“Etiology of Portal Hypertension in Children at the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh”

Abstract

Background: Portal hypertension is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Bangladeshi children. Development of esophageal varices and bleeding is one of the major complications of CLD. The mortality from each episode of variceal bleeding is 30-50% depending on the clinical status of the patient. All conditions that interfere with blood flow at any level within the portal system can lead to portal hypertension. For better management of this disorder, it is important to determine the underlying cause. Objective: To assess the Etiology of Portal Hypertension in Children. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the Emergency, Observation and Referral Unit, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period Jan 2018 to July 2019. 47 patients who were diagnosed as portal hypertension were determined by liver biopsy, abdominal sonography, abdominal computed tomography scan, and liver doppler so¬nography. Demographic data and other related information regarding etiology and complications were recorded in a standard datasheet. Results: Total 47 cases were included in this study. Their age range was 1.5-16 years. It was observed that 20 (42.6%) patients belonged to age group 6-10 years. The mean age was 9.22±9.85 years with ranged from 2.5 to 16 years. It was observed that almost two third (67.7%) patients were male and 18 (38.3%) were female. Among 47 patients 27 were diagnosed as extrahepatic portal hypertension and 20 were diagnosed as CLD with portal HTN. Shows the etiology of portal hypertension of studied patients. Extrahepatic portal hypertension was the most common etiology (57.4%). Among CLD patients Wilson disease was the most common (12; 25.5%). Two (4.3%) patients were cryptogenic CLD and two (4.3%) were Budd Chiari Syndrome. One patient was Biliary cirrhosis and one patient had Auto immune hepatitis. Conclusion: We concluded that intrahepatic diseases are the most common causes of portal .............