By Howard J. Worman, M. D. Budd-Chiari syndrome is clotting of the hepatic vein, the major vein that leaves the liver. Most patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome have an underlying condition that predisposes to blood clotting. The most common symptom in Budd-Chiari syndrome is ascites, or fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
Patients can also have abnormal bloods tests indicative of liver disease.
The examining doctors often first suspect cirrhosis as a cause of the symptoms in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome. Patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome who have deteriorating liver function and complications usually need to undergo liver transplantation. Other surgical procedures have been used with variable degrees of success. In some cases, the underlying condition that caused the syndrome excludes transplantation as a treatment option. Click here to return to Diseases of the Liver home page.