Budd-Chiari syndrome and essential thrombocythemia in a child: favorable outcome after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

A Clinical Case of Timely Diagnosis and Successful Treatment of Budd-Chiari Syndrome With Fulminant Cytolysis in the Setting of a First-time Diagnosed Myeloproliferative Disease

The article presents a clinical case of peculiarities of clinical manifestations, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of undiagnosed chronic myeloproliferative disease, on the background of which Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) developed. The results of clinical course, examination, and treatment of a patient with BCS as a manifestation of the hidden course of primary myelofibrosis with the presence of somatic mutation (V617F) in Janus-tyrosine kinase-2 (JAK2) gene in myeloid cells are presented. Standard clinical and laboratory examinations, and cytomorphologic and histologic examination of bone marrow were used. The diagnosis of BCS was confirmed by ultrasound (US) Doppler examination of the portal system vessels. Symptomatic therapy resulted in insignificant positive results. The analysis of this clinical case showed that the development of BCS was due to a chronic myeloproliferative disease that was not diagnosed before the development of thrombosis. Hepatic vein thrombosis was accompanied by the development of fulminant cytolytic syndrome. Along with symptomatic therapy, patient K., female, 32 years old, underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting 1 month after the first symptoms of BCS appeared, which contributed to a significant clinical effect. Seven years after the installation of 4 transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts, the patient's condition remains satisfactory. The uniqueness of this clinical case lies in the presence of 2 serious diseases at the same time: myeloproliferative pathology (primary myelofibrosis) JAK2-positive variant and BCS. Timely diagnosis of both hematological diseases and their complication in the form of hepatic vein thrombosis with fulminant cytolytic syndrome allowed timely prescription of adequate treatment with a good clinical response.

Techniques and Outcomes of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunting in Infants with Budd-Chiari Syndrome

PURPOSE

To describe the technical aspects, feasibility, and outcomes in children with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) undergoing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation during infancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of infants with BCS undergoing TIPS creation between January 2012 and December 2018 was performed. Eight infants (5 males) underwent TIPS creation (7 for refractory ascites and 1 for refractory variceal bleeding) during the study period. The median age at TIPS creation was 10.5 months (range, 8-16 months). The median elapsed time between presentation and TIPS creation was 6.5 months (range, 0-13 months). The median weight and median pediatric end-stage liver disease score of the infants at the time of TIPS creation were 6.7 kg (range, 5.4-10 kg) and 13 kg (range, 8-18 kg), respectively.

RESULTS

TIPS creation was successful in all patients. There were no immediate postprocedural complications. An 18-gauge hollow needle was manually curved, through which a 21-gauge Chiba needle was inserted to access the portal vein. All patients received 1 or 2 overlapping bare metal stents. One patient was lost to follow-up after the procedure. The median follow-up duration was 32 months (range, 14-51 months). Four of 7 infants needed reintervention. Two children died during the follow-up period. Two children successfully underwent living donor liver transplant, whereas the remaining 3 children were asymptomatic at the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

TIPS creation was found to be safe and efficacious in improving portal hypertension and growth in these children, although, with a higher rate of reinterventions, possibly due to the use of small, bare metal stents.

Portal vein thrombosis in a child with essential thrombocythemia seven years after diagnosis

Portal vein thrombosis in children with essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a rarity. Here, we describe the long-term follow up of our previously reported case that since has developed portal vein thrombosis (PVT) 7-years after diagnosis. Our patient had presented with PVT with normal platelet counts and massive asymptomatic splenomegaly. Ultrasound and Computerized tomography confirmed presence of PVT. Our case highlights the importance of long-term follow up of children with ET for thrombosis, especially PVT, as it can happen without symptoms and normal platelet counts.

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms in Children and Adolescents and Thrombosis at Unusual Sites: The Role of Driver Mutations

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) in childhood and adolescence are rare and seldom complicated by thrombosis. We describe 3 cases of thrombosis at unusual sites in young patients with MPNs. In the pediatric MPN population, unlike in adult MPNs, a clonal mutation is identifiable in only a minority of cases (22% to 26%). All 3 of these individuals had JAK2 mutations driving the disease process. A literature search identified 19 cases of MPN-associated thrombosis in children. Seventeen of the 19 children (89.5%) had a driver mutation. These cases suggest that identifiable driver mutations may confer an increased thrombotic risk in children with MPNs.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with essential thrombocythemia or polycythemia vera diagnosed before 20 years of age: a systematic review

