Gastrointestinal bleeding in pregnant patients with cirrhosis: Pathophysiology, review of outcomes, and management

Pregnancy is a rare event in patients with cirrhosis because the metabolic and hormonalchanges associated with cirrhosis lead to anovulation and amenorrhea. Liver cirrhosis withportal hypertension is considered one of the most common causes of gastrointestinal bleedingin general and comes after peptic ulcer disease. Gastrointestinal bleeding in the setting ofportal hypertension occurs secondary to either esophageal varices or portal hypertensivegastropathy. Its management can be challenging in general, and pregnancy can only make itmore complicated. In this article we will review the management of variceal gastrointestinalbleeding in pregnancy.