Medical treatment of portal hypertension and oesophageal varices.

Portal hypertension exists when the pressure in the portal venous system is raised above the normal range of 5-10 mm Hg. It becomes clinically important at or above 15 mm Hg. An increase in portal vascular resistance is the usual mechanism for portal hypertension, and by far the commonest cause of this in Western society is hepatic cirrhosis,' most frequently alcohol induced.