1977 Volume 18 Issue 12 Pages 950-957
A man, 38-year-old who had been a worker in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride for 18 years and 9 months, was diagnosed as portal hypertension with splenomegaly and varices in the esophagus and stomach. Laboratory data revealed thrombocytopenia, increased ICG and BSP retension, and normal range of GOT, GPT and alkaline phosphatase. He had splenectomy and esophageal transection. Histologically surgical specimen of the liver showed marked portal fibrosis and interlobular fibrosis. Focal and mild sinusoidal dilatation with slight proliferation of sinusoidal lining cells were observed. Conspicuous chronic congestion with moderate fibrosis in the red pulp were observed in the resected spleen.
Eight months after the operation, he had a intestinal resection for strangulation of the small bowel. But he died of renal failure and panperitonitis after the operation.
Portal hypertension in this case was suggested to be closely related to long term exposure of vinyl chloride monomer.
