Transient Hemolytic Anemia after Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Stent Shunt

Abstract

Management of variceal bleeding secondary to portal hypertension constitutes a challenging issue, particularly in child’s C cirrhotic patients. Recently, transjugular placement of self-expanding metallic stents in the liver (TIPS), creating a shunt between the portal and hepatic branches has provided a safe and promising therapeutic approach in this clinical situation. We report here the case of a 66-year-old male cirrhotic patient who developed a moderately severe clinical picture of a Coombsnegative hemolytic anemia (serum hemoglobin, 93 g/l, serum bilirubin 160.74 umol/L (9.4 mg/dl), indirect 6.3 mg/dl (107.73 umol/L); serum LDH 1220 u/l, reticulocytes, 5.1 %. serum ferritin, 1221 ug/l, schistocytes in peripheral blood smear) the week after undergoing a TIPS, suggesting the development of a microangiopathic hemolytic anaemia secondary to red blood cell disruption by passing through the metallic network of the stent. © 1996, OPA (Overseas Publishers Association).