Intravascular embolization therapy in a patient with an enlarged polycystic liver

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Because the kidneys in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are usually supplied by well-developed arteries, the authors attempted renal contraction therapy in such patients with renal transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) using intravascular coils. In most patients with marked nephromegaly, renal TAE was effective. However, in patients with marked hepatomegaly without significant nephromegaly, renal TAE was not effective, and hepatic treatment was always required. In June 2001, the authors obtained approval for a new treatment,“TAE for enlarged polycystic liver,” from an ethics committee discussing new treatment at their hospital. A 56-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis for 2 months was referred to the authors’ institute with the complaint of severe abdominal distension and loss of appetite in March 2001. Most of the liver (about 90%) had been replaced by multiple cysts, and near-intact hepatic parenchyma was quite scarce. The kidneys were quite small compared with the liver. Angiography results showed that almost all hepatic arterial branches were well developed, although most of the portal vein was obstructed, and only the left medial portal vein was spared; the former corresponded to the hepatic region replaced by multiple cysts and the latter to the preserved intact hepatic parenchyma. The target of TAE was the hepatic arterial branches of the former. Microcoils were used as embolization material. Two years after TAE, abdominal distension has markedly decreased because of decrease in liver size (to 54% of the previous value), and muscle and fat volume in the thoracic region have increased owing to improvement of appetite. Ascites became obscure. Nutrition and activities of daily living have improved. Hepatic TAE may be an option for treatment of patients in poor condition with symptomatic polycystic liver.