Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with factor V leiden mutation: a report of 6 patients

Budd-Chiari syndrome: long term success via hepatic decompression using transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt

Background

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) generally implies thrombosis of the hepatic veins and/or the intrahepatic or suprahepatic inferior vena cava. Treatment depends on the underlying cause, the anatomic location, the extent of the thrombotic process and the functional capacity of the liver. It can be divided into medical treatment including anticoagulation and thrombolysis, radiological procedures such as angioplasty and transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS) and surgical interventions including orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Controlled trials or reports on larger cohorts are limited due to rare disease frequency. The aim of this study was to report our single centre long term results of patients with BCS receiving one of three treatment options i.e. medication only, TIPS or OLT on an individually based decision of our local expert group.

Methods

20 patients with acute, subacute or chronic BCS were treated between 1988 and 2008. Clinical records were analysed with respect to underlying disease, therapeutic interventions, complications and overall outcome.

Results

16 women and 4 men with a mean age of 34 ± 12 years (range: 14-60 years) at time of diagnosis were included. Myeloproliferative disorders or a plasmatic coagulopathy were identified as underlying disease in 13 patients, in the other patients the cause of BCS remained unclear. 12 patients presented with an acute BCS, 8 with a subacute or chronic disease. 13 patients underwent TIPS, 4 patients OLT as initial therapy, 2 patients required only symptomatic therapy, and one patient died from liver failure before any specific treatment could be initiated. Eleven of 13 TIPS patients required 2.5 ± 2.4 revisions (range: 0-8). One patient died from his underlying hematologic disease. The residual 12 patients still have stable liver function not requiring OLT. All 4 patients who underwent OLT as initial treatment, required re-OLT due to thrombembolic complications of the graft. Survival in the TIPS group was 92.3% and in the OLT group 75% during a median follow-up of 4 and 11.5 years, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results confirm the role of TIPS in the management of patients with acute, subacute and chronic BCS. The limited number of patients with OLT does not allow to draw a meaningful conclusion. However, the underlying disease may generate major complications, a reason why OLT should be limited to patients who cannot be managed by TIPS.

Abdominal vein thrombosis in essential thrombocythemia: prevalence, clinical correlates, and prognostic implications

Among 460 consecutive patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) seen at our institution, 19 cases (4%) of abdominal vein thrombosis (AVT) were documented either at (n = 9) or after (n = 10) diagnosis. Women (P = 0.03) and the young (P = 0.002) were preferentially affected. Accordingly, clinical comparisons were performed among three groups of female patients: those with AVT (group A; n = 17), a control group without AVT but closely matched to group A in terms of age and year of diagnosis (group B; n = 34), and all female patients without AVT (group C; n = 288). As expected from the consequences of AVT-associated portal hypertension and anticoagulant therapy, patients in group A experienced significantly higher rates of hemorrhage, palpable splenomegaly, and anemia. Unexpectedly, however, compared with group B, group A displayed both a higher conversion rate into myelofibrosis/acute leukemia (P = 0.0008) and a shorter median survival (116 vs. 156 months; P = 0.0012). Multivariable analysis including all female patients with ET identified AVT, along with advanced age, leukocytosis, and tobacco use, as an independent risk factor for inferior survival. Groups A, B, and C did not differ in either JAK2(V617F) mutational frequency or incidence of non-abdominal thrombosis. We conclude that AVT in ET is a marker of aggressive disease biology.

Budd-Chiari syndrome as the first manifestation of polycythemia vera in young women with inherited thrombophilic state: an aggressive form of myeloproliferative disorder requiring multidisciplinary management

The Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), characterized by the obstruction and occlusion of the suprahepatic veins, is a rare but typical complication occurring in patients with polycythemia vera (PV). We describe three young women who developed BCS as first manifestation of PV, in association with an inherited thrombophilic state and in the absence of concomitant use of oral contraceptives. Our report illustrates the existence of an aggressive form of myeloproliferative disorder, which requires prompt recognition and immediate therapeutic intervention including cytostatic drugs and anticoagulant treatment. Furthermore, we suggest the need of routine screening for thrombophilic state in young women affected by PV.

