Right hepatic artery thrombosis in an essential polycythemia vera patient following pancreato-biliary surgery for severe pancreatitis

Abstract

Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) remains one of the major causes of graft failure and mortality in liver transplant recipients. But it is a very rare in non-transplantation patient with the complication of HAT. We reported herein a case of successful urokinase intra-arterial thrombolytic treatment for HAT in an essential polycythemia vera patient following pancreato-biliary surgery. This patient underwent debridement and T-tube drainage in common bile duct for severe pancreatitis and acute suppurative obstructive cholangitis. Significant elevation of liver transaminases and white blood cell counts was noted 30 days after operation and HAT was confirmed by CT-angiography and digital subtracted angiography. Apart from malena and malaise, this patient had scarcity of evident symptoms. The only obvious risk factor relating to HAT is thrombocytosis. This patient was continuously characterized by an excess of platelets from its admission to the onset of HAT. This patient was treated successfully with continuous transcatheter arterial thrombolysis using urokinase. The symptom including malena and malaise disappeared 3 days after thrombolysis. And the patient was treated with hydroxyurea for polycythemia vera thereafter. In conclusion, physicians should be alerted that HAT can be happened in non-transplantation patients especially in those of having hypercoagulability.