Summary
A 22-year-old female with active ulcerative colitis developed massive ascites, hypoalbuminemia, and hepatomegaly compatible with thrombosis of the hepatic veins. The diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome was confirmed by ultrasonography, computed tomography, and by liver biopsy. A search of the literature disclosed only three previous reports of Budd-Chiari syndrome occurring in patients with ulcerative colitis. All patients have been young females with active colitis and no other known risk factor for the development of hepatic vein thrombosis. Our patient, unlike the previously reported patients who died, recovered sufficiently to be discharged from the hospital.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kirsner JB: The Local and systemic complications of inflammatory bowel disease. JAMA 242(11):1177–1183, 1979
Kirsner JB, Shorter RG: Recent developments in “nonspecific” inflammatory bowel disease. N Engl J Med 306:775–785, 1982
Maddrey WC: Hepatic vein thrombosis (Budd-Chiari syndrome). Hepatology 4:44S-46S, 1984
Kelsey MP, Comfort MW: Occlusion of the hepatic veins: A review of twenty cases. Arch Intern Med 75:175–183, 1945
Bargen JA: Functional and anatomic effects of colitis of long standing. Med Times 64:339–346, 350, 1936
Jorgensen L: Occlusion of the hepatic veins: A report of two cases. Acta Pathol Scand 44:68–79, 1958
Parker RGF, Kendall EJC: The liver in ulcerative colitis. Br Med J 2:1030–1032, 1954
Parker RGF: Occlusion of the hepatic veins in man. Medicine 38:369–402, 1959
Mitchell MC, Boitnott JK, Kaufman S, Cameron JL, Maddrey WC: Budd-Chiari syndrome: Etiology, diagnosis and management. Medicine 61:199–218, 1982
Bolt RJ: Disease of the hepatic blood vessels.In Gastroenterology, vol. 3, 3rd ed. HL Bockus (ed). Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 1976, pp 484–491
Spiro HM: Clinical Gastroenterology, 3rd ed. New York, Macmillan, 1983, pp 1328–1330
Lee JCL, Spittell JA, Sauer WG, Owen CA, Thompson JA: Hypercoagulability associated with chronic ulcerative colitis: Changes in blood coagulation factors. Gastroenterology 54:76–84, 1968
Lam A, Borda IT, Inwood MJ, Thompson S: Coagulation studies in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Gastroenterology 68:245–251, 1975
Lake AM, Stauffer JQ, Stuart MJ: Hemostatic alterations in inflammatory bowel disease: response to therapy. Am J Dig Dis 23:897–902, 1978
Bargen JA, Barker NW: Extensive aterial and venous thrombosis complicating chronic ulcerative colitis. Arch Intern Med 58:17–31, 1934
Graef V, Baggemstoss AH, Sauer WG, Spittell JA: Venous thrombosis occurring in nonspecific ulcerative colitis. Arch Intern Med 117:377–382, 1966
Wintrobe MM: Acquired coagulation disorders.In Clinical Hematology. Wintrobe MM (ed). Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1981, pp 1206–1236
Baert AL, Fevery J, Marghal G, Goddeeris P, Wilms G, Ponette E, De Groote J: Early diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome by computed tomography and ultrasonography: Report of five cases. Gastroenterol 84:587–595, 1983
Becker CD, Scheidegger J, Marincek B: Hepatic vein occlusion: Morphologic features on computed tomography and ultrasonography. Gastrointest Radiol 11:305–311, 1986
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brinson, R.R., Curtis, W.D., Schuman, B.M. et al. Recovery from hepatic vein thrombosis (Budd-Chiari syndrome) complicating ulcerative colitis. Digest Dis Sci 33, 1615–1620 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01535954
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01535954