Budd-Chiari Syndrome Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis and Factor V Leiden Mutation

We here report a case of subacute Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) related to Factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation in the presence of visceral leishmaniasis. A 17-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of abdominal pain, pretibial edema and fever. The clinical picture of BCS had been developed within several months. BCS was diagnosed by radiographic examination. On DNA analysis, a heterozygote Arg506Gln mutation in the factor V gene was found. Histological examination of the bone marrow showed intracellular leishmania amastigotes. Despite appropriate treatment patient's clinical condition deteriorated rapidly and died with multiorgan failure. FVL mutation is the most common procoagulant disorder and account for many cases of BCS. This case report demonstrates that in addition to duration and severity of the disease accompanying conditions including infections are prognostically significant for the outcome of this potentially lethal disease.

Increased CD11b neutrophil expression in Budd-Chiari syndrome or portal vein thrombosis secondary to polycythaemia vera

Budd-Chiari syndrome and portal vein thrombosis (BCS/PVT) are frequently associated with polycythaemia vera (PV). In an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms of BCS/PVT secondary to PV (T-PV), CD11b neutrophil expression, neutrophil oxidative burst and platelet-neutrophil complexes (PNC) were assessed in 17 such patients. Three groups served as controls: BCS/PVT not secondary to PV (T-nPV; n = 20), PV without thrombosis (PV-nT; n = 16), and healthy controls (HC; n = 20). Baseline CD11b expression (in mean fluorescence intensity units) was 101 [95% confidence interval (CI): 79-128] in T-PV patients, versus 25 (95% CI: 18-35) in T-nPV, 59 (95% CI: 43-80) in PV-nT, and 34 (95% CI: 25-48) in HC (P < 0.001). After N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine activation, T-PV patients also showed higher CD11b values: 190 (95% CI: 151-238), versus 55 (95% CI: 41-72) in T-nPV, 111 (95% CI: 81-153) in PV-nT, and 77 (95% CI: 63-95) in HC (P < 0.001). In BCS/PVT, CD11b neutrophil expression had 90% specificity and 100% sensitivity for the association with PV. Finally, PV patients had higher oxidative burst and PNC than T-nPV patients or HC (P < 0.05). These results support a role for neutrophils in BCS/PVT secondary to PV and indicate that neutrophil CD11b expression could be of use for PV screening in BCS/PVT patients.

Thrombophilic genotypes, natural anticoagulants, and plasma homocysteine in myeloproliferative disorders: relationship with splanchnic vein thrombosis and arterial disease

The contribution of pro-thrombotic factors towards the development of arterial disease (AD) and splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) was retrospectively evaluated in 79 patients (39M, 40F, mean age 55 +/- 16 years) with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) (essential thrombocythemia [n = 26], primary proliferative polycythemia [n = 27], and idiopathic myelofibrosis [n = 26]). Of these, 18 had AD and 17 SVT, the remaining 44 were non-thrombotic (NT). Plasma concentrations of natural anticoagulants, plasma homocysteine (HC), IgG anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), and thrombophilic genotypes (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C(677)T, factor V Leiden, prothrombin G(20210)-->A) were determined. Isolated protein C deficiency was found in 23% of patients from the SVT group, in 5% from the AD group, in 6.8% from the NT group, and in 1% of historical controls (P = 0.0001). The prevalence of thrombophilic genotypes and that of the other natural anticoagulants did not differ across the groups. The proportion of patients with elevated plasma HC was 66% in the AD group, 27% in the non-thrombotic group, 12% in the SVT group and 4.5% in the control group (P < 0.0001). Patients with AD had higher plasma HC (24.4 +/- 23 micromol/L) than NT patients (12.3 +/- 7.7 micromol/L), SVT patients (9 +/- 4.9 micromol/L), and healthy controls (7.9 +/- 3 micromol/L) (P < 0.0001). In a logistic regression model lower protein C was independently associated with SVT, whereas elevated plasma HC was independently associated with AD. Measurement of plasma HC and protein C in MPD may identify patients more likely to suffer arterial disease and splanchnic vein thrombosis and who may require plasma HC lowering in the former case.

Hematologic aspects of liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome with special reference to myeloproliferative disorders

BACKGROUND

Patients who undergo orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) traditionally have been anticoagulated with warfarin postoperatively. Because a significant proportion of BCS patients are found to have an underlying myeloproliferative disorder (MPD), antiplatelet therapy may be a more rational treatment strategy for this subgroup.

