Value of Von Willebrand Factor in Portal Hypertension

In patients with liver cirrhosis elevated levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) are found frequently but the clinical significance is unclear. vWF-Ag plays an important role in primary haemostasis and development of thrombotic vascular obliteration is discussed as a possible mechanism leading to portal hypertension. Invasive measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is the current gold standard for the diagnosis of portal hypertension. The investigators hypothesize that vWF-Ag levels in plasma may correlate with portal pressure and predict clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH, HVPG \>=10mmHg) and its complications.