Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis. This article reviews the research advances in liver cirrhosis complicated by PVT in recent years and points out that PVT is induced by the combined effect of various factors. Hemodynamic disorder is an important basis for the development of PVT. PVT can be classified into different types according to the degree of thromboembolism and the portal vein branches involved. At present, anticoagulant therapy and interventional therapy are commonly used in the treatment of PVT. The development of PVT may not promote the progression of liver cirrhosis, but it may affect the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis who receive liver transplantation.