Portal hypertensive gastropathy and duodenopathy are distinct clinical and endoscopic entities. Data on factors influencing the development of these lesions are still emerging. Data on portal hypertensive duodenopathy are scarce. We prospectively studied 230 patients with liver cirrhosis and oesophageal varices attending the liver clinic of the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences. One hundred and forty-two patients had no history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, while the remainder had bled in the past. Endoscopic appearances were recorded before starting patients on a sclerotherapy programme. Forty-four patients were re-evaluated after variceal eradication. The frequency of portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) and duodenopathy (PHD) was 61 and 14%, respectively. Mild PHG was present in 85% and was severe in the rest. Portal hypertensive duodenopathy was mild in 50%, while in the other half it was severe. There was no relationship of PHG and PHD to: (i) a history of upper gastrointestinal bleed; (ii) size of oesophageal varices; (iii) aetiology of liver cirrhosis; or (iv) liver function status as assessed by Child Pugh's scores (P = NS for all). The prevalence of PHG was higher in those patients with oesophagogastric varices (74 of 107; 69%) compared with patients with oesophageal varices alone (68 of 123; 55%; P < 0.05). However, no such increase in frequency of PHD was noted in patients with oesophagogastric varices. Sclerotherapy increased the frequency of PHG. Twenty-four patients had PHG before starting sclerotherapy, while it was noted in 33 patients 1-3 months after variceal eradication (P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no increase in the prevalence of portal hypertensive duodenopathy after sclerotherapy (P = NS). There was no correlation between endoscopic and histological changes of PHG and PHD. In conclusion, PHG is quite frequent in patients with cirrhosis and its frequency increases with the presence of oesophagogastric varices and after sclerotherapy. However, the frequency of PHD is low and is not affected by the factors studied.