title: Clinical outcomes of warfarin anticoagulation after balloon dilation alone for the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome complicated by old inferior vena cava thrombosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of warfarin anticoagulation after balloon dilation alone for the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) complicated by old inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2008 to November 2013, 19 BCS patients complicated with old IVC thrombosis were treated with balloon dilation followed by oral administration of anticoagulant warfarin. Follow-up was performed at 1 week, then 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after balloon dilation, and then annually thereafter. IVC patency and morphologic changes of the old thrombus were examined by ultrasound, and clinical symptoms and signs were determined by clinical examinations during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful IVC balloon dilation was achieved in the 19 patients (100%). Inferior vena cavography demonstrated the patency of IVC lumen, and the size of the old thrombus was not altered. The mean pressure gradient between IVC and the right atrium was reduced from 27.5 ± 3.0 cm H2O (range, 22-35) before treatment to 5.4 ± 1.3 cm H2O (range: 2-7) after treatment (t = 41.6, P < 0.05; 1 cm H2O = 0.098 kPa). Patients were followed up as outpatients for an average of 15.9 ± 14.4 months (range, 3-66). Anticoagulation with warfarin was well tolerated in all patients after balloon dilation alone. Of the 19 patients, complete resolution of the old thrombus was achieved in 12 patients and partial resolution was achieved in 7 patients. Color Doppler ultrasound showed that 17 patients had IVC lumen patency, and 2 patients had IVC reocclusion. None of the patients had recurrence of thrombosis, symptomatic pulmonary embolism, and bleeding complications throughout the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that warfarin anticoagulation after balloon dilation alone is a safe and effective therapy for BCS patients with old IVC thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jingmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China. Electronic address: 1427286069@qq.com.
authors.forename: Qingqiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qianxin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Maoheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006502:Budd-Chiari Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin