Coeliac axis thrombosis and acute hepatic failure in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract

We present the case of a female patient in her 40s who presented with jaundice, orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea and bilateral pedal oedema. After extensive investigations, she was diagnosed with hepatic dysfunction, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and coeliac axis thrombosis. Her case was further complicated with episodes of torsades de pointes due to metabolic disturbance, with consequent sudden cardiac arrest. In this case report, we explore the clinical features, pathophysiology and treatment of acute hepatic failure and coeliac axis thrombosis, secondary to DCM and alcoholic liver disease.