AISF practice guidelines for portal hypertension

This paper reports the conclusions of the works of an ad-hoc committee appointed by the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver: On the basis of available evidence, the diagnostic role of ultrasonography: endoscopy, hepatic venous pressure gradient and other methodologies is discussed. Practical guidelines for the treatment of portal hypertension are given in the setting of primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding, acute treatment of bleeding, and prevention of rebleeding. Further guidelines are related to less common conditions, such as gastric varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy and portal vein thrombosis. Research areas (i.e., areas in which research is insufficient to direct clinical decision, and further data are awaited) are also suggested. The committee believes that these guidelines are to be periodically revised in order to conform to current scientific knowledge.