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Causes and risk factors of Portal Vein Thrombosis

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The most common causes of portal vein thrombosis in a healthy liver are:

Acquired thrombophilic factors. Conditions that make the blood more likely to clot, such as certain blood diseases or immune system problems.

Hereditary factors. Some people have a prothrombin gene mutation, which makes blood clot more easily.

Local factors. Inflammations or infections within the abdomen or surgery can cause clots to form in the portal vein.

At least one of these factors is found to cause portal vein thrombosis in 80% of patients and, in 20-30% of cases, more than one factor is present at the same time. However, no clear cause is found in 20% of people; these are called idiopathic cases (without a known cause).

Portal vein thrombosis can also occur in patients with liver disease, whether known or unknown beforehand. So when a patient has portal vein thrombosis, the presence of an associated liver disease should always be ruled out.

Substantiated information by:

Fanny Turon Masferrer

Published: 19 November 2024
Updated: 19 November 2024

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