portal HTN and pancytopenia

[MudPhud20XX]

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I had an NBME q asking about this. Can anyone explain the mech of protal HTN leading to pancytopenia?
Many thanks in advance.

 

[Jabbed]

I had an NBME q asking about this. Can anyone explain the mech of protal HTN leading to pancytopenia?
Many thanks in advance.

Not sure about pancytopenia, but portal hypertension can lead to congestive splenomegaly and hypersplenism, which is most associated with thrombocytopenia and anemia. I wouldn't call it a stretch to say that it becomes pancytopenia when it also involves granulocytes, but it is definitely not the classic presentation for hypersplenism.