[Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to thrombosis of the inferior vena cava in myeloproliferative disease].

A case with abdominal pain, hepatosplenomegaly and ascites is reported. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a thrombus localized in the inferior vena cava at the confluence of the hepatic veins. The diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome was made two years after clinical and laboratory findings appeared. The patient was affected by a Philadelphia-positive myeloproliferative disease that was the predisposing condition to the inferior vena cava thrombosis. We suggest that the diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome must be considered in patients presenting conditions associated with thrombotic diathesis: so a suitable therapy can be started before an irreversible hepatic damage.