Systemic thrombolytic therapy for late-onset portal vein thrombosis after living-donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND

There have been few reports of noninvasive treatment for portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after liver transplantation.

METHODS

One adult patient and four pediatric patients developed PVT 5, 14, 14, 16, and 43 months after living-donor liver transplantation, respectively. All five of the patients received a 10-day course of systemic thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.

RESULTS

After the treatment was completed, successful portal vein recanalization was demonstrated on ultrasonography or multidetector three-dimensional computed tomography angiography in all five cases.

CONCLUSION

Noninvasive treatment with systemic recombinant tissue plasminogen activator should be considered for selected patients with late-onset PVT after liver transplantation.