High risk of thrombosis recurrence in people with idiopathic or only locally caused non-cirrhotic splanchnic vein thrombosis: it is time for guidelines’ revision

Portal hypertension caused by non-cirrhotic(and non neoplastic)splanchnic vein thrombosis(NC-SVT)is responsible for 5–10%of portal hypertension cases in the western world(1).Chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms(MPN)or systemic prothrombotic disorders are in cause in about 40%of subjects,while in about 30%a local condition,such as recent abdominal surgery or infection/inflammation triggers the event.The local condition,however,can only be the precipitating cause,since a thorough screening allows identifying the co-occurrence of systemic thrombophilia in about 30%of such cases.Hence,screening is mandatory even in cases where the cause of NC-SVT seems obvious.Nevertheless,about 30%of cases of NC-SVT remains unexplained and defined idiopathic(1).