Studies on Etiologenesis of Idiopathic Portal Hypertension (so-called Banti's syndrome)

Abstract

Etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic portal hypertention were studied in 30 cases of this disease using the technique of peritoneoscopy and liver biopsy, vascular reconstruction studies by serial sections of the biopsy specimens and the detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in sera.
1) The incidence of HBsAg and Ab in these cases was similar to that in chronic hepatitis and HBsAb was detected more frequently that in active cases in chronic hepatitis.
2) Undulating liver surface was observed by peritoneoscopic examination and obliteration and/or stenotic changes of the terminals of portal vein branches were highly noted by histological reconstruction study.
3) Above findings suggest that the etiology of the disease is closely related to type B Hepatitis and the changes of portal vein branches are correlated to the pathogenesis of indentation of the liver surface and are important factor to the developement of portal hypertension in the disease.