Which of the following is a common cause of portal vein hypertension?

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Portal hypertension mainly results from increased resistance to blood flow in the portal system, most often due to scarring and architectural distortion inside the liver. Cirrhosis causes nodular, fibrotic changes that disrupt normal hepatic vasculature and raise portal venous pressure. Schistosomiasis adds a second common mechanism by causing periportal fibrosis and constriction of the portal tract, producing substantial presinusoidal resistance and raising portal pressure as well. Together, these conditions are classic and frequent causes of portal hypertension.

Gallstones block the biliary system rather than the portal venous inflow, so they’re not a typical driver of portal hypertension. Hepatitis A is usually an acute infection and does not commonly lead to chronic liver scarring with portal hypertension. Chronic pancreatitis affects the pancreas and nearby vessels but is not a common cause of diffuse portal hypertension in the liver.