Portal hypertension in pregnancy

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Abstract
Purpose of review: This review highlights the management, maternal and fetal outcomes, and the critical role of prepregnancy counseling for women with portal hypertension (PHT), a topic of growing clinical relevance as pregnancies in women with PHT have increased over the last two decades. Recent findings: Pregnancy exacerbates PHT due to physiological changes that increase blood flow and vascular resistance, raising the risk of life-threatening complications like variceal bleeding. The distinction between noncirrhotic (NCPH) and cirrhotic portal hypertension (CPH) is essential, as maternal risks vary significantly. Summary: Optimal care for women with PHT requires preconception counseling to assess risks, adjust medications, and plan necessary investigations such as variceal and splenic artery aneurysm screening and, if necessary, plan additional interventions. A multidisciplinary team – including hepatologists, obstetricians, anesthetists, and radiologists – is crucial for personalized management, addressing both the mode of delivery and peripartum care. While PHT complicates pregnancy, favorable outcomes are achievable with proactive planning and close follow-up during pregnancy.

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