To Study the Etiological, Clinical and Histopathological Profile of Patients With Non Cirrhotic Portal Fibrosis in a Tertiary Care Center : A Hospital Based Observational Study

Introduction: Non cirrhotic portal brosis is a syndrome characterized by obliterative portovenopathy leading to portal hypertension, massive splenomegaly and well tolerated episodes of variceal bleeding in young adults from low socioeconomic backgrounds, having near normal hepatic functions. Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the patients of NCPF for clinical , etiological and histopathological prole and determine whether the source of drinking water could have a role in etiopathogenesis of NCPF. Materials And Methods:This retrospective study was conducted at FH Medical College and Hospital, Agra, involving 50 diagnosed NCPF patients. Distribution of cases was done according to age, sex, diet, source of drinking water, various clinical presentations on the basis of history and clinical examination, and histopathological ndings. Statistical analysis was done using Chi square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: Study showed male preponderance. Most patients were in the age group of 25-35 years, 74% were vegetarian and 46% of the patients used tap water as the source of drinking water. Major presentation of patients with NCPF was with g.i.bleed and left upper quadrant mass on history and splenomegaly on clinical examination. Main histological ndings were irregular intimal thickening of portal veins, and organizing thrombosis and/or recanalization of portal veins. p value was calculated for nding an association between source of drinking water and every histopathological nding on liver biopsy, and a signicant association was found between source of drinking water as tap water and organizing thrombosis and/or recanalization of portal vein (p = 0.0416) which suggest that source of drinking water might have an impact on the etiology of NCPF. Conclusion: Etiology of NCPF is possibly multifactorial. Tap water (source of drinking water) could have a possible role in etiopathogenesis of NCPF, which needs to be further evaluated by case controlled studies.