METHODS

All patients who underwent OLT for the diagnosis of BCS at our institution through March 2000 were included in this analysis. Posttransplant therapy consisted of hydroxyurea and aspirin for those with MPDs. Standard anticoagulation or no antithrombotic treatment was given to BCS patients with other causes. Major posttransplantation complications (thrombosis and bleeding) and mortality were determined.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients underwent OLT for BCS at our institution. The mean follow-up was 68.4 months. Two of seventeen patients died; one patient died of recurrent thrombosis (124 months after OLT) and the other patient died of acute hepatitis B (7 months after OLT). Twelve patients (71%) had evidence of a MPD. Two of the MPD patients were treated with warfarin before the initiation of hydroxyurea and aspirin therapy. The remaining 10 MPD patients were placed on only hydroxyurea and aspirin after OLT. Anagrelide was used in place of hydroxyurea in two patients because of cytopenias caused by the latter agent. The mean follow-up of this group of 10 patients was 59.9 months. Only one patient experienced recurrent thrombosis, which occurred more than 10 years after the original transplant. There were no major bleeding complications and posttransplant liver biopsies were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Antiplatelet therapy that consists of hydroxyurea and aspirin is a safe and effective alternative to anticoagulation to prevent recurrent thrombosis in MPD patients with BCS after liver transplantation. For patients with a hypercoagulable state corrected by OLT, antithrombotic therapy probably is not required. For those patients with conditions not corrected by OLT or with idiopathic BCS, anticoagulation or other therapy to control the hypercoagulable state should be given.

Inherited metabolic diseases of the liver

Many inherited metabolic diseases affect the liver in neonates, children, or adults. The histopathologic changes are diverse and may be acute or chronic. They can be considered primary (when the injury is from the cytopathic effect of an accumulated metabolite) or secondary (e.g., an infection caused by an immune deficiency). All forms of liver disease are described: for example, intrahepatic cholestasis, neonatal hepatitis with giant-cell transformation, paucity of bile ducts, steatosis, steatohepatitis, necroinflammatory diseases (acute or chronic), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and neoplasms (benign or malignant). Familiarity with the morphologic changes is important in clinicopathologic correlation, diagnosis, and understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms.

Multiple thrombophilic factors in a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome

Myeloproliferative disorders are the main cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome in western countries. Inherited or acquired thrombophilic factors have also been implicated. A novel mutation of the prothrombin gene (G-->A20210) has only been described in a few cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome so far. Venous thrombosis is often the result of multiple concomitant thrombophilic factors. We report the case of a patient with essential thrombocythemia and Budd-Chiari syndrome in which heterozygosity for both factor V Leiden and the mutation G20210A of the prothrombin gene were identified.

Budd-Chiari Syndrome

Many options are available to diagnose and treat patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome who present with either thrombotic or non-thrombotic occlusion of the major hepatic veins and or vena cava. The goal of therapy is to alleviate venous obstruction and to preserve hepatic function. Low-sodium diets, diuretics, and therapeutic paracentesis are generally ineffective, except for the rare patient who presents with volume overload and incomplete hepatic venous occlusion. Anticoagulants and thrombolytics may be appropriate for selected patients with acute thrombotic venous obstruction. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of hepatic venous stenoses or caval webs with or without placement of intraluminal stents yield excellent short-term results, but additional studies are warranted to assess long-term efficacy. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) may be effective for patients with subacute or chronic disease and ascites refractory to sodium restriction and diuretics. Intrahepatic stents may also serve as a bridge to transplantation for selected patients presenting with fulminant hepatic failure consequent to hepatic venous occlusion. Additional studies will be necessary to assess the role of TIPS in the armamentarium of therapies for patients with the Budd-Chiari syndrome. Decompressive shunts, reconstruction of the vena cava and hepatic venous ostia, transatrial membranotomy, and dorsocranial resection of the liver with hepatoatrial anastomosis are appropriate options for patients with acute or subacute disease who are not candidates for, or fail less invasive therapies. The majority of patients benefit with improvement in liver function tests, ascites, and liver histology; however, hepatic function may deteriorate in patients with marginal reserve. Liver transplantation is reserved for patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome who present with fulminant hepatic failure or end-stage liver disease with portal hypertensive complications. Transplantation is also appropriate for patients who deteriorate after failed attempts at surgical shunting.