Abstract
Not only varix but also portal hypertensive gastroenteropathy(PHGE)is a characteristiclesion of the gastrointestinal mucosa in patients with portal hypertension. Bleeding from PHGEis not common, however, it is one of the important complications for the patients with portalhypertension because it could be fatal as variceal bleeding. Though PHGE is not an inflamma-tory disease, it is characterized endoscopically by redness and edema. It is also characterizedhistologically by edema and dilated capillaries and venules in the mucosa and submucosa. Increase in portal pressure is the most common etiology. Severity of hepatic disorder andportal hemodynamic change are also associated with PHGE. PHGE is referred to by differentnames depending on its location:It is portal hypertensive gastropathy(PHG)in the stomach, portal hypertensive duodenopathy(PHD)in the duodenum, portal hypertensive enteropathy(PHE)in the small intestine and portal hypertensive colopathy(PHC)in the large intestine. In this review, clinical characteristics, endoscopic classification, histological findings, etiology, pathogenesis and treatment methods are outlined on each of the above-mentionedtypes of PHGE reviewing the reported literature.
