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The Pathophysiology of Portal Hypertension

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Portal Hypertension

Abstract

Pressure in the portal system, as with pressure in any system, develops through an interaction of flow and resistance. A mathematical representation of this relationship is found in a modification of Ohm’s law: ΔP = Q × R, where ΔP is the pressure gradient through a system, Q is the flow in the system, and R is the resistance to that flow. It follows then, that alteration in flow or resistance leads to changes in pressure. Our present understanding suggests that established portal hypertension results from alterations in both flow and resistance. The mechanisms which provide these changes will be discussed below.

Supported by NIH Training Grant #DK 07356

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Buffalo, NY, 19215, USA

    Thomas C. Mahl

  2. The State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, Baffalo, New York, 19215, USA

    Thomas C. Mahl

  3. Veterans Administration Medical Center, Hepatic, Hemodynamic Laboratory, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Roberto J. Groszmann

  4. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Roberto J. Groszmann

Authors
  1. Thomas C. Mahl
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  2. Roberto J. Groszmann
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Chiba University Hospital, Inohana 1-8-1, Chiba, 280, Japan

    Kunio Okuda M.D., Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Department of Hepatology, Hopital Beaujon, 92118, Clichy, France

    Jean-Pierre Benhamou M.D. (Professor) (Professor)

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© 1991 Springer Japan

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Mahl, T.C., Groszmann, R.J. (1991). The Pathophysiology of Portal Hypertension. In: Okuda, K., Benhamou, JP. (eds) Portal Hypertension. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68361-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68361-2_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-68363-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-68361-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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