| A rare disorder with characteristics of sclerosis of the intrahepatic portal veins, non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, asymptomatic splenomegaly and recurrent variceal bleeding. Most commonly, the condition is detected in investigating a fortuitous finding of hypersplenism or splenomegaly. Main histopathologic findings are periportal fibrosis, occlusion of small portal veins, sclerosis of the portal venous system, and proliferation of small vascular channels within/around portal tracts. The disease is slowly progressive. Exposure to toxic substances or drugs, autoimmune and connective tissue diseases, systemic or intraabdominal infections, and clotting abnormalities have been incriminated. A genetic background has been suggested. |
