Hemoperitoneum in a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patient caused by a hepatocarcinoma treated with percutaneous embolization

Hemoperitoneum is an infrequent but normally benign complication in continu ous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. It can occur at any tim e during peritoneal dialytic treatment. Hemoperitoneum is not associated wi th a specific disease and usually disappears spontaneously. In 20% of cases , however, hemoperitoneum is severe and requires specific investigation and emergency therapy. We report a case of hemoperitoneum in a 70-year-old, an ti-hepatitic C virus-positive woman. After 48 months of CAPD treatment, a b loody peritoneal effluent developed, with severe anemia (hematocrit decreas ed from 30% to 20%). An abdominal computed tomography scan showed three hep atic lesions with signs of hepatic neoplasms; selective hepatic arteriograp hy confirmed the diagnosis. Chemoembolization of the three lesions was perf ormed, and hemoperitoneum disappeared within a few hours.