Portal vein thrombosis is associated with an increased risk of bone fractures

Abstract

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare but severe disease that often leads to portal hypertension-related complications. It is well-known that patients with portal hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis are at increased risk for bone fractures, however data on the impact of PVT on fracture risk are lacking. Aims: This study aimed to explore the impact of PVT on the incidence of bone fractures in a large German primary care cohort.MethodsPatients with PVT were extensively matched to non-PVT individuals in a 1:5 ratio. The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of any bone fracture. Results: This study included 596 patients with PVT and 2,980 non-PVT individuals. During five years of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of bone fractures was significantly higher in PVT patients (n = 87, 13.6%) than in those without PVT (n = 186, 6.7%) (pConclusionsPVT is independently associated with a higher incidence of bone fractures. Patients with PVT should be critically evaluated for fracture risk and preventive measures should be considered.