Budd-Chiari syndrome

Budd-Chiari syndrome, or hepatic vein thrombosis, is usually seen in the context of underlying haematological disease or another procoagulant condition

Causes

• polycythaemia rubra vera
• thrombophilia: activated protein C resistance, antithrombin III deficiency, protein C & S deficiencies
• pregnancy
• oral contraceptive pill

Features

• abdominal pain: sudden onset, severe
• ascites
• tender hepatomegaly