The Effect of Portacaval Shunt on Thrombocytopenia Associated with Portal Hypertension

Abstract

The association of chronic liver disease, splenomegaly, and hematologic disturbances has been known for many years. Banti's classic description in 1894 (1) has been followed by other studies demonstrating the role of portal hypertension in the production of abnormal hematologic states (2, 3). Dameshek and Estren (4) developed the concept of hypersplenism, a syndrome characterized by splenomegaly, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and bone marrow hyperplasia. Liver disease and portal hypertension are important causes of the disorder and splenectomy is curative. Moschowitz (5) described the morphologic features of "congestive splenomegaly" as seen in 86 patients, including 39 cirrhotics and 23 with other