[Portal hypertension caused by intra-hepatic block in chronic lymphoid leukemia].

A 83-year-old woman with chronic lymphoid leukemia--well controlled for 14 years with chemotherapy--was admitted for ascitis due to portal hypertension. Liver biopsy showed major portal infiltration with monomorphic little lymphocytes. Portal hypertension during chronic lymphoid leukemia might be caused by this periportal lymphoid infiltration or by intraportal venous thrombosis due to thrombophilia or by increasing of hepatic blood flow. Our observation showed that hepatic localizations of the disease may induce acute symptoms even when the lymphoid leukemia seems to be under control both in terms of blood parameters and lymphadenopathy.