AISF practice guidelines for portal hypertension

This paper reports the conclusions of the works of an ad-hoc committee appo inted by the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver: On the basis o f available evidence, the diagnostic role of ultrasonography: endoscopy, he patic venous pressure gradient and other methodologies is discussed. Practi cal guidelines for the treatment of portal hypertension are given in the se tting of primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding, acute treatment of bleed ing, and prevention of rebleeding. Further guidelines are related to less c ommon conditions, such as gastric varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy and portal vein thrombosis. Research areas (i.e., areas in which research i s insufficient to direct clinical decision, and further data are awaited) a re also suggested. The committee believes that these guidelines are to be p eriodically revised in order to conform to current scientific knowledge.