Acute liver failure due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Acute hepatic failure secondary to involvement of the liver by hematologic malignancies is a very uncommon condition, and usually has a fatal prognosis. We describe the case of a woman who developed acute hepatic failure due to infiltration by a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma 18 yr after the initial diagnosis of a nodular-type lymphocytic lymphoma, while she was apparently in remission. Early diagnosis was achieved through liver biopsy; therefore, rapid administration of chemotherapy allowed her complete recovery. Hepatic biopsy may provide a diagnosis in patients in whom the etiology of liver failure is unknown, thus establishing the possible need for specific treatment.
Saló
J
J
Hematology Department, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain.
Nomdedeu
B
B
Bruguera
M
M
Ordi
J
J
Ginès
P
P
Castells
A
A
Vilella
A
A
Rodés
J
J
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000209:etiology*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors