IDIOPATHIC PORTAL HYPERTENSION IN ASSOCIATION WITH HASHIMOTO’S THYROIDITIS - A CASE REPORT

Few recent studies have suggested an immunological basis for pathogenesis of idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH). The smaller venous radicles in the small and medium-sized portal tracts are thought to be targets of immunologic attack in IPH. We report a 22 year old Indian woman who presented with features of portal hypertension, hypersplenism and hypothyroidism. Investigations for hypothyroidism confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Splenectomy and proximal lieno-renal shunt was done after the patient became euthyroid after a month of thyroxine therapy. This association of IPH and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is very rare and strongly supports the possibility of immunological basis for etiopathogenesis of IPH.