What Are the Symptoms of Portal Hypertension?
The onset of portal hypertension may not always be associated with specific symptoms that identify what is happening in the liver. But if you have liver disease that leads to cirrhosis, the chance of developing portal hypertension is high. The main symptoms and complications of portal hypertension include: • Gastrointestinal bleeding: Black, tarry stools or blood in the stools; or vomiting of blood due to the spontaneous rupture and hemorrhage from varices. • Ascites (an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen). • Encephalopathy or confusion and forgetfulness caused by poor liver function. • Reduced levels of platelets, blood cells that help form blood clots, or white blood cells, the cells that fight infection.
