Noncirrhotic portal hypertension in primary biliary cholangitis with coexisting CREST syndrome.

ABSTRACT

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease that is sometimes associated with CREST (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia) syndrome. If left untreated, PBC eventually progresses to liver cirrhosis. We describe an adult patient with CREST-PBC who presented with recurrent variceal bleeding and ultimately required transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) insertion. Liver biopsy excluded cirrhosis, resulting in a diagnosis of noncirrhotic portal hypertension. This case report describes the pathophysiology of presinusoidal portal hypertension as a rare complication of PBC and its association with coexisiting CREST.