A case of biopsy-proven idiopathic peliosis hepatis disseminated to whole liver with rapidly worsening course

Abstract

Here we report a 62 y/o male who was diagnosed as idiopathic peliosis hepatis by liver biopsy and had a rapidly worsening course complicated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). He was pointed out liver dysfunction by routine check-up, and diagnosed as having peliosis hepatis that was distributed to whole liver by liver biopsy and abdominal CT at the beginning of September 2006. He was followed-up regularly afterward. He has been symptom-free with mild unchanged liver dysfunction until the middle of August 2007, when he suddenly complained back pain and right hypochondralgia with remarkable hepatomegaly. The blood tests showed that he had DIC with remarkable worsening of liver function. Living donor liver transplantation was planned. However, he developed hepatic failure complicated with pneumonia to die 2 months later with no chance for the liver transplantation. The present case suggests that peliosis hepatis disseminated to whole liver might cause DIC thus needs careful follow up. © 2009 The Japan Society of Hepatology.