Published online Jul 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i27.3767
Revised: April 10, 2007
Accepted: April 16, 2007
Published online: July 21, 2007
A 31-year-old female who had well-established polycythemia vera one year before, presented with the sudden onset. She had severe ascites and hepatic encephalopathy 12 d prior to admission. Real-time ultrasonography revealed a supra hepatic thrombosis extending toward the inferior vena cava (lVC). Thrombolytic therapy with systemic streptokinase (250 000 IU loading + 100 000 IU/h infusion) was started. At the end of 72 h infusion, the patient's general condition improved. A color Doppler ultrasonography then showed complete and partial resolution of the thrombosis in the supra hepatic vein and IVC, respectively. Despite this good response, 12 d later, the symptoms recurred. Venography detected complete obstruction of the lVC. Percutanous balloon angioplasty with stent insertion was performed successfully and the patient was discharged without any evidence of liver disease. A combination of systemic streptokinase and radiological intervention was effective in our patient.