Although it is well known that myeloproliferative neoplasms occur in younger patients, few large cohorts of such patients have been reported. Thus, our knowledge about circumstances of diagnosis, outcome and treatment is limited, especially for children and young adults. We therefore performed a systematic review of cases, published since 2005, concerning patients aged below 20 years at the time of diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia or polycythemia vera. We identified 396 cases of essential thrombocythemia and 75 of polycythemia vera. The median age at diagnosis was 9.3 and 12 years, respectively, and females constituted 57.6% and 45% of the groups, respectively. Half of the patients were asymptomatic at diagnosis. The proportion of so-called triple negativity was high: 57% in essential thrombocythemia and 73% in polycythemia vera. The incidence of thrombosis during the follow-up was 9.3% in patients with polycythemia vera and less, 3.8%, in those with essential thrombocythemia. Venous events were predominant (84.2%), with hemorrhagic episodes being rarer (<5%). The risk of evolution also seemed low (2% to myelofibrosis and no reports of acute leukemia), but the median follow-up was only 50 months. Survival curves were not available. Half of the patients received an antithrombotic drug and 40.5% received a cytoreductive drug. All data should be analyzed with care because of the proportion of missing data (10.7% to 74.7%). This review highlights interesting points concerning this population of young patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, including that such patients were identified as negative for all common driver mutations, but also shows the need for larger contemporary cohorts with longer follow-up to assess the true prognosis of these patients.

Budd-Chiari syndrome complicating essential thrombocythemia in an adolescent: favorable outcome of TIPS procedure

Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a liver disorder characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction, mainly resulting from thrombosis of the terminal part of the hepatic veins or the inferior vena cava. It causes hepatic congestion, ascites, portal hypertension, and collateral circulation between the obstructed and contiguous patent venous territories. BCS is reported complicating myeloproliferative disorders, as well other prothrombotic events. Essential thrombocythemia is one of the most frequent myeloproliferative disorders that cause BCS, and in some cases, it may be the initial presentation. Many treatment options have been proposed for BCS, routine anticoagulation therapy being recommended as the first therapeutic approach.

Budd-Chiari syndrome in children: clinical features, percutaneous radiological intervention, and outcome

OBJECTIVES

'Radiological intervention' to restore venous patency is the preferred therapy in adults with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). The published literature on pediatric BCS is scarce. This study evaluated the clinical profile and role of a therapeutic radiological intervention in children with BCS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-six BCS children [29 boys, median age 10.5 (2-16) years] were enrolled. Standard medical therapy was administered to all. A radiological intervention, angioplasty [hepatic vein (HV) (n=3)], stenting [HV (n=18), inferior vena cava (IVC) (n=5)], transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) (n=3), was performed in 25 cases. Clinical, biochemical, and radiological follow-up was carried out.

RESULTS

Doppler ultrasonography was diagnostic in 95% of cases. All patients had chronic BCS, with ascites in 82.6%, hepatomegaly in 84.8%, splenomegaly in 69.6%, prominent abdominal veins in 69.6%, and variceal bleed in 34.8% cases. The most common site of block was HV (n=33), followed by combined HV and IVC block (n=11), and isolated IVC block (n=2). Eight of 12 (75%) cases had abnormal procoagulant workup. Radiological intervention was technically successful in 100%. Clinical and biochemical improvement was observed in the intervention group. Complications included neck hematoma and hemorrhagic ascites in one patient each. One child in the intervention group (post-TIPS sudden cardiac event) and two children in the nonintervention group [end-stage liver disease (n=1), head injury (n=1)] died. Stent was patent in 15/20 (75%) children over a median follow-up of 6.5 months.

CONCLUSION

HV block and a chronic presentation are most common in BCS children. Doppler ultrasonography establishes the diagnosis in 95% of cases. Radiological intervention is an effective and safe therapeutic modality for children with BCS.

Paediatric chronic liver diseases: how to investigate and follow up? Role of imaging in the diagnosis of fibrosis

Chronic liver diseases are rare in children, but encompass a wide spectrum of disorders that may all be complicated by liver fibrosis and therefore by portal hypertension. They may be classified according to the level of portal flow obstruction: prehepatic, intrahepatic or suprahepatic. Most of them, except presinusoidal diseases, may progress to cirrhosis that carries additional risks of impaired liver function and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Imaging plays an important role in guiding the diagnosis and biopsy and for follow-up during treatment. US, with high-frequency transducers and Doppler, is the first modality of choice, directs the rest of the investigations and guides interventional radiology. MDCT has made great progress and has replaced angiography for diagnostic purposes. MRI is indicated for parenchyma and nodule characterization and for biliary tract evaluation. To avoid liver biopsy, several elasticity imaging techniques have been developed and have to be evaluated for accuracy and convenience in children. The role of each modality with main imaging findings is described in extrahepatic portal vein obstruction, hepatoportal sclerosis, congenital hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Budd-Chiari syndrome and portal vein thrombosis due to essential thrombocytosis

Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to essential thrombocytosis has been described in a few reports in the English literature. Associated portal vein thrombosis occurs very rarely. Herein, we report a case presented with ascites and finally diagnosed with hepatic and portal vein thrombosis, and essential thrombocytosis. We discussed the therapeutic approaches in the light of pertinent literature.