Non‐cirrhotic portal hypertension in pregnancy

Abstract Objective: To study the outcome of pregnancy in women with non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). Method: A retrospective analysis of 50 pregnancies in 27 women with NCPH was carried out. Pregnancy outcome was compared in extra hepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) and non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF). Results: The mean maternal age was 24.60±2.857 years, and the disease was diagnosed during pregnancy in 15 (55.6%) patients. Variceal bleeding occurred in 17/50 (34%) pregnancies and the majority (88.2%) of them responded to endoscopic sclerotherapy. Incidence of variceal bleeding during pregnancy was lower in pregnancies where the disease was diagnosed prior to pregnancy (8.6%), and it was 43.5% in EHPVO and 25.9% in NCPF. The mean birth weight of the neonates was 2668.4±427.42 g, and the incidence of abortion, prematurity, small for gestational age babies and perinatal death was 20, 17.5, 12.5 and 20%, respectively. Variceal bleeding during pregnancy was associated with a higher incidence of abortion (29.4%) and perinatal death (33.3%). Conclusion: Variceal bleeding is the most common complication in pregnancies with NCPH. Pregnancies can be allowed and managed successfully in patients with NCPH.