SONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS AND HEMODYNAMIC CORRELATION IN VENOOCCLUSIVE DISEASE OF THE LIVER

This study evaluated the role of duplex Doppler sonography in the diag nosis of VOD of the liver after bone marrow transplantation. Sixteen p atients with clinical criteria of VOD were studied. The final diagnosi s was achieved by transjugular liver biopsy, and the hepatic venous pr essure gradient was measured during the procedure to estimate portal p ressure. Nine patients (56.2%) had histologically proved VOD. Gallblad der wall thickening was present in 75% of patients with VOD, but in no ne of those without it (P = 0.01). Gallbladder wall thickening and asc ites were present only in patients with portal hypertension. Nine pati ents (five with VOD and four without it) also were evaluated with dupl ex Doppler sonography, and no obvious flow abnormalities were detected in the portal vein and hepatic veins. These results suggest that sono graphy is useful in detecting early signs of portal hypertension point ing to the diagnosis of VOD in patients with bone marrow transplantati on.