Frequency of Causes of Portal Hypertension in Children

Introduction The most common etiology of portal hypertension (PH) in children is obstruction at the presinusoidal or sinusoidal level. In addition, portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and biliary atresia are the most prevalent extrahepatic causes. This study aims to evaluate all the possible etiologies leading to PH in the pediatric population and provide the most common cause associated with this condition along with the age group most frequently affected by it. Material and Methods From January 2018 to December 2020, a cross-sectional study was carried out in tertiary care hospitals in Pakistan. A total of 100 children, both male and female, aged one month to 15 years and diagnosed with PH, were enrolled for the evaluation for the causes of PH. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20, was used to analyze the data. Results The mean age of enrolled participants was 9.01 ± 2.81 years. It was found that PVT (63%) was the most common cause of PH, followed by liver cirrhosis (19%) and biliary atresia (18%). Age of more than eight years was significantly associated with PVT (p-value: 0.007). Conclusion In children, PH may be caused by a wide range of etiologies. It is imperative to understand the underlying etiologies contributing to PH for proper guidance and management, prevention, and overall outcomes.