Background: Although portal vein thrombosis in cirrhotic patients is frequently observed, the
detailed process remains to be clarified, and the role of anticardiolipin antibody in the development of
portal vein thrombosis has been controversial. Case Report: A 52-year-old man, who had been diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, was
admitted to our hospital suffering from dyspnea and ascites. Just after being diagnosed as having
antiphospholipid antibody syndrome with lung thrombosis and delivering a positive result for the β
2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody, he sustained rupture of the esophageal varices
with rapid development of portal vein thrombosis, which resolved under anticoagulant therapy. Two
years later, he was admitted again on suspicion of thrombosis because of an elevation in the serum
D-dimer level, and computed tomography showed portal and upper mesenteric vein thrombosis.
Although immediate anticoagulant therapy resulted in complete recanalization, he suffered the same
episode 2 months later, which occurred with re-elevation of the serum D-dimer level. Conclusion: A positive finding of an anticardiolipin antibody in cirrhotic patients has been considered
to be nonspecific and not related to the development of thrombus in the portal vein. This case,
however, seems to indicate that cirrhotic patients with the β2-glycoprotein I-dependent
anticardiolipin antibody should be regarded as being at high risk for portal vein thrombosis. Monitoring
with the serum D-dimer was useful in detecting portal vein thrombosis in its early stage.
