Budd–Chiari syndrome
| Budd–Chiari syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Budd–Chiari syndrome secondary to cancer; note clot in the inferior vena cava and the metastasis in the liver | |
| Specialty | Hepatology |
| Complications | Liver failure |
| Treatment | Anticoagulant medication, Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, Liver transplantation |
| Named after | |
Budd–Chiari syndrome is a condition when an occlusion or obstruction in the hepatic veins prevent normal outflow of blood from the liver.
The symptoms are non-specific and vary widely, but it may present with the classical triad of abdominal pain, ascites, and liver enlargement. Untreated Budd-Chiari syndrome can result in liver failure.
It is usually seen in younger adults, with the median age at diagnosis between 35 and 40 years, and it has a similar incidence in males and females. It is a very rare condition, affecting one in a million adults. The syndrome can be fulminant, acute, chronic, or asymptomatic. Subacute presentation is the most common form.
Patients with hypercoagulable disorders, polycythemia vera, and hepatocellular carcinoma are at a higher risk of having Budd-Chiari syndrome.