Background

Condition Lookup

Sub-Category:

Vascular Liver Disorders

Number of Conditions: 1

Budd-Chiari Syndrome

Specialty: Gastrointestinal

Category: Liver Disorders

Sub-category: Vascular Liver Disorders

Symptoms:
abdominal pain, especially in the upper right quadrant; ascites; enlarged liver (hepatomegaly); jaundice; nausea; vomiting; swelling in the legs; fatigue

Root Cause:
Obstruction of the hepatic veins, often caused by thrombosis or compression, leading to impaired blood flow out of the liver and subsequent congestion and damage.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Doppler ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, liver biopsy (in some cases), and blood tests to identify hypercoagulable states.

Treatment:
Addressing the underlying cause (e.g., anticoagulation for thrombosis, thrombolysis), managing complications like ascites, and restoring venous outflow via angioplasty, TIPS, or surgical shunting. Liver transplantation may be needed in severe cases.

Medications:
Anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin , heparin ) to prevent further clot formation; diuretics (e.g., spironolactone , furosemide ) for managing ascites; thrombolytic agents (e.g., tissue plasminogen activator) in selected cases.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 100,000; more common in patients with underlying hypercoagulable conditions.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Hypercoagulable states (e.g., protein C or S deficiency, antiphospholipid syndrome), polycythemia vera, myeloproliferative disorders, oral contraceptive use, pregnancy, and liver tumors.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable, depending on the extent of liver damage and the success of treatment. Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes, but severe or untreated cases may lead to liver failure.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Liver failure, portal hypertension, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and death in advanced or untreated cases.