Primary Budd‐Chiari Syndrome in Children

Abstract

Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare cause of liver disease in children in the western world. Here we present a retrospective review of children with Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome presenting from January 2001 to November 2015 to our hospital. Seven children were identified. Their presentation was mostly chronic. All had predisposing factors for thrombosis and were started on anticoagulation. Radiological interventions (2 transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts and 1 hepatic vein stenting), liver transplant and mesocaval shunt were done in 3, 2, and 1 patients, respectively; 1 child underwent bone marrow transplantation following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts and 1 child was managed only medically. After liver transplantation, one child died 3 years later as a result of subarachnoid haemorrhage, whereas others remain well at a median follow-up of 6 years. Despite high morbidity, the disease can have a good long-term outcome with a multidisciplinary approach.