Case Report
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2005; 11(24): 3797-3799
Published online Jun 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i24.3797
Budd-Chiari syndrome: A case with a combination of hepatic vein and superior vena cava occlusion
Yoshio Araki, Chikara Sakaguchi, Izumi Ishizuka, Masaya Sasaki, Tomoyuki Tsujikawa, Shigeki Koyama, Akira Furukawa, Yoshihide Fujiyama
Yoshio Araki, Chikara Sakaguchi, Izumi Ishizuka, Masaya Sasaki, Tomoyuki Tsujikawa, Shigeki Koyama, Yoshihide Fujiyama, Department of Internal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa, Otsu 520-2192, Shiga, Japan
Akira Furukawa, Department of Radiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa, Otsu 520-2192, Shiga, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Yoshio Araki, MD, PhD, 6-13-20 Aoyama, Otsu city, Shiga 520-2101, Japan. bileacidaraki@hotmail.com
Telephone: +81-77-549-2161 Fax: +81-77-549-2161
Received: October 25, 2004
Revised: October 26, 2004
Accepted: December 1, 2004
Published online: June 28, 2005
Abstract

We here report a recent, rare case of Budd-Chiari syndrome, associated with a combination of hepatic vein and superior vena cava occlusion. A young female, who had been in good health, was admitted to our hospital because of massive ascites. The patient had used no oral contraceptives. Tests for coagulation disorders, hematological disorders, and antiphospholipid syndrome were all negative. Budd-Chiari syndrome was diagnosed by radiographic examination. The patient was suffering from a combination of hepatic vein and superior vena cava occlusion. In particular, the venous flow returned from the liver mainly through a right accessory hepatic vein, and stenosis was recognized at the orifice of this collateral vein into the vena cava. Subsequently, the patient underwent percutaneous balloon dilatation therapy for this stenosis. After this treatment, the massive ascites was gradually reduced, and she was discharged from our hospital. It has now been one year since discharge, and the patient has been doing well. If deteriorating liver function or intractable ascites occur again, a liver transplantation may be anticipated. This is the first case report of Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with a superior vena cava occlusion.

Keywords: Budd-Chiari syndrome; Hepatic vein occlusion; Superior vena cava occlusion; Percutaneous balloon dilatation