Clinical and histological recovery from "life-threatening" severe acute alcoholic hepatic failure with complete hepatofugal portal blood flow

A 25-year-old man who was a heavy alcohol drinker was admitted to our hospital after presenting with general malaise, dyspnea, abdominal distension, systemic edema and jaundice. His liver function tests showed hyperbilirubinemia and prolonged prothrombin time, and a computed tomography scan and ultrasound showed liver atrophy and massive ascites. Furthermore, Doppler ultrasound revealed complete hepatofugal portal blood flow in the portal trunk and intrahepatic portal branches. Causes other than alcohol were excluded, and he was diagnosed as having severe acute alcoholic hepatic failure (Maddrey's discriminant function score 43.3, MELD score 21), although not clinically typical. He was treated with anti-coagulation therapy according to the precise evaluation of portal blood flow by Doppler ultrasound, and marked clinical, biochemical and hemodynamic improvements were observed. Liver biopsy performed 2 months after onset showed submassive necrosis with pericellular fibrosis. Liver biopsy performed three years after onset showed mild portal fibrosis with a marked improvement. Doppler ultrasound is an indispensable tool for evaluating patients with severe acute hepatitis. © 2010 Springer.