A Case of Veno-Occlusive Disease of the Liver

Abstract

A case of hepatic veno-occlusive disease, the first reported case in Japan, was described. A 20 year-old female was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of abdominal distention. Remarkable ascites, hepatomegaly and jaundice were noted by physical examination. Laboratory studies showed moderately elevated serum bilirubin, high serum transaminase level, prolonged prothrombin time and slightly elevated-globulin level, suggesting acute hepatic failure. Liver scintiscan showed maximal uptake of isotope at the central part of the liver. The patient became progressively worse and died of acute renal failure one monthe after the admission. Intensive congestion and occuluded middle-sized hepatic veins were founded in the liver by autopsy. Histological study of the liver reveald that most of the central vein were occluded by thrombi with extensive hemorrhagic central to mid-zonal necrosis. © 1977, The Japan Society of Hepatology. All rights reserved.