A case of Budd-Chiari syndrome type IV, successfully treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)

Abstract

A 25-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal fullness. Abdominal enhanced CT, ultrasonography, and MRI revealed massive ascites and obstruction of the hepatic veins and the inferior vena cava. Gastrointestinal endoscopy showed F₃ esophageal varices with the so-called "red color sign". A diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) was confirmed by angiography which detected membranous obstruction of the hepatic veins. The cause of BCS in this patient was unclear. After treatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), his ascites and esophageal varices improved.