[Liver vein obstruction. Clinical aspects and diagnosis of the Budd-Chiari syndrome].

In recent years we have observed 9 cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome. The diagnostic, etiological and therapeutic aspects of this rare hepatic vein disease are discussed. 3 patients had a neoplasm, and 1 female had polycythemia; she had been on oral contraceptives. 1 patient had osteomyelosclerosis. 4 females exhibited thrombosis of the hepatic veins; 2 of them had been on oral contraceptives. Liver scan has proven to be an adequate method for follow-up studies in demonstrating the hypertrophied caudate lobe. Very rarely, the small and medium-sized hepatic veins are involved, most often after ingestion of certain plant toxins. This syndrome is termed the Stuart-Bras syndrome or "veno-occlusive disease".