Treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: report of a case

We report the successful treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) due to an obstruction of the hepatic veins. A 19-year-old man developed bleeding esophageal and gastric varices, and a large amount of ascites was thus caused by portal hypertension. BCS complicated by an obstruction of the major hepatic veins was diagnosed after examinations. We performed percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). This resulted in a great improvement of BCS, a marked decrease in the pressure of the hepatic veins, and the disappearance of ascites. Restenosis occurred at 1 year and 5 years after the initial angioplasty, for which PTA was repeatedly performed. Nine years after the initial treatment, no stenosis has been observed and the patient has shown a favorable outcome. Received: June 20, 2001 / Accepted: November 20, 2001