Pulmonary arterial hypertension caused by congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background Congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt (CEPS), also known as Abernethy malformation, is an extremely rare anomaly of the splanchnic venous system, especially when accompanied by pulmonary arterial hypertension. Case presentation We report a case of a 15-year-old female who was diagnosed with CEPS (Abernethy type Ib) accompanied by pulmonary arterial hypertension. This case was incidentally identified during abdominal ultrasound examination and confirmed by mesenteric and splenic arteriography. During more than 4 years of follow-up, after receiving sildenafil (80 mg/day), the patient’s condition improved in the first year after discharge. However, one year later, the patient’s conditions start to deteriorate. Conclusion This article presents a rare case of Abernethy malformation accompanied by pulmonary arterial hypertension, which can be diagnosed by using abdominal ultrasonography, portal vein computed tomography angiography or mesenteric and splenic arteriography. This malformation had limited treatment and poor prognosis.

Keywords

• Abernethy malformation
• Congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt
• Pulmonary arterial hypertension