Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with coeliac disease: case report and literature review

We report a case of Budd-Chiari syndrome occurring in a patient with coeliac disease, who presented with symptoms of increased abdominal girth, right upper quadrant pain and shortness of breath for three weeks prior to admission. Initial assessment revealed the presence of moderate ascites, hepatosplenomegaly and right-sided pleural effusion. Further diagnostic work-up established a diagnosis of chronic Budd-Chiari syndrome. Interestingly, complete screening for pro-thrombotic factors was negative. A review of the literature on this association disclosed only 28 similar cases, with the majority of them describing individuals of North African origin. Interestingly, in the majority of cases no specific thrombotic factor could be identified, suggesting that coeliac disease may play a role in this thrombotic disorder.