title: Risk Factors for Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Cirrhosis Awaiting Liver Transplantation in Shiraz, Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal vein thrombosis is a fairly common and potentially life-threatening complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. The risk factors for portal vein thrombosis in these patients are still not fully understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the associations between various risk factors in cirrhotic patients and the development of portal vein thrombosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study performed at the Shiraz organ transplantation center, Iran, we studied 219 patients (> 18 years old) with liver cirrhosis, who were awaiting liver transplants in our unit, from November 2010 to May 2011. The patients were evaluated by history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, including factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene mutation, Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) mutation, and serum levels of protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, homocysteine, factor VIII, and anticardiolipin antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference in the assessed hypercoagulable states between patients with or without portal vein thrombosis. A history of previous variceal bleeding with subsequent endoscopic treatment in patients with portal vein thrombosis was significantly higher than in those without it (P = 0.013, OR: 2.526, 95% CI: 1.200 - 5.317).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our population of cirrhotic patients, treatment of variceal bleeding predisposed the patients to portal vein thrombosis, but hypercoagulable disorders by themselves were not associated with portal vein thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bagheri Lankarani
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Hepatology Rearch Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Katayon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Homayon
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Dorna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Motevalli
authors.affiliation: Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Taghi
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Baghiatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran; Tehran Hepatitis Center , Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Moayed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alavian
authors.affiliation: Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Malek-Hosseini
keywords: Endoscopic Treatment; Esophageal Varices; Iran; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Transplantation; Portal Vein Thrombosis; Risk Factors