title: Spontaneous closure of intrahepatic portovenous shunt in a noncirrhotic patient with recurrent encephalopathy.
abstract: A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with recurrent encephalopathy. Liver function tests, abdominal computerized tomography, ultrasonography, angiography, and laparoscopy revealed an intrahepatic portovenous shunt in a noncirrhotic liver. During follow-up, the intrahepatic portovenous shunt closed spontaneously. Subsequent liver function tests were markedly improved, with resolution of the patient's previously disturbed consciousness. In the elderly, intrahepatic portovenous shunt that can be managed with conservative therapy may spontaneously close, suggesting that management options should include watchful waiting.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Ehime University School of Medicine, Onsen-gun, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horiike
authors.forename: Tuneyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ninomiya
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ninomiya
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iuchi
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masumoto
authors.forename: Kojiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michitaka
authors.forename: Morikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onji
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011168:Portal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography