Portal cavernoma in a case of alcoholic liver disease with myeloproliferative neoplasm

Introduction

Chronic liver disease, especially liver cirrhosis, is one of the most common causes of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) [1, 2]. Once chronic liver diseases are diagnosed in patients with PVT, further screening for other thrombotic risk factors is often neglected. Herein, we report that portal cavernoma was diagnosed in a case of alcoholic liver disease with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN).

Case report

A 76-year-old man was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology of the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area due to persistent abdominal discomfort and intermittent melena for 2 weeks. He had drunk 100 γ of white wine every day for about 30 years, but abstained from alcohol drinking 8 years ago. He did not have any history of viral hepatitis. On physical examinations, the shifting dullness was suspicious. On laboratory tests, white blood cell (WBC) count was 21.2 × 109/l (reference range [RR]: 4-10 × 109/l), percentage of neutrophils was 88.4% (RR: 50-70%), red blood cell count was 4.51 × 1012/l (RR: 4-5.5 × 1012/l), hemoglobin was 76 g/l (RR: 110-170 g/l), platelet count (PLT) was 265 × 109/l (RR: 100-300 × 109/l), alkaline phosphatase was 108 U/l (RR: 45-125 U/l), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase was 27 U/l (RR: 10-60 U/l), total bilirubin was 11.9 µmol/l (RR: 5.1-22.2 µmol/l), albumin was 37.6 g/l (RR: 40-55 g/l), serum creatinine was 97.0 µmol/l (RR: 44-133 µmol/l), and the international normalized ratio was 1.26. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans demonstrated portal cavernoma, intrahepatic bile duct dilation, splenomegaly, splenic artery aneurysm with thrombosis, and mild ascites (Fig. 1). In detail, a normal main portal vein in the hepatic hilum was replaced by collateral vessels, which was called cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV) or portal cavernoma. Intra­hepatic bile duct dilation should be portal biliopathy in this case, which was primarily caused by compression of the bile duct by collateral vessels. Given that the liver surface was relatively smooth, transient elasto­graphy was further performed and demonstrated a liver stiffness value of 13.7 kPa. Thus, he was diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease and portal cavernoma. The Child-Pugh score was 6 points. On the other hand, in spite of splenomegaly, PLT was close to the upper limit of the normal range, and WBC was far beyond the upper limit of the normal range. JAK2 V617F mutation was positive. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of MPN. He was transferred to the Department of Hematology. Both antinuclear antibody and anti-double-stranded DNA antibody were negative. Hemolytic tests, including erythrocyte osmotic fragility, heat hemolysis test, sucrose test, Ham’s test, and Coombs’ test AHG, IgG, C3d, and Ctrl, were negative. IgA, IgG, IgM, C3, and C4 levels were within the normal range. Hydroxyurea was prescribed. Symptomatic treatment was given for the management of ascites. Anticoagulants were not given due to the absence of de novo portal vein thrombosis and presence of CTPV. Then, he was discharged and was closely followed.

Discussion

Until now, the role of other concomitant predisposing factors in the development of PVT in patients with chronic liver diseases remains unclear. Ph-negative MPN is the most common cause of idiopathic PVT [3]. Currently, screening for JAK2 V617F mutation is the first step for diagnosing MPN [4]. Our previous meta-analysis demonstrated that the JAK2 V617F mutation was positive in 24% of non-malignant and non-cirrhotic patients with PVT; by comparison, the JAK2 V617F mutation was positive in only 7% of cirrhotic patients with PVT [5]. Our prospective observational study also found that the JAK2 V617F mutation was positive in only 1.4% (1/71) of cirrhotic patients with PVT [6]. Thus, MPN is rarely observed in cirrhotic patients with PVT, and screening for MPN is also very limited in such patients. In our case, the most important clue for the diagnosis of MPN was the presence of splenomegaly but a relatively high PLT. Indeed, in patients with chronic liver disease, PLT is often decreased and/or below the lower limit of the normal range because of hypersplenism and splenomegaly; by comparison, in patients with MPN, PLT is always increased.
In conclusion, this case suggested the possibility that concomitant MPN contributes to the development of PVT in cases of chronic liver diseases. Myeloproliferative neoplasm should be thoroughly checked once the conditions of trilineage hematopoiesis have been found to be inconsistent with the change of regular blood tests in chronic liver diseases.

Disclosure

Authors report no conflict of interest.

References

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