An unusual case of ascites.
A 76-year-old woman with abdominal pain and diarrhoea developed ascites that did not respond to treatment. There were no signs of liver damage. Abdominal ultrasonography with colour Doppler revealed an arterial-like flow in the enlarged splenic vein. Using selective mesenteric arteriography, we were able to diagnose a shunt between the inferior mesenteric artery and the inferior mesenteric vein. This is an unusual case of ascites due to prehepatic portal hypertension secondary to an extrahepatic arterioportal fistula.
Capuano
G
G
Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via S Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. mimmoponi@hotmail.com
Pomponi
D
D
Iaccarino
V
V
Budillon
G
G
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D001201:Ascites / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications*; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler