Diagnostic challenges of clinically significant portal hypertension in geriatric metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: A case report
Abstract
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) may progress to cirrhosis and lead to serious complications. Lipid accumulation, hepatocellular ballooning, and sinusoidal endothelial dysfunction increase intrahepatic vascular resistance, resulting in early clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). Although hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) remains the gold standard, decompensated cirrhosis may yield deceptively low values. Transient elastography and platelet count provide supportive diagnostic evidence, yet obesity can overestimate disease severity. This report highlights the diagnostic challenge of CSPH, especially MAFLD in geriatric patients.
Case summary: A 78-year-old woman with class I obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia presented with hematemesis and melena for a three-day period. A prior computed tomography scan revealed moderate diffuse hepatic steatosis, splenic vein dilatation, and splenomegaly. On admission, she presented with pallor, epigastric tenderness, splenomegaly, and mild ascites. Laboratory findings showed anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperglycemia. Abdominal ultrasound confirmed chronic liver disease with splenomegaly. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated grade II-III esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy. Noninvasive fibrosis assessments (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score, aspartate transaminase-to-platelet ratio index, fibrosis-4 index, and…
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