Veno-occlusive disease of the liver after hemopoietic cell transplantation.
The clinical syndrome of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after hemopoietic cell transplantation is characterised by jaundice, painful liver enlargement, and fluid retention with weight gain. Cytoreductive therapy is presumably the primary cause of VOD, but several other agents (and a special susceptibility of the liver) can also play a role in its genesis. The risk of VOD can be predicted before BMT by analysing the presence or absence of the main risk factors. For the diagnosis of VOD most teams worldwide apply the clinical criteria developed by both the Seattle and Baltimore teams. Transjugular liver studies and some biological markers can help establish a correct differential diagnosis. In most cases clinical manifestations improve after several days, but 20-25% of patients could die of VOD. Data regarding whether or not pharmacological prophylactic measures are effective are contradictory. There a few therapeutical approaches directed towards the improvement of venular occlusion; recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and defibrotide can solve some cases of severe VOD.
Carreras
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Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Postgraduate School of Haematology Farreras Valenti, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Spain.
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006504:Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011089:Polydeoxyribonucleotides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C036901:defibrotide; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator