BACKGROUND/AIMS: Membranous obstruction is the most common cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Orientals. Recently, percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTBA) has been successfully applied as a treatment of membranous obstruction. We evaluated etiologies and clinical manifestations in our cases and the usefulness of PTBA. METHODS: Twelve cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome were analyzed. RESULTS: 50.3 years was the average age of the cases (ranging from 37 to 67 years). Major symptoms or signs were superficial collateral vessels on the chest or the abdomen in 6 cases, ascites in 3, abdominal pain in 4, hepatomegaly in 4, splenomegaly in 3, melena or hematemesis in 2, and leg edema in 2. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed esophageal varices in 6 cases and two of these 6 cases had gastric varices. Of 8 cases with liver cirrhosis, 4 were classified as Child-Pugh class A and 4 as B. Four patients with cirrhosis had concurrent hepatocellular carcinoma including 1 patient who was HBs Ag positive. Etiologies were membranous obstruction in 11 cases and protein C deficiency in 1 case. The main site of obstruction was IVC in 8 and hepatic vein in 4. PTBA was successfully performed in 8 cases of membranous obstruction. During the mean follow-up period of 27.6 months (12-40 months), there were no reobstructions except in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The most common cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome in our cases was membranous obstruction of IVC. Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty is a very useful treatment method.
Adult ; Aged ; *Angioplasty, Balloon ; English Abstract ; Female ; Hepatic Vein Thrombosis/complications/diagnosis/*therapy ; *Hepatic Veins ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Vena Cava, Inferior

Antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of arterial and venous thrombosis, spontaneous fetal losses, thrombocytopenia and persistently elevated levels of antiphospholipid antibodies. We experienced a case of Budd-Chiari syndrome in a 32-year old female lupus patient who was presented with left leg edema, ascites and esophageal varix. The clinical and laboratory findings were compatible with the cirteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and she was found to have anticardiolipin antibody, thrombocytopenia and prolonged partial thromboplastin time. Initially, she was treated with intravenous heparin and uroki nase and she was followed up with warfarin, baby aspirin and steroids.
Adult ; Angiography ; Animal ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid/blood* ; Case Report ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatic Vein Thrombosis/complications ; Hepatic Vein Thrombosis/diagnosis* ; Hepatic Vein Thrombosis/drug therapy ; Human ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed