RAPIDLY PROGRESSIVE ASCITES

A 50-year-old woman rapidly developed ascites with jaundice and worsen ing of general condition. On admission a nodule of the left breast was noted. Workup showed slight anomalies in liver tests and led to the d iagnosis of portal hypertension, without visible lesion (CT scan, ultr asonography) of the liver. The patient suffered severe bleeding caused by esophageal varices necessitating urgent sclerotherapy. Several day s later, her condition worsened rapidly due to acute respiratory distr ess syndrome followed by irreversible shock.