Progressive Porto-Sinusoidal Vascular Disorder Complicated by Portal Biliopathy Requiring Liver Transplantation: A Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60591/crspmi.562Keywords:
Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease, Hypertension, Portal, Liver Transplantation, Portal Vein, Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular IntrahepaticAbstract
Porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD) is a rare cause of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension that may be complicated by portal biliopathy (PB). We report a 16-year follow-up of a male patient who presented at age 4 with splenomegaly and extensive collateralization of the portal vein, despite patency, subsequently diagnosed with PSVD on transjugular liver biopsy. Despite multiple endoscopic treatments for variceal bleeding and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement, the patient developed progressive symptomatic PB, presenting with jaundice and abdominal pain. Imaging showed massive portal vein dilation (40 mm) and grade III biliary changes according to the Llop classification, unresponsive to percutaneous drainage and endoscopic stenting. Liver transplantation was performed, with an excellent outcome at 3-year follow-up. This case illustrates the progressive nature of PSVD complicated by portal hypertension and PB over nearly two decades, highlighting the complexity of therapeutic decision-making in these settings.
Downloads
References
1. Venkatesan P. WHO world malaria report 2024. Lancet Microbe. De Gottardi A, Rautou PE, Schouten J, Rubbia-Brandt L, Leebeek F, Trebicka J, et al. Porto-sinusoidal vascular disease: proposal and description of a novel entity. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;4:399 411. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(19)30047-0.
2. Guido M, Sarcognato S, Sonzogni A, Lucà MG, Senzolo M, Fagiuoli S, et al. Obliterative portal venopathy without portal hypertension: an underestimated condition. Liver Int. 2016;36:454-60. doi: 10.1111/liv.12936.
3. Magaz M, Giudicelli-Lett H, Abraldes JG, Nicoara-Farcau O, Turon F, Rajoriya N, et al. Porto-sinusoidal vascular liver disorder with portal hypertension: Natural history and long-term outcome. J Hepatol. 2025;82:72-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.07.035.
4. Khuroo MS, Rather AA, Khuroo NS, Khuroo MS. Portal biliopathy. World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22:7973-82. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i35.7973.
5. Pinto E, Elkrief L, Hernández-Gea V, Busatto A, Ferdinande K, Zanetto A, et al. Portal cavernoma cholangiopathy: A systematic review of current understanding, clinical significance, and management. Hepatol Commun. 2025;9:e0833. doi: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000833.
6. Condat B, Vilgrain V, Asselah T, O'Toole D, Rufat P, Zappa M, et al. Portal cavernoma-associated cholangiopathy: a clinical and MR cholangiography coupled with MR portography imaging study. Hepatology. 2003;37:1302-8. doi: 10.1053/jhep.2003.50232.
7. Franceschet I, Zanetto A, Ferrarese A, Burra P, Senzolo M. Therapeutic approaches for portal biliopathy: A systematic review. World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22:9909-20. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i45.9909.
8. De Gottardi A, Sempoux C, Berzigotti A. Porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder. J Hepatol. 2022;77:1124-35. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.05.033.
9. Llop E, de Juan C, Seijo S, García-Criado A, Abraldes JG, Bosch J, et al. Portal cholangiopathy: radiological classification and natural history. Gut. 2011;60:853-60. doi: 10.1136/gut.2010.230201.
10. Senzolo M, Tibbals J, Cholongitas E, Triantos CK, Burroughs AK, Patch D. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for portal vein thrombosis with and without cavernous transformation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2006;23:767-75. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02820.x.
11. Dhiman RK, Saraswat VA, Valla DC, Chawla Y, Behera A, Varma V, et al. Portal cavernoma cholangiopathy: consensus statement of a working party of the Indian national association for study of the liver. J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2014;4:S2-S14. doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2014.02.003.
12. Magaz M, Giudicelli-Lett H, Nicoara-Farcau O, Rajoriya N, Goel A, Raymenants K, et al. Liver Transplantation for Porto-sinusoidal Vascular Liver Disorder: Long-term Outcome. Transplantation. 2023;107:1330-40. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004444.
13. Vibert E, Azoulay D, Aloia T, Pascal G, Veilhan LA, Adam R, et al. Therapeutic strategies in symptomatic portal biliopathy. Ann Surg. 2007;246:97-104. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e318070cada.
14. Agarwal AK, Sharma D, Singh S, Agarwal S, Girish SP. Portal biliopathy: a study of 39 surgically treated patients. HPB. 2011;13:33-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1477-2574.2010.00232.x.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Elisa Pinto, Kymentie Ferdinande, Alberto Zanetto, Umberto Cillo, Marco Senzolo

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.




