title: Persistent ductus venosus without portal hypertension in a young alcoholic man.
abstract: The discovery of a large patent ductus venosus resulted from radiological investigations in a 34-year-old man, a chronic alcoholic of low mental status. Splenoportal and inferior caval venograms were performed because of recent exacerbation of the neurological symptoms and electroencephalographic criteria of portacaval encephalopathy. Portal pressure was 8 mm Hg. A liver scan, a laparoscopy, and a liver biopsy were performed. They showed that the gland was atrophic with a microscopic appearance of alcoholic fibrosis, but without any nodular regeneration. The relationship between the fistula, the mental state, and the atrophic liver is discussed. Such a malformation appears to be very uncommon.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D001811:Blood Volume Determination; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D000641:Ammonia