Multiple intrahepatic vascular shunts causing hyperammoniaemic encephalopathy in a patient without liver cirrhosis.
The very rare case of a non-cirrhotic patient with multiple intrahepatic portosystemic and arteriosystemic vascular shunts, presenting with hyperammoniaemic type B encephalopathy and hypoalbuminaemia due to proteinuria, is reported. The correct diagnosis, suspected by abdominal ultrasound and colour-Doppler imaging, was confirmed by hepatic and superior mesenteric angiography. A comparison with the few similar cases existing in the literature is offered.
Caturelli
E
E
Gastrointestinal Unit, Belcolle Hospital, Strada Sammartinese, 01100 Viterbo, Italy. e.caturelli@tiscalinet.it
Ghittoni
G
G
Niro
G A
GA
Clemente
R
R
Accadia
L
L
Nardella
M
M
Andriulli
A
A
Anti
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D022124:Hyperammonemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008297:Male; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color