypertension, and propose that polycythemia vera patients may develop "silent" segmental portal hypertension and that this should be taken into consideration when treating them.
Baniel
J
J
Department of Surgery A, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Ziv
Y
Y
Wolloch
Y
Y
D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000150:complications*; D013162:Splenic Vein; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*